Idea #3: Heirloom photo at the reception

This is my super-secret tip that I haven't told anyone before, but it works like MAGIC! How would you like to earn $350 more from every single wedding, without asking your client for a dime? It's simple!

When you shoot the client's engagement photos before the wedding, ask the client which photo they would like to have printed HUGE to put in their home. Not a little framed print in the hall, but a centerpiece wall-hanger print. The kind of thing that hangs above the mantle. When the client picks the print and you sell them on the idea of having an heirloom masterpiece print in their home, tell them the price. More than likely, it will blow them away when they realize that a giant 30×40″ canvas gallery wrap like this will cost about $500. So, they want the print, and you want their money. How do you get the money without asking them to pay a dime?

Offer to print the gallery wrap at your own cost. Then, make the proposition. You'll print the photo at your own expense and bring it to the wedding reception. Hang it on a nice easel at the entrance with a sign and a box. On the sign, ask for wedding guests to make small donations for the couple so they can get the beautiful photo for their home.

I like to do this with the agreement that all the money in the box goes to the photographer up to the price of the photo (which can be a lot), and the wedding couple keeps anything above that amount. 9 times out of 10, there is way more money donated than the photo actually costs. This method could easily earn you $350 more per wedding, and you don't have to ask your clients for ANY money! Now THAT is a good idea!

Money you can make by implementing this idea: $350 more per wedding for every single wedding you shoot. Oh, and this idea isn't just for wedding photographers. You could do the same thing by taking someone's pregnancy photos and then having a great “big belly” photo available at the baby shower. The possibilities are endless with this one.

Hit up your contacts so you can take more pictures