544: Dave Le Page – An unpopular approach to wedding photography business… that works

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Dave Le Page of www.davelepage.com appeared on my radar while searching for some exceptional wedding photographers to feature on the podcast.

His work is seriously fantastic, and he appears to be travelling the country and world, doing what he loves in amazing and wild locations with some very cool-looking couples!

He was a music roadie for ten years before moving into weddings.

He's a hybrid shooter, shooting photos and videos himself simultaneously! And I've heard his skills are incredible — operating cameras remotely, drones in the air, holding three cameras, and somehow making it look effortless.

Obviously, I reached out, but he was reluctant to say yes… stating that he tends to have a very unpopular approach compared to many other industry professionals & he didn’t want to waste your time.

He told me he doesn't advertise. He takes a human-centred approach to his business, which requires plenty of physical time with his couples and is unpopular with many full-time wedding photographers. I told him all those reasons are exactly why I'd love to record an interview with him.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• Understanding Customer Service vs. Customer Experience: Key Differences Explained
• Marketing Strategies: Why Dave Prefers Organic Growth Over Paid Ads
• Client Time Investment: Maximizing Your Engagement Effectively
• Leveraging Client Social Media: Boost Your Business Through Customer Advocacy
• The Importance of Pre-Wedding Photoshoots: Why They're Essential
• Finding the Perfect Pre-Wedding Shoot Location: A Comprehensive Guide
• Assessing Business Profitability: Essential Considerations for Entrepreneurs
• Inside Dave's Pre-Wedding Photography Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Using a Gimbal as a Secondary Shooter: Innovative Techniques in Wedding Photography
• Optimal Camera Setups with Gimbals: Enhancing Your Wedding Photography Sessions
• Choosing Gimbals Over Second Shooters: Advantages for Wedding Photography
• Benefits of Using Gimbals in Wedding Sessions: A Photographer's Perspective
• Video Package Deliverables: What to Expect and How to Choose
• Printed Image Packaging: Why Dave Prefers Simplicity Over Fancy Boxes
• The Charm of Polaroid Prints: Incorporating Vintage Styles in Modern Photography
• Creating a Client-Attracting Website: How to Reflect Your Personality and Attract Ideal Clients
• Authenticity in Business: Attracting the Right Clients by Being Yourself
• What to Wear at Wedding Sessions: Dave's Personal Approach
• Dave's Essential Wedding Photography Shot List: A Professional Guide
• Optimizing the Client Inquiry Process: Strategies for Success
• Avoiding Client Ghosting: Proven Strategies for Maintaining Engagement
• Streamlining the Booking Process: Dave's Efficient Approach
• Questionnaire Strategies: Why Dave Limits Their Use During Inquiries
• Handling Last-Minute Wedding Inquiries: Dave's Responsive Approach
• Elopement vs. Traditional Wedding Shoots: Comparing the Benefits
• Videography Skills for Future-Proofing Your Business: Why It's Essential
• Photography's Future Trends: Dave's Predictions and Insights
• Choosing Video Editing Software: Top Recommendations for Photographers
• Finding the Perfect Music for Video Edits: Where to Look
• Learning Video Photography and Editing: Best Resources and Strategies
• Mastering Videography with Professional Mentorship: Gaining Practical Experience
• Drone Photography Essentials: Key Considerations and Guidelines
• Drone Operation Licensing: Do You Need It for Your Photography Business?

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus, special member-only interviews.

Customer service is you showing up, doing the job, having a smile on your face, doing the best you can then going home. Whereas, customer experience is the customer's journey from knowing that you exist to the final deliverables. – Dave Le Page

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Dave shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.

I would rather invest my time with the couples than invest money into advertising to cast a wide net of people who probably I don't click with. – Dave Le Page

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Dave or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

I don't work for who paid for me. I work for the couple. – Dave Le Page

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

The money has to go towards the items and not the packaging that those items came in. – Dave Le Page

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Dave Le Page Website

Dave Le Page Education

Dave Le Page on Instagram

Musicbed

Alex Vita — I do have a few more spots available to take on website support clients. That's either WordPress maintenance (see here https://www.foregroundweb.com/web-design/wordpress-care-plan/) or a more comprehensive platform-agnostic website support plan (info here: https://www.foregroundweb.com/web-design/website-support/)

Alex Vita — Web design for building/redesigning photography websites from scratch: https://www.foregroundweb.com/web-design/custom-website/

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening, and thanks to Dave for coming on and sharing his unique thoughts, experience, and advice on how to build a distinctive and client-centred photography business. From emphasizing the importance of a human-centred approach and transparent pricing to the value of creating a memorable customer experience and leveraging pre-shoots for better client rapport.

If something is happening repeatedly as a customer service learning experience, why aren't you making a change in your process? – Dave Le Page

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 544: Dave Le Page – An unpopular approach to wedding photography business… that works appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.