Why I Do What I Do - and this is NOT a post about why I'm a wedding photographer!

Let's start with a question...

Ok, so you are all loved up after getting engaged. You have set a date and are looking for wedding venues. You will have googled a load of them, have had a good read of the reviews, have looked through the online photos and decided to book a wedding venue that may cost more than £20k or be as little as £5k.

Do you...

A. Send an email requesting a contract and asking to pay the deposit there and then without visiting the place in person?

B. Get in touch with the hotel, make an appointment and get a guided walk around by an experienced staff member before going away to make a really important decision?

Think Carefully

Yup - you would think carefully about the decision and choose B. You don't spend loads of money on a few photos online.

Now apply that to wedding photography, where prices can be just as broad and wide.

If you have been tempted towards A close this window and leave my website - I'm NOT the wedding photographer you want.

Why I do what I do.

I see hundreds, possibly thousands of couples at the wedding fayres I attend during the year and get enquires via eMail / Meta (aka FaceBook) / WhatsApp / Telephone / Instagram etc. from all over the UK. Your face isn't in my memory until I've met you properly and only usually after the pre-wedding shoot.

I have set criteria for the couples I want to work with, and I'm pretty open about it. In actual fact, I'm very honest about it, more so than other wedding photographers! This page, Reasons not to book Andrew Miller, sets out all the essential information about ME you should know before getting in touch, whilst this page, The Quiz, gives you an idea of who I am and who I'm looking for in terms of potential clients. The front page of my website guides you to that page.

Those pages baffle professional marketing experts, by the way. The standard theory for websites is to get as many enquiries as possible, whereas my whole website, and in particular, both of those pages are designed to get rid of potential clients. And they do a very, very good job of doing that. It's a deliberate marketing strategy from me based on years of experience in sales and sales / personal psychology. (Like every photographer, we have a lot hidden under the surface ;-) )

My Google Reviews tell you loads about me and how I like to work, and you should also read those before getting in touch.

My YouTube channel gives you a visual insight into how much fun I want to have on your wedding day. Make sure your bridal team know how to make my tea!!!

I do not want loads of emails to answer from couples who don't know what they want or what they are looking for and, as such, send out loads of emails to loads of wedding photographers on BCC. I do get asked, occasionally, for advice on wedding planning by couples who are just engaged and have no idea where to start - and yes we meet over a coffee and chat. Those that know me know I'm very free with my time to help people.

I get 2 or 3 emails a month, and, THIS IS IMPORTANT, I meet every single one of those potential couples face-to-face regardless of where in the country they live. I make an effort, a vast logistical effort sometimes, to do this. It's important to me, essential indeed, that we meet to chat about your wedding plans, your ideas, your vision for the day etc.

I have a "closing rate" [sales speak] of 99%. I turn down, on average 3 or 4 couples a year after meeting them because we are not the right fit. There is no spark, no chemistry, no fun, and no laughter. If there is none of the fun why would you want me there and why would I ant to be there?

Will I hold your date before a meeting?

Yes, of course, I will.

You have made an effort to go and read my website, look at my online calendar and check you like me enough and check that I'm available. You have invested your time in me without booking me. Your email will include the keywords I am looking for, or better yet, it will come via the contact form on my website or via The Quiz page. Holding your date is the least I can do.

I'm an expert at Time Management and can manage my diary and time very efficiently in order for me to do this. It may be a few days or it may be a few weeks before we get to meet. And yes, some couples will wait a few weeks to meet due to our busy schedules.

Why I insist on meeting You.

Your wedding is my working environment, and I want to enjoy the environment I work in. Just as importantly, you, as the couple getting married, should feel there is a spark and chemistry as well. It's not purely about the price, and in fact, the price should be way down the list of your criteria. (That's not to say the price isn't important - it is, and you can find fantastic wedding photographers with equally amazing personalities like mine at all levels of the pricing scale).

We meet, and we agree to work together. It's that simple.

• You do not send an email saying you want to book me out of the blue.
• You do not see me once at a wedding fayre then tell me you want to book me.

If you don't like that, I'm sorry, not sorry.