Equipment: Canon EOS-5D Mark III with EF 50mm f/1.4L IS USM lens. Exposure: f/2.2 at second and ISO 800. Focal length: 95mm.
In order to inspire in your customers the impression that your work is art, you will want to make sure you are in the right ballpark. Try visiting a local art gallery to get inspiration. Notice the treatment of the photographic images and paintings. Present your images in the same manner, both in terms of the image design and the lighting strategies used to accentuate them. Put on a show. The drama created by doing this will only add to the impact of your images—and your clients’ perception of their worth.
The thought, care, and treatment that go into each image need to be reflected in your pricing. Good art is not cheap. Setting your prices too low will make your work seem worthless. On the other hand, you mustn’t set your prices so high (for your community) that your images are unaffordable and never make it to a living room. Find a balance, but make sure the price accounts for the difference between any old picture and a work of art.
Having these fine-art pieces on display in your studio will give your clients inspiration for their own wedding photos. They will see the displays and imagine what they can do with the photos they’ve purchased.
Images printed on stretched canvas and artfully displayed on your walls can go a long way in creating a gallery feel in your studio. These polished, high-impact displays will help your clients appreciate the costs associated with your work.