January 28, 2025 • 23 mins
Discover the captivating world of wedding cinematography with Dimitris Tavlidis, a celebrated filmmaker from Greece with a portfolio boasting over 400 destination weddings. Dimitris shares his incredible journey from filming a bride's preparation to becoming a sought-after expert in the wedding industry. Learn the art of creating seamless, memorable events by building strong relationships with fellow vendors and professionals. Dimitris sheds light on essential strategies for effective communication, flexibility, and mutual respect, and reveals how these elements contribute to an unforgettable experience for couples and foster lasting collaborations.
Explore the pivotal collaboration between cinematographers, photographers, and planners, as Dimitris offers invaluable insights into discreet documentation and creating optimal conditions for capturing a couple's special day. Discover the power of teamwork and social media in enhancing visibility and success for all involved. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the wedding scene, Dimitris's advice on patience, persistence, and mastering your craft will prove indispensable in navigating this competitive market. Don’t miss his stories of capturing love against Greece's stunning backdrops and find links to his work in the show notes.
Connect with Dimitri:
Website | www.dimitrispavlidisfilms.com
Instagram | @dimitris.pavlidis.filmmaker
Facebook | facebook.com/dimitris.pavlidis.visionfilms
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Wedding Empire, season 3.
Today I have a very specialguest.
His name is Dimitris Tavlidisand he is an acclaimed wedding
cinematographer based in Greecewith over a decade of experience
and a portfolio spanning morethan 400 destination events.
He's known for his authenticapproach to storytelling, and
(00:23):
Dimetrius masterfully blendssimplicity with elegance to
create timeless wedding filmsthat resonate really deeply with
his clients.
Beyond his craft, demetrius hasbuilt a reputation for
fostering meaningfulcollaborations with other
wedding professionals, elevatingthe industry through his
dedication and artistry.
(00:44):
In this episode, we're going todive into the importance of
vendor relationships, exploringhow working more cohesively with
others can lead to greatersuccess for everyone involved.
So welcome to Wedding Empires,dimitris.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Thank you for having me.
I think I'm really happy todaythat I'm on this show.
I was also checking the otherepisodes you had and all the
work and I think it's great forcommunity and everything I have
seen from your show.
It's at value and I will add itto my Apple CarPlay and
(01:18):
listening to other shows or newguests when traveling, stuff
like that.
I think this is really nice andthank you for having the
opportunity to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
How are you?
Thank you, my day was busy,busy, busy.
I'm preparing to be in theWedding Business CEO Summit at
the moment, which is happeningin a few weeks a lovely big free
event so I've just beenpreparing all my speaker notes
and everything for that and wewere just discussing offline.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's it's the beginning of your day in Greece
yeah, yeah, actually yeah, andyou know starting slow with some
emails and and some editing and, but other than that, we are
just on the chilling zone nowbecause we don't have a lot of
traveling now.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
We usually start in May and events and weddings go,
the busy season goes until Idon't know October, and then we
gather our strengths and relax alittle bit.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
I like that, the chilling zone.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I like that, the chilling zone.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I like that.
That's usually what happens atmy house about four o'clock each
day.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
So why don't we go back?
I want to hear about how youended up in the wedding business
to begin with.
What's the story?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I got asked about that a lot and I think it
was quite simple.
I got involved.
A friend was a cinematographerwas a wedding cinematographer
and one day he just invited meto join him for a bride
preparation, just to help him,and on that day I really loved
(03:03):
the fact that it's a happy eventand you get to know more people
and everybody is cheerful.
And after that he proposed tome just to take a camera and
join him.
Other days and on a repetitiveI went from event to event to
event and I think that practicemost of the times is the key
(03:29):
element to be better and to beinvolved in this industry.
But I think it's also reallyimportant that I was always like
a tech geek.
How can I say it?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
A geek yeah like me.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I always liked cameras.
I had a camera with me to gointo parties and film stuff with
mini-DVs.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
And then make it to DVDs and stuff like that and I
was always fascinated to seelittle segments or family or
friends and have that all savedand being able to watch that
after some time with friends andfamily.
And that evolved and that's howI got started in the wedding
(04:19):
industry.
I mean it was really simple, itwas really simple.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Now.
What you're here to talk abouttoday is really about perfecting
those vendor relationships.
Can you talk to me about whyyou think that's so important?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah Well, I think it's one of the most important
elements to have a goodrelationship with vendors.
I think when you attend awedding and you have a smooth
collaboration, it's truly thegolden key that opens doors to
incredible opportunities, happyclients, reviews and, at the end
(05:01):
of the day, future referrals toother clients.
And when you have a team ofvendors who are on time and they
are supportive, and everybodyfollows the timeline and the
flowers on the table are readybefore the guests arrive and the
planner ensures everything runssmoothly, I think it's a
perfect time also for the couple, because they also have a great
(05:21):
experience Overall.
It's not only elevating thewedding day.
I mean the day goes beyond thewedding day, where a wedding can
be then featured in publicationand the couple is happy.
We are all happy as a team,like photographers, planners and
(05:44):
everyone involved, and I thinkit's really super, super
important.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
So have you got any tips around, I guess, how people
can take steps to build trustand rapport with other wedding
professionals so say thatthey've worked together for the
first time what are the stepsthat you would take differently
to really sort of build thoserelationships as well?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Well, I think it takes time, but I think it's
nice to Me.
Personally, I always reach out.
If I work with a new vendor, Ireach out to him.
If it's busy season, I canreach out to him again because
in the wedding seasoneverybody's traveling or they
(06:30):
are super busy and stuff likethat.
Respectfully, when othervendors have time, we see the
timeline when we talk about allthe details of the day.
I think also it's important onthe wedding day just to be
respectful for all vendorsinvolved, even the I don't know
everybody's important.
Everybody's there to do theirjob.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I think being flexible and respectful and
showing that you are supportiveare really key elements just to
be part of the team and beappreciated on the day.
And at the end of the day,people notice that you are
supportive and they want to hangout with you if you are
easygoing and being a little bitmindful and a little bit
(07:17):
flexible, because you knowbetter than me that wedding days
are a little bit sometimes howcan I say it Are really packed
with lots of details on thetimeline and everybody wants to
do their best job.
So having one vendor who issupportive and flexible and
mindful, I think it's one of theimportant things that you can
(07:42):
do on the wedding day.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Definitely.
And how do you go aboutreaching out to these vendors so
say you've been booked for ajob and at some point the person
has said these are the othervendors that you'll be working
with.
Do you email them, call them?
How do you actually approachthem?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Well, on social media .
It's now on our lives for sureand I definitely will reach out
to them via DM on socials, onInstagram or Facebook, or, if
they don't reply, even on ashared email, and then, yeah, I
(08:22):
think it's quite simple.
But most of the times when wework with a planner, the wedding
planner introduces all vendorswith emails and links and stuff
like that and we use that tointroduce ourselves.
But I think it's always nice toreach out to someone even
before they reach to you because, as I said, think it's always
nice to reach out to someoneeven before they reach to you
(08:42):
Because, as I said, there aresome really busy days with
weddings and traveling,especially in the summer.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I've got a question around specifically.
I guess, being acinematographer, how do you
balance your creative ideas andinput with the overall vision of
the wedding planner or thecouple?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, sure.
So when I am introduced or Iwork with a specific couple or
wedding planner, I always am anactive listener.
I always listen to the couple.
What they want, what theycreate, the vision, it is how
the day unfolds.
(09:26):
It's also important that Iexplain to them afterwards that
we are documentary filmmakers,so our style is not too much
posing, we just let the dayunfold as it is and from that
point on we just explain to themthat we are like guests with
(09:49):
cameras.
We don't interfere too much andwe listen to them because they
have maybe a vision or stufflike that.
But for sure it's important tohave a discussion with a couple
where they have seen our style.
They understand how we seethings, but at the end of the
day it's how the day unfolds.
(10:10):
So we always tell them just torelax, enjoy the day, and we'll
be there really discreet becausewe don't want to interfere a
lot.
It's their day and I think thisis also one of the points that
couple truly appreciates andthey value that.
So we do a nice conversationwith them and with the wedding
(10:35):
planner.
Of course, wedding plannersthey have a lot of details on
the wedding day.
Planner.
Of course, wedding plannersthey have a lot of details on
the wedding day.
So we have a discussion withthem on a different day about
all the details where our secondshooters will be or our third
second shooters, just to captureall details of the day on time,
because sometimes we have smalltime slots to capture decor or
(10:55):
stuff like that.
And communication, I think, isthe key.
And just being an activelistener of the day, because
it's not your day, it's theirday.
Of course, if you havesuggestions for them as a
professional, you can.
They are also Modern couplesnow.
They are also listeners andthey trust especially
(11:18):
professional wedding vendors.
And, yeah, we try to be a guestwith camera discreet on the
wedding day.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So Kerry is on the live chat at the moment watching
us live, and she's got aquestion coming from a wedding
planner and she's saying isthere anything that wedding
planners could do better?
When you work with a planner,Is there anything that you've
seen planners do time and timeagain that just doesn't work
from a cinematographerperspective.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I think something that we have encountered a few
times, even on the previoussummer season, was just having
everything the decor, or oneelement that I can recall now
the decor.
When it's especially when it'sa bigger event, they have
(12:07):
everything set up.
It's important to haveeverything set up on time,
because sometimes we have 5-10minutes before the guests come
in and they can also have adifferent area for the for the
guest to have their cocktail anda different area for the main
event.
(12:28):
Where is the extravagant, youknow the fancy stuff?
yes the photographer and thevideographers can have like 5-10
minutes unentrapped on the areajust to have those amazing
shots that everything is wow andstuff like that, without guests
inside, because we're trying tomix our creative eye but also
(12:52):
we're placing down some gueststhat are interfering, you know,
in the venue, that take selfiesor stuff like that.
People are people at the end ofthe day yeah and other idea that
it was really nice and thecouples enjoyed that.
We sometimes suggested that wecan have the couple inside the
(13:12):
venue before the guests, justenjoying the money that they
have paid for this extravaganzasetup, so having just a few
shots of them inside.
There we always see their happyfaces and really seeing the
decor as it is, not when it'salready night and everything.
(13:34):
Every guest is on that and wehave seen the couples being
really super happy when they arebefore the guest inside the
venue and enjoying that bythemselves.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Okay, wonderful.
Now what about after the event?
I know something that I used todo was go through and leave a
Google review for each of thevendors that I worked with.
I thought that was a nicegesture.
Do you have any other tipsaround sort of continuing that
relationship off the back of theevent?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah.
So I think the wedding dayactually doesn't end for us
wedding professionals at the endof the day.
We have done the editing andthere is also lots of elements
that we can benefit from afterthe wedding day, for example,
the publications.
So when we are collaboratingwith amazing professionals, we
(14:30):
have seen when we arecollaborating with amazing
professionals, we have seenpublications from wedding
planners who have sent thewedding to a great publication
and everybody benefited fromthat.
We have seen photographers dothat, or blogs and active
cinematographers.
Like myself, I don't expect fromthe photographer or the wedding
(14:54):
planner to send a publicationsomewhere.
We are also really active onthat side and we know that when
everybody is trying their best,only good things can happen.
And besides a publication, Ithink social media is also great
.
I mean collaborating on postsor reporting stuff, especially
(15:16):
when you had a great wedding andeverything ran smoothly.
I think those two are really,really important just to keep on
with the wedding.
And I think, when a professional, I think we are all away from
success, we are one wedding away.
So when you have a great weddingone and you can use that for
(15:40):
your portfolio and stuff likethat, you really don't have to
do like 100 weddings to havejust a little bit success,
either as a photographer or awedding planner.
A wedding planner this is how Isee it, because for us we have
seen when we had like one greatwedding on on the wedding season
, we use that wedding to have iton our website, on our landing
(16:05):
page, and we use that and many,many couples reach out to us and
say, hey, we saw, because weget feedback from the couples
and we ask them how did you findus?
And stuff like that, and theysay, oh yeah, we saw this
(16:31):
amazing wedding there on onlycouples that also value having a
great vendor team on thewedding day, because there are
many times when they want tobook the whole team, when they
see a great wedding and they seea specific wedding planner and
a specific cinematographer,photographer and florist, they
(16:52):
want the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Yeah, okay.
My last question for you iswhat advice would you give to
new vendors who are trying toestablish themselves in a
competitive market?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Yeah, nice.
Well, we all started from zero.
So, based on my experience, Ithink you have to be patient and
persistent.
Just to do things, just masteryour craft.
Business takes time and effort.
(17:29):
Sometimes we get discouraged byslow starts or some setbacks.
Even now, we get a lot of leadsand lots of capital reach out
to us.
There are some days where wefeel that we are not good enough
or nothing goes right or stufflike that.
But I think when you justcontinue and you learn and you
(17:53):
adapt, you are building moreexperience and this is a long
journey.
I mean you have to enjoy thejourney, first foremost.
Other advice, I will say thenetwork and collaborate, as we
have spoke.
I mean this is key beingflexible, being kind, being
supportive.
(18:14):
Don't be weird on the weddingday.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Just smile a little bit more I go not being weird,
yeah, something, something thatI mentioned in courses at the
wedding academy is, if there arepeople that you want to work
with, reach out to them andoffer to promote them to your
clients.
You know, offer to help them.
Don't go to them and wantsomething, but go to them and
(18:38):
say you know, I love your floral, your ceiling installations,
they're amazing.
Do you mind if I grab some ofyour flyers and give them to my
clients or refer you to myclient?
But that's a nice way't it?
It's a generous and nice,authentic way.
Um, I also think going inperson is is a game changer as
(19:01):
well.
Those places that have a shopfront or a venue, going and
introducing yourself in personis so much more effective, I
think, than emailing the bulkemail to everybody.
Huh.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, especially these days where everything is
social media and you don't getto see much people besides the
actual event.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You have to hang out with other vendors.
And the tip that you mentionedprevious I am lucky enough that
I have seen this kind of stuff.
When we talk with a client, wealways ask respectfully can you
tell us, how did you find us?
Have you found us from Google,social media, or a friend or
(19:46):
someone suggested and often weare suggested by other
professionals where we havenever worked together.
So other professionals havejust noticed our work and they,
when a couple ask, hey, you wanta Vendor Geographic, yeah, just
ask Dimitris and his studio.
(20:07):
And that's really like amazingfor us, mind-blowing when
someone suggested that we havenot worked together.
But we also do that if I love awork from a specific
photographer or a weddingplanner, even if I have not
worked with them, uh, andespecially if the couple's
(20:27):
vision or style you know some,some uh couples want more bright
or more fine art stuff or whatwhatsoever.
And if I know someone that ison that style, I just refer to
them because, at the end of theday, I think, uh, it's all about
(20:49):
network and being real andauthentic.
And one more tip I would haveon this journey of being a
professional I would say thatyou have to be aware of your
financial health.
I mean, you have to know yournumbers because sometimes you
(21:13):
can say, yeah, I'm super busyand yeah, I'm so full booked and
stuff like that, but you havenot seen your expenses.
How many hours have you worked?
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Yeah, that's a whole other episode.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, but I just wanted to mention that you have
to be financially cautious aboutyour numbers.
Yeah, so these three, yeah, Iagree.
Check out your, your, yourbalances, be patient and just be
authentic and real with otherventures and support.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I love it.
Thank you so much, dimitris.
It has been a pleasure gettingto know you and, uh, I'm sure
for anybody listening who isthinking about or got clients
interested in destinationweddings in greece, you were the
person they're gonna call to dothe video, so I I am gonna put
(22:07):
all the links to your website,instagram and facebook inside
the show notes, so have a lookthere.
But yeah, it's been an absolutepleasure.
We'll get you back another timeand we'll talk some more.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Thank you.
Thank you for this lovelypodcast.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, lovely to meet you,likewise, okay.
Welcome back to Wedding Empire, season 3.
Today I have a very specialguest.
His name is Dimitris Tavlidisand he is an acclaimed wedding
cinematographer based in Greecewith over a decade of experience
and a portfolio spanning morethan 400 destination events.
He's known for his authenticapproach to storytelling, and
(00:23):
Dimetrius masterfully blendssimplicity with elegance to
create timeless wedding filmsthat resonate really deeply with
his clients.
Beyond his craft, demetrius hasbuilt a reputation for
fostering meaningfulcollaborations with other
wedding professionals, elevatingthe industry through his
dedication and artistry.
(00:44):
In this episode, we're going todive into the importance of
vendor relationships, exploringhow working more cohesively with
others can lead to greatersuccess for everyone involved.
So welcome to Wedding Empires,dimitris.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Thank you for having me.
I think I'm really happy todaythat I'm on this show.
I was also checking the otherepisodes you had and all the
work and I think it's great forcommunity and everything I have
seen from your show.
It's at value and I will add itto my Apple CarPlay and
(01:18):
listening to other shows or newguests when traveling, stuff
like that.
I think this is really nice andthank you for having the
opportunity to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
How are you?
Thank you, my day was busy,busy, busy.
I'm preparing to be in theWedding Business CEO Summit at
the moment, which is happeningin a few weeks a lovely big free
event so I've just beenpreparing all my speaker notes
and everything for that and wewere just discussing offline.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's it's the beginning of your day in Greece
yeah, yeah, actually yeah, andyou know starting slow with some
emails and and some editing and, but other than that, we are
just on the chilling zone nowbecause we don't have a lot of
traveling now.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
We usually start in May and events and weddings go,
the busy season goes until Idon't know October, and then we
gather our strengths and relax alittle bit.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
I like that, the chilling zone.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
I like that, the chilling zone.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I like that.
That's usually what happens atmy house about four o'clock each
day.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
So why don't we go back?
I want to hear about how youended up in the wedding business
to begin with.
What's the story?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I got asked about that a lot and I think it
was quite simple.
I got involved.
A friend was a cinematographerwas a wedding cinematographer
and one day he just invited meto join him for a bride
preparation, just to help him,and on that day I really loved
(03:03):
the fact that it's a happy eventand you get to know more people
and everybody is cheerful.
And after that he proposed tome just to take a camera and
join him.
Other days and on a repetitiveI went from event to event to
event and I think that practicemost of the times is the key
(03:29):
element to be better and to beinvolved in this industry.
But I think it's also reallyimportant that I was always like
a tech geek.
How can I say it?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
A geek yeah like me.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I always liked cameras.
I had a camera with me to gointo parties and film stuff with
mini-DVs.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
And then make it to DVDs and stuff like that and I
was always fascinated to seelittle segments or family or
friends and have that all savedand being able to watch that
after some time with friends andfamily.
And that evolved and that's howI got started in the wedding
(04:19):
industry.
I mean it was really simple, itwas really simple.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Now.
What you're here to talk abouttoday is really about perfecting
those vendor relationships.
Can you talk to me about whyyou think that's so important?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah Well, I think it's one of the most important
elements to have a goodrelationship with vendors.
I think when you attend awedding and you have a smooth
collaboration, it's truly thegolden key that opens doors to
incredible opportunities, happyclients, reviews and, at the end
(05:01):
of the day, future referrals toother clients.
And when you have a team ofvendors who are on time and they
are supportive, and everybodyfollows the timeline and the
flowers on the table are readybefore the guests arrive and the
planner ensures everything runssmoothly, I think it's a
perfect time also for the couple, because they also have a great
(05:21):
experience Overall.
It's not only elevating thewedding day.
I mean the day goes beyond thewedding day, where a wedding can
be then featured in publicationand the couple is happy.
We are all happy as a team,like photographers, planners and
(05:44):
everyone involved, and I thinkit's really super, super
important.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
So have you got any tips around, I guess, how people
can take steps to build trustand rapport with other wedding
professionals so say thatthey've worked together for the
first time what are the stepsthat you would take differently
to really sort of build thoserelationships as well?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Well, I think it takes time, but I think it's
nice to Me.
Personally, I always reach out.
If I work with a new vendor, Ireach out to him.
If it's busy season, I canreach out to him again because
in the wedding seasoneverybody's traveling or they
(06:30):
are super busy and stuff likethat.
Respectfully, when othervendors have time, we see the
timeline when we talk about allthe details of the day.
I think also it's important onthe wedding day just to be
respectful for all vendorsinvolved, even the I don't know
everybody's important.
Everybody's there to do theirjob.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
I think being flexible and respectful and
showing that you are supportiveare really key elements just to
be part of the team and beappreciated on the day.
And at the end of the day,people notice that you are
supportive and they want to hangout with you if you are
easygoing and being a little bitmindful and a little bit
(07:17):
flexible, because you knowbetter than me that wedding days
are a little bit sometimes howcan I say it Are really packed
with lots of details on thetimeline and everybody wants to
do their best job.
So having one vendor who issupportive and flexible and
mindful, I think it's one of theimportant things that you can
(07:42):
do on the wedding day.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Definitely.
And how do you go aboutreaching out to these vendors so
say you've been booked for ajob and at some point the person
has said these are the othervendors that you'll be working
with.
Do you email them, call them?
How do you actually approachthem?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Well, on social media .
It's now on our lives for sureand I definitely will reach out
to them via DM on socials, onInstagram or Facebook, or, if
they don't reply, even on ashared email, and then, yeah, I
(08:22):
think it's quite simple.
But most of the times when wework with a planner, the wedding
planner introduces all vendorswith emails and links and stuff
like that and we use that tointroduce ourselves.
But I think it's always nice toreach out to someone even
before they reach to you because, as I said, think it's always
nice to reach out to someoneeven before they reach to you
(08:42):
Because, as I said, there aresome really busy days with
weddings and traveling,especially in the summer.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I've got a question around specifically.
I guess, being acinematographer, how do you
balance your creative ideas andinput with the overall vision of
the wedding planner or thecouple?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, sure.
So when I am introduced or Iwork with a specific couple or
wedding planner, I always am anactive listener.
I always listen to the couple.
What they want, what theycreate, the vision, it is how
the day unfolds.
(09:26):
It's also important that Iexplain to them afterwards that
we are documentary filmmakers,so our style is not too much
posing, we just let the dayunfold as it is and from that
point on we just explain to themthat we are like guests with
(09:49):
cameras.
We don't interfere too much andwe listen to them because they
have maybe a vision or stufflike that.
But for sure it's important tohave a discussion with a couple
where they have seen our style.
They understand how we seethings, but at the end of the
day it's how the day unfolds.
(10:10):
So we always tell them just torelax, enjoy the day, and we'll
be there really discreet becausewe don't want to interfere a
lot.
It's their day and I think thisis also one of the points that
couple truly appreciates andthey value that.
So we do a nice conversationwith them and with the wedding
(10:35):
planner.
Of course, wedding plannersthey have a lot of details on
the wedding day.
Planner.
Of course, wedding plannersthey have a lot of details on
the wedding day.
So we have a discussion withthem on a different day about
all the details where our secondshooters will be or our third
second shooters, just to captureall details of the day on time,
because sometimes we have smalltime slots to capture decor or
(10:55):
stuff like that.
And communication, I think, isthe key.
And just being an activelistener of the day, because
it's not your day, it's theirday.
Of course, if you havesuggestions for them as a
professional, you can.
They are also Modern couplesnow.
They are also listeners andthey trust especially
(11:18):
professional wedding vendors.
And, yeah, we try to be a guestwith camera discreet on the
wedding day.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
So Kerry is on the live chat at the moment watching
us live, and she's got aquestion coming from a wedding
planner and she's saying isthere anything that wedding
planners could do better?
When you work with a planner,Is there anything that you've
seen planners do time and timeagain that just doesn't work
from a cinematographerperspective.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I think something that we have encountered a few
times, even on the previoussummer season, was just having
everything the decor, or oneelement that I can recall now
the decor.
When it's especially when it'sa bigger event, they have
(12:07):
everything set up.
It's important to haveeverything set up on time,
because sometimes we have 5-10minutes before the guests come
in and they can also have adifferent area for the for the
guest to have their cocktail anda different area for the main
event.
(12:28):
Where is the extravagant, youknow the fancy stuff?
yes the photographer and thevideographers can have like 5-10
minutes unentrapped on the areajust to have those amazing
shots that everything is wow andstuff like that, without guests
inside, because we're trying tomix our creative eye but also
(12:52):
we're placing down some gueststhat are interfering, you know,
in the venue, that take selfiesor stuff like that.
People are people at the end ofthe day yeah and other idea that
it was really nice and thecouples enjoyed that.
We sometimes suggested that wecan have the couple inside the
(13:12):
venue before the guests, justenjoying the money that they
have paid for this extravaganzasetup, so having just a few
shots of them inside.
There we always see their happyfaces and really seeing the
decor as it is, not when it'salready night and everything.
(13:34):
Every guest is on that and wehave seen the couples being
really super happy when they arebefore the guest inside the
venue and enjoying that bythemselves.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Okay, wonderful.
Now what about after the event?
I know something that I used todo was go through and leave a
Google review for each of thevendors that I worked with.
I thought that was a nicegesture.
Do you have any other tipsaround sort of continuing that
relationship off the back of theevent?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah.
So I think the wedding dayactually doesn't end for us
wedding professionals at the endof the day.
We have done the editing andthere is also lots of elements
that we can benefit from afterthe wedding day, for example,
the publications.
So when we are collaboratingwith amazing professionals, we
(14:30):
have seen when we arecollaborating with amazing
professionals, we have seenpublications from wedding
planners who have sent thewedding to a great publication
and everybody benefited fromthat.
We have seen photographers dothat, or blogs and active
cinematographers.
Like myself, I don't expect fromthe photographer or the wedding
(14:54):
planner to send a publicationsomewhere.
We are also really active onthat side and we know that when
everybody is trying their best,only good things can happen.
And besides a publication, Ithink social media is also great
.
I mean collaborating on postsor reporting stuff, especially
(15:16):
when you had a great wedding andeverything ran smoothly.
I think those two are really,really important just to keep on
with the wedding.
And I think, when a professional, I think we are all away from
success, we are one wedding away.
So when you have a great weddingone and you can use that for
(15:40):
your portfolio and stuff likethat, you really don't have to
do like 100 weddings to havejust a little bit success,
either as a photographer or awedding planner.
A wedding planner this is how Isee it, because for us we have
seen when we had like one greatwedding on on the wedding season
, we use that wedding to have iton our website, on our landing
(16:05):
page, and we use that and many,many couples reach out to us and
say, hey, we saw, because weget feedback from the couples
and we ask them how did you findus?
And stuff like that, and theysay, oh yeah, we saw this
(16:31):
amazing wedding there on onlycouples that also value having a
great vendor team on thewedding day, because there are
many times when they want tobook the whole team, when they
see a great wedding and they seea specific wedding planner and
a specific cinematographer,photographer and florist, they
(16:52):
want the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Yeah, okay.
My last question for you iswhat advice would you give to
new vendors who are trying toestablish themselves in a
competitive market?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Yeah, nice.
Well, we all started from zero.
So, based on my experience, Ithink you have to be patient and
persistent.
Just to do things, just masteryour craft.
Business takes time and effort.
(17:29):
Sometimes we get discouraged byslow starts or some setbacks.
Even now, we get a lot of leadsand lots of capital reach out
to us.
There are some days where wefeel that we are not good enough
or nothing goes right or stufflike that.
But I think when you justcontinue and you learn and you
(17:53):
adapt, you are building moreexperience and this is a long
journey.
I mean you have to enjoy thejourney, first foremost.
Other advice, I will say thenetwork and collaborate, as we
have spoke.
I mean this is key beingflexible, being kind, being
supportive.
(18:14):
Don't be weird on the weddingday.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Just smile a little bit more I go not being weird,
yeah, something, something thatI mentioned in courses at the
wedding academy is, if there arepeople that you want to work
with, reach out to them andoffer to promote them to your
clients.
You know, offer to help them.
Don't go to them and wantsomething, but go to them and
(18:38):
say you know, I love your floral, your ceiling installations,
they're amazing.
Do you mind if I grab some ofyour flyers and give them to my
clients or refer you to myclient?
But that's a nice way't it?
It's a generous and nice,authentic way.
Um, I also think going inperson is is a game changer as
(19:01):
well.
Those places that have a shopfront or a venue, going and
introducing yourself in personis so much more effective, I
think, than emailing the bulkemail to everybody.
Huh.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, especially these days where everything is
social media and you don't getto see much people besides the
actual event.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
You have to hang out with other vendors.
And the tip that you mentionedprevious I am lucky enough that
I have seen this kind of stuff.
When we talk with a client, wealways ask respectfully can you
tell us, how did you find us?
Have you found us from Google,social media, or a friend or
(19:46):
someone suggested and often weare suggested by other
professionals where we havenever worked together.
So other professionals havejust noticed our work and they,
when a couple ask, hey, you wanta Vendor Geographic, yeah, just
ask Dimitris and his studio.
(20:07):
And that's really like amazingfor us, mind-blowing when
someone suggested that we havenot worked together.
But we also do that if I love awork from a specific
photographer or a weddingplanner, even if I have not
worked with them, uh, andespecially if the couple's
(20:27):
vision or style you know some,some uh couples want more bright
or more fine art stuff or whatwhatsoever.
And if I know someone that ison that style, I just refer to
them because, at the end of theday, I think, uh, it's all about
(20:49):
network and being real andauthentic.
And one more tip I would haveon this journey of being a
professional I would say thatyou have to be aware of your
financial health.
I mean, you have to know yournumbers because sometimes you
(21:13):
can say, yeah, I'm super busyand yeah, I'm so full booked and
stuff like that, but you havenot seen your expenses.
How many hours have you worked?
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Yeah, that's a whole other episode.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, but I just wanted to mention that you have
to be financially cautious aboutyour numbers.
Yeah, so these three, yeah, Iagree.
Check out your, your, yourbalances, be patient and just be
authentic and real with otherventures and support.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I love it.
Thank you so much, dimitris.
It has been a pleasure gettingto know you and, uh, I'm sure
for anybody listening who isthinking about or got clients
interested in destinationweddings in greece, you were the
person they're gonna call to dothe video, so I I am gonna put
(22:07):
all the links to your website,instagram and facebook inside
the show notes, so have a lookthere.
But yeah, it's been an absolutepleasure.
We'll get you back another timeand we'll talk some more.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Thank you.
Thank you for this lovelypodcast.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, lovely to meet you,likewise, okay.
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