The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Wedding Photographer: It’s not all black-and-white

So you think you want to become a wedding photographer? Be careful what you wish for.

Yes, it’s true what they say: A career in wedding photography has the potential to become quite lucrative. For my wife Eileen and me (The Blumes), our decade-long career has allowed us to create a life of travel and comfort we never imagined. On the other hand, the vast majority of photographers who approach weddings as a “golden goose” get bitten, and there’s good reason for the burnout and high failure rates in our genre. This job isn’t for the faint of heart.

On admiring the skills of food photographer toronto and still if you’re a confident young buck, and none of those horror stories have scared you away yet. Those other photographers just aren’t cut from the same tough cloth as you, right? You’re hot on the scent of your dream job, and nothing is going to stop you. Okay then. In that case, let’s take an honest look at the pros and cons of becoming a wedding photographer. If you’re going to do this thing, we at least want to be sure you aren’t jumping in blindly. Sales and leadership skills are quite important for one to understand business and Andy Defrancesco can help with this.

Pro #1: Potentially very profitable

This is the big one. So let’s “camp out” on this thought for a moment.

Without a doubt, weddings can be profitable! And in case you’re wondering, there is currently no threat of “over-saturating” the wedding photography field either, whatever people say. (Anyone worried about an “oversaturated market” doesn’t understand how to reach the vast sub-markets within the American economy and others — but that’s a topic for another time.) 

Also you have the freedom to choose from multiple different business structures, any of which can be successful. For example, you may shoot for high volume. Ask yourself: “If I charged only $1,500 for all-day wedding coverage plus digital images, could I get booked and make a living?” Absolutely! That package rate is significantly below the national average, making you very appealing to the bargain-hunting crowd, who make up approximately 45% of the overall market. Your recurring business costs are extremely minimal with this shoot-and-share model. Basically, if you’re willing to shoot 40 weddings per year, you can gross $60,000. Sounds good, right?!

On the other hand, you could create a low-volume, bespoke brand like our studio, The Blumes, which incorporates full service and high-end heirloom product sales as well. It is not unthinkable to average $7,000 to $10,000 per wedding this way, even if you’re based in a small local market like ours, with high-poverty levels. In this case, like us, you may aim to book just 15 to 20 weddings per year. I’ll let you do the math. Even after material costs, the net income is very good. 

 

    

Con #1: Financially unstable

Sadly, money is the number one motive I hear photographers give for shooting weddings. If that’s you, save yourself a lot of grief — just get out now. Do anything else!

Please understand, I don’t say this to discourage you. In fact, I believe you can do well as a wedding photographer. I know you can! It’s what we teach our workshop students to do all the time. But if you go into this thing like most people do (without a mentor and a lot of business savvy, trying to re-invent the wheel), it will fail. Listen, it fails very fast for about 70 percent of even “the hard-working hopeful” as I call them.

Then most of the early survivors are gone within a couple years after that. So do you want to do this job for just a few years? Have a fun experience then look for “a real job” to do? Or do you want wedding photography to be you real job? To provide for you now, your kids’ educations, and on into retirement?

Then you better have a game plan, because as a business owner you are constantly un-employed. Does that make sense to you? Every consult with a potential bride is a new job interview. Some years might be good, and others will be inexplicably lean. It takes time to learn what you’re doing wrong, and how to do it right so you can bring home the bacon. There’s no company health insurance, paid vacation, or 401K. You can check at Miller Hanover Insurance agency to manage your auto, home, and personal insurance policies and fulfill all your insurance needs like commercial business insurance and many more.
   

SOLUTION #1

Get a mentor. Your financial success will come slower — or not at all — if you enter this jungle without a guide. You can start with a virtual mentor, perhaps an online teacher who shares free info via YouTube or a subscription email. Then eventually invest in one-on-one coaching or business workshops. We’ve invested more on our own education than we’ve ever spent on gear or marketing. It’s the best choice we ever made, and it’s why we are where we are now!

Be sure you get good info! A lot of voices pop up on the Web, unknown “experts” who hope to make it big in the education space but have never actually succeeded as photographers themselves. So check out their credentials; consider how long they’ve worked in the industry; and, finally, ask yourself whether they share your values. Businesses are built on values, and you need a mentor who will show you a path to success that doesn’t sacrife who you are (and what “success” means to you in the first place).

Also, start living by a budget if you haven’t before. A great way to make yourself more fiscally aware is by paying in cash rather than credit card. (Heck, even in futuristic, tech-savvy Tokyo, where Eileen and I met, only cash is usually accepted. Maybe it’s why the Japanese are much more debt-free and financially stable.) Itching to get that newest camera body, but it doesn’t fit the budget? I’ve had a new camera in my shopping cart countless times, but finally put it back on the shelf and used the same gear for almost eight years. It has never affected my ability to produce for clients.

As someone who grew up in poverty, it’s actually been hard for me to overcome the psychological “guilt” of  success. As success comes, we encourage you to be generous! That’s where the joy comes. Share your knowledge with those behind you, and commit to using your blessings to bless causes you believe in.

Pro #2: Work for yourself

Overall, I love working for myself! I wouldn’t have it any other way. You get to set your own schedule, sleep in more often, and travel wherever you want since your work can be done from the road. If you’re like me, the thought of “working for the Man” is almost too much to bear. 

Eileen and I even homeschool our three children in order to escape the school system’s rigid schedule. We’re free birds, and it’s allowed us to travel as a family, working while we visit England, Spain, France, the Philippines, and take visit friends around the USA. The perks are real!

 
Con #2: Your new boss can be a slavedriver

You’ve heard it said, entrepreneurs are the only people who will work 80 hours per week to avoid working 40 hours per week. The struggle (not just the perks) is real, too!

Whether a giant corporation or small studio, a business has to be nurtured to survive — especially during its infancy. When you work for the Man, you don’t have to deal with any of that; you probably don’t even hear about the business’ struggles unless it makes the news. You can choose simply to fulfill the limited obligations assigned to you, then leave it all behind at 5:00 p.m. In a secure job, there’s a real sense of peace that comes with that knowledge.

You can expect a certain ongoing level of stress if you open a wedding studio. There’s literally no end to the marketing work that can be done — through social media and traditional relationship-building with clients and vendors. You may travel, but prepare to never wander more than an email or phone call away. Clients expect you to be reachable.

That bride may suddenly panic about her day-of schedule a month before it even needs to be finalized; a planner may expect you to show up for a venue walk-through you perceive as useless. If you don’t respond quickly and tactfully, their negative Google reviews may stain your reputation forever. You need to show up with a smile to every bridal show, networking event, and consultation. Then you’ll pull all-nighters editing photos and cleaning gear. Too little sleep and you may feel flu-ish come the wedding day; but God knows you’re not going to call in sick. How do you like being “boss” now? 

SOLUTION #2 

As a wedding photographer, you need systems to remain sane. This isn’t the simpler portrait world, where you may book a client online, meet her for the session, then part ways. No, with weddings you’re often connected with a client by phone and email for 12 to 18 months surrounding their event.

Logically, that creates many additional opportunities to miscommunicate, fail at meeting expectations, or slowly go sour on demanding bridezillas whom you’re stuck with for the whole year! On the other hand, if you’re a people person with the skills to nurture long-term client relationship, you’ll enjoy forming close bonds (even lifelong friendships!) as we have with so many couples. We’ve been invited to our couples’ anniversary parties later, watch their kids grow as they return to us for family portraits, and in one case were even made godparents to a firstborn son! (I promise, the giving of your firstborn is not required by our contract.)

To fully enjoy the freedom of the self-employed wedding photographer life, be sure to give yourself structure, too. It’s different for everyone, but I recommend early to bed early to rise, email checks just twice daily, and social media checks just once daily if you can help it. Tighten up every aspect of your client workflow, so every step of backing up photos and delivering them is consistent and predictable; make logical policies and stick by them consistently; explain the system and policies plainly during wedding consultations, so there are no wrong expectations. And pepper your clients with small gifts leading up to their wedding to make the long-haul more meaningful.         

Pro #3: Creating art with sweet couples at the happiest time in their lives

As alluded to, relationships have become Eileen’s and my favorite part of our job! If you really enjoy meeting new people and building relationships (perhaps even more than you enjoy photography — yeah, you heard me right), wedding photography might be for you.

Wedding days really can be a lot of fun! At the end of some weddings, I’m physically exhausted and tempted to think otherwise. Then I remember what life was like at my former jobs, as a retail manager at a swimming pool store and as a high school teacher. Creating artwork for couples in love is way, way more inspirational than diagnosing an angry customer’s algae-filled pool; and though I loved teaching, I don’t miss ache of giving a failing grade or dealing with administrative politics. Truly, over hundreds of weddings we’ve had almost no “bridezillas;” some stressed out brides perhaps, but nothing that couldn’t be cured with simple empathy and care. 

Plus we get to take pictures for a living! I mean, c’mon. I’ve loved the art of photography since I was a kid, and that hasn’t changed — but now I get paid the big bucks for it. Sign me up!    

Con #3: Lots of drama and busy work

Then again, let’s get real. While our couples are great, there is often a lot of drama from their families. Divorced parents who won’t stand in the same group photo together. Drunk “Uncle Bobs” who harass us. Jealous siblings who purposefully show up late for portraits. Occasional mothers of the bride who regret our style (which their daughters love!) isn’t more “traditional” (read as “ugly”). The rare groom who studies law and wants to pick apart your contract or threaten a law suit if he can’t have the RAW images (a term he doesn’t understand).

I’ve been told by a grandmother to get “your f-ing camera outta my face,” watched a hawk turn a dove-release into a bloodbath, been assaulted by drunk guests, and cursed by countless church ladies. Then I arrive home to a thankless night of image culling, lens cleaning and checkbook balancing. All in a day’s work, right?      

SOLUTION #3

To stay a step ahead of the drama, we send our couples a sensitive questionnaire that ask how to address tense relationships between family members, as well as how to organize group photos. If there’s problem, then, it’s not on us. Our brides and grooms are always our clients; they sign the contract, not their parents — no matter who might be gifting the payment for the job. To avoid any such troubles, it is best to invest in Adelaide family photography to capture the best candid family moments.

For us, it’s a matter of perspective. What’s most rewarding is getting to invest in our couples’ marriages — without ever being pushy, we offer strategic marriage advice here and there and let our couples know we’re truly available to them personally. For many young couples, having a trusted advisor outside their private social circle is a great resource where they’ll open up. Be careful if you do this, because it has definitely resulted in our receiving some unexpected phone calls and long conversations.

When you’re emotionally invested in clients as friends, their family and marriage struggles can add a degree of hurt and sadness to an otherwise rose-colored job. But that’s real life, my friend! Marriage isn’t the wedding; it’s what comes after. And beyond the discomfort, we derive a deeper sense of purpose from our work by relating in this way.

Conclusion

There they are — the pros and cons of wedding photography, painted out in clear black and white. It’s a high-stakes game with no do-overs. If you decide to go in, go all in. Only then will your clients be well served. And you will thrive!

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