6 Things I wish I knew when i was an aspiring wedding photographer
I’m the kind of person that is either frantically running dozens of spreadsheets with different outcome predictions before doing something, or I’m like “screw it, it’ll work out, let’s just do it!” - there’s no in between.
When I was graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in Communications, thinking about starting a wedding and family photography business, it was DEFINITELY the running spreadsheets that was showing up most.
Taking the leap and starting a new business felt so scary! Is it really even possible to make a living as a photographer? Is it just a few rockstars who manage to do it, or can most people do it with hard work and the right knowledge?
…and that was just the beginning of a thousand other questions I had in the beginning.
The good news? It is TOTALLY possible. It isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s something that’s doable for most people who are willing to work hard/smart and understand the value of continually learning from the people around them! And one of the best parts is, it’s the kind of business that can serve as a flexible side gig, a steady secondary source of income, a solid full-time job, or a thriving six-figure business!
After several years of running a successful six-figure wedding and family photography business, I’m pretty psyched to be able to pass on the knowledge I’ve gained over the past 6 years.
Today, I’m listing 5 things I wish I knew during the first year or two of starting my wedding and family photography business - hopefully these save you some time, frustration, and keep you from making some of the mistakes I made!
#1 Assist and second shoot for as many different photographers as you can
This is one of my favorite pieces of advice for photographers who are interested in weddings. Working for other photographers obviously helps you gain experience and build your portfolio. But it also gives you a chance to watch how other photographers approach the day and handle different situations (super important during a on often high-stress, fast-paced job like wedding photography), practice new techniques or styles of shooting, and figure out what mix of gear you prefer on wedding days. It’ll help you develop your own wedding day style and approach. Plus, it’s a great way of picking up some extra income to help pay for the gear, education, and other essentials you’re investing in as you’re building your biz!
Bonus points? The main photog may end up chatting with business about you - great for picking up tips on being a business owner. They may even answer questions you have if you travel to/from the wedding together (just be sure to be respectful and not go overboard on this - you can always pay them for a mentoring session if you want in-depth answers or answers to lots of q’s!). And if you do a great job from them, they may even send you referrals down the road, which is super helpful when you’re in the first couple of years of business!
#2 Don’t base your pricing on your peers
This is one of the most common mistakes people make, and I was TOTALLY guilty of it too! I know it’s tempting to base your pricing on some other photogs you know, but here’s the problem with doing that: their pricing is based on their own personal costs, income needs/goals, support system, level of service, and so much more! Or it’s based on nothing at all, which would make it even more dangerous to go off of!
Even if their business is thriving, basing your pricing off theirs could be deadly for your business since it isn’t taking all those differences in costs, needs, etc into account. Your pricing needs to based on your costs and goals at a minimum. That’s a topic for another day, so keep a lookout for a training on pricing in the next month or so!
#3 Be strategic about investing in your business
Knowing what to buy and when can be tricky and overwhelming. There are things you need to invest in to protect yourself, some that you need for basic functioning, some that you need to propel your business forward, and some that increase the quality of your service. I see new photographers get distracted by shiny things while ignoring fundamentals pretty often (and I was totally there too! Even now I catch myself doing it from time to time!), and it can seriously stunt your business, or even set you up for failure.
I put together an investment priority guide for new wedding and family photogs for take the confusion out of what to invest in when it comes to growing your business sustainably - download it here!
#4 Invest in your education, but be intentional about the way you do it]
Speaking of investing, it’s pretty common knowledge that education is one of the fastest and most effective ways to ensure that your business grows quickly and in a well-rounded way. BUT, there are lots of different education options out there, and it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each, as well as what might be the best for what you’re aiming to learn.
Head on over to my blog post Education for Photographers: What's Available and What's Right for You to see a comprehensive breakdown!
#5 Your talent as a photographer isn't nearly as important as your business skills are
At least, not when it comes to running a successful business. There are clients for you out there no matter WHAT your photos look like. This can be hard to believe, but I've seen it myself! Photographers who take (in my opinion) terrible photos who run successful businesses with very happy clients, and incredibly talented photographers who have unhappy clients or businesses that crash and burn.
Your ability to set and meet/exceed expectations and your ability to run a business are much more important to you clients' happiness and business' success than the subjective quality of your photos.
#6 You’ll miss out on clients for not being expensive ENOUGH just as often as you will for being “too expensive”
... so charge what you need to! I PROMISE there are clients out there for you!
This one would have BLOWN my mind if you told me about it when I was just starting out! To people who aren’t photographers, the difference in quality, experience, and service between two photographers isn’t nearly as obvious as it seems to us. Price is often what clients use to unconsciously determine who is higher quality - the unconscious perception is “the higher the price, the better they must be”.
This works the other way around too - if your work looks good and you seem great, but your price is a lot lower than the other photographers they’ve been looking at, many people immediately wonder “hmm, what’s the catch?”. It immediately puts doubt in their minds, and when it comes to something like wedding photography, most couples want to feel really certain about whoever they choose.
In that same vein, someone with a $10,000 photography budget is almost never going to hire someone for $5,000, let alone $2,500.
When you first start out and run the numbers to see where your prices need to be, it can be scary and overwhelming to see numbers higher than what you’re charging now. Keeping the above in mind can really help with that fear!
I could go on and on, but I want to keep this quick - maybe I’ll do a part two in the future. For now, keep your head up, stay focused, and keep your passion alive- you can DO THIS! :)
x
Em
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5 reasons why wedding photographers should get to know their couples
When it comes to growing a wedding photography business full of couples that you adore, who trust you deeply, and who open up emotionally in front of the camera, there's no tool more powerful than simply spending a little time on getting to know them!
Getting to know your couples well is essential to growing a thriving business full of couples you love. Let me break it down for ya!
#1. You'll capture more authentic, emotional photographs
I wouldn't have been able to capture this picture of a teardrop running down Mari's cheek (and another falling in midair) if I hadn't gotten to know these two well enough for them to let their walls down in front of me.
When you've spent a little time getting to know your couples (and allowing them to get to know you, too!), you'll all naturally be more relaxed in front of the camera. It'll be much easier to photograph them in a way that really feels true to them and their relationship, and that exudes all sorts of emotion.
Couples who feel comfortable with you when you're shooting are much more likely to let down their walls, forget they're being photographed, and really let themselves melt into the experience. This is when you might get to witness and capture deeply intimate moments - the kind that your couple wouldn't trade for the world.
#2. It will make wedding days go much more smoothly
When you've taken the time to get to know your couples, they're much more likely to trust you as the expert and treat you like a part of the family. That means they'll trust you to help them schedule the wedding day with plenty of time for photos (however you like to work!).
They'll also be able to fully enjoy their wedding day without stressing about photos or trying to micromanage you - a win-win, especially since when they're fully present and enjoying their wedding day, there are far more of those incredible moments of emotion and connection for you to capture for them!
#3. It will up your game as a photographer
The better you know your couples, the better you can capture the two of them and their wedding day in a way that truly reflects who they are and what the day was like.
You'll know more about which friends and which family members are especially important to the couple, which traditions hold a little extra sentimentality and why, and you'll know whose reactions to look for during the big events of the day. You'll capture little details with a new eye when you understand their significance to the couple. And your photographs will mean even more to your couple and their loved ones because of it.
#4. You'll be treated like a friend of the family on the wedding day
When your couples already feel like you're a friend, you'll be treated like one on their wedding day! This makes a big difference for me personally. I care deeply about my couples and capturing their wedding day in a way that will be meaningful for them, and when I feel loved, trusted, and appreciated by them, it makes photographing their wedding feel like a dream and a calling, not a job.
#5. Testimonials, awesome referrals, and lifelong clients... whether or not you have a big social media presence
This is probably the most tangible effect getting to know your clients well has on your business. Knowing your clients well will already lead to a more authentic and enjoyable wedding day experience for both you and your couple. It leads to higher quality work that stands out and that your clients will treasure.
And all of that + knowing and liking you as a person means that your clients are even that much more likely to recommend you to all their friends and fam, write you testimonials/reviews, and continue hiring you for life.
This is especially impactful if you want to grow an awesome, profitable business without spending a lot of time on social media (or if you have a small to modest social media following and don't want to rely on it to grow your biz).
If you're now wondering how to get to know your couples better, don't worry, I've got ya covered ;)
Let's go through few easy ways to get to know your couples better. Remember, even implementing one or two of these will make a difference, so don't feel like you need to do all or nothing :)
- Make your contact form on your website a little more personal - ask a personal question or two in there!
- Ask a few questions about them when they send you an inquiry - this one might seem obvious, but sometimes it can be easy to overlook the most obvious stuff! I freaking love pets, so if they mention they have pets, I always welcome them to spam me with pics of their cat/dog/whatever. It creates an instant connection and is super relatable... and I get to obsess over cute dog pics on the reg! ;)
- Take the time to get to know them a little better on the phone/when you meet in person. Again, this may seem obvious, but sometimes it's tempting to think you should just get straight to business. Taking a few minutes to just enjoy getting to know each other makes a world of difference!
- Engagement sessions - these are always a great way to get to know your couple better, but they can be even more effective if you encourage your couples do do engagement sessions at their home, in places that have personal meaning to them, or while something a little less traditional, like tagging along while they do something they enjoy as a couple (apple picking, bowling, hiking... you get it!)
- Send your couples a personal questionnaire before their wedding! This one's my favorite. My own photographer did it for Joe and I before our wedding, and I still remember feeling so emotional as I wrote out my answers and crying as I read Joe's.
If you want a free copy of the exact personal questionnaire I send my couples before their wedding, click the button below, fill out your email, and look for it in your inbox!
Do you have any other favorite ways you use to get to know your couples better? Let me know in the comments!
Can't wait to see how this changes your business, my friend!
x
Em
As always, feel free to email me or DM me on Instagram with topic suggestions or questions you’d love to have answered here on the blog! :)
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