If you’re a new wedding photographer or are interested in becoming one, one of the biggest questions you probably have is how to have a successful business.
While there is no secret formula for overnight success, there are ways to establish solid foundations now and continue to have a successful and sustainable wedding photography business for many years to come.
As a wedding photographer myself, I know from experience the challenges and hurdles that you can face in the industry. However, I also know that it is absolutely possible for you to have a wildly successful wedding photography business.
Let’s dive into my journey to becoming a wedding photographer. I’m sharing my best tips on how you can have a successful wedding photography business.
My Best Tips on How to Have a Successful Wedding Photography Business
After my many years of experience in this industry through all the ups and downs, here are my best tips on how you can have a successful wedding photography business that is sustainable and also that you are passionate about:
Find your community within the industry


I absolutely would not be where I am today as both a person and a business if it weren’t for the love and advice from the fellow wedding vendors I’ve met along the way and built community within.
Trying to tackle the industry alone is so hard mentally, but it can also stifle your potential growth as a business, which is why it’s so important to have a community you can lean on when you’re struggling.
Discover your unique point of view as an artist and business


I truly believe that my business took off when I started to be known as “the colorful wedding photographer.”
Vendors were referring all their couples to me when they discovered those couples were looking for a photographer who would capture the vibrant colors on their wedding day. Having my own unique niche that I was known for was the catalyst my business needed to continue to be both sustainable and successful.
Start by taking a deep look into your process and identifying what is unique about it. Then, take that little special nugget and run with it!
Continue to invest in your business to grow


As soon as you think you know everything, you’ll stop growing. Even after being in the business for almost a decade, I know there will always be more to learn.
The wedding industry is ever-changing, and you’ll learn to adapt to it. But hey, isn’t that the fun part? Continue to invest in new camera gear, training, education, and business systems to help your business continue to scale.
What Inspired Me to Become a Wedding Photographer
I’ve been a wedding photographer for over 10 years and have had my business full-time for over six years. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I’m so excited for everything that is to come as my business continues to grow and expand.
Here’s a behind-the-lens look at my journey to how I got to where I am today:
Childhood


My childhood included the age of the rise of the digital camera and camcorder. I remember I was FASCINATED as a kid by my family’s new camcorder that we bought probably in the late 1990s (yes I’m that old).
I would sneak off with it during family gatherings and narrate the day in the most cringy way you can imagine. As the oldest of three siblings, I also would “play photography” and dress my youngest brother up and make him model for me as I photographed him.
High School


My high school experience was the beginning of my true photography education. I was first introduced to film photography and jumped right into learning how to develop film in a darkroom. It was so freaking cool and rewarding.
College


Although I didn’t go to college with the intention of graduating with a photography degree, I did pursue a studio art minor because my regular major in elementary education was depriving me of all my creativity. I continued both film and digital photography classes in college.
Adulthood


After graduating college in 2012 with an education degree, I was finding it super difficult to find a job that I loved. I got engaged in 2014 and then married in 2015, and during that time I absolutely fell in love with the wedding industry and got a DSLR camera for Christmas in 2015.
I spent most of 2016 photographing friends and family until I booked my very first wedding in the fall of 2016. Looking back, I had no fucking idea what I was doing, but I knew I loved the heck out of it. I never imagined that just two years later, in August 2018, I would be taking my photography business on full-time.
Present


Today, after running this amazing business for over six years, I can’t imagine working for anyone else or doing anything else. I still find myself showing up to weddings, somehow loving each one more than the last.
I am so lucky to work for couples who absolutely get it and align with me personally so damn well. I love what I do, and this is a reminder that you don’t have to be “experienced” before you try something new.
When I first started getting clients, I had no idea that this would someday be my full-time job, but it just goes to show that when you’re willing to take the risk and show up, try, fail, and learn, it will all pay off.
What Comes Next for Your Wedding Photography Business
I hope you found these tips on how to have a successful wedding photography business helpful!
The most important thing to start with is building your foundation, so you have the groundwork laid to build on for years and years to come. Also, remember there’s always so much more to learn. Continuing to expand your knowledge will not only improve your skillset but it will help you stand out in this industry.
And, if you aren’t a photographer but are currently searching for a wedding photographer to shoot your wedding and capture your own unique photos, check out my wedding day services here or get in touch with me here to chat through what you and your partner are looking for on your big day!
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