The Truth Behind Wedding Photography Prices When searching for a wedding photographer for your big day, you may come across average costs that seem shockingly high. You might wonder why they charge so much. The truth is that running a photography business is both costly and time-intensive. But that’s not the whole story. The Real Cost of Wedding Photography At first glance, wedding photography might seem unreasonably expensive. It’s easy to think it’s just about eight hours spent shooting your wedding. But wedding photography is much more than just snapping beautiful photos. It involves substa ..read more

Wedding photography is a unique blend of artistry and entrepreneurship, demanding not only creative vision but also solid business knowledge. As a photography business coach, I’ve seen firsthand how mastering three critical areas—business knowledge, networking, and life balance—can make all the difference.  This post will guide you through these essential pillars, offering practical advice to help you build a thriving wedding photography business. Let’s dive in and explore how you can elevate your career and achieve lasting success. Well-Rounded Business Knowledge 1. Understanding the In ..read more

Have you ever fantasized about quitting your job and working for yourself? Maybe you just had a baby and thought becoming a freelance photographer or writer would give you more time with your little one. Maybe Uber or Doordash seem easy and flexible? Since changing careers is a big decision, ensure that you know what you’re getting into before taking the leap. Working for yourself is often a lot less glamorous and a lot more complicated than you might expect. It doesn’t necessarily mean unlimited time, and plenty of money, and it definitely doesn’t mean a stress-free life. That doesn’t mean yo ..read more

There are constant changes in the photography industry as technology continuously advances. Photographers have shown resilience, creativity, and brilliance in adapting to changes in our industry. Like chameleons, we’ve changed with our environment to survive and thrive. It’s inspiring to see the way photographers have risen to new and ever-evolving challenges in the industry. Yet, photographers are being taken advantage of more than ever. Our needs to feed our families and earn a livable wage have been neglected. We are tired of being undervalued. We are tired of being treated like we’re dispo ..read more

As an industry, we need to do better. For our craft, for new and experienced photographers alike, and for those clients who don’t get the full information. We need to stand up to those who devalue our work by misleading clients and new photographers. It’s time to stop allowing the spread of disinformation and the devaluing of our work in the photography industry. Let’s look at some examples of the disinformation and major hurdles blocking us from earning a livable wage — and what we can do about it. Wedding Websites Promoting Unlivable Wages Popular wedding websites promote that the average br ..read more

When clients land on your website or social media, the photographs in your portfolio and marketing materials are the first thing they see. They may be drawn to the genuinely happy faces your family photos show, the off-the-wall moments in your wedding photography portfolio, or the creative portraits you have displayed. But, if you are starting out, likely, you don’t have a gallery of images to show just yet. And, you may be tempted to buy stock photos or download images from other photographers whose style you are inspired by. So, what’s the harm in doing that? You will put not my images on t ..read more

How many times have you scrolled through social media and seen posts like these asking “Why is everything so expensive?!” “I want a three-tier, multicolored, beautiful cake for my son’s birthday by this weekend – I know it is a holiday weekend, but I need it. It needs to look EXACTLY like this picture and taste amazing. Who makes amazing cakes? Preferably someone who doesn’t charge an arm and a leg!” “Who can recommend an excellent hairstylist who does this intricate coloring on my difficult hair but doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg?” “I’m getting married in two months and want to find the B ..read more

“Reasonable” and “affordable” are two terms commonly used by people looking for services like photography, catering, custom clothing, videographers, landscapers, hair stylists, make up artists, and more. But there is much more to consider when you are going to price your photography. But what is reasonable and affordable? What’s a good price for small, local businesses to charge? What Is Reasonable and Affordable? Photographer Prices Outlined Defining “Reasonable” Technically, the definition of “reasonable” is “not extreme or excessive; moderate, fair.” However, this is an answer that only lea ..read more

Starting your photography business the right way is essential to setting yourself up for long-term success. Early on, you should plan for the structure of your business, pricing, and finances, efficient processes, branding, marketing, finding your ideal client, and providing an incredible client experience that leads to repeat business and referrals. When I Was Your Age… I started my business full-time in 2010 and things were a little different then. I built my portfolio, developed a website, and marketed myself like crazy within my local market. I developed a referral campaign, bought Google ..read more

There are constant changes in the photography industry as technology continuously advances. Photographers have shown resilience, creativity, and brilliance in adapting to changes in our industry. Like chameleons, we’ve changed with our environment to survive and thrive. It’s inspiring to see the way photographers have risen to new and ever-evolving challenges in the industry. Yet, photographers are being taken advantage of more than ever. Our needs to feed our families and earn a livable wage have been neglected. We are tired of being undervalued. We are tired of being treated like we’re dispo ..read more