You have always been extremely creative and driven to be your own boss. When you combine your love of photography with your entrepreneurial mindset it is clear that you were made to turn this into your own business. Becoming a wedding photographer may have always been an idea you had in the back of your mind, but it never quite came into fruition. Now is the perfect opportunity to hone in on your photography skills and become an expert about your craft. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how amazing you are at your job; you need to be able to market yourself, create a brand and sell your service to the couples that are well suited to you. All in all, you need to find a way to take your wedding photography business from a hobby to a full time job. There are so many different areas you need to conquer in order to do this, but as long as you take them one step at a time, you will get there. Consider the ideas below and work your way through them gradually; you will soon have a thriving photography business that can replace your current full time job.
Upgrade Your Equipment
You can’t be the hottest photographer in your industry without the best equipment. Even if you already know your Canon from your Sony, you still need to do plenty of research into the best up and coming cameras. You may even want to take a look at this drone x pro review. You could definitely incorporate drone footage into a wedding package. Many couples would love to have overhead shots of their wedding guests on the most special day of their lives. It will take some practice, but once you have these skills under your belt, it will certainly give you an advantage over the current competition. All in all, you need to make sure you invest in high quality equipment that is going to last you a long time. Remember, the only way you are going to see a return is by investing a considerable amount of money in the first place.
Take a Course
Even if you think you know everything about photography, the chances are that there is still a lot to learn. Remember, the more you invest in your business, the better your results will be. Take some time to be the best you can possibly be and invest in yourself. You will undoubtedly learn more skills and become a better photographer as a result.
Understand Your Ideal Client
It is so important to dive into your ideal client avatar before you start the marketing process. You need to know exactly who you are trying to target otherwise you won’t be using the right type of language for your target audience. Write down their age, a name, their occupation and their hobbies; delving deep into your ideal client will help you to understand them properly so that you can serve them in the best way possible.
Collaborate With Other Industry Professionals
If you have a friend or colleague who also works in the wedding industry, you could start up a business collaboration. This would involve working together to promote each other’s services. Perhaps you know a florist, a venue or a cake maker that also serves the same type of client as you. This is a great way to build up your brand reputation and increase exposure too.
Write a Blog
Having a blog on your website is probably one of the most important elements of your business. With a blog you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and use keywords to boost your ranking on Google. Even if you aren’t the best writer, you do know more about your industry than anyone else. Share your experiences with others and make your mark online. As soon as you start giving value, your clients will start to trust you, which is exactly where you want them to be.
Use Social Media (A Lot!)
Like a blog, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are a no-brainer when you’re running a wedding business. Brides and grooms to be will be all over Instagram looking for inspiration and hoping to view your previous work. Keep your profiles as up to date as possible and make sure you are making the most of all the tools you have at your fingertips. Show up every single day on Instagram stories and use the polls, quizzes and question features to learn more about your target audience. You want to become part of your potential clients’ everyday routine so that they start to look forward to your content as soon as they wake up.
Showcase Testimonials
When it comes to testimonials, they are so incredibly powerful for your business. If you don’t have any reviews yet as you’re just starting out, why not carry out a few mini shoots for free. The time and effort you put into those will be invaluable when you receive the testimonials afterwards. As long as you do a really good job, you will be able to gather together some solid evidence that your photography work is stellar. People are always looking for social proof when they head to social media to look for a wedding supplier. Having these testimonials under your belt will definitely give you an advantage.
Go to Wedding Fairs
One of the most inexpensive and effective forms of marketing as a wedding supplier is to head to a local wedding fair and showcase your work. Make sure you dress professionally and bring along examples of preview weddings you have worked on. Get some business cards printed and offer your potential clients a slight discount if they book with you on the day. People love to think they’re getting a special offer, especially when there is a sense of urgency around the subject. Wedding fairs may be the best place to book consistent clients, so keep an eye out for events in your local area.
Don’t Overwork Yourself
As a wedding photographer you are going to be working long days, nights and strange hours too. Most of your work will inevitably fall on a weekend, which means you need to allow yourself time off during the week. When you’re self employed it can be very difficult to switch off from work mode, especially when you really need it the most. If possible, try not to overwork yourself whilst trying to build up your wedding photography business. When you give yourself plenty of rest and recuperation your business will thrive as a result.
Know Your Worth and Be Unapologetic
As you know, wedding photographer involves long hours and a lot of preparation. You need to be unapologetic when it comes to your prices. Yes, it costs a lot of money to hire a wedding photographer, but this is one of the most important parts of their day. If anybody questions your pricing, you don’t need to justify yourself. You are allowed to be picky and choosy with who you work with; you don’t have to say “yes” to every single client that shows interest. At the end of the day, this is your livelihood and you need to enjoy the people you work with.
Be Consistent and Persistent
When you’re in such a competitive industry it is so important to be consistent and persistent. You will never achieve your goals if you take unnecessary days off and lose your passion for photography. Being self employed is all about your mindset; if you don’t strive to achieve all of these amazing career goals, nobody is going to hand them to you. Consistency is key when you’re a wedding photographer, you need to show up on your blog, social media platforms and website. Your target audience will start to expect certain things from you every single day, so this is a surefire way to seal the deal with your clients.
The road to entrepreneurship is never going to be easy, especially in the creative world. You need to invest in yourself before others will invest in you. If you come across as pushy or desperate people aren’t going to want to book you because they will see right through it. You need complete confidence in yourself that you can deliver amazing images or video footage for every single one of your clients. As soon as you start believing in yourself, others will believe in your too. Now is the perfect time to shift your mindset and become completely unapologetic about what you do. Soon enough you will start to see the rewards of starting up your photography business. When you’re doing something that you truly love, you will really feel it. This should give you the passion and drive to keep going, even when you’re not seeing the results you’re looking for. Follow the ideas mentioned about and you will soon feel comfortable, confident and enthusiastic about your new wedding photography business.
