Framing Love: Tips and Tricks for Building a Thriving Wedding Photography Business

Being a wedding photographer is a wonderful job. Your subjects are always happy, and you get to share in their joy while they tie the knot.

But there’s a whole lot more to running a successful wedding photography business than just capturing the happy couple.

Whether you’re an avid photographer looking to explore a new niche or are new to the profession, keep reading to find out how you can build a thriving wedding photography business.

Gain Experience with Another Professional

If it’s your first time branching out into wedding photography, you’ll want to have first-hand experience photographing everything wedding related. And no, attending weddings as a guest doesn't count! To gain valuable experience, consider becoming an assistant to an already-established photographer. This way, you’ll have the chance to travel to different weddings and be involved in the photographic process. You’ll also gain experience first-hand of how to handle clients.

Should there be no one around to learn from, you can branch out socially. Ask pertinent questions to online professional wedding photographers or photography groups before you start your business. Some of the important facts you should learn early on are:

• The standard shot list that works for most couples. This includes pre-wedding images of the couple getting ready with bridesmaids and groomsmen, pictures of the couple and the officiant at the altar, the post-ceremony couples shoot, and the reception photos.
• How to use the wedding environment to plan your photographs. From walking into the sunset to posing on a castle wall or dancing in a barn, you need to plan ahead for every environment and setting. This can also include getting creative if you’re indoors by posing the couple beside a striking architectural feature.
• Proper poses. Don't be shy about asking the couple to pose beside each other. You can also stage cute pictures, such as the bride peeking out at her future groom pre-wedding or asking them to do a sincere, heartfelt hug.

Another great way to learn is by looking at other photographers’ wedding portfolios online or to search Pinterest. This will also allow you to get a feel for the different types of pictures you can capture.

Offer Freebie Pics—Within Reason

Taking photographs for free is a great way to set up a successful wedding photography business. By offering your services to a bridal salon or boutique to photograph some of the prospective brides in the dresses, the owner gets images for free to use for their social media. You’ll get the chance to build up a portfolio, and you’ll also gain exposure to your ideal client base.

After the prospective clients have tried on their dresses, take a few snaps of them. Then head home, edit, and email the photos you took to all involved. By doing this, you’ve successfully opened the door to engaging in future dialogue.

Often, for the bride, if there's no set photographer in mind, it may be easy and natural for them to get in touch with you again as you’ve already established a relationship with them. With the bridal boutique, they may be happy enough that they’ll let you stage wedding shoots at their site after-hours in exchange for using the images too.

Another way to offer freebies is to reach out to friends and family who are planning to tie the knot. You can offer to take their wedding photographs for free in exchange for using the best images in your portfolio. It’s a win-win for all involved.

Remember That Practice Makes Perfect

If you don’t have anyone specific in mind whose wedding you can photograph, don’t let that hold you back.

Plan a stylized photo shoot using friends as models. This can be a fun day for all involved and will give you practice in finding natural poses for couples. If there are no people to photograph, then stylize some table décor or floral arrangements. This is a great way to create filler content for your social sites during slow seasons.

Another good way to get in some wedding photography practice before a big event is to attend the wedding rehearsal of a couple who’s booked you. This allows you to see the venue and gain insight into the couple's little signs of affection.

Be Sure To Price Yourself Properly

To build a thriving wedding photography business, it’s important to price yourself properly. As such, you absolutely shouldn’t make your packages too expensive. Likewise, don't undercharge in the hopes of landing clients during a dry work spell. You’ll need to know how to calculate profit margin to ensure that you cover your costs and make enough profit to keep your business not just afloat but primed for growth too.

Research other wedding photographers' prices before setting your rates. This not only gives you a good idea of what a good middle ground is, but it also allows you to be competitive. If you have a great portfolio and good rates, you may even get the chance to shoot a destination wedding at some point in the future.

Be Easy To Reach & Marketable

Having a prominent presence on social media, an appealing online wedding photography portfolio, and a listed contact number and email will help clients find you with ease. If your work is properly showcased and you’re easy to get in touch with, you have a better chance of securing bookings.

Apart from being reachable online, you also need to market yourself on these channels correctly. This means regularly updating your content, even during quieter times, and interacting with potential customers if they ask questions or make comments.

Doing so will help you to maintain a strong online presence—something that’s essential in today’s business world. Plus, it will also showcase your knowledge of the industry and your photography skills.

Consistency is Key

As with all things in life, the more time you devote to them, the better you’ll get. And wedding photography is no exception. By following the above tips and tricks, you can build a thriving wedding photography business and establish an excellent reputation for yourself and your skills.

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