So, You Want To Be A Wedding Photographer?

What does it take to be a professional wedding photographer in the current economic climate, with equipment changing faster than the weather, and enthusiastic amateurs popping up like weeds?

The Rise of The Machines:

The digital age of photography has truly been a revolution – not only in the technology of photography, but also in the business of photography. Film cameras have largely given way to their digital successors over the last decade, in a rise that can only be described as meteoric. First came the point-and-shoot digital cameras, followed by the dawn of the digital SLR. Now, the equivalent of medium-format digital cameras are becoming more affordable and accessible, at least to the professional photographer.

Attack of The Weekend Warrior:

The entire business of photography, not just for weddings, has been infected by these changes. Digital cameras are seen as more convenient, easier to use – with photographs that are practically free, since the costs of film and developing have been eliminated. Now, instead of waiting for the results of our efforts to come back from the lab, we can instantly see the photograph we took on the camera’s LCD, and take another one if we don’t like it. For this reason, photographs suddenly became almost expendable, and therefore less valued. All of a sudden, professional photography seemed less the domain of the skilled expert, with years of learning behind them, and more within reach of the average person armed with a good camera.

This led directly to a situation that caused many seasoned professional photographers to throw up their arms in horror. Unskilled amateurs and weekend warriors were suddenly springing up out of the ground to steal their very livelihoods, using their cameras to either earn a few extra dollars or, worse, photographing for free.

Become a Professional TODAY!

Compound all this with the fact that no qualifications are needed to declare oneself a professional photographer – no exams to pass, no certifications to gain. Sure, there are professional bodies that do offer such things, but they are not required. The truth is that anyone can be a professional photographer – all they need to do is charge money to take photographs.

This, along with the digital revolution, has caused many professionals to either retire from the business, or to make the fatal mistake of struggling in vain to compete on price with the cheaper amateurs out there. To a true professional photographer neither choice is acceptable.

Professional Photographer Extinct?

So, what is one to do? Is the professional photographer an extinct relic of a time gone by?

No, not at all.

It is true that so-called “professional” photographers are popping up all the time and all over the place. But – and this is the key point - 99% of them don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to the important stuff – the actual business of photography. What these people (your competition) don’t realize is that earning a great living from photography is 80% business and only 20% photography, and that’s probably being generous.

Your competitors make the mistake of confusing being a great photographer with being a successful photographer. The two are totally separate – No matter how great your photography is, it will not sell itself. That’s your job as a business owner.

In future posts, I’ll discuss the secrets, if you like, of earning a really good living from your camera. It’s very hard work, but the rewards are worth it.

What does it take to be a professional wedding photographer in the current economic climate, with equipment changing faster than the weather, and enthusiastic amateurs popping up like weeds?

Connect With The Photography Coach On Google+

Share these photography business ideas with others:

Tweet

Take A Second To Share Your Thoughts - Add A Comment

Photography Business Ideas professional photographer, wedding