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Old December 6th 05, 12:03 AM posted to rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.equipment.35mm
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Default Do you make a living as a wedding photographer?

In article .com,
says...
I've always wanted to go into divorce photography....


Now that's a plan! Have your office right next door to a tattoo removal
place.




wrote:
In article ,
p says...


"DD" wrote in message
...
I'm interested in hearing from people around the world on their thoughts
regarding choosing wedding photography as a vocation. If you could take
a moment to answer these questions, I would be most appreciative of your
input.

You can't be serious, Dallas.
Do you really expect anyone to tell you this sort of information about their
business?

For every 100 people with cameras who call themselves "Wedding
Photographers" there are about 8 who actually are. Of those 8, maybe 2,
actually make their living doing it without needing to have their spouse go
to work to support them or have their "real" business fund the pretend one.
How many "Wedding Photographers" do you know who have a barn full of props
for when the weather turns fowl or the ceremony is overrun by gate crashers?
For that matter, how many do you know with a wedding garden where they can
control the lighting for beautiful portraits? Maybe a private jetty for
those sunset shots over water? hmm? Money Dallas, it separates those who do
from those who want. You only get it by charging prices that look like an
exercise in algebra!

There would be no other business in the world where so many participants
have so few qualifications and credit card balances that look like serial
numbers to fund the purchase of the next flavour of the month camera and
still try to claim they are somehow "Professional Photographers". When I
obtained my qualifications, I served an apprenticeship for 7 years and got a
piece of paper in 1962 proclaiming I was a "tradesman Photographer". I also
got fired because I then qualified for full pay rates. I stole my ex boss's
booking diary and proceeded to undercut him on price for the next 2 years.
Then I sold my camera to pay the rent because I just learnt the first lesson
of business. - It's not about getting work, it's about money and getting
paid.

The only thing that has changed is the wannabes who think just because they
have a DSLR and some other wannabe printed them a diploma, they can undercut
real Professionals prices. It's not until they get the first letter of
demand on their cards, they realize if you don't charge enough to make a
(seemingly) obscene profit, you won't make enough to replace you camera at
50,000 clicks of using it like a machine gun in the stupid belief you'll get
at least some good pictures if you shoot a couple of thousand!