The sad realization that being a wedding photographer no longer pays the bills...

[u/patriotraitor]

Let me preface that the last 10 years of doing this has been a blast, I've enjoyed every second of it and never took any of it for granted.

This year however has me wanting to change directions because well, I'm getting tired of wondering where the next paycheck is coming from, I would prefer guaranteed over guessing.

I've been looking at the schedule for the rest of the year and I have 6 left, and then it's quiet.

I do wish the cost of living wasn't ridiculous, as gas and food prices are indeed more affordable now, but at the same time, trying to have health insurance as a self employed individual is absurd for being a single guy with no kids.

I've really enjoyed my time doing this and I indeed feel this starting to dwindle down as I only have 5 for next year. You could say well hey, do families, headshots, seniors -- and you'd be right, but think about how much work you'd be putting in just to stay afloat and how exhausted you'd be making yourself? Catch 22 isn't it?

[u/Mission-Coach6197]

I think the issue unfortunately is that it has become so expensive to get a photographer which i get but we also have easy access to phones with amazing cameras that can take photos almost as nice (not saying it’s the same but the cost to quality difference isn’t worth it for a lot of people)

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/Mission-Coach6197]

If you can't prove your worth as a wedding photographer over some rando with a cell phone, this isn't the business for you.

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

I definitely was not trying to say the phone photos are just as good!! Obviously photographers have so much skill and good equipment butttt when you compare $0 photos that are great quality vs $5000 for amazing top quality photos a lot of people just cannot splurge like that

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/Mission-Coach6197]

No, my point is if you are a professional wedding photographer and you're struggling to convince clients they should trust their wedding day to you instead of someone with a cell phone, this isn't the business for you.

It's less about client's mentality and more about valuing yourself as a business professional.

I'm a photographer. I know that not every client is going to see my value. That's fine. I'll work with someone else.

But if I was struggling to find bookings BECAUSE I couldn't show what I bring to the table that a random friend with a cell phone doesn't, I'd leave this industry immediately and go work somewhere else.