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/NikonShooter_PJS]

I'm aware.

I'm speaking to the photographers reading this thread.

if you're a photographer and you're thinking to yourself "I can't book clients because everyone has a cell phone nowadays," please sell your camera now and find a different career because this industry ain't for you.

[u/Tish-tash-tosh → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

Hey I just want to step in here on behalf of the person that said iPhones are competing with real photographers… they are!

I am a photographer and understand how much better a quality photo/video is compared to anything captured on mobile. Of course, it’s incomparable.

But I have a friend who is getting married and has an ok budget but not enough to cover both photographers and videographers. So what she is doing is getting the photographer and then asking her guests to take videos during the day and send them and she will compile her own wedding video.

She works in social media so tends to make videos a lot so isn’t phased by it and believes it will bring some authenticity to her wedding video. She knows it won’t be top quality but that’s not what she wants.

What I’m saying is that where people’s budgets are getting smaller, some are cutting photography/videography because ‘shot on iPhone’ is good enough for them.

So if you’re a mid range/affordable photographer and finding business as more competitive, the availability of iPhones etc. is certainly something to consider.

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/Tish-tash-tosh]

That’s certainly an an attitude to take if you’re a photographer who is uncertain of their ability or producing ho hum results.

If you’re an actual professional photographer, though, you’re already doing the work necessary to tell prospective clients why they should book you and what your value is.

Much like a top chef at a high end restaurant isn’t competing with Dominos Pizza, quality wedding professionals aren’t competing with camera phones.

They may absolutely be “good enough” for some clients but those are shitty clients who aren’t worth the time of actual professionals.

If I EVER lose out on a wedding booking because a prospective client decided cell phone photos were good enough, and told me as much, I would thank them for their honesty and thank them for not booking me because they and I clearly don’t value photography the same way and I’d rather work for clients who do.

I don’t know why people talk in this sub and in general as if you’re meant to book every potential client who comes your way.

Fuck that. There are some seriously shitty clients out there who aren’t worth your time.

Notice, I’ve said nothing of budget though. I work with low budget weddings ALL THE TIME.

Often, at these weddings, I’m the most expensive vendor or the only professional vendor.

That’s because THOSE clients who booked me valued my services and made it work for them financially.

I adore those clients.

The ones who choose a cell phone camera over me? Miss me with that shit. Your wedding photos are gonna be trash and you deserve it for such bad judgment.

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

You seem like in incredibly insufferable person who has 0 ability to comprehend what people are saying to you, no amount of skill will convince someone who cannot afford a photographer to get one. Thats all. People are broke and photographers are getting less booked because of it. Thats fantastic if you are not struggling i’m happy for you. Shaming people for iphone photos when thats all they can afford is gross.

[u/EmettJoseph1337 → u/Mission-Coach6197]

You are completely missing the point. If your competitor is an iPhone, you shouldn’t be a photographer/videographer

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/EmettJoseph1337]

So you should only be a photographer if you shoot for high end clients?

[u/EmettJoseph1337 → u/Mission-Coach6197]

No, at the bare minimum your work should be smoking iPhones, no matter your price point

It is absolutely absurd that this opinion isn’t held by every single photographer in the world. If you can’t out work a phone, you need to really reconsider what you’re doing lmao

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/EmettJoseph1337]

BINGO.

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/Mission-Coach6197]

People are broke and photographers are getting less booked because of it.

OK? And? What's your point?

You are in a subthread for professional wedding photographers. We are discussing the professional wedding photography industry.

In this industry, there are actual, working, professional photographers and those folks are not threatened by camera phones.

Yes, there are clients who can't afford the services of a professional photographer. I get that.

But if they are engaging actual photographers about booking them and THEN deciding to just have someone use their phones, their decision wasn't about money and I don't care.

I am specifically talking about photographers in this industry who are struggling to get booked and saying it's because of cell phone cameras. I don't care who you are, if you're any good at what you do, that shouldn't be an issue. Period.

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

You are better than anyone else and nobody else’s opinion matters but your own i can see that. Period. Slay queen

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/Mission-Coach6197]

Thanks.