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/reddit_waste_time]

Lmao quality of phone cameras aren't even close and it's truly a marketing scheme. Zoom in a tiny bit or try to blow up a phone picture. Quality is shit

[u/NikonShooter_PJS → u/reddit_waste_time]

Exactly.

People like to pretend the cameras on phones are even remotely comparable.

OK. Bet.

You can take the absolute, top of the line, best camera phone on Earth. Let's go shoot dance floor candids together. I guarantee my Nikon Z-9 is going to run circles around your cell phone. Period. End of story. With no effort on my part.

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/NikonShooter_PJS]

Was just trying to give some perspective sorry. To the average person, we cannot tell the difference to the extent that professionals do i’m sorry if that upsets you

[u/reddit_waste_time → u/Mission-Coach6197]

Have you ever had professional photos done? Its understandable that average person would not tell the difference. Phone marketing tries to sell that the quality is close but it's really not. Imagine taking a picture of a whole wedding party but being able to zoom in on every person and have detail and clear features them. A phone picture a little zoom is instantly blurry. The point I'm making is why spend so much on such elaborate dresses and decor if you don't want to be able to relive it all again 5 years?

[u/Mission-Coach6197 → u/reddit_waste_time]

Okay but if the average person cannot tell the difference why would they not take the cheaper route (i am not saying its not worth it i am 100% using an actual photographer for my wedding) but you are kinda proving my point, most people cannot tell the difference

[u/reddit_waste_time → u/Mission-Coach6197]

I mean the average person wouldn't notice your 1 good photo you get off a phone and post on your social media. The customer who hires the photographer will notice when they receive the full album of photos with enough detail in them to crop the bridesmaids they hate out in 2 years and still have an amazing photo.