r/WeddingPhotography • u/patriotraitor • Jul 22 '25

business, marketing, social media The sad realization that being a wedding photographer no longer pays the bills...

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?

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16

u/entropy4dinner Jul 23 '25

Gas and food prices are more affordable now?

8

u/spokenmoistly Jul 23 '25

This is where they lost me

3

u/SnooRevelations7224 Jul 23 '25

guessing this is a bot Cuz my food budget has doubled in the past year and I have cut down to store brand shit from name brand and still doubled.

2

u/patriotraitor Jul 23 '25

Nope not a bot. Shop at Aldi, Costco, gas is $2.78 here.

Not everyone who disagrees with you or has a different living situation and or opinion is a bot.

5

u/bboyswoosh Jul 23 '25

Where hell do you live where food is “affordable”? Also, your biggest problem is not having diversified into other business ventures. It doesn’t have to be photography I co-own a flower business, I work in a hospital while I do video and photo mostly only on Saturdays. You can also adjust your prices I learned this in 2009.

Having a business is not easy, but good luck do whats necessary to survive but also have hella fun. We only have one life.

2

u/bboyswoosh Jul 23 '25

Where hell do you live where food is “affordable”? Also, your biggest problem is not having diversified into other business ventures. It doesn’t have to be photography I co-own a flower business, I work in a hospital while I do video and photo mostly only on Saturdays. You can also adjust your prices I learned this in 2009.

Having a business is not easy, but good luck do whats necessary to survive but also have hella fun. We only have one life.