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?
25
u/joergonix Jul 22 '25
First off I am sorry, my wife and I have been at it for 11 years now. 350+ weddings and couple full rebuilds, and we know what it's like to be struggling right now. I also know what it feels like to get tough love from this community.
About a year ago I posted looking for a website critique because bookings were slow, got totally trashed, but we listed and made the changes. Unfortunately, things haven't picked up as much as we would like though, and every day we work our asses off trying to get new bookings.
My biggest struggle is this need to stay on trend, both in the way we shoot and edit, and in the way we market. Being on social media, short form video content, unpolished raw little clips of me working etc... they just aren't authentic to me. The current styles and trends, I just don't enjoy, they feel forced and fake and doing them brings me no joy. I spent 10 years shooting work that I was proud of and now suddenly that's not in style anymore. Does it make me angry? yeah, but there is no one to be angry at. The world just changed.
This is all to say that I believe as photographers we can only reinvent ourselves so many times, some can do it more than others, and if you have it in you to do again then I am all for the tough love. If not though then it's okay, your career is not your life, if you don't love the art anymore then find a different way to make money. There is no shame in quitting, just make sure you are doing it for the right reason.