10 Lessons I've Learned During My Career As A #Wedding Photographer!

Kate Izak
Mar 14, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Feb 13, 2024

Are you passionate about photography and are looking to turn it into a career? Maybe you’ve just started and are wanting to put your best foot forward.

Either way, here are 10 lessons I’ve learned during my career as a wedding photographer:

Kate Izak Photography

Network:

Photography can be a lonely career at times so getting out and building connections with other creatives can be inspiring and beneficial. Networking can be motivating and opens opportunities for work and friendships to evolve. Find communities online or go to a networking event. Build relationships with like-minded people that can recharge your creative juices.

Why networking is Important?

Be prepared for the busy season:

Be proactive and book some time away or self-care before your busy season.

This will allow you to be refreshed and prepared for what lies ahead. Take a little holiday away or spend time with family. Either way, get yourself into a positive headspace ready to take on the next couple of months. Your body will thank you for it.

Back-up your files:

The last thing you want is to be calling the bride after the wedding to tell her you’ve lost all their wedding photos. Make sure you’ve got multiple back-ups. From external drives to cloud-based, back them up. Make this step part of your routine after every wedding.

Be prepared for ups and downs:

We all know the devastation that covid has caused and although this is an extreme situation, make sure you’re prepared for other ups and downs too. Working with technology there is always a risk of failure or errors. Ensure you carry spare battery packs, memory cards and even a spare camera just in case. Be prepared for underexposed or overexposed photographic errors too. And look at the positives: These minor photographic errors could turn into a new technique that allows your photography skills to evolve.

Save for bad days:

In all industries, you can have dry spells. For wedding photographers, being prepared for the slower seasons is important. Being proactive and creating a budget is beneficial. Also, look at ways to stay active in your field. Start a blog, keep learning new skills and stay active on your social media to give you the best chance for creating opportunities for yourself.

Invest in good software:

Having good software will not only help you manage your business successfully but will also give you peace of mind in your workflow. Learn about the benefits of shooting in RAW instead of JPGs as this allows you to control some of the parameters of the shot right from your home. Educate yourself and be patient in learning your software and don’t be afraid to try new things and make mistakes.

Be authentically YOU:

Be authentically YOU: Trying to emulate another photographer can leave you feeling frustrated and can cause you to fall out of love with photography. Finding your style and genre can take time, but it’s worth the investment. Just remember – You are YOU, and your business is different to everyone else’s, create your own business model. Keep consistency with your work. Be yourself don’t copy, create your own style. Do what you love!

the list goes on and each is an expression of your taste. Find which styles you’re good at and are comfortable with and do that. You might find your tastes evolve as you become more experienced.

Create your wedding website and branding:

For any true professional, it’s important to have somewhere you can send potential customers to view your work. Having a website and branding builds a connection with clients who are happy to share your details with others.

Invest in yourself:

Investing in yourself doesn’t just mean buying great lenses. Photography education will give you a great return on investment. In addition to any free resources out there, e-books can be affordable and online courses are great too. Or why not try a master workshop, which will allow your photography to evolve.

Organisation:

is a big part of success: Having systems, spreadsheets and an efficiently scheduled calendar can mean the difference between feeling overwhelmed and being professional. If you have several weddings, engagement sessions and numerous meetings in the month, trying to fit this in around your daily operations can be challenging. Being organised allows for smooth transitions between tasks while feeling capable, rather than getting to burnout level.