THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY OF BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY OF BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

[First of all I would like to say, I love being a wedding photographer, and I loved what I do, and I’m good at it.  Below are just somethings that needs to be out in the open, and all in a matter of my own opinion. ]

Being a professional wedding photographer has both its draws back and rewards. Now a days any one thing anyone who holds a camera or own a DSLR either being the popular brands like Nikon or Canon does not mean they are a photographer. It just means that they have a nice camera. 🙂

WE MAKE BIG BUCK… not true!
Everyone may think that being a wedding photographer is a super easy career choice, and brings in alot of money. The truth is alot of money is what camera and there equipment cost. Being a wedding photographer is alot of hard work, dedicated, and being able to run your own business.

Being a photographer requires many skills set
A) Business Management
B) Edit and Post-Processing
C) Graphic Design
D) Social Media
E) People Skills
F) Creative Mind
H) Web Design
J) Technical Skills
K) Marketing / Advertising

There is alot of more information I can list, but I don’t want to bore you with it… Unless I already have :/

CAMERA COST
We don’t make big bucks, we actually make very less. Upgrading to a new better technology camera equipment is expensive. Camera body’s itself are more that a wedding that I charge, lenses itself usually cost more than the camera body. Travel expensive, vehicle repair, assistance, second photographers, accessories and production cost. Etc

SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOCIAL LIFE
Literally, the only kind of social activity you will be having is with the clients and during the wedding ( but remember your still on the clock ) and your dogs (if you have a dog that is ). Friends are never going to ask to hang out on weekends since they been rejected numerous time because of your wedding priorities.

FREE TIME?
Hahaha, there is no such thing as free time. Your free time will consist of you sitting in front of your computer and editing all week from your weekend wedding. All those hundreds to thousand of photos you shoot that weekend. Yup, those pictures. Checking one by one each individual photo to make sure you got the perfect wedding shot. Your work station is your bed, your lunch and dinner table as well as your breakfast coffee table.

BODY ACHE & PAIN
That’s right, say hello to Aspirin as you will be seeing a lot of it. A Camera weight about 4lb, imagine carrying 2 or 3 of them on your shoulders. Did I mention the lenses? now those are heavy! And everything else that is required to be brought at a wedding event ie. tripods, flash, strobes, diffusers…

The next day you will start feeling so sore, your arms, leg and especially back from constant bending over, running around, holding a camera steady. Your eyes get so sore and dry from the constant squinting, focusing on the guest, the bride the groom, the whole wedding.

ARE YOU REALLY A PHOTOGRAPHER?
When you tell people your career choice, and that you are a wedding photographer… You can see it in there eyes…. Are you really a photographer? Yes I am really a photographer, a professional photographer that is. No I am not a commercial photographer, the once that own there big garage studio and shoots for magazine publications. I am a wedding photographer, the ones that gets the opportunity to photograph and be a part of someone special day that they have dreamt of all there lives, the one that gets to capture there story from the bride and groom to share from years to come. Being a wedding photographer is a real as it can be.

THE LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The reason why I love being a photographer is I own myself, I decided what I want, who I want to work with, how I want to capture the moments the way I see it. Your your own boss. You know that you are the number #1 person putting your time and effort into creating something magical. Being a social butterfly is one of my great advantages of being able to continue what I do. I enjoy meeting new people and enjoy shooting weddings, for now and ever!