10 Tips For Setting Up A Wedding Photography Business
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- This video is my top 10 Tips For Setting Up A Wedding Photography Business.
It's not a technical video, it's not about aperture and lights it's more about business and marketing tips aimed at people who are already wedding photographers, or who are starting out as a wedding photographer.
The Ten Tips are:
#1 - Find your style
#2 - Remember it's kind of vocational
#3 - Only show what you want to shoot
#4 - Your website is key
#5 - Cohesive looks to shooting & editing
#6 - Don't worry about what other photographers think
#7 - Don't look for adulation from other photographers
#8 - Being accountable and ethical
#9 - Remember the "Social" in Social Media
#10 - It's Hard but rewarding
These are of course my own personal tips and based on lessons I've learnt as I approach my ten year anniversary as a wedding photographer.
As usual, I'll try and reply to any comments and I'd really appreciate it if you like the video, to like it and also subscribe to the channel too.
My Links:
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SOCIAL:
Instagram: / kevinmullinsphotography
Twitter: / kevin_mullins
WEBSITES:
Wedding: www.kevinmulli...
Fuji / Personal: f16.click
Family: familylove.pho... #kevinmullins
Documentary style photographs are timeless, something that clients can look back in 30-50 years time and cherish all the moments captured. Especially in b&w. On-trend such as smoke bombs and poisoned colored trees (greens that turns into brown muted tones) will not be cool anymore when you look back at it years from now. These days, I see weddings photographs that are dark and sombre (funeral-like preset). It might be cool now but it won’t lasts. Keep on doing your stuff, Kevin! It's amazing.
Kevin, I just wanted to say thank you. I have been a documentary wedding photographer for the last seven years and you're certainly one of the best speakers in our industry. All the energy and spirit you're sharing in each and every video is so greatly inspiring.
Take care of yourself. Have a wonderful season. And thank you for all that energy ! /Y
That’s very kind, thank you so much 😊
I recently started down the documentary wedding path and it is the best decision I have made
Needed that as I’m about to “re-launch” my wedding photography business! 👌🏽💯📸
Great vlog
Great advice for new wedding photographers. Client comes first I agree. I have had thirteen years of just photographing weddings, and have enjoyed it. Did not think I would end up being a wedding photographer when I left school. Weddings are very addictive if you find your own style and stick to it. I have moved over to just weekday weddings now i have a four year old. Pleasure listening to someone who is out there doing it as well.
Thanks, Richard & Keep up the good work - oh, and enjoy those times with your little one :-)
Who would dislike this video ?? ... It's great and very introspective.
This is really very helpful
Kevin. You are a really good photographer. Im a 26 year old Mexican photographer. I have 2 years on the industry and yes, it's hard but it my passion. And watching your videos inspire me like you don't imagine. Your work is so elegant. Thanks for sharing this tips.
I have to say that I really love your style of shooting, the way you capture beautiful moments and the way you edit them.
Thank you, Kjell - that's very kind.
He’s the best in my opinion.
Thank you so much for your words and advice... When I first left school, the natural inclination I had to make some form of a living with photography/videography was to shoot weddings, but I quickly 'learned' that I didn't like it. I felt like the amount of work (directing and posing people does not come naturally to me) didn't make up in compensation. But after discovering the world of Documentary/Reportage Weddings, stumbling on your work, I've been completely inspired.
I recently shot a friends wedding without any of the 'common' wedding practices but rather, followed your 'moment, light, and composition' rule. To my huge surprise, I loved shooting and editing the whole event! I didn't think there were clients who would pay for documentary photography but now I really want to get into this world... Thank you for inspiring me! (you've also inspired my parents, who are now insistent on hiring you if I ever get married :)
I've always had a problem with sharing my work on social media... I think I consumed too much good content during my school years, so I always knew my work wouldn't reach the level I wanted it too. I've been working on posting what I want to shoot but still, I either go through bouts where I post too much (in my eyes) and then I become a phantom and don't post for weeks, even months... But I'm definitely working on building my portfolio and showing what I want to shoot.
I wanted to know if you had any thoughts on how to brand oneself in regards to names - I have an infinitely complex last name that very few can pronounce without difficulty. In the USA, that tends to be a bit of a letdown. My first name (Junia) is a lot easier, but I don't know if I should just use that as my domain (its available for the most part) -would have any thoughts on this matter? Would you recommend using one's name as a brand, or do you have any thoughts on using a 'company' name?
- I also own a domain called 'warwickwanderer' which was an attempt at becoming a local travel blog but I didnt really use it much... I'm wondering if I should make that into my photography site. sorry for this very long winded comment. thanks for your time :)
Hi Junia, thanks for the lovely post and the kind words. I wish you all the best in your endeavour on building your business in the States. I know there are people that want this style there (as I get a lot of requests to shoot in the USA), but at the same time, I know it's a country where more "traditional" style wedding photography is more common.
In regards to your name; How about having a bit of hybrid name/brand. Something like juniaK photography. That's much easier to recognise and actually will make a better logo and look better on things such as Instagram portfolios.
I know quite a few of my Asia photographer friends go down this kind of route and as long as the domain is free then it could be something to think about.
Thanks for your response! I decided to follow your advice with having a hybrid brand name. I got my domain already (junia.photography) and finally have permission to use images I've shot from a few weddings for my portfolio.
I wanted to know if you have any particular advice or tips when it comes to either designing (using squarespace for my site) or writing the copy for a website for wedding documentary. I absolutely love your website, but I don't want to copy it. I'd like to inspire myself through any particular principles you may have used. could you share some with us in a future video? And/or recommend a few other documentary photographers websites I should check out? I don't want to limit myself.
Also, how do you go about getting permissions to use the images you've shot at weddings for marketing? Is it something unconditional you have written in your contract? Or do you allow the bride and groom some to leeway to choose what images they wouldn't like you to post?
This is something I've been struggling with as in my target market, I have couples who don't care about what/how many images I post, or are extremely picky because they want 100% flattering images of themselves, or who cherish their privacy and would rather I barely use their pictures. Have you encountered something similar to this in your business?
Thanks for your time!
Thanks again Kevin I was expecting 10 quick tips but got 10 longer but more useful pieces of guidance. Made me reflect on the fact that I love shooting candid photos of people and hate all the staged photos. Love your work - regularly share your videos.
Thank you, Jella. I appreciate your shares :-)
well said.
Great video. You made me enthusiast ❤
I'm so glad!
Great stuff. I'm just getting back into my photography after a confidence knock, I suppose. I was asked by a friend last year if I would photograph someones' birthday bash. I charged £40 (which barely covered my expenses). I bought the SD card which already knocked that 'fee' down to around £30. After she got the shots she just complained about what appeared in the backgrounds, about there not being enough photos etc. Then again I did just give her the SD card right afterwards. I NEVER present shots straight out of camera now. Always edit all shots. That really rocked my confidence and put me off doing it for money for people I don't know.
Last weekend I followed an official photographer round as he shot a friend's wedding, doing reportage stuff of my own in black and white on an X100. I edited and sent them by email. The couple are bowled over with the results and have said I should look at doing it professionally. I think doing a few more weddings as second with no pressure might be the best plan first though.
Hi Kevin, thank you for putting this out, I shot a friends wedding for the first time last year and although I was petrified of doing it I really enjoyed the experience and it made me realise that I want to do more of them. I have struggled to work out how to go about getting more weddings and your advice is a great help. I really love the way you shoot and find it very inspirational.
Please keep up the great videos.
Thanks, Mark and good luck with the business.
Thank you for such a lovely video Kevin. Some of these tips were affirming, others were insightful. I particularly enjoyed your comment "being a wedding photographer is about other people." I value that perspective. Thank you.
Thanks - and yes, I think that's the key takeaway point.
The thing that I always like from your videos is you are willing to share Kev, I also in daily work now, and I am trying become photo taker and may be photographer. Big Thank's
Great advice Kevin. I have lost a little confidence lately, as bookings have been hard to secure. But your words of wisdom give me new confidence to just shoot for my clients and not seek adulation from other photographers.
We all suffer from a lack of confidence so you aren't alone. Hope things pick up soon.
Love to see you releasing more videos. Amazing content and information. Thank you.
Thanks, mate... I'm hoping to get more videos out as often as possible.
Really informative
And worth watching ✌️
Completely agree that it's hard be a success in any business, especially photography and more so wedding photography
Kevin, I absolutely love your photography - you are one of my inspirations for wanting to be a wedding photographer. This video was really great - I actually think this is more useful than another video on LR techniques etc. Thank you!
Thank you. I'm hoping to blend a mix of business, tech and generally photography on the channel but it's hard sometimes to get the balance right.
ASchwab Photography I couldn’t agree more.
I graduatedfrom college in studio art. I'm looking into wedding photography when I was researching to buy a camera after my minolta film point and shoot wasn't enough, was old. Found the fuji xt1 and found you and I said this is what I want to do.
Thanks, Johan. Good luck in your wedding photography business.
Doing my first wedding in about 3 weeks. I’m under no pressure as they have a photographer already but I love the documentary style and am going to mingle to get shots the photographer won’t. Thought I had better get 2 or 3 practice weddings in before I contemplate charging. If I am not good enough, I won’t do it. If I am, I will not settle for less than wowing the client. Can’t wait to get started 🤪🤪
Hope the wedding goes well, Steven :-)
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us !
Brilliant stuff! Thanks so much ! Honest & Straightforward ! See you in Dubai soon mate !
Thanks & I hope I get invited back some time.
Kevin Mullins me too !!
Thank you for another amazing video, I would be interested to learn more about your journey. You decided to become a wedding photographer and how did you achieve it? How did you learn more about photography and editing and finding clients... and perhaps more importantly building your confidence.
Love love love your style and character
Really profound advice. Respect your ethical approach. Wish more businesses would have the same approach.
Thanks Kevin. Love your focus.
Thanks for the kind words, Russell.
Thanks Kevin! Some really important tips I needed to be reminded of.
Thanks, Tom. Glad you found it useful.
Great video Kevin! I’m always fascinated and inspired by your photography. I think these tips are great for all genres of photography as well
Thanks, Cullen.
As usual, very clever and inspiring points of view. Thanks a lot !
Thanks, Didier. Glad you liked it.
Thank you Kevin. This video presentation was actually very encouraging! I appreciate your realistic and "matter of fact" approach to the ins and outs of getting started in wedding photography. I am not looking to be famous, but I do want to get known amongst those, where it counts, to get my business going. You have inspired some good ideas. Thanks again!
Glad you found it helpful, Cary.
Great video and thanks for your time
Thanks Kevin for your words! I identify myself with all 10 tips! you east my thought :D looks like I was talking to the mirror!
Thanks, Bruno - glad you found it useful.
I managed to stumble across your page and you are truly amazing at what you do. Not to mention you use Fuji LOL
Awesome advice. The best one I have seen so far!
Greetings from Israel! Thank you, Kevin. Solid points that can apply to other genres of photography as well. Be well.
Thanks & yes, you are absolutely right - this does apply to all genres of photography I guess.
Great tips and information here. Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic. Thanks, Kevin. I’ve just come to the end of my contract doing the ‘work I do for employers’ stuff, and now really wanting to set myself up and try managing to make my photography my income. So this advice is timely - and very helpful. Cheers.
Thanks, Mark. Glad it was useful.
Great insights ! Thank you!
Kevin, thanks for your pieces of advice, and congrats for the 10th anniversary! By the way, beautiful images of your crying kid :)
Haha! "...you're a little bit grumpy..." made my day!
I'm new to your channel and so far I really appreciate your tipps and personal view on wedding photography. Keep up these great videos!
She's not wrong, either :-)
very informative, and I'm not a wedding photographer.. tip 3 made a lot of sense and duly implemented on my website, thank you
Thanks, Robin. Hope you are well mate.
Hey, love your approach. Following you some time already, still looking for my 100% style. Great video, nice of you sharing all this. Many thanks.
Thank you, Zibi!
Quality content as always, Kevin!
Thank you Kevin, inspiring video!
Thanks, Luca.
Great stuff...I wonder how you find shooting weddings with primes? How much more difficult is it from using zooms? Thanks for all great info.
Thank you Kevin!!!
No problem. Thanks, Matteo.
Great video Kevin! Thank you for sharing your experience and insights! Creating greetings Alain
Thanks, Alain - glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks a lot. I needed to hear it.
Thanks, Pavel.
Great advice. Thanks
Loving all the new videos! What do you thinking about doing another business video on how to charge for your services?
Thanks. I'm trying to get some kind of schedule together where I'll cover more topics but in a more organised way. This will be one of them,.
thank you for the insights, the effort and the sharing. i do enjoy your images. thumbs up.
Thank you kindly.
Nice, useful information. Thanks!
Cheers, John.
Nice video Kevin, Usefull as allways!
Thank you, Bas
Lovely video brother
thanks a lot......and nice sound effects...
Cheers - I'm trying to make the videos a little more engaging :-)
Great video Kevin. I have always thought that weddings are the last thing I would want to get into as I have organising groups of people for the traditional group shots but if I could shoot a more documetnary/reportage style i think i would enjoy it. Would you recommend trying to get some freelance work as a second camera with a more experienced photographer before jumping in to it?
Top videoThe question of the tip 2 and your attitude made me laugh really a lot :D
Thanks, Emmanuel :-)
Im a canon User, after of seing your videos i must confess that i have fall in love with the way you work and your style, the reasons that you gave for use the x system, make thing about switch from canon to fujifilm, it is a good choise? by the way I really love your work.
Interesting watch Kevin thank you. I must admit I am one of the hash tag junkies!! 😂 See you at the show!
Great! See you there :-)
Hy Kevin, that's a very, very interrsesting and a very very helpfull Video! Many golden Tips to make this awesome Job as a Wedding Photographer!
I enjoy all of your Videos and i have lerned so many good things!
And also i be a biiig biig Fan of your photographic Style, especially on Weddings! Go ahead Kevin, we need you...!! :-)) Ouuu... sorry about my bad english...:-)
Thank you so much! Glad you are enjoying them.
Don't really know if you will see this but, while doing documentary weddings, do you also have a second shooter with you, sir?
I raised my hand haha
:-)
Great advice, looking to start up myself and this puts things into so much perspective that I haven't seen after several months of research!! Are you Welsh by any chance? You sound North Welsh.
Cheers for the video
I am indeed Welsh. But from the South - Newport :-)
Awesome, awesome, awesome advices, at least for mea who thinks on starting doing weddings. One question tho: do you give clients the same image in colour and b&w or one or the other? Cheers! Looking forward to your following videos, maybe one on Exposure X3 and workflow?
Hi, Crismariu. There will definitely be some Alien Skin tutorials coming soon! Clients have options when it comes to colour/mono. Most will go with my choice, but they do have options.
Five years ago I thought I can do it. After three years, I gave up. Maybe it's good moment for rethining and, with a bit of luck, try once again? Time will tell. Anyway, cool and inspiring movie!
Thanks, Bartek and Good luck.
Many thanks Kevin for this gem of information! Can I ask what camera you used for making this video? More power Kev!
Thanks, Jan. This was all made via a Fujifilm X-T2.
Hands up i'm still in collage and i want to be a wedding photographer
A little bit grumpy ... Too funny
Thank you for this video it is really helpful, have a good day
Thank you, Alon. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Can I ask, did you have any photography qualifications before starting out ? Thanks for this info. :-)
Really nice ! thank you !
Can i ask which light setup do you use? For church / Party and so on.
Thanks,
Fred
Hi Fred. I use a pair of Fujifilm X-Pro2's. Sometimes I'll use my X-T2 and also an X100F / X70 in my pocket. 90% of the time I'll use 23mm and 56mm. That's it.
Thanks,
Kevin
Kevin Mullins thanks !
With Flash ? or only available light ? :-)
Available light. I prefer not to use any flash...
Could you also clear 1 more doubt for me. I ll be buying the fuji x100f but i dont know if i should buy the WCL as well or not??
The WCL gives you a wider view, but to be honest, you can often just take a few steps back and get a similar look. The WCL is great if you are indoor though and can't step back so much.
@@kevin_mullins Okie. I got you. I think i ll 1st buy the camera and use it and then think of buying it. The only time i might require it might be for taking monument pictures
Hi Kevin. Thnx for the tips. I have a question; do you use on a wedding the electronic shutter from time to time, to avoid the shutter sound, or don't you bother about it?
Hi, Bachmann. Yes, I use the ES quite a lot. Often in churches, but quote often also when I'm outside and I want to maintain a shallow depth of field in bright light.
Kevin Mullins thank you very much.
Hi kevin. I have been doing photography since 2 years but i dont really understand the meaning of style in photography. Can you explain a lil bit. I dont know what my style is yet but i luv to capture people in their natural behavior
Hi, Smita. Style refers to the approach you take and the types of images you like to produce. For example, I like my style to be totally candid and mostly black and white. Others' style might be to use highly polished flash, or perhaps their style might be based on using just one focal length etc.
@@kevin_mullins thanx a ton. My god you really cleared my doubts. You are awesome. I luv you and your work. You make things look so simple. 🤗😍🤩
Hi Kevin. Where do you start if you're an absolute rookie? People saw my really nice concert shots one time and wanted me to photograph their kids. It was a bit of a disaster as they were very young and didn't want to sit. They were happy with the results but I had to do quite a bit of post process to make them better. I suppose practice is needed before you get out there, but how did you get that? Cheers. Kev B HULL
Yup - practice, second shooting chances, workshops - all those things....
long video but informative
Thank you :-)
I really like your videos, but pretty please stop having this unnerving piano in the background.
𝙰𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞!
Thank you!