Image by Phosphilic
Wedding photography can be incredibly fulfilling. But we understand that the profession can also come with a long list of frustrations. From demanding clients to trying to perfect your social media in order to book more clients, some days are just downright difficult. Here at Photobug, we want to do everything in our power to ensure that you feel less alone and help you turn less-than-ideal situations into learning experiences.
That’s why we recently asked the Photobug Community what frustrates them about the industry, and we’re sharing those frustrations with you. Our hope is to demonstrate that many of the struggles you experience personally are common. You don’t have to go through the stress alone. So let’s strengthen the community amongst wedding photographers and remind each other that despite all of the frustrations, it’s one of the most rewarding careers out there.
Image by Daniel Valencia
What Frustrates You As A Wedding Photographer?
Answer: “Working for weeks on a wedding and receiving only a “thanks” when sending the pictures.”
Our thoughts: We understand that this can be annoying! You put all of your time and effort into not only photographing their wedding but also hours upon hours editing thousands of photos. Although there’s nothing we can do to ensure that they’re more grateful, when this happens, we suggest that you allow yourself to sit with the annoyance for a couple of minutes before moving on. There’s nothing you can do to change their reaction, and it’s not a reflection of your work.
However, sometimes you just need to feel supported. That’s where our community comes in. If you ever need to hear uplifting feedback to rejuvenate your creativity and self-confidence, share your story and gallery in our Facebook group. There are many photographers who have been exactly where you are.
Recommended Reading: Client Experience Tips and Tricks
Answer: “The success or engagement on socials often judges the quality of work. Your best work can fall short.”
Our thoughts: Social media is the bane of everyone’s existence–trust us when we say we feel it too. However, just because something doesn’t go viral doesn’t mean it’s not successful. If you’re proud of the work you are producing and sharing with your audience, that’s all that matters. The couples who truly appreciate your work will want to work with you regardless of whether or not you have one like or 500. Post what makes you happy and let everything else fall into place. Although social media is an important marketing tool, it’s also just social media.
Recommended Reading: 5 Instagram Tips For Photographers
Answer: “Our industry still doesn’t fully embrace inclusivity in action”
Our thoughts: It’s no secret that for many years, the wedding industry constantly only featured white, straight, thin clients. As a wedding blog ourselves, we’ve been doing everything that we can to make a difference in being more inclusive. However, we have a long way to go. In order to make a change, the industry as a whole needs to focus on featuring couples of all shapes, sizes, and colors. As a photographer, you have the power to make a difference when taking on new clients. And wedding blogs and publications have the ability to share these weddings. It’s also essential that we continue to speak up about the issue in order to reverse systemic oppression.
Recommended Reading: Become An Inclusive Photographer In 10 Steps
Image by David Le
Answer: “You have to pay to enter contests and memberships on wedding blogs”
We understand that paying for contests is frustrating! However, you wouldn’t want to work for free, would you? When judging photography contests, countless hours are spent going through thousands of photos, organizing marketing materials, emailing media outlets, and more. Not to mention that the gracious photographers who help judge are also paid for their time.
The same goes for being listed as a photographer on a wedding blog. Although we understand that this is not for everyone, the exposure can make a world of difference in helping you book clients. There’s nothing wrong with doing your own marketing to reach an audience, but having a platform that already has a large reach can help make it easier for you! There is no right or wrong decision in whether or not this is a marketing tool that you use.
Recommended Reading: 22 Submission Tips For Getting Your Work Published
These frustrations only scratch the surface. And this definitely will not be the last time we talk about them. Because here at Photobug, we want to make sure that you are heard and given all the tools you need to succeed. If you want to join the conversation, be sure to join our Facebook group, where you can get in touch with other photographers while also learning tips and tricks to make the most of your career!
Image by The Richards Photo and Film