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On 13 August 2009, I posted a survey about wedding photography on surveymonkey.com for our wedding class at Focal Point Photography School in Vancouver and invited wedding photographers from LinkedIn Groups to complete it with their own answers. I received 25 responses within two days! Respondents were professional wedding photographers in Washington DC; Sunter, South Carolina; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Toronto, Canada; Ipswich, Doncaster, and Brighton, UK; County Down, Ireland and other places which will forever remain anonymous. Below are the results in no particular order. Hopefully, wedding photographers in general (including students of wedding photography) and couples looking for a photographer for their wedding will learn from these enlightening answers, which appear as written in the survey (with only punctuation, grammar and spelling corrected for easier reading).

1. How long have you been working as a Wedding Photographer?

• 6 years.
• 3 years.
• 5 years.
• 1 year.
• 12 years.
• 10 years.
• 1.5 years.
• 2 years.
• 3.5 years.
• Events since 8th grade 1971 weddings since 1976.
• 11 years.
• 20+ years.
• 24 years.
• Four Years.
• 35 (clients).
• 3 years.
• About 7 months.
• 4 years.
• 18 years.
• 3 years.
• On and off for about 10 years.
• 1 year.
• 20 years.
• 5 years.
• 10 years.

2. Is Wedding Photography in your area an all-year-round job or seasonal? If seasonal, what months are the “wedding months”?

• Some months are busier than others... May & Oct are my busiest months.
• Year round.
• All year.
• All year.
• All year.
• Except for the month of Ramadan, all year through, but more in summer.
• All year round.
• Year round.
• Summer.
• It is all-year-round job but there are peak seasons that is why I [am an] Event Photographer. Chicago winters suck so there are corporate affairs and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and portraits.
• April through December generally.
• Seasonal. A large portion of my weddings are outdoors, Spring and Fall.
• Year round.
• Somewhat seasonal, June - August the strongest.
• Year Round.
• All year, but May-September are by far the busiest.
• Starts around May & slowing September. Usually spring and summer is prime time.
• Seasonal. May through September.
• All year.
• Only the winter months (January-March) noticeably slow down.
• Mostly year round - winter is the slowest time.
• All year round.
• May-October.
• All year round.
• Seasonal: April to November.

3. How many wedding packages do you offer your clients in total?

• 5.
• 4.
• 1.
• 2.
• 3 but with flexibility around those for those that need it.
• 3 basics and a small variety of additional features which can be mixed.
• 2.
• 0.
• 4.
• Used to be 3-4 now it is one. I hate the post production.
• 4-5.
• 6-8.
• 4.
• Three.
• 5.
• 4.
• 6.
• 3 but I will always manage custom packages.
• One.
• Each wedding package is custom based on needs by the client.
• I do a custom package based on the client's needs and budget.
• No packages all bespoke.
• 3.
• 5.
• I offer a base package which is customized with options, if desired.

4. Based on your own experience, on average how many months ahead of the wedding do clients contact you to enquire about your wedding photography services?

• 1 year in advance typically.
• 6-8.
• 4-10.
• 2 months.
• Between 24 and 1!
• 6 - 3 months is the norm, but sometimes just a few days.
• 4-6.
• 3-6.
• 4 months.
• 1-4.
• 6 months to a year.
• 6 months.
• 8.
• Four months.
• 9 months.
• 8-12.
• 6-12 months.
• Highly variable, 3 weeks to 13 months - so 6 months on average.
• 12 months.
• Ranges from 10 months to 2 months before the wedding date.
• Usually 2-3 months - some brides are more organized and book further ahead.
• From a few weeks to over a year.
• 6-12.
• 12.
• 3-9.

5. Percentage-wise, how many of your clients come from a) referrals from past clients; b) advertisements you have placed in the local yellow pages; c) advertisements you have placed in wedding-related magazines; d) wedding-related trade shows you have participated in as exhibitor; e) referrals from other wedding businesses that you are allied with, i.e. wedding caterers, musicians, etc.?

• a. 25% b. N/A (I do not advertise in the Yellow Pages) c. N/A d. N/A e. 20%.
• a) 5% b) N/A c) 80% d)7% e) 3%.
• a) 50% b)0 c)0 d)30% e)20%.
• Referrals.
• Mostly referrals, some online advertising.
• Referrals from clients and wedding business.
• a) 60% b) 2% c) 0% d) 0% e) 28%.
• 100% from referrals.
• a) 80% c)1% e)19.
• a 80% b 0% c 0% d 0% e 20%.
• 90% referral base.
• a) 80% b) 25%.
• a 90, b 0, c 3, d 2, e 5.
• a) 50 b) 0 c) 0 d) 0 e) 50.
• Referral (Client) 50% - Referral (Business Allies) 45% Walk In 5%.
• 85% referrals from past clients and rest from other wedding businesses.
• a) 40%, b) 0%, c) 0%, d) 0%, e) 60%.
• a) 60% b) 0% c) 0% d) 0% e) 40%.
• Majority is referral from past clients.
• a-30% b & c - 0% (too costly in today's economy) d-5% (shows really aren't worth it) e-30%.
• Clients come from either referrals or wedding fairs, I don't advertise. Probably about 50-50 split.
• a) 62 b) 7 c) 2 d) 6 e) 23.
• a) 20% b) 10% c) 10% d) 20% e) 40%.
• a- 90% also: referrals from online sites and a caterer.

6. Apart from the methods mentioned above, in what other ways do you market your wedding photography services?

• Online...My Website and other related Wedding Websites.
• Blog, website, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter.
• Website - Natural Google traffic.
• Local websites.
• Word of mouth.
• Muslim weddings are gender-separated; I'm one of the few women photographers and can work in the women's section which is closed to men.
• Blog followers 10%.
• Internet, social networking sites.
• Google ad words.
• Talk, talk, talk :-).
• Word of mouth.
• Monthly e-mail newsletter.
• Facebook, Twitter.
• None.
• Social Networking.
• Search engine rankings, word of mouth.
• Word of mouth.
• Pictage.com.
• Friends/family - 30%, Facebook-10%.
• Social networks, website, blog.
• Web site, social networking.
• Business networks.
• Craig's list.

7. Do you use an assistant for your wedding gigs? If so, what do you let the assistant do and what kind of agreement do you have with her/him regarding copyright on the photos he/she shoots?

• Sometimes, I retain ownership of the images, but they may use them for portfolio purposes.
• Assistant - no. 2nd shooter - yes (big difference between the two). I download their images after the event and give their cards back. They are free to use the images for their own portfolio.
• Yes. All work is done as work for hire.
• No I do not.
• No.
• Yes, no copyrights, it's my responsibility and good name, I need to protect these.
• Most of the time, I use a second shooter (not really assistant). All images are mine, although my seconds can use them in their portfolio.
• Sometimes I do. I own the copyright, but they can use them on their blog after checking with me first to make sure we don't blog the same photos.
• Sometimes. Let them photograph everything. Copyright is basically mine, but if they need [a photograph] for something specific I let them use it.
• When I can get one, yes - work for hire, self promo samples 3 years after the event. If they pay for a 2nd shooter, assistants can shoot almost anything. If not paid, they schlep and hold a 2nd light for party shots.
• Absolutely. I use skilled assistants that can pretty much shoot on their own. They should have their own gear. They can use the photos to promote themselves on their website only, not for any printed advertisements or in any way to sell or make money from them. I hold ownership of them, granting them limited licensing.
• Depends on the size of the wedding. Assistants sign a contract and can use images for their portfolio.
• No. Mostly alone.
• Sometimes. Photos can be used in portfolio but not sold.
• Yes, Studio Owns Copyright.
• If I do need assistants they are usually 2nd shooters and they retain copyright to their photos shot with photo attribution as well.
• Currently no. I'll hire or trade services for weddings I need 2 photographers, in that case they maintain copyright and I have non-exclusive rights to use the images.
• Sometimes. I have a second photographer who also looks after my equipment.
• No.
• Sometimes - my husband is my assistant so copyright isn't an issue.
• My daughter is my assistant - she shoots what she wants and all images belong to our business.
• Yes and no. I own the rights to the images, if they want some of the images for their portfolio I'm okay with that...they just can't sell the image.
• Copyright is mine I pay him per job.
• Occasionally, I'll employ a second shooter who is able to use his/her work for portfolio purposes only.

8. What kinds of added incentives do you offer your prospective clients who are hesitating between using your services and those of your competitors?

• Clients either like your work or not... I offer more incentives/discounts to returning clients than I do to prospective clients.
• I don't haggle on price - it cheapens my image! (I'm not a flea market level photographer!). If they want my quality, they want to pay my price.
• None.
• References/ pricing.
• Pricing and quality.
• Like I said, I am a woman and can photograph in both sections, a male photographer cannot work in the women's section.
• Maybe a free e-session. Not usually needed though.
• None. My clients are attracted to my personality and my work.
• Discount, albums for parents, enlargements.
• Honeymoon coverage for free on call for 24/7 although they need to pay travel, room, and board for me I also will do in room videos.
• I try to work with them and what they would like to have.
• Custom packages, negotiations.
• The CD of images.
• I don't.
• NEVER Discount offer additional service.
• First it depends on why the hesitation. If due to artistic then I encourage them to continue to shop and be sure, if money I will offer something more of my time.
• Currently nothing. Weddings aren't the only photography I do and I actually don't want to book every single weekend.
• My USP mostly consists of my people skills. I make sure everything runs smoothly on the big day, my experience has give me the heads up on what can go wrong and I make sure I do all I can to ensure these "hic-ups" get resolved quickly. A stressed out bride makes for difficult photos.
• Free small album.
• Besides low prices (about 1/2 of what I was charging last year) I include the engagement shoot and bridal shoot.
• None.
• None...either they want me or they want someone else. I am established and understand weddings, know how to use my equipment, and have beautiful custom designed albums.
• None. They like my work or they don't.
• None.

9. Do you see Wedding Photography as something you will continue to do for many more years, or do you feel you've been doing it for too long already and it is starting to become less appealing (and more tiring) as you get older?

• I love wedding photography but it does take up a lot of your weekends I may tire of that in years to come...
• I will continue.
• The business is changing. Photographers are getting paid less and less.
• I believe I will do it for a while longer.
• It does get more tiring but pays well and offers lots of opportunity for travel too.
• The sound levels have grown and my ears are suffering, so although it is lucrative, I take on less business then I could, I refer to others.
• I'm just getting going. Not tired of it yet!
• I will do it forever.
• I hope will be a "side" income, getting less appealing.
• I'm soon to be 52 and am tired of sucking up to bridezillas as most are.
• I am sure I will always shoot weddings to some capacity.
• Continue, always need to keep it fresh.
• Looking forward to many years more.
• Will continue to do for many years.
• Too many people who don't know the biz are affecting pricing.
• I see it as something I will be doing for a long while.
• As the other areas of my photography business develop I will likely not shoot weddings. I don't promote myself as a wedding photographer but it does make up over half my revenue.
• I do only eight weddings in a year. I would like to keep my hands in, but prefer to do portraits.
• Continue doing for many more years! It's great to document such a special day and their delight in the memories captured.
• Hopefully - I do all types of photography so I won't burn out as quickly - keeps the creative juices flowing better.
• Growing the business, I'm really a lifestyle photographer.
• Yes to both.
• Work until I die...I love it that much.
• I will continue for at least 5 more years, but would like to reduce the volume.

10. Do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to share with young photographers who are just now coming into the Wedding Photography business?

• Work under a Wedding Photographer that shares your vision, and learn all aspects of the wedding photography business before going on your own!
• Don't offer free (or $500) weddings on places like CL just to build your portfolio. It cheapens the entire market. Brides aren't educated enough about real photography to know the difference between a gwc and a professional. Build your portfolio by tagging along with an established shooter until you are ready to take on the responsibility of a couple's most important day in your hands!
• Pick a career other than photography - unless you happen to be rich.
• Check your competition's work and pricing, and price a bit cheaper.
• Try to stand out. Reflect your own personality through the lens, this produces by far the best photography, don't just present what you think fits with the industry or what you think people expect to see; be yourself, be original and be outstanding!
• The “ethnic” market has opportunities, check them out.
• Don't give up and find your own style.
• Assist and 2nd shoot. Learn the business and build a client base before going out on your own. Taking photos is the easy part, business is the hard part. Good luck!
• It's extremely hard work! Be patient and always smile!
• Few really make it in wedding business Take more business classes MBA or be an Attorney than you can dabble in photos if you want.
• It is a tough business, tougher then it has been before, but if you are good, consistent, don't follow the trends, creating your own look and feel to your work, you will continue to work. Trends come and go, but good photography stays around forever. Have faith in yourself and take those jobs that you think, maybe I am not ready, because you are more ready then you realize (usually don't take the job unless you do know that :-). It is a great industry full of surprises and at the end of the day, extremely rewarding.
• It isn't easy. If you care about your work, it is more work than you may have imagined. Personality does matter, always be professional. Even if you enjoy photography, must have a business mind too.
• Be confident in your vision and what you are doing is right. Don't lose your mojo regarding your ability.
• Shoot everything and sort out the best later.
• Work with a pro to fully understand the biz, not for style but business acumen.
• Start mentoring before out of school. There is a huge difference when really out there shooting one and it also gives them the opportunity to start building a clientele riding the jacket tail of an already established photographer.
• Try & find an established photographer to assist or 2nd shoot for in exchange for experience and learning opportunities. Develop your style, and take on a few weddings to see if you like the wedding business. The shooting is fun but the majority of the time invested is with clients, editing, album design and admin.
• Appear confident, even when you don't feel it. Don't make promises you know will be difficult to keep. Be honest but subtle. Ask questions and get advice from any wedding photographers you meet, most are usually willing to pass on advice; those who don't aren't worth the effort. Remember to be as generous to other photographers who are just starting out, you were that person not long ago.
• Hang in. It takes awhile. Constant networking, sales and keep learning in your craft!
• Make sure you have a good paying day-job during the week. This economy won't turn around for a few years and you won't make a living doing just wedding photography. I've had 6 brides cancel their weddings (yes, entire wedding - everything!) because of the economy and their shaky jobs.
• It's difficult to get started; use your own network of friends to get you business. Be true to your own style.
• Find training - buy a Q flash - learn lighting - and don't be fooled by the big speakers who are charging $10,000+ for wedding work. The reality is that most photographers charge less than $2000.
• Get a good product and make it better.
• Get as much education you can about the business side of photography!

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