7 Wedding Photographer Success Stories [2023]
Starting a wedding photography business is a great way to turn your passion for photography into a profitable career. As a wedding photographer, you will capture the special moments and memories of a couple’s big day.
This involves coordinating with the couple to understand their vision for the photographs, scouting locations for the shoot, and using your creative skills to take stunning photographs.
To start a wedding photography business, you must invest in high-quality equipment such as a camera, lens, and lighting. You will also need to have a strong portfolio of your work to show potential clients and should consider joining a professional organization like the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.
Marketing is also an essential aspect of running a successful wedding photographer business. This can involve creating a website and social media presence, networking with wedding planners and venues, and advertising in local wedding magazines or blogs.
Overall, being a wedding photographer requires a combination of technical skills, creativity, and business acumen. But with hard work and dedication, it can be a rewarding career that allows you to share in the joy of a couple’s special day.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a wedding photography business:
1. Studio 31 ($600K/year)
Pranesh (from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) started Studio 31 over 12 years ago.
I’m Pranesh Padmanabhan, 33, a first-generation entrepreneur and the Founder of Studio 31, a 12-years-old creative wedding photography and film company, that has been recognized by many premium publications in India. Studio 31 captures over 350 weddings every year and more than 90% of our customers are NRIs who travel to India for their weddings. On average, our annual revenue is about a million dollars.
One unique thing about why couples book Studio 31 is the overall customer experience that it provides, which is largely missing in the wedding photography industry in India.
2. SvenStudios ($72K/year)
Steven Duncan (from Morphett Vale, South Australia) started SvenStudios almost 10 years ago.
Hi, I’m Steven and I’m a wedding photographer based out of Adelaide, Australia. I believe photography is about portraying a scene in ways that people recognize, but at the same time, have never witnessed before. Anyone can take a photo of a scene, but I want to show the world what I can create through my lens in ways that are unique and yet completely relatable to other people who have witnessed the same scene, all the while allowing my couples to act as though I’m not there just as a ‘photographer’ but rather their friend. This allows for a much more genuine set of photos for them to remember their big day!
One of the things that stand out to my clients when comparing myself with my competitors is my ability to come across as a professional wedding attendee! I can help out with any aspect of a wedding, not just their photographer - so I’m often planning everyone's wedding for them. I also make use of some cool technology such as Virtual Reality cameras, hybrid shooting video, and photography, and course drones - and not just the aerial kind, underwater too!
Learn more about starting a wedding photography business:
Where to start?
-> How much does it cost to start a wedding photography business?
-> Pros and cons of a wedding photography business
Need inspiration?
-> Examples of established wedding photography business
-> Marketing ideas for a wedding photography business
-> Wedding photography business names
-> Wedding photography business Instagram captions
Other resources
-> Wedding photography business tips
-> Email templates for a wedding photography business
4. Allen Clark Photography
Allen Clark is a Nashville based celebrity, music & advertising photographer and shoots on location & out of his studio in Nashville Tennessee.
- Business rank: #1.91M
Check out their full website ➜
5. Details Nashville
Details Nashville specializes in wedding photography and videography, corporate photography and videography, slow motion video booths, and photo booths.
- Business rank: #1.91M
Check out their full website ➜
6. ALINA THOMAS
Northern Virginia wedding photographer based in Leesburg, VA. Specializing in luxury, classic weddings, Alina Thomas Photography also serves Charlottesville and the Washington DC area.
- Business rank: #2.41M
Check out their full website ➜
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