How to Make Money With Wedding Photography

The average budget for a wedding is about $15,000. Now this can vary from person to person, and there are obviously a lot of weddings which have a much lower budget and others which have 5 times that amount for a budget.

According to most wedding planners, the happy couple should set aside 40% of their budget to go towards the photography. This is great news for you if you want to be the one taking the pictures.

Are you wondering what kind of camera you need to make money shooting weddings?

I have photographed a lot of weddings and I am always amazed by how fast technology moves. There are digital SLR cameras on the market right now that make your job so much easier as a wedding photographer. For under $1,000 you can get a camera that will make you up to $5,000 or more for each wedding.

So how do you get started?

The thing that will get clients to hire you is your portfolio, so if you don't have one here is a method you can use to build it up. Take pictures at every wedding you attend, and do it all for free. Perhaps you friend is getting married. Take a bunch of candid photos and be creative with your shots. Since you are just starting out you don't want to pressure of being the main photographer so just offer to be an assistant to the photographer and you will have a decent size portfolio in no time.

It will not take a huge amount of pictures for your clients to know what kind of work your produce. If you have 3 or 4 pictures that they just fall in love with, you have a job.

You can get a website or blog and market your wedding photography services too. Make sure you have your location on your website because most people will find you by typing in the city and state they live in and something about photography.

How much do you charge?

Be honest with your clients. If you are just starting out, let them know you don't have a lot of experience. But remember, they have already seen your work and they are hiring you because they know you will do a good job. Starting out you don't want to charge too much, but don't rip yourself off either. I would not charge less than $1,000 for a wedding, but this will include all of your time, a CD or DVD of all the images and maybe a few prints on the side. The more weddings you shoot the more people will know about you and want to hire you and the more you can charge.

Wedding Photography - To Peek Or Not to Peek, That is the Question

Whether or not to see each other is one of the most common decisions a wedding photographer sees between a groom and bride-to-be. Some prefer the intimacy of meeting together before the wedding while others prefer the surprise of seeing each other at opposite ends of the aisle. When it comes to wedding photography, both situations are good and not so good. The couple even has a few options that make for unique images you won't soon forget.

Keeping It Hidden

All superstitions aside, waiting until the ceremony to see each other creates some truly magical moments that both of you will remember for years to come. An expression instantly creeps into the bride and groom's face that can never be recreated. It might also keep grandmothers from having a fit.

Unfortunately, it can cut down on the images the wedding photographer is able to capture. With only one camera, the photographic expert needs to work quickly and efficiently in order to catch images of the bride and groom's initial reaction. One way around it is to have two cameras with one shooting the groom and the other getting images of the bride.

Taking A Peek Before The Ceremony

Some couples just don't want to wait until the event to see each other. Contrary to some traditional beliefs, this isn't a crime and will not cause them to divorce. Many couples use these 'stolen' moments as a chance to relieve the worries of the day. To them, sharing this moment in private has far more meaning to them. There is no doubt that seeing each other before the wedding causes the reaction at the ceremony to diminish, but that doesn't mean that initial look will be missed in the wedding photography.

The two can arrange to meet earlier in a garden, a private room, or even outside of the venue. Those who would still like to share this moment inside the venue with their closest family members can choose to have immediate family sit in the front while the two meet in the aisle before the event starts. The wedding photography can capture these moments while not detracting from the mood by simply having the expert work at a distance.

Meet In The Middle

It is still possible to share a private moment before the big moment without spoiling the surprise. For a wedding photographer, this can sometimes be a far better scenario. The pair could meet on the opposite sides of a large piece of fabric with only a small hole, talk to each other with a door in between, or even meet blindfolded. The possibilities are endless. It is a great way to add a little bit of fun and creativity to the situation.

For all couples, whether the couple is from a small town or a big city like Chicago wedding photographer or videographers don't sway one direction or the other. What truly matters is how the two of you would like the day to unfold. When all is said and done, the wedding photography will be just as special and unique as the couple is.

Wedding Photo Ideas - Best Ideas For Creative Wedding Photos

Wedding photography has an important role in every wedding celebration. It creates memorabilia of the most wonderful event of a couple's (bride and groom) life. Therefore, professional wedding photographers are supposed to capture some of the best moments during the wedding celebration. It is a tough and quite complex task for wedding photographers to create unique wedding photos. This article will discuss about some of the most popular ideas to capture wedding photos.

Focus On Capturing Emotions
The magical secret of capturing the best wedding photographs lies in capturing real emotions of people at wedding venue, especially the bride and the groom. There are several emotional shades appearing on the face of bride. It can be sadness of losing her family, excitement for a whole new world, happiness of getting her beloved for lifetime, and many more. Similar emotions appear on faces of other people (including the groom) during the wedding. An experienced wedding photographer is supposed to capture all these moments.

Avoid Too Much Posing
There are several occasion where people want them to be captured in a specific pose. Such kind of posing is OK to some extent. However, repetition of same pose again and again will make the wedding album boring. Therefore, when it comes to capturing routine photos, the photographer should avoid too much posing. Rather, they should capture photos of guests and family members in natural gestures.

Think Romance and Be Creative
Wedding photos are a treasured gift for the couple getting married. It will l bring all those fun filled moments and nostalgia in front of them whenever they will see their wedding album together. Therefore, perfect blend of creativity and romance in wedding photos is required to make it a real treasure for bride and groom.

To attain this purpose, photographer needs to capture photos in several romantic gestures. Taking help of natural sites will enhance the effects. For example, capturing private moments of married couple in a boat, kissing each other at the time of sunset and sun hiding behind them, bride and groom stealing some private moments from the guests and family, can be the most loved photos for married couple.

Take Bride and Groom's Opinion
The bride and the groom both have several dreams about their wedding. They plan a lot about this most auspicious moment of their life. They also plan about the wedding photos in different moods. Their opinion is very much valuable for wedding photographer. These opinions should be incorporated in wedding photos.

Apart from aforementioned tips, wedding photographers should also use the advance features of their camera or the photo editing software to bring creativity and magical touch in wedding photographs.

Wedding Photography Marketing Ideas

If you're a wedding photographer and you're keen to keep yourself busy every weekend, then you are going to have to take the time to learn some wedding photography marketing strategies and implement them in your business.

You are about to find out about 3 great techniques you can start using today, but these are definitely not the only strategies that you could be using.

You can always improve on your marketing skills and implement new and improved strategies.

Wedding Photography Marketing Idea #1 - Implement A System For Generating Referrals.

It is a well known fact that referrals are some of the warmest leads you can receive - but waiting for referrals to be sent your way invariable results in far fewer referrals than you would like.

Of course there is always going to be the odd referrals sent your way, but if you truly want to make a living from referrals, then you must make sure that you ask for them from your customers friends and acquaintances, and know when and how to ask in such a way that you are more likely to get the referrals you ask for..

And as you get more comfortable asking for referrals, your confidence will grow and it will result in more people being willing to send business your way.

Wedding Photography marketing Idea #2 - Spend Money On Search Engine Optimization

As a wedding photographer you are lucky - a well optimized website can be a cash cow that send s you new clients like clockwork

If you have done the work and your wedding photography website sits nicely in Google than your business will always benefit from a regular stream of inquiries.

And if you look at it from a business investment point of view, a relatively small outlay today can continue to send you clients many years down the track.

Keeping a website on top of Google is the easy part, once all the hard work to get it there has been done, and the wedding clients it will generate for you will continue for many years after the initial work is done.

Wedding Photography Marketing Idea #3 - Use Facebook's Paid Advertising Platform

Facebook lets it user buy advertising space on the site that not only gives you the ability to target users by gender and location, you can also target them according to their relationship status.

So what you would do is create an ad campaign that targets only people who are engaged.
So as soon as someone changes their status to engaged, your ads will start showing in their account, and you will get the chance to promote your services before other photographers in your area.

Wedding photography marketing doesn't get much more targeted than that

Using Mason Jars As Wedding Favors

Mason jars are sometimes seen as a simple bit of Americana: outdated and reserved for the preservation of foods. They are actually a unique, multifunctional glassware that have a variety of uses, ranging from beverage holder to interior design tool. There is also the option of personalized mason jars. These can be custom printed to design specifications like artwork, graphics, or text, and can be used to convey a personal message or decorate a room with a specific image. These can be great as an affordable design option in any setting, and are great for special events like weddings. Here are three unique ways to use personalized mason jars that are either printed or engraved with custom artwork. If you are using customizable wedding jars for beverage holders then they automatically serve the function of durable and secure beverage holders, with thick glass to keep a drink insulated and a stylish southern throwback design. However, if you print or engrave a personal message on the jar like the date of your wedding or a heartfelt thank you then these jars can also serve the function of a thoughtful wedding favor.

Another use for mason jars is as a decorative feature that can lively up a boring table setting or bring a creative element that your guests will remember. One idea is to fill the mason jars with an arrangement of plants and flowers, with or without a layer of beads/sand/stones, and water. The water will keep the flowers alive longer, and you can also mix in a plant nutrient to increase their longevity. The actual arrangement is up to your creative vision, but the jars can be enhanced with a custom printed message or image to accompany the flowers. A third use of mason glass jars is as lighting. They can be used simply or a little more complicatedly adding either a small element to your design or a big bold statement that is sure to turn heads. The first way is to simply place a small tea candle-- or other candle of your choice--into the center of the printed mason jar, to use it as effective table lighting. The printed or engraved image will be back-lit by the flickering center. A more complicated lighting option is to use them as light-bulb fixtures, with the bulb in the center surrounded by the mug. Depending on the size of the mug, and the method you choose to attach it to your fixture there options of creative application are endless..

Custom printed mason glass jars are increasingly becoming a great option for affordable and stylish d矇cor that effectively show off your attention to detail and can be completely personalized based on your design and application. Personalization of different elements of any planned design, like a wedding theme or other special occasion, can make a big impact on your guests. Choose these mason jars for your next event, and use one of these design ideas or come up with your own. Its up to you!

Wedding Photography Contract - What A Wedding Photography Contract Should Include

So you are finally there, ready to sign the dotted line, tying that bond between wedding photographer and couple, about to be married. Do you know what your wedding photography contract should include? Have you crossed all of your t's, dotted your i's, and made sure that you are getting exactly what you are paying for? Here are things to remember when reviewing your wedding photography contract.

Outline the Day's Details

Make sure that your wedding photography contract is very specific about the details of your wedding day. It should include the exact length of time that the photographer will be there, if the photographer is coming alone, has a second photographer coming with, or is bringing an assistant. Making sure that the hourly commitment is crystal clear in the contract will make sure you have your wedding photographer there to cover ALL of your memories, and not one minute less.

Right Place, Right Time

If you know where you are getting married at the time of booking with your wedding photographer, make sure to include the specific details of when and where inside the contract. This way, the wedding photographer is clear about what venue the ceremony is taking place at, where the location of the reception is, and any in-between pit stops there might be during your day. Are you getting married outside, in a church, at the courthouse, or in mom and dad's back yard? Make sure the wedding photography contract has the details, including addresses, telephone numbers, and a possible contact name and number for someone coordinating at the venue.

What Your Wedding Photography Package Includes

If any place at all, this is the place within the wedding photography contract where there should be NO questions or confusion! Be sure that the contract states exactly what is included in your agreement. This includes the length of time the wedding photographer is committed to, the number of people the photographer is bringing, how many final wedding photos you are expected to receive, the length of time it will take for you to receive your wedding pictures, and your rights as the bride and groom to republish and distribute your wedding pictures. Will there be a photographer logo on every picture? If you do not wish to have one, make sure this agreement is in the contract.

When To Pull Out Your Pocketbook

Most wedding photographers have a specific timeline for when they expect payment for their services. Some require a 50% deposit and the rest upon the date of the event. Some wedding photographers want the full payment up front. Others may set up a payment plan with you. Be sure you are aware of specific payment due dates in your wedding photography contract. Read the fine print. Some wedding photographers may book someone else for your wedding date if you do not pay on time.

In addition, because a wedding photographer is committing an entire day to shooting your wedding and your events, the photographer and his or her assistants will need to be fed! Most wedding photography contracts include an agreement of what a photographer is fed at your wedding. In most cases, there is time allotted for the photographer and assistants to eat during the wedding reception. They need to keep their energy up to shoot the most quality wedding pictures possible!

Must-Have Wedding Photos

If there are specific shots you want during your wedding day, throw them into the contract so that there is no confusion or misstep. Many photographers will work with you before your day to add the photos you want to the master shot list. However, it is always a good idea to cover your tracks and put these into the wedding photography contract as well, making sure you get your favorite photos.

Cover Your Bases

Know what will happen in case your wedding photographer has an emergency or becomes ill the time of your wedding. Will he or she hire someone else to shoot? Will he or she come shoot your wedding anyway? Who will be there to capture your memories? The wedding photography contract should have a clause in it stating the alternatives in case an emergency should arise.

Think It Over

Spend time carefully reading the wedding photography contract, discussing it with your fianc矇, and making sure that you understand and accept each and every bit of what is on that paper. This will give you the reassurance you deserve when booking your wedding photographer, knowing that this person will be there to catch every tear, every laugh, every hug, and every kiss of your wedding day.

Classic Wedding Cars for Traditional Weddings

A lot of young couples nowadays wish to keep it simple, to give a nice wedding reception for their wedding, nothing extraordinarily fancy. They will have all the fun, glitter and crazy dance afterwards, on their honeymoon after all. A pearly white wedding gown, a nice classy ebony black metallic Mercedes Benz and a wonderful bouquet of white or soft pink roses are the some top ingredients of such a classic wedding. If you keep it simple, but still, remember to take care of all the details, your wedding day is going to be a success.

At Car Rental Singapore, there is a great variety of classic cars for weddings that you can choose from. Here are some very good examples:

• The Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet for young non conformist couples who are giving a smaller reception. This is an extremely cute car, it is a big classic, and the price is also unbeatable. Don't forget about the Wedding Services - such as flower decoration - a Beetle would perfectly go with the "wild" white lilies for example.


• For an energetic sporty couple, nothing would suit better than the timeless classic Mercedes- the Benz SLK 200 or the BMW 320i. If you choose a white car, then you could decorate it with pink roses, which will look very nicely on it. If you choose the black, you could go for the yellow or white bouquets. There are plenty of such sporty-classic Wedding Cars available, just take your time and browse through the options.


• For the very picky couple, the Mitsouka Nouera is an elegant classic that will make your wedding day the best. It is an opulent car that will make an impression at every stop that you make. Just give yourself the best; after all it is a special day. Rent Wedding Car according to your budget and needs and at Car Rental Singapore you will always get the best value for your money.


• Nothing is more traditional, classy and elegant than a limousine. At Wedding Cars Singapore, the timeless Chrysler Super Stretch Limousine waits for you, at especially advantageous prices.

No matter which car you choose, just make sure that you pick one that goes well with the main theme of your wedding, and which brings forwards your personality. For example, for a traditional Tahitian style wedding you should choose an open top car, instead of the Dodge Caliber for example.