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How much can you expect to earn??


3 years 11 months ago #683780 by Tim Dulaney
Good morning everyone.  I'm not ready yet, but just asking.  If you had a really good tuned wedding photography business, how much can you reasonably expect to earn annually? 

With all this semi-free time, I'm doing some long term planning.  
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3 years 11 months ago #683783 by Shadowfixer1
No way to answer this. It depends on your expertise, marketing and location. If you are in highly populated affluent area or a more rural less affluent area makes a ton of difference. Research your area and compare your skills against your competition.
www.betterphoto.com/?ramshots
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3 years 11 months ago #683785 by Nikon Shooter
This question ranks among the ten most frequently asked
and is certainly the top hardest question to answer.

Competition and clients (offer and demand) wealth of the
market you want to target and your trade and social skills
are all parameters at play and all make it impossible to see
ahead without waaaaay more precision on your market.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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3 years 11 months ago #683811 by Tim Dulaney
Would you say after this Covid 19 passes, will there be greater market for photographers or less?  
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3 years 11 months ago #683823 by Nikon Shooter
The same market — minus the CD19 victims — but there
will be far less money to spend the longer it runs.

I could be wrong… just a hunch.
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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3 years 11 months ago #683837 by Shadowfixer1
There will be a spike from pent up demand because people have had to put weddings on hold. Some photographers are worried that old rescheduled dates will eliminate them from newer jobs. There are also going to be fewer photographers because some are contemplating whether to stay in the profession or not. 
www.betterphoto.com/?ramshots
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3 years 11 months ago #683862 by icepics
Randy (Shadowfixer) is spot on. I'd expect a lot of weddings/events that had to be rescheduled, but then it would probably taper off back to a more typical pace.

Have you assisted at weddings to get experience? Try that (once things get going again). Get on PPA and start learning what it will take to go into business, even if it's a sideline. Learn marketing. Photography in general seems to have gotten saturated with people with cameras underpricing.

My experience has been more in sports & events, and art photography. Never was much money to be made unless you live in a market where you may find an opportunity to work at major league level. For college, minor pro, local, etc. it's mostly getting to go to the games free, the love of the sport, maybe a little extra money. I don't know specifically about weddings (although I know a couple of guys who have done hockey and weddings!) but in general events don't usually pay a lot. Nothing in photography does, unless you can become a top wedding photographer in your area who's in constant demand and can command top prices.

You know the saying, don't quit your day job... If it would at some point work out, you also need to consider you will have to provide your own medical benefits, retirement, etc.
Sharon
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3 years 11 months ago #683922 by Pete Franko
Agree with what has been said already.  Way to many moving parts.  First off, your demographics, experience and the big elephant in the room is how the market will bounce back after this is over.   
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3 years 11 months ago #684121 by Tristan R
That is one LOADED questioned today.  As already mentioned there is no short answer.  

1. Experience
2. Location
3. Other photographers in area rates
4. Demand

Those 4 items will weigh heavily on what you can earn.  
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3 years 11 months ago #684196 by fmw

Tristan R wrote: That is one LOADED questioned today.  As already mentioned there is no short answer.  

1. Experience
2. Location
3. Other photographers in area rates
4. Demand

Those 4 items will weigh heavily on what you can earn.  


You left out the most important one - marketing and sales.
Photo Comments
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