I realize that there's more to life (and work) than making money.
But let's not kid ourselves, either.
Though it's certainly best to do something you love, it's even better to make more money doing what you love!
With the tips outlined below, you can learn how to increase your wedding photographer salary.
How Much Do Photographers Make?
There's no hard-and-fast answer to this question because there are so many factors involved in a wedding photographer salary.
On the one hand, your base rates influence your bottom line, as do the add-ons and products you offer to your clients.
How many gigs you book clearly influences how much money you can make, as does the amount of competition you have for the gigs that are available.
Experience factors into it as well - if you're just starting out, charging a lower rate to entice clients to take a chance on you might be necessary, while more experienced photographers can command a higher rate because of their experience and reputation.
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Provide Something Unique
To earn more money as a photographer, you need to separate yourself from the pack.
In this day and age, in which just about anyone with a camera markets themselves as a photographer, it's increasingly important to have a unique selling proposition that's attractive to customers.
When it comes to products and services, it can be difficult to find something highly unique that draws people in.
That means that you should focus your attention on selling the most unique thing about your business - you!
There is no other photographer like you, so when you market your company, focus on what makes you different from everyone else.
That might be your photography style. It could be the way you approach photography. It might even be the way you interact with clients and tell their story through the images you create.
Whatever it is that sets you apart, identify it, market it, and run with it, that way you can stand out from the crowd. And the more you stand out, the more likely you are to be hired!
Learn More:
- 9 Items Any Photographer Would Want in Their Camera Bag
- 7 Mistakes That Make You Look Like an Unprofessional Photographer
Improve Your Workflow
On the practical side of things, one of the simplest things you can do to earn more money as a photographer is to simply streamline your workflow.
This has applicability to all aspects of your business, from how you interact with prospective clients to how you edit your photos to how you actually take photos in the first place.
When it comes to taking photos, time is of the essence. After all, the time you have with each client is precious, so you want to be able to work quickly and efficiently to get all the shots you (and they) want.
You can do that by carrying your cameras on your body in an easy-to-use camera harness like the Holdfast MoneyMaker.
Think about it...
With something like the MoneyMaker, you can have up to three cameras right there at your fingertips.
That means no more digging around in your camera bag for a different camera body or lens.
Instead, you can have everything you need for quick changes. You can take more photos in less time!
What's more, by having all the gear you need attached to a camera harness, you can move more freely.
That means you'll have an easier time getting varied images, and the more varied the images you take, the more complete the visual story is that you can tell.
Besides, camera harnesses like the MoneyMaker are unbelievably comfortable too. I should know - I own one!
It fits like a glove, spreading out the weight of the gear you're carrying so you have the ultimate in a comfortable carrying experience.
In other words, these things not only help you improve your workflow and allow you to get the job done faster, but the MoneyMaker also allows you to work longer without getting fatigued because the weight of all that gear is evenly distributed across your shoulders and back.
What's not to like about that?
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Be Quick
Related to the previous point, be quick in the processes you have to complete after you take the client's photos.
That is, the faster you get proofs and final products to your clients, the more impressed they will be. No one likes to wait around forever for the expensive photos they just paid for.
Now, this doesn't mean that you should sacrifice the quality of your work in an effort to have an impossibly short turnaround time.
Instead, as pointed out above, work on your workflow, streamline it, and find ways to save yourself some time.
Not only will that help you please your clients, but it will also free up additional time in your schedule to accommodate more clients.
And the more clients you can accommodate, the more money you can earn!
So, when asking yourself, "How much does a photographer make?" the answer is simple - it depends on your ability to provide something unique, your ability to improve your workflow, and your ability to cut turnaround time down so you can move on to the next client.
This isn't a comprehensive list of ways to make more money, but it'll get you going in the right direction!