An interesting reada

[tonymidd]

http://www.bized.ac.uk/current/mind/2005_6/051205.htm

This site analysises the rising cost of a wedding and the decline in weddings.
I find it interesting that wedding photography is the first thing someone taking up photography as a living as the result of redundancy or just wanting a change in life style thinks of doing*. The number of weddings is steadily falling by about 10% per decade, the blip caused by same gender commitments will soon level out, yet the number of aspiring wedding photographers steadily rises. How many of these apirants have their dreams dashed is an unanswerable question. If these statistics were not enough to put any one off wedding photography there's the facts, I think not really appreciated by many new commers, that wedding photography is the most stressfull, most ligitigious, and; untill you've made a name for yourself and can charge sensible rates; not very profitable for the hours taken.

*When I started on my own I concentrated on the commercial side, mainly product pack shoots, pr and archtectural, and only slowly got drawn into weddings over the first two years. I always tried to make sure they were not the mainstay of my business and I charged a much higher hourly rate than I applied to the commercial work, this way I could be choosy what I undertook. No reg offices or workingmens clubs etc. Being fairly exclusive can be a big benifit.

[Stemmy]

Good read :)

Does the amount of divorces worry us ?

Not me - if you want to be tough its more people back into our market.

Not photographed the same bride or groom twice yet - anybody ???

Do you think a lot of "New photographers" wanting to do it full time end up doing it as a weekend filler rather than their main income ?

[Alan Schofield]

I have photographed the same bride 3 ( yes that's 3 ) times

On the second time her partner was at the first wedding & commented that we & her father were the only males too be at both !!

For the third it wa only Dad & me nobody else had a clue :cool:

weird but still she must like white dresses & Weddings & me

Alan

[england1965]

I have photographed the same bride 3 ( yes that's 3 ) times

On the second time her partner was at the first wedding & commented that we & her father were the only males too be at both !!

For the third it wa only Dad & me nobody else had a clue :cool:

weird but still she must like white dresses & Weddings & me

Alan

Brilliant ...did you offer her a group discount? ;)

[Alan Schofield]

No

Different people in each group

But she did spend more each time !!

Thinking about her it must be a couple of years since the last so I might get a call soon

Alan

[tonymidd]

Good read :)

Does the amount of divorces worry us ?

Not me - if you want to be tough its more people back into our market.

Not photographed the same bride or groom twice yet - anybody ???

Do you think a lot of "New photographers" wanting to do it full time end up doing it as a weekend filler rather than their main income ?
Divorces not a problem, they've already paid you! I had one that lasted three days before they split up, good job they had paid in full.

It seems only a few make it even as a filler, I'd say the majority of those trying to turn a hobby into a full time earner fail within two years of starting. Usually because they lack the necessary business skills rather than poor photography tho it's surprising how little many know about the basics required.

[Stemmy]

You are right Tony

Having a photography business isnt just taking pictures. Its a business and you need all the business skills needed in any other profession.

Best advice I ever had was from a friend with two very sucessful businesses. "Its not all about knowing what your good at its knowing what you arn't"

A relativley local photographer to me was OK at taking pictures but rubbish at the business end of things. The worst of it was they thought they were good at the business end. Needless to say they went down the tubes.

Its about having a broad knowledge of a lot of different things - Photography (obviously) - advertising - people skills - motivation - accounts - etc etc.

About the divorce thing. One of my customers from two years ago split up in between me giving them the proofs and then comming to order the final album. Turned out he was 170k in debt - she knew nothing of this. He had taken loans & credit cards in her name. Luckily she wasnt held accountable for them. Even luckier she had two very big, and very handy brothers who made her husband "dissapear" :eek:

I have started offering my customers the chance to buy their negatives or cd of their wedding images (after 2 years). I was amazed at how many had "Bit the Dust" after this short time.

[Kirsty]

makes you think doesnt it! is there any faith & truth in wedding vows & do people back out when it gets hard? Is there still hope for someone like me - in the furute i mean! And 3 days - thts quick!

[Dotty.c]

Yes Kirsty there is hope for youngsters like yourself. My first marriage was a disaster, he was ten years older than me, his first marriage ended when bride ran off with best man! I married to young (20) we never did anything together. Now No.2 is a different story, I've known Les since he was 5, friend of my little brother(yes that makes him my toy boy), we been together 20 years, married 18 years, have shared interests, never argue only heated debates. A good marriage takes working at, just like running a business 100% commitment and working through the difficult patches, and not walking away at the first hurdle.

[BarryM]

I agree, there is always hope, im 33 got married at 17, married 16 years now and counting, 3 lovely boys. First few years are the hardest as you get to know each others good and bad points and sometimes they clash but after 5 years we settled down and everything is hunkydory (kind off :D)

[tonymidd]

Fully agree mariages can work, Margaret and I had 43 good years, yes there were peaks and troughs but we worked at and made it work. 3 great kids and 4 super g-kids all doing well. It's a shame that the big C stopped our retirement plans from coming to fruition so make the most of today, tomorrow may never come.
Kirsty, I hope you will be as lucky as I've been without the permature ending.

Regarding couples breaking up I've still got about ten unfinished weddings, proofs have been supplied, they've all paid up in full, over £1k each, but no contact has been made. All are now well over a year old, do I try to contact them yet again or do I assume that they have gone their sep ways? All had a chasing letter 6 and 9 months after the date, none replied. I gave up chasing by phone after one Bride was very abusive as if it were my fault her Groom had scarpered with all her cash!