In this video, we're talking about how you can become a wedding photographer
and make some money on the side doing that. You know, I was able to book over 15
weddings in my first year and I made over a million dollars doing that! Well actually,
that was plan ...well I made over $10,000 ... I mean that's the same thing, right?
*Intro Music*
if you're new to the channel consider subscribing and hitting the notification
bell because we release helpful photography marketing videos each week
on the topic of making money on the side I was able to clear a lot of credit card
debt that I had because of wedding photography. Actually this Canon T6i
camera and the lens was actually a gift for my wife that I spent on my credit card so it was
money that I did not have. So I tried figuring out how I can make some money
using the camera to pay back for the camera. After doing a ton of research
online it seemed to me that wedding photography was a profitable niche to
get into. Even though it seemed challenging then, I didn't
really have much knowledge of photography. I barely even knew what the
shutter speed was for! Wedding Photography seemed like it had a lot of different
styles in there like product shots, food photography, family portraits so I knew I had my work
cut out for me but I was up for the challenge and that actually brings me
to the first thing to consider. You need to be motivated by something. So what
motivates you? What drives you? What's going to give you that push? because
you're going to have some work to do, so figuring out your WHY is pretty
important at this stage. As I mentioned just now, for me, it was that I had to clear
some credit card debt and I had other things to do with money ...money that I didn't
have. So I had a push and I remembered that every day especially when times was a
little bit challenging so the sooner you figure that out, what is
it for you, whether it's you just find wedding photography is intriguing or you
have expenses as well figuring this out now is actually going to help you in all of
the other steps that we talk about in this video so I knew I was going to become
a wedding photographer. Now it was to figure out how to actually do it.
The thing about it was that my knowledge was very limited at the time. I simply said
that I was going to fill the gaps. The next thing to consider here is to research
learn and apply. You have to fill the gaps in your knowledge. You can't know
everything and that's okay! The important thing is to figure out how to get to
where you want to go! So research and figure what it is that you need to
know, and then what's the point in just knowing what are the things
that you have to do? actually look at the tutorials! And it only really becomes a
skill when you apply it, repeatedly! Let's say you never shot rings before. You might have a
ring around ...a ring around ... look at some tutorials about lighting
look at some tutorials about editing actually try it
look at some tutorials about lighting wedding cakes and just simply do it. Build that
confidence in his skills if you don't have it. Maybe it's not just about the
technical side of things. Communicating with the clients. Funny thing is I was I
was literally searching for "how to become a wedding photographer
Jonathan Silochan" You can try that exact search term and see what shows up
Even though I made up my mind that I was going to do weddings I had no clue how I was
ACTUALLY going to book weddings, how I was going to get weddings.
I wouldn't expect that somebody would just give me a call hey Jonathan I heard that you're
doing weddings now that's so cool I want to hire you
I haven't seen any of your work as yet but I want to pay you a lot of money to cover my
wedding. How soon can I pay you? Of course that wasn't going to happen!
the truth is I didn't even really feel comfortable telling people at the time
that I was doing weddings because I really didn't have the experience I
didn't have much skills ...then! You really have to create your own opportunities where I
was working at the time I overheard one of my colleagues venting to someone
else about the challenges that she was having with her wedding photographer.
I simply told here's what: sounds like you're having some problems with your
wedding photographer ...you know I'm just starting off but you saw what I
could do ...let me do your wedding! I'll bring across another photographer who's even more
experienced than I am We'll do the wedding at a fraction of the cost. It was actually an
excellent learning experience for me. I only got a few images out of a few
hundred images that I was actually proud of ...so be creative in trying to create
opportunities. Maybe you have a friend getting married and you could be there
wedding photographer. What about a family member?
You can approach a photographer, especially if it's someone that you know, and be there second shooter!
so you get the experience and build the confidence
One day venting to my wife, she suggested that she has her wedding dress
How about she dresses up in her wedding clothes, and I take some pictures?
so what we did was a style shoot. Funny thing is we didn't have an official
wedding photographer! So she was happy to get some pictures all dressed up.
AND she was a model which made it easier for me! You know, less work!
Less work is always better! It's important to work smart, not hard! Maybe it's because
I'm lazy. Anyway, so we did that styled shoot. I did a lot of research on mainly Instagram
The shots that I wanted to recreate. Then I simply tried my best to recreate it!
The shoot ended up being a success
I got a lot of good images that I wanted to use for promotion.
What's the point of NOT promoting the images that you
finally have to use ... I didn't just want to throw it on a social platform. I had
no followers at the time. I had no fans. And I didn't have
any paying customers. The plan was to put those images in front of the right
audience! The people who were looking for wedding photographer or looking for a
photographer you have a cover image, you have a profile photo, you have a logo
what you want to do is create a compelling offer. Maybe you can give away a limited
amount of engagement shoots or a special package that you're offering right now
You have to try different things and see what works ...what you want to
make sure of here is that your your message and offer is in line with the
audience that you're trying to reach. After I ran my first set of Facebook Ads,
still remember the feeling of getting my first query ...was pretty exciting. Once you
and you're really motivated by something so you push through,
push through! You can get your first message or Ad response in no time!
After exchanging a few messages back and fourth, the real aim was to get a meeting with the
potential client. I know somebody was not going to just book me as their wedding
photographer by just watching some pictures online.
Unless I was like a widely popular photographer,
...which I wasn't. After a few messages back and fourth, I tried to really get them
on the phone as fast as possible. Build a little bit of rapport on the phone! and to try and
schedule a meeting as soon as we could. My intention was really to get a meeting
with them as soon as possible so I also use that time to figure out if I wanted
this couple as clients. Because just as much as they were choosing me, I was choosing
them. I took note of some of the things that worked in the meetings. Some of the
objections that they would have, some of the challenges so that I can improve
after every meeting. Long story short - in one week I
scheduled almost all of the meetings with all of the potential clients and I was able to book
15 weddings which book me for the ENTIRE year! Those Facebook Ads just really
ran for about a month. If that sounds interesting to you, join our Facebook
group because we drill down a little bit more into these strategies behind
that. I hope this video was helpful for you. See you guys in the next one!