Elyse Whall of Plum and Oak sat down with me last week to chat all things business and wedding photography. We covered A LOT of information in the hour we had together, and still could have easily spent double the time. So how did she go from being a self taught photographer to charging $6k a wedding and being booked solid? We broke it down to her top tips for launching a wedding photography business, including resources for everything we mentioned. (resources at the bottom)

1. BE LEGIT. If you’re going to launch your own business, then go ALL in. Do it right. That starts with the glamorous task of deciding between your business structure being an LLC, Sole Proprietor or Corporation. Do your research on which structure will be the best fit for you. Next, file for your Tax ID/EIN. Lastly, if you plan to offer any tangible goods (prints, albums, etc.) obtain your sellers permit. 

2. HONE IN ON YOUR IDEAL CLIENT: Who are you trying to attract to your business? Close your eyes and envision them. How old are they, what are their interests, what are their hobbies, their wedding style, what music do they listen to, places they visit, stores they shop?? Have that person in your head? Good, now always keep them in focus. Your ideal client should take one look at your website and instantly think YES! While your non-ideal client will instantly move on. You want to evoke strong feelings either way. In business, you do not want to appeal to everyone.

3. DEVELOP YOUR BRAND. Come out of the gate strong. You’re launching a business! No need to tip toe into the scene when you can jump in with a SPLASH. You’ll need a website. A good one. Fortunately, Squarespace makes it crazy simple for us but you want to make sure to set yourself apart by having an awesome template. Be unique on your site, don’t just create a knockoff version of another photographers site you really like. The world needs YOU, not another her. YOU. Don’t be afraid to stand out! So whatever you do, please don’t be vanilla!

4. The 3, 2, 1 STRATEGY. Third shooting, second shooting, and lead. We all have to start somewhere to master our craft. If you’re launching a biz, you’re probably not the newest kid on the block but you need to continue to learn and evolve. Set up styled shoots with other wedding vendors, practice detail shots at home with flat lays in different lighting scenarios, and build up that portfolio. It’s about becoming smarter and quicker under pressure, refining your skills! On wedding days, you often only have mere seconds to adjust before your next shot. Those moments matter, only one chance to nail a couple’s perfect day.

5. PRICING - According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20 percent of small businesses fail within their first year. By the end of their fifth year, roughly 50 percent and after 10 years, the survival rate drops to approximately 35 percent. Don’t be a statistic! A huge reason businesses fail is because they are not profitable. I mean, it’s not rocket science right? Don’t base your pricing off other local photographers in your area. Look at your numbers, and do what makes sense for YOUR business. Then gradually increase your pricing, as you continually add value to your clients and improve your skills. Just to give you perspective, Elyse increased her pricing $300 for every 3 weddings booked.

BONUS TIP: Get ready for this mind blowing one… BE PROFESSIONAL. I cannot emphasize this enough! This will be the biggest contributing factor in growing your biz. Answer your phone, respond to emails promptly, be punctual, and respect people’s time. This applies not only to your clients, but your fellow vendors as well. A commonly asked question is how to make those initial connections with vendors for collaborations, and the biggest piece of advice is to be professional. Use email (do not slide into their DM!) and offer them something of value (whatever you do, do not ask to “pick their brain”). Instead of reaching out with a want, offer to shoot their teams’ new headshots, or shoot their centerpieces at the bridal shower this weekend. I promise friends, this will get you much further in business and in life itself than reaching out to people with a want.

RESOURCES:

Legal Zoom- Legal services

CDFTA - California TAX ID/EIN and sellers permit

Creative Live - Free online classes for creatives and business

Squarespace - Design your dream website - easy, peasy

Go Live HQ - Squarespace Website Templates & Free workshops

Quixotic Design Co. - Brand Identity, Packaging, and Web Design 

Jenna Kutcher Profitable Pricing Guide - Download her free guide on pricing - also just a great resource for all things business

*Disclaimer: Elyse is not an accountant or lawyer so her insight does not constitute legal advice. Be sure to check with your own lawyer or accountant on these topics.