How to get into Midwest Wedding Photography & Videography
I want you to think back to your wedding day or imagine what your dream wedding would look like.
What were the main things that were important to you?
In our technology-advanced world today, photography and videography are typically up there on client’s lists. How come?
Photo and video are wonderful ways to help remember one of the biggest days of your life, that often goes too fast. If you’re a photographer or videographer like me, you’re probably wondering, "how do I even start in this industry?"
Both wedding photography and videography can be VERY intimidating at the start. It can be a high-paying gig, but also a very high-pressure job. A year ago today I never would’ve imagined myself photographing weddings, however when I got my foot in the door, it opened up so many more opportunities.
My first wedding experience was second-shooting for a friend of mine, Cassidy Kabus Photography. I had NO idea what I was doing. However, I learned so much that day and got lots of content to build up a beginner’s wedding portfolio. I started sharing the photos on my website and social media, and I started getting inquiries within months.
I was very fortunate to have a close friend to help me and give me the opportunity to learn. If you don’t know any wedding photographers or videographers personally, it’s okay! There are some great opportunities to meet people, even online.
I HIGHLY recommend starting out by second shooting with a main photographer or videographer. If you’re located in the Midwest, there are many facebook pages out there that help you connect with other photographers.
My favorite wedding page is “MN Wedding Photographers, Associates, and Seconds.”
The page is for professional photographers and those wanting to become one. Since I joined this page, I have been able to second shoot at 8 different weddings within a year, outside of my own weddings that I’ve booked. Second shooting with other photographers is a great way to learn new skills and make connections to help you in your creative future.
Once you get some experience in the wedding world, whether it’s photography or videography, sharing your work online is crucial. In our world today, Instagram and Facebook reels are a HUGE way to bring in traction to your page. After a wedding, I will often post photos/videos from a wedding with a “trending” sound.
I will also use a handful of hashtags like #midwestweddingphotographer. This helps reach people who aren’t already following you – creating a larger audience/following.
Having a solid website and social media presence is important because it shows future clients what work you’ve done in the past. Client’s want a photographer or videographer that has experience, and so you need to be able to provide them with examples of your work in order to earn the privilege of capturing their day.
Once you feel confident to start offering wedding photography and/or videography on your own, it’s a smart idea to charge low. This may sound defeating because weddings are a lot of work, and you must put in hours and hours of editing in afterwards. However, charging low will attract customers and make them more willing to book you, even if you may not have as much experience.
Check out my second ever wedding video below!
Now that I feel like I have a sufficient amount of experience in both photography and videography, I am confident to charge what I feel like my work is worth. It takes time
to build a name for yourself, but once you do, it’s worth it!
The wedding industry is not for everyone, and that’s okay! As a creative, you’ll learn what you like and dislike as you gain more experience. Just know that no matter where you are in your photography journey, it’s never too late to try something new!
With love,
Carly
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