Hi guys!
I live in Denmark, and I've been wondring for a while, how some of you just have 2-3 wedding a week for months and months.
I know that the marked in the States for example if huge and therefore much bigger demand.
How do you guys get the weddings?
Getting contacted or calling out yourselves?
Posted on a site?
We have maybe 2 sites that are well visited, where you can have your site, but thats about it.
Here, I have maybe 5-7 weddings a year and then much more photoshoots with models, senior etc on the side.
It's one of those things that come with being a professional photographer regardless of your discipline that you have to be capable of. There are lots of people ojt there that likely take better pictures, have better equipment. But getting someone to write you a check for what you do is what seperates the pros from the guys who post on flickr/forums looming for praise. The thing you will find about every pro photographer is that they are reliable. It's more than having a great portfolio, it's about getting people to trust that you can get the job done.
What is the wedding market like in Denmark ? Is wedding photography a viable market in your area ? Do photographers, overall, earn enough money from it to live off of ? It's difficult to impart what we do here in the U.S. not knowing the dynamics of the wedding industry in your country.
Are their country clubs with vendor lists ? Independent wedding coordinators who could refer you ? Venues that you could be on their referral lists ? Churches, DJ's, florists, caterers, limo drivers who you could network with ?
I share a great relationship with a couple of DJ's and videographers and we continually refer each other. I get some bookings from those relationships and vice versa.
Many times other photography that I do, seniors, families have led to wedding bookings.
I've even had commercial clients book weddings. Any who can walk and talk is a potential client.
Hey Marti.
Well to compare with music industry and weddings then there's not THAT many weddings.
Talked to a photographer at a wedding we played at last weekend.
He's okay booked for danish standards and he got 10 a year MAX.
Hard to live of it, as a "high" paid wedding is around 1.600$. That's for the entire day - getting up until late in the night.
In over 8 years of performing at different weddings I have NEVER heard of a wedding coordinator nor talked to one.
Also limo drivers are not used. People rent old cars like classics and drive in those.
Seen ONE limo in my time :-) Hehe yes!
DJ's are getting booked like us musicians - via sites or people know them, so places don't have DJ that are returning every wedding. Not at all.
Just very in awe about US photographers who have TONS of weddings, all though I know that it's not nearly the same.
A Danish friend of mine attended a wedding as a guest here in Montana and said she hoped to be married someday, but talked about the different outlooks on marriage there. We also have family in France who plan to marry eventually, but first lived together, then bought a house and recently registered their partnership.
Statistics Denmark marriage rates:
2011 - 27198
2010 - 30949
2009 - 32934
2008 - 37376
2007 - 36576
1999-2006 range between 35k-38k
With 5.5 million people in Denmark, that is low. There are couples still getting married and the basics of a photography business apply. Looking at your website, I currently wouldn't think of you if I was looking for a wedding photographer. Show what you want to shoot. Show only your best work. Have a portion of your site in English and a link to that on the main page. Keep reading these forums (tons of great business info) and asking questions.
Just to note, I'd much rather photograph weddings with classic cars than limos!
