roland hale wrote:
That said, hindsight is 20-20, and I'm sure everyone here has something worth sharing. So, what would you "do over?"
I don't think we'd have started the business at all. The income helped last year when we were switching jobs, moving, and buying a home, but the amount of time it takes to run a wedding photography business successfully in today's market is increasingly difficult to justify, particularly when married, working full time, going to school full time, and starting a family. Your time is worth much, much more when married than when single, at least if you're doing it right.
tobicus wrote:
the amount of time it takes to run a wedding photography business successfully in today's market is increasingly difficult to justify, particularly when married, working full time, going to school full time, and starting a family
We'd miss you here on the board but ...
Unless you need the money, you should get out - for your own sake.
D. Diggler wrote:
We'd miss you here on the board but ...
Unless you need the money, you should get out - for your own sake.
Ha, I'll still visit here...you guys are fun to read. But yeah, we're done after this year's weddings.
To the OP, I'd think carefully about what kind of life you'd like to have five or ten years from now, and honestly answer if the money you earn from wedding photography will justify the time it takes to earn it.
I'm not sure I'd change much. The way I see it, all of those screw-ups and mistakes I made along the way were all part of the learning curve. There are definitely a few dumb equipment purchases made over the years, but I guess that's part of figuring things out too.
The one thing I wish I had done earlier in the process was figure exactly what it is that I have to offer, find clients looking for that thing, and concentrate all of my efforts on booking those clients. It took me the better part of 3 years to figure that out and also figure out how to convey it in such a way that people want it. Then again, I'm not sure how I would have gotten to that point without some trial and error.....and of course 'Sexy Business'. That was HUGE for me...
