What it’s really like being a wedding photographer. The Good the Bad and the Ugly!!!
I have recently had a number of people call, mail and Facebook me to ask my advice about getting into the wedding industry and to find out what it is like to be a wedding photographer.
These people have ranged from photography students to people who enjoy photography as a hobby.
My answer is always the same. Wedding Photography is an insane amount of work and to do well you need to be creative, adaptable, technically sound, good with people and skilled at running your own business. It also helps to be a little obsessive! People seem to think it is an easy job or a way to make a quick buck and unfortunately it is this attitude, along with the digital revolution, that has resulted in a lot of fly-by-nights and wedding photography disasters.
I have therefore decided to write this post on what it is really like to be a full time professional wedding photographer. Please note that this is written from my own personal perspective, and I tend to be a workaholic who is constantly pushing myself to be better, do better and create more ….. Sometimes to the detriment of everything else!
I know there are wedding photographers out there who have it all figured out and have successful businesses, take amazing images and have a balanced personal life. I bow down to those photographers and wish I could be more like them. (By the way … I don’t really know any personally! Except for, maybe, one!)
I also know there are those photographers out there who are happy to deliver sub-standard work. I am not one of those.
So here we go.
What it is really like to be a wedding photographer?
1.Say good-bye to your weekends and your social life. It is very likely that your friends will eventually stop inviting you to weekend events as if you are a busy wedding photographer chances are you will never be able to accept!
2. Say hello to 6 day weeks. Yip, wedding photographers shoot on the weekend and then generally spend all week editing, designing albums, meeting clients, updating blogs, doing admin, marketing, social media stuff, and perhaps doing other non wedding shoots as well. We don’t just work on the weekend and the average wedding involves 60 hours of work at least, not just the 8 – 12 hours of shooting on the day. We all should take Monday off … but how many of us actually do???
3. People seem to think that weddings photography = big bucks. The truth is wedding photography = equipment costs = BIG BUCKS!!!! A true professional will be shooting with 2 full frame bodies and the glass pro lenses to go with it. A camera doesn’t make a good photographer, but good equipment is important. The Nikon Professional Services only admits people who have the above mentioned gear and I think they know what they are talking about! One lens can cost R20 000 … just one measly lens! Our running costs are huge and remember that all this equipment needs to be insured every month and upgraded. A photographer isn’t just about cameras in this digital age as there are computers, software, hard drives, websites and many other accessories which are also needed in our repertoire of tools, and all of these cost a lot.
4. A wedding photographer needs to be more than just a photographer these days. Now you need to be a professional retoucher (all that editing), a graphic designer (all that album designing), a writer (all that blog posting), a social media wizz (all that facebooking and tweeting), and a Business person (all that admin, marketing, accounts, branding and tax)!
5. You will need to have the people skills of a leader and the patience of a saint. Let’s face it most of our clients aren’t professional models so photographers need to be able to get the best out of everyone in a high stress situation. On occasion you will deal with bridezillas, momzillas and sometimes even bridesmaidzillas! You will need to be a friend to the couple on the day and deal with any emergency that occurs without stressing out your clients. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising so your attitude and personality goes along way in this business.
6. You will have to deal with lots of drunk people (ok this could have gone into the people skills category above but I personally think it deserves its own paragraph). There is always that idiot who insists on grabbing at your camera to take a pic of you (like you would want to hand over a R35 000 piece of machinery to a swaying, sweaty drunk person!). More than likely there will be someone at some stage who falls on you or at the very least stands on your feet. If you are female you will get hit on and at times you may have the dear drunk guy turn on you when you don’t succumb his advances (my favorite was being asked if I was lesbian after politely declining the attentions of a leering drunk dude!)
7. Being a wedding photographer is highly stressful and you need to be able to multi task and problem solve on your feet. There is just so much to think about on the day and it all happens really fast. There are no second chances and reshoots…. it’s really not that easy and breezy. There are all the technical aspects like the shutter speeds and the F stops which need constant attention. You need to know light well and keep watching the light so as to get the best shots possible. You need to be creative and continuously look for interesting shots whilst ensuring that you don’t miss anything or leave anyone out. It is the photographer’s responsibility to also ensure that all shoots run to schedule, and if the wedding isn’t running to schedule because of other reasons, then you need to be able to adapt and make a plan calmly. You need to be on your toes constantly looking for important moments to capture. You will have to deal with many different personalities and organize people without being rude, bossy or annoying.
8. If you are going to be a true professional you should be a technically skilled photographer who is able to deal with a variety of different photographic situations on the day i.e. bad weather, dark locations, mixed lighting etc. You need to be able to use flash properly and know your equipment well to deal with any challenge that comes to you. Telling people that you are a “natural light photographer” is not an excuse for poor technical knowledge! Photographers need to know how to light properly … do research on the net, do assisting work or perhaps attend workshops like Tyrone Bradley’s Flash Workshop to be held in Durban in January. Contact him at tyrone@tyronebradley.co.za for more details or join his facebook page for info
9. Experience goes a long way with wedding photography. Everyone has to start somewhere and I am all for people following their dreams. However once you have shot a number of weddings you learn to anticipate shots and see moments before they happen. On a technical level experience is imperative. Learning how to pose people, shoot in awkward light, manage disasters and difficult people comes with time and practice.
10. If you want to make a name for yourself in wedding photography you need to be able to keep up with current trends without being a copy-cat. Finding your own style and constantly coming up with your own original ideas is what will keep you above the pack and keep people talking about you. This takes a deep sense of self-understanding and a lot of work and time. See my article here on finding your own voice
11. If you don’t work you don’t get paid! And you are the only one responsible for paying your rent, medical aid, UIF, pension and day to day expenses.
12. Be prepared for ridiculous backache from long hours of carrying heavy equipment and shooting in funny positions, and neck ache from stupid hours on the computer.
13. You will get “the look” from certain people when you say you are a wedding photographer. That look which kinda says, “oh you aren’t a real photographer” or “ you’re a sell out” or a “lame photographer”. I hate to say it but it is true, wedding photographers aren’t always respected like say a fashion photographer or a fine art photographer. You will definitely get “the look” if you hang out in non-wedding photographer circles, that I can guarantee you!
14. Considering all of this ….. Be prepared for burn out to be a constant threat. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in work and not take care of yourself when working crazy hours. The result of this is physical and mental burn out. I have had it, and many of my friends who are wedding photographers have had it. It’s not fun and many conversations with my wedding photographer friends revolve around which vitamins to take to overcome fatigue, depression, irritability, insomnia etc.
This all sounds pretty hectic, right? Well here is the good stuff!
1. Wedding photography is real. Being able to capture real life joy and love is a beautiful thing no matter how cheesy that sounds. Weddings are about couples, family and friends coming together to celebrate commitment and love. This is just awesome and is really meaningful to me. It sounds lame but I still cry at some weddings. There is a beauty in hope and faith that goes way beyond shooting products or fashion. This is my humble opinion of course!
2. One can be really creative and have a great deal of autonomy when shooting a wedding. There is no creative director or art director looking over your shoulder and telling you what to do during a wedding shoot as there would be on a commercial shoot. I personally love this aspect of wedding photography as it allows one to be really creative.
3. Weddings enable one to meet a huge variety of different people from all sorts of backgrounds. If you love to people watch, it’s the best thing ever, and you get paid to do it!
4. Weddings happen all over the place these days and once you start cracking it you get to see and shoot in all sorts of amazing locations. In the next 6 months we will be shooting in the Drakensberg, the Karoo, the Natal Midlands, good ol’ Durbs, Port Elizabeth, Cape St Francis, Clarens and INDIA!!! This is a real treat for those who love to see and experience new places and new things. I am now hoping and dreaming of a wedding photography booking in Hong Kong and Mozambique! (come on universe … pretty please!!!!)
5. As a wedding photographer you will be your own boss and can therefore decide on your own holidays. You can also take time off when you need it for personal needs. I work insane hours but I also travel a lot which is really important to me.
6. Most wedding photographers work from home which means you don’t have to deal with morning or evening traffic (yaaaaaay!). It also means your petrol bill is somewhat reduced and this means your carbon foot print is less (ha ha). Working from home during the week means you can keep your own hours, work in your pj’s (not always a good thing) and cook your own lunch (unless you are someone like me who sometimes forgets to eat).
7. You will get to eat lots of yummy wedding cake and my personal best …. cupcakes!!!!!!!!!!!!
8. No two weddings are ever the same, which means that work is always interesting and challenging and never mundane or boring.
9. The feeling of cracking a “hero shot” is just the best in the world.
10. There are a lot of awesome and creative people who work in the wedding industry and you will make new friends. I have worked with some amazingly talented wedding planners, décor folk, videographers, florists, make-up artists and dj’s. Some of my great friends are wedding photographers. OK, so they are also my competition but, come on be realistic, it is physically impossible to shoot every wedding in the country every weekend
11. The harder you work the more money you can make. When you work for yourself monies earned go into your pocket rather than someone else’s.
12. Using one’s own talent for full time income is really rewarding. I spent many years working in bars and doing heaven knows what else whilst I was traveling the world, and now I can truly appreciate the fact that making money from being creative is the greatest gift that I have given to myself.
13. If you are good at what you do there is a huge reward in the affirmation from clients and blog followers. My favorite part of wedding photography is handing over an album to happy clients, knowing that I have captured a little piece of their family history and have created something individual and special for them, which can never be made again.
14. If you find the right clients wedding photography can be the most awesome job in the world (well in my experience anyway). Through wedding photography I have had the most wonderful people come into my life and capturing their love feels like a real honor and a privilege. This makes me feel very lucky!!!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Awesome Jax, so so true! And amazing images as usual…
November 28th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
So interesting Jacki. For me, you are the most talented wedding photographer I have ever come across, and remember I used to run weddings at a castle, so have seen plenty!!!!
Everyones’ photos really do look dull compared to yours.
Keep the sneak peaks coming please.
November 28th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Love it Jacki!!! I am so glad to find an article that describes exactly what we go through, and most people don’t understand!!! Love your work, you rock!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Amazing Jax, couldn’t have said it better
x x x
November 28th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Amazing article!!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Ahh Jax – beautifully written and ALL TRUE!!! I had to laugh at the shot of the vitamins….your collection looks as big as mine!!! I have to re-post this on fb and twitter as it is just such a brilliant article!xxx
November 28th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Brilliant blog post! Thanks for being real and honest! Loved reading it!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
True words from a true professional. I was knodding my head all the way through reading this, smiling. Really enjoyed the illustrative images
November 28th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Wow Jax well broken down I can definatley back up all your good and bad points. This yr for instance was a huge test losing my mom right before I had to shoot 11 weddings in a row and its not an easy task putting on a happy face and making a brides day feel like number one when your broken inside but yeah this industry is addictive but as you so rightly said not for the social bunnies or the faint hearted . Much love xx
November 28th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Jacki, where did you find time to write this article??
just kidding, well said girl. I love the shot of the mom crying with a random arm of support on her shoulder, really a great capture! You forgot to mention the hours and hours it takes just work out selections for prints and for blogs! I used to have a big problem with my timeline but I have found a formula for editing and getting my work done, as we speak, all my wedding are up to date and delivered, weeks before the deadline and I have all this free time now, which is awesome that’s why I was able to read you post! 
ciao
November 28th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
if wedding photography doesn’t work out for you (I am sure it will with this kind of talent, insight, lighting and attitude), you can always try carpentry … you really hit the “spyker op sy kop” here. Good post!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
This is so insightful and I say well done to such a fantastic post! I kept nodding my head to your points
Beautiful photos!
November 28th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Well Jacki, you have pretty much covered everything – I must say, a very enjoyable read as it brought back many memories of my own experiences. (I seriously don’t know where you find the time to write these brilliant articles – ha ha)
– I am pretty much fully booked for the next 6 months but if you are keen of having me join you, hopefully it will be on one of my available weekends.
ps – If you would like a second shooter or assistant when you are in Port Elizabeth, let me know – I would love to join you
x Taryn
November 28th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Thanks for this awesome, honest write up. Means a lot for someone like myself wanting to turn pro.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
WOW Jacki! truly inspiring and very true! thank you so much for sharing. Absolutely amazing images xx
November 28th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Point 9 of the good is a definite winner!
Disagree slightly with Point 10 of the negative, but completely me personally. As I couldn’t really care what the trends are. But to be a good overall photographer to make it in the industry, I guess you do have to be on the trends.
That’s why my wife rocks! hehe.
November 28th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Classic
November 28th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Thanks, well written, informative & very true – esp. the ’zillas!
November 28th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
An amazing article. Thank you Jacki for sharing this. I smiled to myself as I read it and it really makes me so excited about the future, hard times and all.
November 28th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Well said Jacki! See you soon, I land on Thursday!
November 28th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Beautiful images , I love the natural light images in the tropical locations !! Always great to read your articles with insightful experience and a real personal approach to your work and work relationships.
November 28th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Absolutely brilliant Jacki! xxx
November 28th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Wonderful! So glad we are able to have you capturing our day!
November 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Could not have said it any better!! This article shows all the guts and glory of being a wedding photographer!! And lets not forget the responsibility that lays on your shoulders!
November 28th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Absolutely true! I’m totally agree with you!
November 28th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Chanelle from Segerius-Bruce sent me here by Twitter! Have to say, what a well written piece, thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Your images are surely wonderful, I’ve been enjoying the past few minutes flicking through your posts admiring your stunning work
November 28th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
So true!! Love it!!
November 28th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Its been said before .. but I’ll say it again. You are extremely talented Jax !!
#1 Fan
November 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Great story! I am a wedding photographer in Bermuda and I do many Destination Weddings. Your article is TRUE! I also love what I do and enjoy every momment of doing a wedding. Meeting people for the first time after talking to them on the phone or via e mail gets your adrenaline going! Thanks for sharing.
Jomar
Bermuda
November 28th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
All so true, and so eloquently put. Thanks for taking the time to write this, it’s always good to realise we all have the same issues in this business.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
This is such a well-written post; all the honesty of the stuff that nobody really loves about wedding photography, without the jaded bitterness. Thank you for this!
November 28th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jax. thank you so much!
November 28th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
This is a classic, Jacki!! I just love it and I do hope it opens many eyes!! Well done!!
November 28th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Excellent article!!!!
November 28th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
excellent post and such a true to form read…
November 28th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Brilliant phtography…with a interesting story behind it all…you’re a star!!
November 28th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
the most accurate artice on wedding photography I’ve ever read! You’re clearly a realist. I like it
November 28th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
So true& I like your work.
November 28th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
So True and I like you work.
November 28th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Thanks so much for this, it was so lovely to read your perspective as well as the facts! And your work is awesome!!
November 28th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Always such an inspiration.
November 28th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
That sums it pretty well I have to say !
(but it was in french on my blog…)
EXCELLENT article !
I did develop one of your point regarding the “big bucks” aspect…telling that in the end, when you take everything into account, your hourly rate is not that expensive
I love your work btw, you are one of these who bring the rest to other levels !!!
Cheers and hope to meet you one day
Alohafred
November 28th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Great post with great images. Thank you for this!
November 28th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Amazing article thank you so much for sharing! and am in love with your work Jacki!!
November 28th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
AWesome awesome post!!
November 28th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
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November 29th, 2011 at 8:02 am
So, so true – brilliant article!
November 29th, 2011 at 8:16 am
I love your honesty girl. As always – amazing!!! xx
November 29th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Well done! Told like it really is, but we do have fun at the same time….:-)
November 29th, 2011 at 11:36 am
Very well written post and stunning, stunning (and funny) images. Very inspirational to me. So – thank you!
November 29th, 2011 at 11:51 am
Fantastic post, I hope as many people as possible (non photographers especially) get to see this.
November 29th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Excellent written article, would have to share this all around!
November 29th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I just love every word you wrote
It could not be further from the truth. Too many clients/people see the package price and compare it to an item bought in the shop and think we charge a lot. With your stunning article we hope their eyes will see into our world.
Great work and love your work!!!
November 29th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Great story! loved reading the in-depth of your career! I think I should write the same for a golf professional – travel, teaching…the list goes on. All the hard work has paid off – you are one of the best photographers in the world! Well done – you are world-class at what you do.
Grant & Raf
Your best February 2011 Wedding Stars
November 29th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Definitely well said! Thanks for sharing your story!
November 29th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Wow, such a great writeup – I’m going to be sharing this with a lot of people i know that think getting into the wedding photography business is just a piece of cake!
November 29th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Love it, love it, love it
November 29th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Thanks. It has been definitely worth the read.
November 29th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Sjoe!!!! Jax – such a classic article, so honestly and awesomely written – you rock Chica! I think every head (of everyone reading this) is nodding in agreement with a little grin on their faces! Love, love, love. xxxx
November 30th, 2011 at 4:29 am
Great post Jacki! I was going to write one myself but you’ve nailed it so I’ve just shared yours on my fb page
All the best!
November 30th, 2011 at 6:57 am
the perfect artical. very true
November 30th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Great stuff! Amazing article, has got me thinking
One thing you touched on but I think needs to be highlighted is with weddings you are dealing with the couple on a personal level like you said which means be prepared to get phone calls and emails at all hours of the day. This ties into what you were saying about trying to balance your personal life and work. Makes it very hard when you are dealing with your “clients” ( it almost doesnt seem right to call them clients) on capturing one of their most significant moments in their lives and you trying to juggle multiple “clients” all at once. When they call they expect you to know every detail of their day, very tough!
Just goes to show how great this article is, it is very hard to explain all the complexities of this job.
November 30th, 2011 at 10:04 am
[...] What it’s really like to be a wedding photographer. The good, the bad and the ugly! – I loved reading this, great insight! [...]
November 30th, 2011 at 11:03 am
Brilliant article! Great insight into a complex business!
November 30th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
awesome post j! soooooo glad you shared this, it is a mystery to some people. when we tell them it feels like we have done a marathon after a wedding, they give us the blank stare….
shot for post!
November 30th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Love your post. I must admit the good far outweighs the bad (which was well covered but compared with “normal” jobs, nothing). Love what I do and look forward to many more years doing it.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Hey Jacs
So often in my career I have considered writing something very similar to this – just havent maybe got my arse in gear or fearful that I might be perceived as self opinionated ( not saying you are – begging your pardon )
I just feel that I have to compliment you for summing it all up – and communicating it so well – maybe you should have been a copywriter cos you are very good.
Thanks on behalf of all proper wedding photographers for sharing these insights on our behalf – i would actually love to meet you – you strike me as a rather amazing lady!
Geoff
November 30th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Great post Jacki! Well written, awesome pics and great truth
November 30th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
And that’s it!! Spot on… Thank you
November 30th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Thanx for sharing this… I am going to post this on my Facebook Page and ask my fans to come and read this… I absolutely agree with you. Wedding Photography definitely has more UPs than DOWNs.
I am jealous of you for the places you are going to. At least this December I have a Lesotho and Cathedral Peak wedding. Nice to get some different venues on the portfolio.
Good luck with your endeavours
Kobus Schoeman
MegaPix Productions
Polokwane
Limpopo
November 30th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT!!!!!
November 30th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Totally brilliant and well said. What a great post!
November 30th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
amazing, so so true
November 30th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Great post, I’m so glad you said you spend 60 hours on a wedding, whenever I say the same thing to anyone they look at me as if I’m mad !!
November 30th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Great article! Your work is beautiful! You’ve got a new blog follower here.
)
November 30th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I think you nailed it, it has its redeeming qualities but its not an easy job!
November 30th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
wow. nailed it. i love this post and i love my job – even with all the stuff you so eloquently hit on the head.
December 1st, 2011 at 2:10 am
Wow lady, you nailed that post!! I can tell every word of what you said came from your heart. Thankyou for sharing x
December 1st, 2011 at 2:11 am
So incredibly well written and absolutely true – along with beautiful photos. Awesome post. Count me as your newest follower.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:48 am
Very true….you have hit the nail on the head with this one!
December 1st, 2011 at 9:30 am
What an amazingly insightful article! Thanks for sharing
December 1st, 2011 at 10:04 am
Dead on. I already told you you rock, but just in case…YOU ROCK!
December 1st, 2011 at 10:18 am
Well said, well done
December 1st, 2011 at 11:19 am
Fantastic article, Jacki! You are an inspirational person! Love, love your work!
December 1st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Wow. This was so good. Thank you for sharing. Your images are fantastic!
December 1st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Very well said and everything on point.
December 1st, 2011 at 10:02 pm
One of the best posts I’ve ever read! Well done Jax! We love you!
December 1st, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Hi Jacki, this is so brilliantly written, you have broken it down so well!
Well done!
December 1st, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Awesome and sooooooo true!
December 1st, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Great stuff Jacki, this is what I’m talking about – everything you said is sooo sooo true. It is extremely hard work to be a wedding photographer, and for all of those that give wedding photographers the ‘look’ I have seen some fashion photographers shoot weddings and they did not succeed at all.
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:07 am
What a brilliant post! I’m fairly new to this game, but I 1 million percent agree with every single point you’ve made. And add a toddler into that mix
xx
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:22 am
You speak the truth. This makes me feel proud to be a wedding photographer.
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:13 am
Excellent article and relate on so many levels!
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:20 am
awesomely accurate!!! Makes me appreciate and ADMIRE myself a little more!!!
December 2nd, 2011 at 10:24 am
“A wedding photographer needs to be more than just a photographer these days. Now you need to be a professional retoucher (all that editing), a graphic designer (all that album designing), a writer (all that blog posting), a social media wizz (all that facebooking and tweeting), and a Business person (all that admin, marketing, accounts, branding and tax)!”
This is so totally true!!! A something you don’t often get appreciation for!
So well written and so exactly how it is
Thanks!
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:06 am
jacki … LOVED LOVED LOVED that post ..just fabulous. i am in durban next week for a wedding shoot. let me know if you wanna meet up. always cool to meet new people in the industry. my bother owns the corner cafe in glenwood . . you may know it if you live in Durbs. i hang out there often, when in Durbs. give me a shout and pop by ! shanna xxx
December 2nd, 2011 at 11:18 am
Awesome article and so well written. Your photography is amazing.
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:56 pm
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December 2nd, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Wow! The comments says it all: well written and spot on!
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Such great read and if I could replace with word photography with “wedding coordination” – I’d say I feel exactly the same
Hope to work with you at a Wedding Concepts Durban wedding in future.
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:30 pm
So true and thank you for open and kind spirit you have you have conveyed this in. xx
December 3rd, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Right On!
I love what I do and agree on every point.
We are sometimes treated like Rodney Dangerfield though; “get no respect”!
At a recent business to business expo, I had a woman compliment my architecture prints then after noticing some bridal photos say to me that “Oh, you do weddings. I’m looking for a Professional Architecture Photographer!” I asked her, “What do you think is more challenging? Photographing a building (a patient stationary object) or a bridal party with 8 groomsmen, 8 bridesmaids, 1 junior bridesmaid, 2 (pre-school) flowergirls and a cranky ringbearer”? She moved-on looking for that “expert” architectural photographer! Duh!
December 4th, 2011 at 1:03 am
I’m the father of a professsional wedding photographer who made it fine in the corporate world, but wanted the independence of working for herself. It’s tough and plenty challenging. The rewards are mighty. She’s passionate about her work and it’s reflected in the quality. Everything in the article is absolutely true. It’s not a profession for the weak at heart, or for those who don’t put satisfying their cleints at the top of the list. I’m really proud of my daughter and her husband who are a husband and wife weding photograpy team. He is a professional retoucher which means they sit side by side during those 10 days of editing, retouching, designing, marketing, planing for the next event, and the myriad other things it takes to make it in the business. Check them out at picture the love .com.
December 5th, 2011 at 11:34 am
[...] ein Blogpost mit dem Titel “What it’s really like being a wedding photographer. The Good the Bad and the Ugly!!!” (ungefähr “Wie es wirklich ist ein Hochzeitsfotograf zu sein. Das Gute, das Schlechte [...]
December 5th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Great post! You’ve successfully expressed what we all feel on so many points. Well said!
December 5th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
You’re so right! Definitely up and down, pros and cons… not all sunshine and rainbows like some folks seem to think. LOL!
December 7th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Hi,
Thank you for your nice article on Jacki Bruni Que. It will help me.
Thanks
December 8th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
[...] What it’s really like being a wedding photographer. The Good the Bad and the Ugly!!! – Great article by Durban based photographer, Jacki Bruniquel. Check it out. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. « Wedding | Premila & Lerosh [...]
December 8th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Great post, made me lol, so similar to what I do…videography. Have yet to do the vitamin thing though…
December 8th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Nothing but the truth, awesome article.
December 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Thanks for taking the time to put this all together, very nice read!
December 9th, 2011 at 12:47 am
What an amazing outlook on who/what a wedding photographer really is. You totally spoke the true! Thank you for your post.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:43 am
I was really LOL, so true that wedding photography is not as easy as people think, but it s so rewarding when you find the right clients and I also feel very blessed to photograph my clients weddings and be creative everyday. Well done, great post!!
December 9th, 2011 at 1:54 am
amazing, amazing, amazing. i’m going to share this. and shoot even more vigorously and edit even harder.
love your words and your work very much!
xoxo
December 9th, 2011 at 3:38 am
Solgar is a good brand.
How many pills in total do you take each day?
December 9th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Soooo true!
Wonderful to see my life in print and I hope that it helps to dispel some of the over glorified opinions that we charge too much for what we do
December 9th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Thank you x
December 9th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Amen!
December 9th, 2011 at 9:39 am
Absolutely true! I hope more people read this to understand what it is to be a Wedding Photographer
December 9th, 2011 at 9:46 am
So very true, and love the imagery you’ve shared.
December 9th, 2011 at 10:09 am
So true. Thanks for a great read
December 9th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
So true! Good points about all the “hats” a wedding photographer has to wear.
December 9th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
BRAVO! Well said!!!
December 9th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
So wonderfully written, and from a very personally felt standpoint. I’m sure that most wedding professionals would be able to relate to a lot of this. Lovely images that you’ve paired with the ups and downs, so glad you ended with the positives. I know that is what keeps me persuing wedding photography… =)
December 9th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Thanks for writing this!!
December 10th, 2011 at 12:21 am
Love it. Pretty awesome and much more telling than most. It’s true – people think I’m at home having fun all week, instead I’m teary eyed from staring at a computer screen for 10 hours. haha
Thanks for showing our stuff!
December 10th, 2011 at 8:28 am
What a great read..and Im reading it between editing two sets of portraits I took today.
So true and well written..after 20 yrs running my own business, you put everything into words for me!
keep up the great work
December 10th, 2011 at 10:09 am
excellent! very sourcefull.
December 10th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
This is fantastic! I love it!
December 10th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Dang, way to nail it all in a nutshell!
Thank you for taking the time to write this so extensively with your beautiful imagery- it’s good to now know it’s not just me working 6 days a week, etc!
December 15th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Jacqui, I just had the best laugh while reading this post! All of a sudden if feel free from the guilt of wanting to cause bodily harm to the family member who won’t play along in the family shoot, or those delightful, self-assigned, guest-assistants who come up to you at regular intervals with “an amazing idea for a shot you must try!” (which is always ridiculous, impractical and not at all your style), and heaven help us, the drunk guy who is hitting on you / insisting on taking your picture. Sometimes I feel like I’m trapped in some ridiculous alternate universe at weddings, but from now on, I’ll just laugh off all these crazy moments…content in the knowledge that there are other wedding photographers all over the country fighting off sexual harrassment and any of the other annoyances that I’m going through too – thanks for the post, it made my day:)
December 16th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Hi Jacqui,
Reading this blog post, we felt like we identified with it so much that we could have written it ourselves. Thanks for not only venting for us but reminding us what we love about our job. As the year comes to an end and we feel the burnout really setting in, your positive comments already have us looking forward to next years weddings.
BTW, we love your work! : )
Bob & Liz McKay
December 19th, 2011 at 10:49 am
[...] Bruniquel ist ein professioneller Fotograf aus Durban, Süd Afrika und plaudert in seinem Artikel What it’s really like being a wedding photographer. The Good the Bad and the Ugly!!! aus dem [...]
December 21st, 2011 at 8:08 pm
[...] What It’s Really Like Being A Wedding Photographer – Good food for thought for people who are thinking about moving into weddings (and a good [...]
December 24th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
So so true. Thank you for a great read
December 25th, 2011 at 1:20 am
Loved this post, thank you!! Tells it like it is and actually is a bit scary lol. But refreshing!! I look forward to your next photographer to photographer post, ha!! Merry Christmas.
December 26th, 2011 at 3:28 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
January 8th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
AMEN!! Thank you for writing!!
January 9th, 2012 at 9:15 am
What a refreshing article on your craft! The everyday person truly has no understanding of what it takes to do what you do.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Loved this honest no holes barred article so so true and well written from a Pro there is nothing more to explain you did it all and today this is so true.
September 30th, 2012 at 11:24 am
As a wedding photographer in Johannesburg, South Africa I must commend this and say this is a lovely high-quality post. Thank-you for sharing.
January 7th, 2013 at 10:49 pm
Thank you for the article, it was very helpful and insightful as I’m entering my second year of trying get a business started. Loved the photos too. Thanks
January 13th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
I truly aspire to be like you some day. Honestly. I have been soo inspired by your work and your attitude and work ethic (and I have never even met you in person). I just finished studying 3 years graphic design and art direction (specialized in art direction) at AAA school of advertising in Cape Town. I am about to embark on my wedding photography journey (I am going to be assisting an amazing photographer soon). I know it is going to take me a long time to craft and execute work on your level, but I will never stop until I get there ;0) It is soo inspiring, having someone like you to look up to.
January 13th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Such wise words Jacx! And I hope you know how much your work & the way you push the limits, have always inspired me. Great post! X