A Guide To Protecting Your Wedding Photography Business

Protecting Your Wedding Photography Business

According to social media, you’d think that working in the wedding industry is all cake and confetti but the reality can be very different. It seems that I’m hearing more and more about wedding photographers and videographers failing to deliver the work they have been paid for. So I’ve created a Guide To Protecting Your Wedding Photography Business that you can implement now to avoid things breaking later on.

This week, I was chatting with one of my brides from last year. She invested considerable effort into creating her dream wedding, aspiring to have it featured. However, she has met with a roadblock; their wedding video is now months overdue, and attempts at communication with the videographer have hit a stone wall. She does not know why and certainly on the day, he was lovely and seemed very professional.

We all know of these very sorry tales of when a wedding business goes wrong and the biggest losers are the clients who often never receive the photos or video they have paid for.

Instead of dwelling on specific cases, I propose we collectively explore ways to steer clear of those levels of mismanagement. Any one of us could be just a few missteps or a couple of ill-fated decisions away from similar paths. Can we get a deeper understanding of what lessons could be learned when events in our industry take an unfortunate turn? Situations where either the delivery time stretches into eternity, or, even worse, the delivery never happens at all.

It feels like for many, the industry is serving up a high level of stress and uncertainty. It’s not surprising that individuals resort to some desperate measures – taking on too much, slashing prices, feeling compelled to do whatever it takes to survive. Making business decisions when you are in panic mode can lead to an unrealistic level of work being taken on and without any buffer zone or cushioning, it’s all too easy for something to break and things to escalate fairly quickly.

If the thing that breaks is you then everything else will fail. What can be done now, while we have time to implement some levels of protection, to protect both ourselves and our clients?

“Rest is Productivity: Acknowledge that rest is not a luxury but a necessity for sustained productivity. “

Master the Art of Time Management:

Schedule Everything: Beyond just shooting, allocate specific time blocks for editing, correspondence, and administrative tasks. Having a structured plan will help you stay on top of your commitments.

Build in Rest Periods:

Rest is Productivity: Acknowledge that rest is not a luxury but a necessity for sustained productivity. Allow yourself breaks between intense work periods; these moments of reprieve will prevent burnout.

Set Realistic Deadlines:

Underpromise, Overdeliver: We all have different turnaround times and it’s crucial to set realistic deadlines. Now is the time to look at any improvements that you can make to your workflow. If editing is a struggle then there is help out there from AI editing to outsourcing it altogether.

Communicate Effectively:

Honesty is Key: If there’s a hiccup in your workflow, communicate transparently with your clients. Most people understand that unforeseen circumstances occur, and they appreciate being kept in the loop. They’d mostly rather wait a little past your deadline than have rushed edits but what they will not appreciate is you hiding under a rock.

Prioritise Self-Care:

Physical and Mental Well-being: Do what you can to ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to tackle your workload. You are your business and if you do not take care of yourself then you may well be forced to as all of us have limits. Know what yours are and always be kind to yourself – You are your most important employee.

Financial Planning:

Build a Cushion: Instability in the industry can lead to financial stress. Endeavor to build a financial cushion for unforeseen circumstances, so you’re not forced into making desperate decisions. I know this is easier said than done and it’s been harder to predict these last few years but I do also think that most of you leave money on the table when it comes to selling albums and products. If this is you, I highly recommend this class.

Continuous Learning:

Adaptability: Over the decades, I’d say it’s the people who refuse to adapt that struggle. When the market shifts, shift with it and be an eternal student. Learn about industry trends and technological advancements. Being adaptable and continuously learning can help you stay competitive and resilient in changing times.

Diversify Income Streams:

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket: If things feel close to the wire for you then look at other potential income streams. Especially within photography. Two photography genres that are rapidly growing this year are – 1. Photography For Apps, as more properties go onto Airbnb or food outlets join delivery apps, they all need imagery. 2. Small Business Photography, all the local businesses to you on social media need both profile imagery and BTS of them doing their service.

Community Support:

Lean on Each Other: Don’t sit there in silence when things feel bad for you, turn to your photography communities. Whilst it might look over on social apps like everyone else is nailing it, remember that people usually only show up on there when things are going well. Leaving a huge part of the industry invisible. Unity in the industry can provide strength during challenging times and you’ll find it in groups like this where some real talk can happen.

Develop an ICE Plan for your Wedding Photography Business:

Create a detailed In Case of Emergency plan outlining your workflow, key contacts, passwords and client communication protocols. Store this plan securely, whether digitally or in a physical envelope, so a trusted contact can access it if you are somehow unable to run your business. It’s highly unlikely that you will ever need it but it’s a reassuring feeling to have it in place.

Legal Safeguards:

Contracts and Agreements: Ensure your contracts are comprehensive and protective of both parties. This can mitigate potential legal issues and offer clarity in case of disputes. My contract is available to download in The Barn.

Business Insurance: Your insurance company can be very supportive and helpful when things start going wrong. They have people especially trained who’ve most likely dealt with others going through similar circumstances. They can often mediate on your behalf when things get so bad that you feel unable to communicate. At least once a year, review your coverage and make sure that it is up-to-date and reflective of any changes in your business. Be aware of what is and is not included in your Business Insurance. I use Policy Bee because I can pick up the phone and easily speak with a member of the team and they can tailor policies to suit individual needs.

Building a photography business can sometimes feel like constructing a delicate house of cards. Every Job, every wedding or photoshoot, every client, and every project is a card carefully placed. It’s a delicate balance and a strong gust of unforeseen challenges, personal or professional, can threaten to dismantle what we’ve meticulously built.

Using the tips in my Guide To Protecting Your Wedding Photography Business should add a few more layers of protection and give you extra confidence in your level of professionalism. They might not stop a spanner from being thrown into the works but they might give you the tools to repair any damage.

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