Level Up Your Wedding Photography Business: Dear Devlin
DEAR DEVLIN
Level Up Your Wedding Photography Business
Dear Devlin,
I’ve been a wedding photographer for a few years now and, honestly, I’m proud of what I’ve built. My bookings are steady, my clients are happy, and I know I’ve got solid skills. But lately, everything just feels a bit… flat. Like I’ve plateaued.
It’s not that anything’s wrong exactly, it’s more that I feel stuck in a loop. I shoot the weddings, I edit, I deliver, I post a few things on Instagram, and then I do it all over again. The spark I had in my earlier years feels like it’s fizzled out a bit. And the more I look around, the more I feel left behind.
I keep seeing other photographers landing big editorial shoots, getting featured on blogs and magazines, winning awards, being booked for destination weddings, speaking at events – and, of course, popping up on all the “Top Photographer” lists. Meanwhile, I feel like I’m just treading water.
I know social media isn’t the full story, but I can’t help wondering: what am I doing wrong? I want to grow. I want to evolve. But I honestly don’t know where to start or what levelling up even looks like for me.
Is this just a creative lull or is it time to shake things up? And if so… how?
Feeling Flat in Falmouth
“Here’s the real talk: you’re probably not doing anything wrong. In fact, you’re doing a lot right.”
Dear Feeling Flat in Falmouth,
First off, thank you for being brave enough to share where you’re at because I promise you, you’re not alone in feeling this way.
It’s easy to assume that the only way a business can go is up, but most wedding photographers I know myself included, have faced a point where things start to feel repetitive, even stagnant. The spark fades a little, and the rhythm that once felt exciting starts to feel like coasting. And in the age of Instagram, it’s easy to believe that everyone else is doing better. You see others booking destination weddings, landing features, topping ‘Best Photographer’ lists, and you start to wonder, “What am I doing wrong?”
Here’s the real talk: you’re probably not doing anything wrong. In fact, you’re doing a lot right. You said yourself steady bookings, happy clients, strong skills. That’s the foundation of a successful business. That’s not failure, that’s sustainability. It’s worth celebrating.
But I also get that when we’ve been doing this for a few years, sustainability doesn’t always feel like enough. We start to crave growth, new challenges, creative fulfilment and that’s a good thing. It’s a sign that you care. A sign that you’re ready for a new chapter.
I’ve been there. In fact, I hit this exact point at the ten-year mark in my own career. I remember feeling like I’d run out of moves. Everything was fine… but fine wasn’t fuelling me anymore. So I did three things that shifted everything for me:
1. I entered an award.
I realised that when you work for yourself, there’s no boss handing out bonuses or giving you a pat on the back. No one’s going to validate you unless you seek it out. So I did. And yes, the process was nerve-wracking, but it gave me something to aim for a new bar to reach. It also gave me a huge confidence boost, because someone outside of my client base said, “This is excellent work.” Sometimes we all need that external validation.
2. I found a mentor.
This was a game-changer. I looked at the photographers I admired the ones who seemed to be ‘levelling up’ and I realised that most of them weren’t doing it alone. They had someone in their corner. Someone with more experience, more insight, a bigger-picture view of what was possible. That’s what mentorship gives you. It’s not just about advice, it’s about tailored, focused support to help you push past your plateau.
3. I let go of self-limiting beliefs.
So many photographers hit this stage and subconsciously put a ceiling on their own growth. “I’m not good at marketing.” “I’m not the kind of person who gets featured.” “I’m just not confident enough to charge more.” These thoughts might feel like truths, but they’re actually just beliefs and beliefs can be changed. Start replacing them with more empowering ones. You are allowed to grow. You are allowed to want more. You are allowed to back yourself.
There’s a simple limit to how far any of us can get on our own. You can only bootstrap for so long. Eventually, you need someone who can take a look at your whole business, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and help you build a roadmap to the next level.
That’s exactly what I do in my 3-Month Mentoring Programme. Together, we’ll:
- Identify where the plateau is really coming from (spoiler: it’s not always where you think)
- Build a strategy that’s tailored to your strengths, values, and ideal clients
- Refresh your brand, your marketing, and your offers so they’re aligned with where you want to go
- Create a clear action plan to reignite your bookings, creativity, and motivation
If you’re ready to stop coasting and start building momentum again, apply here:
👉 Photography Farm Mentoring Programme
Let’s turn “fine” into phenomenal. You’ve got the foundation. Now let’s level up.
CAN I HELP WITH YOUR
PROBLEM?
Drop me a note with any industry issue that you might have and I will do my best to offer up some advice.
After a couple of decades as a wedding photographer, the chances are high that I will have some experience that might be relevant or have some insight into what your best course of action could be
The process is 100% anonymous, so feel free to share whatever is on your mind currently and know that this is a safe place.
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