People interested in traveling the world may not think of wedding photography as a career field right off the bat, but the truth is that destination weddings are extremely popular option for brides and grooms – and they’ll often pay to take their favorite photographer along for the ride.
Wedding season is in full swing right now, but one of the best parts of specializing in destination wedding photography is that you’ll have work year-round. When there’s snow on the ground in your area, you could be catching a flight to Hawaii or boarding a cruise ship for a Caribbean wedding.
Talk about a sweet gig!
Taking a photographer along to a destination wedding certainly is more expensive than hiring a photographer local to the ceremony’s location, so why do people do it? In short, brides want someone they can trust to chronicle one of the most important days of their lives. To be this trusted chosen one, follow JobMonkey’s advice on becoming a photographer – study the craft, develop a personal style that brides can’t get from any old photographer, and continuously work to hone your skills. As you begin to work in your local area, you’ll build up not just a portfolio, but a reputation, so brides will recommend you to their friends or consider hiring you for a second wedding or re-dedication ceremony.
QUICK TIP – Every wedding photographer needs a website on which to display his or her portfolio and make a business pitch. Furthermore, these days it’s a great idea to launch a Facebook ‘page.’ Be sure to use good meta data on your web pages to ensure the best possible search engine ranking. If you are a photographer based in and working around Acme Town, USA, then your Home page
JobMonkey has tons of information available for you if you’re interested in a career in photography, including a great page specifically about working as a wedding photographer. You don’t even have a degree to get started in this field. Right now, wedding photographers are swamped with work, so even if you have no formal training or experience, you can land a job as an assistant, getting your foot in the door.
If you have little experience, you can also offer extremely inexpensive packages for brides on a budget or those who are getting married in very small private ceremonies to help you build a portfolio. Now’s also the time to start advertising that you’re available, as last-minute brides during the spring and summer have a hard time finding photographers, since most have been booked for months.
Of course, not every wedding photographer travels, but if you have dreams of seeing the world, this is definitely a career you should consider.