If you’ve been considering turning your passion for photography into a permanent gig, you’re probably wondering just how sustainable it is. Photography can be such a rewarding career, but it’s important to enter with realistic expectations so you can grow your business while still making ends meet. As a wedding photography educator, I love working with my students to give them the best start possible. If you’ve found yourself wondering, “How much do wedding photographers make?“, here is what you need to know! 

The Average For How Much Wedding Photographers Make

Just like with every career out there, how much you can make with your photography business is going to vary wildly on quite a few factors we’ll get to in a minute. As you start out, anticipate a more modest income that can change as you learn and grow. Here’s what you can expect: 

In America, wedding photographers who run their own business and work as the primary wedding photographer will make $75,000-$150,000 gross per year on average. 

In Canada, the average salary for mid-level photographers is $60,000- $80,000 gross, with some top-tier photographers regularly earning over $100,000. 

5 Things to Think About When Pricing Yourself

The first thing you need to do when starting your business is figure out a price for your services that accurately reflects your value. Yes, it’s hard, I know! But it is important. Here is what you need to consider. 

Education + Experience

A beginner wedding photographer simply can’t expect to be pulling in six digits each year. Let your price be an accurate reflection of where you are in your career. If you are just starting out, you’ll want to make your price appealing enough to draw in new clients while ensuring they get their money’s worth. As you refine your skills and learn more about the business, you can start to raise your prices. 

Expenses

Don’t forget to calculate all the expenses as you create a price structure. This is going to include things like gear, post-production software, transportation, and advertising and marketing. Also, remember your time isn’t free! 

Location

If you are a wedding photographer who lives in a high-cost-of-living area, your starting prices will be higher than those of someone living in a low-cost-of-living area. Things like your area’s demand, population density, and resources will all influence this. 

Amount of Work Each Year

As you figure out what you can expect from your salary, consider how many weddings a year you can book. Think about how much money you will need for your overhead and profit, and then divide it by the amount of work you think you can realistically get. You can use that final number as a base for your wedding packages. 

Client Experience

Throughout all of this, your client experience needs to be at the top of your mind. If you charge a lot of money but don’t deliver a fantastic experience, word of mouth is going to keep your business from growing.  Even while you are currently operating at a beginner’s salary, be sure to give your clients the royal treatment. This is going to be the thing that really helps you get that income to where you want it to be! 

I Hope This Info On How Much Do Wedding Photographers Make Puts Things In Perspective

If you have been wondering, “How much do wedding photographers make?”, I really hope this helped you out! And if so, be sure to stick around. As a wedding photography educator, I love working with my clients to take their business to the next level. With my Wedding Photographer’s Formula online class, I go into depth exploring everything from your basic camera settings to advanced bookkeeping. Want to learn more? Then message me today so you can get started! 

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