ben_frey1

<p>Thank you both! Josen, I like your break down of 1/3's and I think I will be thinking of this often moving forward. Howard, you're right. I need to work out more thought out business plan. All and all, i don't think I am quiet ready for the transition yet its good to know the direction that I need to head. </p>

<p>Hi all, <br> I just finished my second season of part time wedding photography. In this time, I have photographed 25 weddings with great success. I've learned and developed so much and have loved every bit of it. I am considering a transition to full time work yet am not sure of what unexpected cost will arise in the transition. I have been up'ing prices throughout the 2 years yet thus far this has all been funny money because it has been merely a hobby and I've had another job of full employment. One full time photographer that I respect a lot has said that I will need to have 3x the incoming sales of my current salary in order to maintain the same standard of living. Thus, if a person wanted to maintain a 70k lifestyle, they would have to have 210k sales in photography work. This seemed super high to me and I was curious as to what others thought. Thus, below are a few questions that I would love to read people's response to. <br> 1) What are some of the hidden financial cost of depending on a photography business as one's sole income?<br> 2) What are your thoughts that it takes 3x one's current salary in incoming sales to maintain current standard of living? If you agree, where is this money going?<br> 3) Any advice or opinions on transitioning from part time work to full time?<br> Any thoughts and words are greatly appreciated. <br> Thank you:)<br> Ben</p>

Well, thank you Mark! You have left more than one nugget of genius in this post. Thank you. Knowledge is definitely king and you have more than given me a lot to think about. I've already reread this a couple times and will most definitely do so again in the future. To be completely honest, the business of this is all new to me. I am a passionate photographer. I love taking pictures. I look at the business aspect of this kind of like a game in that I need to play it in order to get clients, so I then can do what I want which is photograph people. Fortunately, I enjoy games and the business is a fun aspect. Mark, let me ask you, as well as any others, how do you keep the passion to photograph alive if it becomes such a hustle to get clients? Also feel free to respond to the original question in my post regarding the best marketing techniques. My head is bouncing off of several ideas at the moment. Cheers! Ben

Thanks Ed! I very much agree that face to face is clearly the best form of connection in regards to communication. I haven't yet been to a wedding show and will probably benefit from doing so. Perhaps, I should go first simply as a viewer to get then gist of it. Thanks for your two cents! Ben

Hi all, I have read some older post concerning wedding wire but I am curious what some of your current thoughts are in regards to online advertising for weddings photography. I have been playing around with thumbtack but have been hesitant to make a plunge into wedding wire due to there high upfront payment. I have read older negative reviews yet have heard positive comments from photographers that I know. I've also yet to start google Adwords or any type of seo optimization. I'm curious to learn what has or hasn't been working for you. I look forward to you responses. Cheers! Ben