Working for yourself? Great.

Working every weekend? Great for the bank account, but maybe not so great for your social life.

Getting to do what you love as your job? Great.

Doing your own tax return? Not so great… unless you’re also an accountant.

Realising you now have to become a content creator to keep up with the times? Well, that depends how you look at it, but we’d imagine most of you wouldn’t describe it as “great”.

Constantly being told to sell albums to increase your income, but not having the time or knowing where to start? Great if you contact Folio – we can literally design your albums for free.  

We’re not going to pretend there aren’t pros and cons to being a professional photographer. And you don’t have to either.

Here at Folio, we speak to enough photographers to understand both the pros and cons of being a professional photographer. As much as it sounds like a creative person’s dream, we know first-hand that there’s a lot more that goes into it. 

We’re also aware of a lot of the difficulties people are experiencing inside the world of wedding photography these days. From being ghosted by potential clients and worrying you are charging too much, to comparing yourself to your peers that seem to be drowning in enquiries and success on social media, we’ve heard all of this and more. You are not alone. 

We know it’s easier said than done, but there’s been studies that have suggested that the more fun people have, the better equipped they are to handle stress. So let’s look at a few ideas that might help you shift your perspective and maybe even have more fun while you work.

Remember Why You Started

Of course, money may play a part. But what else drew you to this career?

Was it the idea of having a job where no two days are the same? Helping people preserve beautiful memories? Combining your creativity with an income? Maybe you photographed a friend’s wedding as a favour and unexpectedly fell in love with it. Or perhaps you dreamed of travelling the world with a camera in hand.

Whatever your reason was, remind yourself of it.

Then tell anyone who’ll listen.

Mention it in enquiry calls, share it through social media posts, and talk about it while you’re at weddings. Don’t be afraid to show your passion and tell your story.

There’s a saying that “people buy from people”, and it really is true. If someone visits your website or social media and all they see are wedding photos and pricing information, with none of your personality shining through, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Your customers should already be able to get a feel for your energy and have some insight into your personality and story before they even talk to you face to face for the first time. 

Change Your Environment

(If you have a dog at home, you can skip this one.)

Working from home is a luxury that not everyone gets to experience. But your environment can make a huge difference, especially if you’re editing photos in bed or spending days hunched over on the sofa.

Have you tried getting out of the house more? 

You don’t have to go far. Work from a local coffee shop, or if the weather’s nice, find a peaceful spot outside. Bonus points if you put on an outfit that makes you feel good. It doesn’t have to be stylish, just something that helps you feel more like yourself.

We know it’s a cliche, but small changes can make a big difference to your mood and motivation. 

Socialising Doesn’t Make You Less Professional

(Warning for introverts.)

Are you actually socialising at weddings?

We know everyone has different preferences, and nobody’s expecting you to become a social butterfly overnight. However, from speaking with professional photographers, we’ve found that conversations with wedding guests can have some unexpected benefits.

They can lead to future enquiries. Guests often feel more comfortable in front of the camera when they feel comfortable around you, which can result in better photos. But perhaps most importantly, it can simply make the day more enjoyable.

The more fun you’re having, the better energy you’ll bring to the wedding.

And fun is what weddings are all about, right?

If you didn’t want an enjoyable job, you could work a traditional 9–5 in a non-creative environment, whilst potentially earning significantly more money. So why did you choose to become a wedding photographer?

You can still take your business seriously while allowing yourself to relax and enjoy what you do.

Finding a Better Work-Life Balance

It’s true – you’re probably not going to book many weddings if you’d rather spend every Saturday out with your friends than at a shoot.

Finding a work-life balance is something most self-employed people struggle with. Fortunately, there are ways to create more balance without sacrificing your social life.

Seek out other wedding photographers. Befriend them. Suddenly, you’ve got someone to meet for dinner on a Tuesday night and someone who genuinely understands the unique challenges that come with this career.

And yes, you’ve heard it before, but building a routine really does matter.

More importantly, stick to it for longer than a week. 

Many of us here at Folio understand what it’s like to run your own business. We know how difficult it is to stop thinking about work when the responsibility falls entirely on your shoulders.

But we also know it’s hard to be productive if you never allow yourself to switch off.

Setting boundaries around when you’re allowed to work and when you’re not, might actually help train your brain to relax without guilt.

You Don’t Need to Become an Influencer

Nobody expects you to become an influencer overnight.

But experimenting with new ways to interact with your audience online isn’t a bad idea, and it can actually be quite fun. 

If you’re not comfortable speaking directly to the camera, try some of these content ideas instead:

• Spend a morning with me before a wedding shoot
• What I bring to a wedding
• A day in my life when I’m not photographing a wedding
• The tools I use to edit my photos
• How I became a professional photographer
• Mistakes to avoid as a wedding photographer
• The funniest things I’ve experienced at weddings
• My favourite cities to photograph weddings in

You can turn these ideas into reels with voiceovers or subtitles, carousel posts, or even Instagram stories that can showcase your work without it coming across like an ad to viewers.

And if you think you’re cool because you’re not on TikTok… you might be right.

But would you rather be cool, or have fun making videos while watching more people discover your work? 

More and more people are using platforms like TikTok and Pinterest as search engines. Don’t miss the opportunity to appear in those searches when someone is looking for a wedding photographer.

There’s also a common misconception that you have to speak to the camera to build a following on TikTok. While it can help, it certainly isn’t the only way.

Find a friend to make some videos with if you don’t want to post on your own at first. Use a trending sound. Create something relevant to your business. Follow other wedding photographers and become part of that community.

Final Thoughts

So, let’s recap.

You can’t eliminate all of the difficult parts of being a wedding photographer. But you can embrace the parts you enjoy, build healthier habits into your routine, and reconnect with the reasons you chose this career in the first place.

Remember why you started, and fight to keep that fire burning.

Don’t become a hermit. Get outside and find new places to work.

Talk to people at weddings. Have a laugh. It doesn’t make you any less professional to enjoy your job.

Think about the best moments you’ve had as a professional photographer. How many genuine interactions have you been able to capture that have made a bride and groom smile?

Being a wedding photographer isn’t always as fun as it looks.

But with the right mindset, it absolutely can be.

Take a look at some of our other articles:

3 ways to survive wedding season as a wedding photographer

How to take care of your mental health and avoid photography burnout 

Unlocking revenue potential: how offering albums can transform your photography business