When we first started out in the business, we knew we needed a contract. But beyond that, we really didn’t know much about it. So we bought a generic wedding photography contract from another photographer and started using that.

Over time, we learned many lessons. We learned there are truly some things you should have in a contract. And we learned how to cover yourself in the greatest way possible. Here are 7 tips to help you as you develop your own version.

1. In many cases, the contract will go beyond one page. While you may only need signatures at the end of the contract itself, provide spaces on every page for the bride, groom and photographer to initial that they have read and agreed with the terms.

2. In some cases, your clients will be out of town, and you’ll handle everything by email/snail mail. Never send a contract through Word – always create a PDF file, or send it through snail mail. If you send it in a workable file format, the bride and groom can make changes to your contract at will.

3. Include all the details of the event: bride and groom names, wedding date, location and times, and a description of the services you will be providing. Make sure you have both the bride and groom sign off on the contract.

4. Consider adding clauses for price increases. Wedding photography can often be booked a year or more in advance, and can sometimes take months for the couple to place their final order. That’s a long time as a photographer to hold your prices steady. Make sure you add a policy for how long you’ll keep prices the same, and what the policy is for changing out the pricing structure.

5. Include a model release. Make sure you list out everything you will be using the photographs for in the future, including marketing possibilities. If you post images online for the world to see, make sure your release states it.

6. Be very specific for payment methods. In some areas it’s important to word your contracts correctly for deposits and final payments. Make sure you include statements about nonrefundable deposits, and how you collect the fees throughout the process.

7. Start by writing up your own contract; and then bring it in to a lawyer for final review. This saved us hundreds of dollars over the years. In general, once you get a good working copy of a contract, it’s easy to add a few clauses here and there. It gives the lawyer a starting point, and allows them to spend their time editing instead of starting from scratch. It also gives them a basis for things you require, and allows them to add the legal jargon to make sure it holds up in court if you ever need that behind you.

Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.

How do photograph your weddings?

Are you a portrait taker, that has a list of shots your bride wants taken at the wedding and reception?

Or do you go with the flow, taking photographs throughout the day based on what’s happening?

The key buzzword in the industry in photojournalism. Yet few photographers are actually photojournalistic. Photojournalistic doesn’t mean taking a few snapshots between the formals. It means you look at the entire day as an artistic experience, and document what’s happening with very little posing, very little communication, and very little interaction between the photographer and the clients/guests.

It means becoming a storyteller, and watching for things that happen around you to make it a memory. It’s about constantly watching for action and reaction. It’s about turning away from the main focus, to find out how people are reacting to it. It’s about being aware of everything around you, and being ready for that magical image.

Everyone gets the cake image.

But how about the cake after the bride and groom have cut their first piece together?

Everyone gets an image of the ceremony.

But how about from an entirely different angle?

Look around you, and find things from different angles, using different lenses, or different perspectives.

How about the view from the bridal table?

Or a full motion view of the bride and groom heading up the aisle as husband and wife.

Or a view of the ladies getting ready for the big day.

The story is there. It’s just a matter of finding it. 

As a whole, where does the industry of wedding photography stand today?

I just read an interesting post by David Ziser (a June post, must have missed it when he originally wrote it) and thought it was filled with a lot of things I too have witnessed in this industry. (It’s worth the read.)

Wedding photography is more than just shooting a few pictures at an event. In my eyes – as a professional wedding photographer for many years – it is the most difficult form of photography.

• You have to mix with dozens of different types of personalities, some with frazzled nerves.
• You have to photograph a bride’s white dress with a grooms black tux, in the blazing sunlight, and in the dark reception hall – making every photograph turn out perfectly.
• You have to photograph professional portraits , and become a dynamic photojournalist, anticipating where the client wants you to be.

I could go on, but I’m sure you understand what I’m saying.

Yet you continually see Craigslist listings for free photographers, or an entire wedding package for $250. There is no way a professional photographer can remain a professional photographer at this level. Instead you’ll get the comments I hear almost every day of:

“I used a friend who loves photography, but they did a horrible job and now I have no photographs from my wedding.”

To be a professional wedding photographer, you have to dedicate yourself to the art of wedding photography. You have to practice. You have to understand every nuance of the day. AND you have to charge what you’re worth to stay in the business.

I recently did a post on The Pendulum Swing Of Photography. Every single point holds true to this post as well, but let’s discuss point #7 again here:

7. The photographer that isn’t out for the quick buck, and caves into “what everyone else is doing”. The biggest statement I hear from photographers on why they charge one low fee and hand over the digital files – “everyone else is doing it”. That’s not how to get to the top. The way to the top is to give what no one else is giving.

The only way to remain a true professional wedding photographer is to provide 110% service to your wedding clients – and tell about it. Do your clients really want to rely on the free Craigslist photographer – that may never show up? Do they really want to rely on the friend – that only photographs landscapes? Do they really want to trust their memories to a photographer that has never photographed a wedding before? Do they really want to trust a photographer that hands over the files – and doesn’t understand the professionalism of helping you design your wedding album?

I can go on and on. It all boils down to how much you put in is how much you will receive.

In today’s world its easy to find out what other photographers are charging and offering in their packages. With a quick search, I found the following package deal for wedding photography:

• Full day coverage, unlimited time, unlimited images
• Free engagement photography session
• Digital negatives included
• Online galleries for ordering
• Price $2500

This is pretty much the standard wedding package available today.

This is fine if you photograph clients in one location, and all of your clients are from that one location.

But what if you want to become a destination photographer? What if someone is from New York, but will be getting married in Hawaii? What if someone is planning a wedding from Germany, is getting married in Aspen, and won’t be in the States until three days before the wedding?

Let the negotiations begin. Anytime you include a free engagement session in your package, if the bride and groom can’t use it, they’ll start negotiating. Hardly the thing you want happening with a brand new client.

And yet most photographers continue to offer this. Why?

Engagement portraits are personal to the bride and groom. In many ways its a completely separate event from the actual wedding. Many photographers will tell you this is a great way of bringing in a new client. While this may be true, in today’s traveling world, its not nearly as important as it once was.

Instead of making it a part of the package, make it an add on. Make it a reasonable cost – $125 plus expenses. You’ll photograph in your local area, or they can fly you in to their location. Their choice.

You’ve just made some of your clients very happy for a very reasonable price. And you no longer have to go through negotiations with the clients that don’t want or need an engagement session. 

Keep up to date with you digital photography business >>

One of my favorite album companies just announced a new album line. If you like the matted albums but hate filling out all of the forms, your day is here. With the new design system, you can enjoy all of the above and none of the hassle. Visit Zookbinders.com and see what an amazing album company can do for your digital photography studio. This is not a paid submission but an honest testament of a quality company that is the backbone of my studio.

Have you every looked at you images and wonder how can I update the style? One quick way is to change your angle. Next wedding that you photograph, see if you can shoot some images from a higher viewpoint; a balcony or up on an elevated area can alter the look of any image and provide a fresh viewpoint. Lets look at a dance floor during the reception, if you have an elevated viewpoint; the subject is instantly separated from the other on the dance floor. By modifying simple points of interest, your photography will always keep updating itself.

Providing new ideas to your photography business and information on how to start a photography business. Stay up to date with our photography newsletter which provides tips on your photography studio.

The holidays are just around the corner. Are you ready? What are your plans to take care of your best clients and referral sources?

One of the best ways to keep referral sources sending you weddings and portrait clients to your photography studio are with gifts, cards or a certificate to a elegant restaurant show that you respect them. Wedding coordinators, wedding reception locations and caterers have always been on of the best supplier of quality potential clients for our studio. Keep them happy and show your appreciation for them this coming holiday.

Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.

Wedding photography is a wonderful service that we offer our clients. Providing this once in a lifetime memory of a blissful event. I know many photographers face the same issue when photographing weddings, loud receptions. Seems that the party needs to be loud and ground thumping to be enjoyable. Sounds like a great time if you only attend one event every few years. What if you capture events every weekend or multiple events during a weekend? The extreme sound can take its toll on your hearing. Do you know how well your hearing is? Found a very cool site that has exact frequency to show your hearing ability.

Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.

What an incredible past week this nation and world has seen! For the United States, the celebration of our independence on July 4th and Earth Day on 07/07/07.

We were out of the country during the July 4th celebration but still enjoyed it. This holiday is one of my favorite holidays.

On July 7, 07, many photographers were crazy busy photographing what was one of the most popular days for weddings. I don’t think that there were many photographers out of work on this special day.

Another item that was celebrated around the world was live earth day. Artists spanned the globe hosting concerts in a 24 hour marathon event that has never been seen. For more information on live earth and what you can do to help protect our environment, we have included a link – Live Earth

I hope everyone had a wonderful celebration on safe holiday.

Increasing your bottom line can be a hard task to take on. Finding a fine line of keeping your clients happy and your studio’s profit in a growth trend can be difficult. 

Set your goals to grow your photography business.

Once you see your future, it’s easier to put it into place. Start out by writing your general goals on a piece of paper. For example, if one year from now you see yourself with 20 portrait or wedding clients, each spending $10,000 USD, write that goal down.

These are your large goals. But large goals are hard to achieve because they are so large. 20 portrait or wedding clients at $10,000 each sounds great, but if you are having trouble getting one client through our doors, these 20 can be a monumental goal.

Underneath this large goal, start breaking it down into more manageable tasks.

• Attend a networking function in and out of the photography field.
• Increase my prices.
• Offer bigger packages – Alway keep them want the largest.

Write down as many tasks as you can think of that will help you achieve your goal. Do this for every goal you have.

Helping your photography business, how to start a digital wedding photography business and wedding photography business visit virtualphotographystudio.com and keep up-to-date with all of the photography happenings via our free newsletter.