Wedding photography is sometimes the first thing new photographers think of trying when they start out, often attracted by the prospect of bigger payoffs for each assignment when compared to portrait photography.
For example, “that’s where the money is!” is the most common reason I hear for adding wedding photography to one’s list of specialties.
However, jumping unprepared into the wedding photography business can often mean leaping into shark-infested waters – a business full of unseen dangers.
I was able to sit down and talk with experienced professional photographer David Grupa about the realities of being a wedding photographer, which you can listen to below.
About Our Guest: David Grupa
Today, I have portrait and wedding photographer David Grupa here with me to talk about the wedding photography side of his thriving business.
David has been a member of the Professional Photographers of America since 1977, and earned the designation of Certified Professional Photographer in 1995. In 1998, he became only the 5th person to simultaneously earn the respected Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the PPA.
His energetic personality and high-energy approach make him a natural fit for all forms of portrait photography and his fun-loving style is a favorite among his wedding clients.
Over the years, he’s won numerous awards and his images have been selected for display in both the PPA and MNPPA Traveling Loan Collections. In addition to being honored with 2 Fuji Masterpiece Awards, David also received the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award in 2011 for his album entitled “End of Watch”, which documented the funeral of a slain police officer.
Currently, David serves as a Minnesota Councilor to the PPA, on the Board of Trustees for PPA Charities, and is a Past-President of both the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association and the Twin Cities Professional Photographers Association.
Episode Summary
Here are some of the great topics we talked about during our chat in this episode:
- David’s initial spark of inspiration for photography…
- The importance of our professional organizations…
- How professional certifications impact how your potential clients see you…
- David’s top 3 marketing strategies for finding wedding photography clients…
- The marketing and sales process for potential brides and grooms…
- The overall wedding photography experience…
- The top mistakes newcomers to the wedding photography business are making…
- The biggest challenge for photographers trying to make that initial first impression…
- How to close more wedding bookings…
- The importance of client relationships…
