How Success is Measured in a Photography Business

Quantity is not the only & is not always the measure of your success.

Truth: I have never booked more than 20 weddings or elopements in a year. Last year, it was half that amount because of the pandemic. In years previous, I usually book between 15-17 (including opportunities to second shoot).

I have zero shame in saying any of that out loud.

Why?

Simply because shooting more than 20 weddings/elopements a year is just not the right fit for the way I want to run my business. I have a ton of photographer friends that book 50-60 weddings a year. There’s not a thing wrong about that & it works beautifully for them. I just had to find what worked for me.

When I first went full-time, I decided that there was no way I could book more than 20 weddings or elopements a year, plus sessions, manage a household, be a wife, be a friend, & be a human too. I had already spread myself too thin before & knew that if I wanted to build a sustainable business, I was going to have to be very intentional with what I put on my calendar.

Hands down the most important part of this job for me is investing in my client relationships. From that first email, I want my clients to already feel at home. I want them to know that they can trust me, that I’m in their corner, & that I’m here to serve them in any way that I can. If I have too much on my plate, I don’t feel like I can offer them that. I’ve also never cared to outsource those responsibilities because those are the things I love doing the most.

You should also know that it took me several years before I was in a place where I could be selective with what was on my calendar. If you are just starting out, you are trying to build your client base. You are also trying to build a financially sustainable business. That can make it hard to say no to opportunities when it means bringing in more income & growing your territory of influence. Chances are, you’ve probably found yourself here too in your photography journey. Just know that it’s okay & take it in strides friend.

What I do want you walk away knowing is that delivering a quality experience to your clients supersedes how many bookings you have. If how much you have booked begins affecting the quality of the experience you offer, then that might be a good indication to take a little less in the future.

Doing things this way is also what’s helped me avoid completely burning out. There are certainly times this job has tested me, but it’s always come back to people & WHY I started doing this in the first place. Be proud of whatever is on your calendar, invest in those relationships, & steward those opportunities well.

XO, Dakota