First-Year Success: 6 tips for a fully booked wedding season

Podcast

Sep 18

Welcome to the first episode of the "Life and Lens” podcast with me, Lei Lei Clavey.

Whether you're a curious listener interested in my journey, an aspiring wedding photographer kickstarting your business, or someone eager to break into the premium and luxury wedding photography market, my hope is that this podcast can your guide.

In this first episode I share the six pivotal steps I took in my first year to build a flourishing wedding photography business. From mentoring and education to branding, pricing, and niche selection.

ABOUT ME

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lei Lei Clavey, a 36-year-old Australian native who's had the privilege of living in Paris, Perth, and New York City during my twenties years. Eventually, I returned to my beloved Melbourne, got married, and started a family.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

My journey into wedding photography began in February 2020, during my maternity leave with my first child. At that point, my little one was five months old, and I was emerging from the haze of early motherhood. The 9-to-5 marketing job I held at the time lacked fulfillment and motivation. I knew I needed to carve out something more meaningful for myself instead of returning to the corporate grind after my maternity leave ended.

I started photography back in 2010, but it wasn't until later that I seriously considered wedding photography. Initially, I hesitated, fearing the immense pressure of capturing someone's special day. Moreover, I only wanted to photograph weddings that truly inspired me. My passions lie in fashion, style, interiors, and beauty. When I discovered other fashion-focused wedding photographers who also loved these elements, I realised I had found my calling.

Fast forward to my third year in business, and I'm frequently asked how I managed to build a successful wedding photography business in such a short span of time. Here’s the six key strategies I employed during my first twelve months to set the stage for a fully booked wedding season:

Invested in Mentoring and Education:

I joined the team of luxury editorial wedding photographer Bek Smith as a second shooter.
The unexpected twist of shooting as an associate due to COVID turned out to be a blessing.
Having a mentor like Bek has been invaluable, providing guidance and inspiration.
Continuous Learning:
I enrolled in the Six Figure Business Map course, which played a pivotal role in my business growth.
Podcasts, courses, and countless notebooks filled with business tips became my daily companions.
My commitment to learning everything about wedding photography was unwavering.
Practice, Practice, Practice:
I seized every opportunity to second shoot and associate shoot with exceptional photographers who were shooting the type of weddings I aspired to shoot. I also second shot and associate shot weddings that weren’t so much my style and that was great experience to figure out what I loved and didn’t love, and where I wanted to head towards.
Building my skills and experience was crucial in those early days.
Brand Development:
Early on, I defined my ideal client and worked on my branding.
Recognising my limitations, I enlisted a professional for branding, setting me apart as an established photographer.
My confidence, branding, website, and pricing structure helped me secure high-value bookings.
Pricing Strategy:
I refrained from starting with low rates, focusing on the weddings that truly excited me.
Priced starting at $4.5k, I aimed to provide value and confidence to high-end clients.
I gradually transitioned from lower-priced gigs to more premium bookings as my portfolio and branding evolved.
Niche Specialisation:
Instead of shooting everything and spreading myself thin, I niche-specialised.
My focus shifted exclusively to premium weddings for fashion-forward couples, resulting in greater happiness and profitability.
Business Investment:
I treated my business as if it were already generating $100k in revenue.
Investing in essential tools, software, and professional services was vital for rapid growth.

I'm still amazed that we can create such a fulfilling and profitable career in this field by doing the right things. All these experiences continue to inspire me to push my boundaries and aim higher. I hope this podcast also inspires you to challenge yourself and strive for greatness in your endeavours.