Wedding Photography Business

4 Wedding Photography Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 7th, 2024

Starting a wedding photography business is a great way to turn your passion for photography into a profitable career. As a wedding photographer, you will capture the special moments and memories of a couple’s big day.

This involves coordinating with the couple to understand their vision for the photographs, scouting locations for the shoot, and using your creative skills to take stunning photographs.

To start a wedding photography business, you must invest in high-quality equipment such as a camera, lens, and lighting. You will also need to have a strong portfolio of your work to show potential clients and should consider joining a professional organization like the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.

Marketing is also an essential aspect of running a successful wedding photographer business. This can involve creating a website and social media presence, networking with wedding planners and venues, and advertising in local wedding magazines or blogs.

Overall, being a wedding photographer requires a combination of technical skills, creativity, and business acumen. But with hard work and dedication, it can be a rewarding career that allows you to share in the joy of a couple’s special day.

In this list, you'll find real-world wedding photography business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a wedding photography business that makes money.

1. Studio 31 ($600K/year)

Pranesh Padmanabhan, the founder of Studio 31, came up with the idea for his wedding photography business after attending numerous weddings in India and witnessing the lack of respect and recognition for photographers. Recognizing the opportunity in the booming Indian wedding industry, Pranesh started his own company to provide couples with a fully managed wedding media solution and exceptional customer experience. Through clever marketing strategies, a team of talented photographers, and a commitment to professionalism, Studio 31 now captures over 350 weddings a year and has achieved an annual revenue of approximately a million dollars.

How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 30

How I Run A $50K/Month Wedding Photography Studio Like A Startup

This case study follows the journey of an Indian first-generation entrepreneur who built Studio 31, a profitable and award-winning wedding photography and film company capturing over 350 weddings annually, with a unique focus on customer experience and organic marketing, serving more than 90% NRI clients and generating an annual revenue of about a million dollars.

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Read by 17,866 founders

2. CandidShutters ($329K/year)

Pranjal, the co-founder of CandidShutters, came up with the idea for the business after realizing that couples and their families longed for a tangible keepsake of their wedding moments. With a passion for photography and filmmaking, Pranjal saw the opportunity to create custom-designed handcrafted photo albums that would bring these memories to life. Since launching in 2018, CandidShutters has become known for its personalized albums, catering to over a hundred customers monthly through a strong organic presence and word of mouth.

How much money it makes: $329K/year
How many people on the team: 22

How I Started A $27K/Month Business Creating Custom Handcrafted Photo Albums

CandidShutters co-founder Pranjal started an online-only, profitable business in 2018 creating custom-designed handcrafted photo albums that currently averages over 100 albums per month, serving couples and families seeking to create memorable keepsakes.

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3. Stephan & Adriana ($168K/year)

Stephan and Adriana, former professional ice skaters, discovered a passion for photography during their time touring the world. When Stephan missed his deadline to apply for college, he decided to give photography a chance, and the couple started shooting houses, landscapes, and weddings. The pandemic unexpectedly revealed a high demand for smaller, outdoorsy weddings, propelling their business to new heights as they focused on elopements and intimate weddings in breathtaking locations like Yosemite National Park. Their business now brings in an average of 12-18k per month, allowing them to spend quality time with their families in both California and Brazil.

How much money it makes: $168K/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 2

This Couple Left Their Careers & Built A $168K/Year Business

How two ice-skating world travelers built a wedding photography business with a focus on intimate, outdoor weddings, working mainly in Yosemite National Park, where they managed to attract clients almost solely through content marketing and SEO, bringing in an average of 12-18k per month.

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4. SvenStudios ($72K/year)

Steven, a wedding photographer based in Adelaide, Australia, started his business by combining his passion for photography with his teaching background. After gaining a following on DeviantArt and attending business conferences, he focused on online marketing and creating a strong brand. With an average of 30 weddings per year, Steven's business generates a six-figure income and stands out for his unique, genuine approach to capturing couples' special moments.

How much money it makes: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $60K
How many people on the team: 1

How I Started A Career As Wedding Photographer That Generates Over 6 Figures Per Year

This case study is about a wedding photographer in Australia who earns over six figures annually by keeping things simple, offering transparent pricing, and focusing on online advertising with an effective website and SEO strategy.

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Read by 8,645 founders