Chase Jarvis and Jasmine Star on Wedding Photography

18 Sep 2010

Chase Jarvis and Jasmine Star sat down to talk about the perks and pitfalls of wedding photography. She also did an online course on the same subject for Chase’s online learning platform creativeLIVE.

Getting Started

Jasmine Star’s journey as a wedding photographer started with her initial pursuit of law at UCLA, but she soon realized that it wouldn’t fulfill her. Her perspective changed after her own wedding, where she was deeply moved by the emotions captured by their wedding photographer’s work. This experience opened her eyes to the lifestyle and creative opportunities that wedding photography offered, including the ability to travel, do what she loved, and get paid well for it. She decided to take a break from law school and give photography a try, and her husband gifted her a Canon 20D in December 2005. She shot three weddings in 2006 and close to 40 weddings in 2007 through word-of-mouth referrals.

Initially she also worked as a second, third, and fourth photographer at weddings for free to gain experience and learn. She initially dabbled in family photography for quick money but soon realized that she didn’t enjoy it. This realization made her understand the importance of not shooting things she didn’t enjoy, as it would lead to more of the same work in the future.

Core of the Business

About 80% of her work as a wedding photographer is not related to the technical aspects of photography, such as shooting and editing, but rather revolves around differentiating herself in a crowded market of talented wedding photographers. It’s not just about having the latest gear, but it’s about dealing with clients, ensuring their happiness, and creating a unique experience and branding for herself on the web that aligns with their expectations.

She attributes her success to several factors, including her genuine approach on her old blog, where she shared her fears and mistakes as she started her journey. She believes that being transparent about her struggles helped her connect with others on the web and set realistic expectations with potential customers. When she started, she charged $1000 for her services and was upfront about her journey, which resonated with clients and aspiring photographers alike.

Jasmine also considers reliability as a crucial factor in her success. Having recently gotten married herself, she can speak from the perspective of both a professional photographer and a bride, which has helped her connect with clients on a deeper level.

The three must-have photos:

• the first kiss
• a photo of the bride and the father (or whoever is accompanying her) walking down the aisle
• a classic portrait that captures the couple in a timeless and elegant way

In terms of equipment, she now shoots with a Canon 5D Mk II, with a 50mm/1.2f lens, 24mm/1.4f lens, and an 85/1.2f lens.

She also offers to create photo albums for her clients, which she considers an important feature of her business, similar to a magazine or book showcasing her work. She allows clients to choose the pictures that go into the album, but still acts as an art director. She works with a graphic designer to design the album sends a proof to the client before it goes into final printing.

Pricing

When Jasmine first started shooting weddings, she had two options: charge what she thought she was worth or charge lower to get more bookings and stay busy. She decided to go with the latter strategy and started shooting weddings for $1,000, which was at the lower end of the market. For every three weddings she booked, she raised her prices by $300. She acknowledged that raising prices may result in losing some clients, but it’s a cost of doing business and allows her to focus on the types of work, clients, and agencies she wants to work with. She also mentioned that talking about pricing can be taboo, but it’s an important aspect of running a successful business, and finding the right pricing strategy can lead to making a significant amount of money.

Challenges

Being a wedding photographer is a challenging and competitive profession that requires hard work and discipline. It is crucial to love what you do, even though it may involve unpleasant tasks and long hours.

As a successful wedding photographer, the schedule includes early mornings, late nights, and constant work on emails and social media. However, she also stresses the need for balance between work and personal life, recognizing the importance of taking care of oneself amidst the demands of the business.

Every project comes with its own set of failures, but it is essential to learn from them and bounce back. She emphasize that what professionals see as mistakes may not always be visible to the customer and might not be a problem in the end. It is still crucial to take those failures as opportunities for growth and improvement.

She also discusses the criticism she attracts that comes with her very open and public way of working. She acknowledges that other photographers may criticize her approach, but they also highlight the opportunity to learn from that criticism. While there is mutual respect among photographers, sometimes that criticism may come from a darker place. However, she remains focused on doing what she loves and is not overly concerned about the criticism, recognizing that not everyone may like her work.