Posting a Facebook notification and waiting for the wedding jobs to roll in would be a) really naive and b) completely underestimate the challenges that lie ahead. Unless I knew of anyone having a wedding and/or was close to another wedding photographer things would not be simple or easy. Also, my helpful wife always tells me that Facebook is not the answer. In hindsight, she is right. Facebook offers an easy way of procrastinating and scrolling through endless high speed videos featuring Crafty Pandas, hipster wood working shops and bio-resin, then briefly engaging with a wedding post presented to me during endless scrolling. Instagram, Twitter and even Gumtree were presented to me as valid additions to my online presence to create business links. That is not to say Facebook is unhelpful, but it is just one tool in the box so to speak.

As well as touting my wares on social media, I needed to think outside of the box. What if I approached wedding vendors with a free service to get my foot in the door and build a portfolio? One cold Sunday I found myself pounding my keyboard and I emailed over fifty wedding dress shops around London that would suit the sort of clients that would appreciate a few creative photos in their wedding album. My initial approach was that I would offer my photography services so that their to-be clients could show themselves in trying on dresses to their families and friends. Some of the shops who I emailed included Heart Aflutter Bridal, Bridal Reloved, IndieBride Bridal and just for the name itself, Fur Coat, No Knickers Bridal. The replies I received ranged from extremely helpful, to a polite no thanks and finally to an angry message that made it seem I asked the proprietor for a glance up their customers knickers. 

This exercise proved to be positive because in the 50 I messaged, one replied offering me the chance to borrow a dress for a model in a photoshoot that I would set up for my portfolio. My old personality that expected instant reward for work would be shaking in disapproval. Not only was this offer extremely helpful, more importantly I built up a foundation to a good relationship with this vendor through email. I guess this is my ‘planting seeds’ stage of the business. If another Sunday is spent emailing vendors (maybe I try wedding planners next time) and I get one helpful reply, well in 10 weeks that would be 10 different relationships to add to my directory. Fortunately, I have a full time job in museum/library photography that I can keep going while I establish this business.

Also, it is wrong to do nothing until you procure a model, sexy venue and gorgeous lighting. This all or nothing approach is no good. Sure, it is vital to have these but if I don’t have any other plans on a weekend and no models then staging some still life shots and shooting beats scrolling into oblivion on Facebook. I enjoyed fluffing up my wife’s wedding dress and experimenting with the terrible, dull light outside that I had available during those dark winter days. Many professional wedding portfolios feature still lives and details of the day so why not recreate these myself in my small flat? Perhaps the most ubiquitous example of this is the wedding ring shots. So I place my wedding ring on my wife’s veil to practise doing this, with results that exceeded my expectations. I then tried to be playful and use the wedding ring as a prop in a Star Wars lego set (don’t ask, a gigantic Lego Millennium Falcon was reduced by almost £200 and I HAD to have it, but unfortunately I cannot claim it back as a business expense). I will always find creative ways to showcase someone’s special day, even in a blank cluttered room with poor lighting.