Introduction
Being a destination wedding photographer is a dream for many photographers. It opens up opportunities to travel and explore new locations while capturing beautiful moments for couples on their special day. However, becoming a destination wedding photographer is not as easy as it may seem. In this article, we will explore the steps and considerations involved in becoming a successful destination wedding photographer.
How to Become a Destination Wedding Photographer
Show what you want to shoot
One of the first pieces of advice from successful veteran wedding photographers is to “show what you want to shoot.” This means that if you aspire to become a destination wedding photographer, you need to showcase your ability to capture stunning destination wedding photos. However, this presents a catch-22 situation for eager newcomers who haven’t shot a destination wedding before. How can you show destination wedding photography on your site if you haven’t shot a destination wedding? This challenge is similar to when photographers first start out and need to build their wedding portfolio from scratch.
To address this challenge, we present a fast-track guide on how to book your first destination wedding. This process has been proven to work even if you haven’t shot a destination wedding before. By following this guide, you can increase your chances of booking a destination wedding in a country you may not have shot in before.
However, it’s important to note that if this is your first destination wedding photography gig, you should be prepared to work for less than you’re accustomed to. Traveling for photography work requires experience, and without this experience, it may not be fair to charge clients the same rate as you do in your home town. Building your portfolio and adding value to your brand should be your initial goal, even if it means breaking even after considering travel expenses.
A Guide to Booking Your First Destination Wedding Job
Overview
Booking your first destination wedding job requires a combination of a targeted landing page, a modest Facebook advertising budget, and basic sales psychology. These elements, when implemented correctly, can significantly reduce the time required to book a wedding outside your local area.
#1 The Landing Page
A landing page is a crucial component in converting visitors into leads, and it’s beneficial to use a dedicated landing page rather than directing paid Facebook traffic to your homepage. To create an effective landing page, follow these steps:
Step 1
Create a blank landing page using specific landing page software or by creating a new page on your website. If you choose the latter option, remove your website’s existing menu and any other distractions.
Step 2
Choose a headline (the ‘H1’ tag) that mentions the exact location you are targeting. This can be a country or a specific city within that country.
Step 3
Insert one of your best portfolio photos as the ‘hero’ image on the landing page. Ensure that the image is not location-specific, avoiding recognizable landmarks or backgrounds.
Step 4
Write short content below the image, carefully alluding to the fact that you have experience shooting in the target country without outright lying. Craft your messaging to intrigue potential clients and make them want to learn more about your services.
Step 5
Add approximately five more portfolio-worthy images that are non-location specific. These images should showcase your skills and style, leaving a positive impression on visitors.
Step 6
Include a contact form on the landing page, asking for the visitor’s name, email address, phone number, and wedding location. Optionally, add graphics or testimonials that demonstrate your expertise and credibility.
Recap
At this point, you have a well-designed landing page that suggests you have shot weddings in your target country. It creates a positive impression and entices potential clients to reach out to you. Now, let’s move on to driving targeted traffic to your landing page using Facebook ads.
#2 The Facebook Ad
Facebook Ads offer a powerful and affordable advertising medium for photographers, enabling access to a vast market of potential clients. Implementing a well-crafted Facebook ad campaign can significantly increase your chances of booking a destination wedding. Here’s how:
Step 7
Click on the small downward pointing triangle in the top-right corner of your Facebook screen and select ‘Create Ads.’
Step 8
Choose the objective of the campaign as ‘Send people to your website’ and give it a campaign name for easy reference.
Step 9
In the ‘Locations’ section, select ‘People who live in this location’ and type the destination you want to target. This ensures that your ad reaches individuals in that specific location.
Step 10
Select the age range, gender, and preferred languages of the audience you want to target. This helps you narrow down your reach and focus on potential clients who are more likely to be interested in your services.
Step 11
Utilize the ‘Detailed Targeting’ section to further refine your target audience. Experiment with different metrics, but start by selecting ‘Demographics – Life Events – Newly Engaged.’ This narrows down your targeting to individuals who have recently become engaged.
Step 12
Move on to the ‘Placements’ section, where you decide where you want your ad to appear. Consider the different options and select the placement that has performed best for you in the past. The Desktop News Feed placement is often effective as it allows for more text and engagement.
Step 13
In the ‘Budget & Schedule’ section, set your daily ad budget to an amount you can comfortably afford. A budget of around $10 per day is recommended for beginners. Set a start and end date for the campaign, ensuring that you can sustain the spending throughout the designated period.
Step 14
Choose the ‘Multiple images in one ad’ format under ‘Format’ to create an eye-catching image carousel. This format allows you to showcase multiple images while paying the same cost as a single image. Select up to five stunning portfolio-worthy images for the carousel.
Step 15
Write compelling ad text that focuses on your target country, highlighting your unique selling points and enticing potential clients to learn more about your services. Include your landing page URL in the ‘Destination URL’ and ‘See More URL’ fields.
Step 16
Choose a call-to-action button that encourages users to take action, such as ‘Learn More.’ Preview your ad to see how it will look in different locations and on different devices. Make any necessary adjustments, ensuring that your text makes sense even when it’s truncated on mobile devices. Finally, click the green ‘Place Order’ button to launch your Facebook ad campaign.
Recap
Setting up a landing page and Facebook ad campaign may take some time and effort, but once properly implemented, it can yield significant results. Continuously monitor the performance and engagement of your ad campaign, making adjustments and improvements as needed. Remember that successful bookings come from effective lead conversions, so let’s delve into the next important aspect – closing the sale.
#3 The Booking (Closing the Sale)
Converting a lead into a paying wedding photography client is where the real challenge lies. While you may have garnered interest through your landing page and Facebook ad campaign, closing the sale requires finesse and skill. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
At this point, exploring the intricacies of closing the sale would make this article too long, but if you’re interested in learning the next steps for becoming a wedding photographer and gaining valuable insights into booking more weddings, it’s highly recommended to check out the best-selling ebook “More Brides.” This comprehensive resource offers a wealth of online and offline techniques to attract your target market and secure bookings, whether local or international.
Wedding photographers Cole and Jacob from Nordica Photography highly recommend “More Brides,” stating that it is the marketing bible for wedding photographers. Their kind words reinforce the effectiveness of this resource in gaining the attention of your target market and growing your business.
You can grab your own copy of “More Brides” by visiting the official website and empower yourself with the knowledge and techniques needed to thrive in the competitive wedding photography industry.
Final Words on Booking a Destination Wedding
Booking your first destination wedding requires dedication, strategy, and perseverance. It’s important to remember that shooting a few overseas weddings doesn’t automatically make you a destination wedding photographer. Developing the necessary skills and experience takes time and effort.
However, armed with this guide, the advice provided in “More Brides,” and a growing portfolio of destination wedding work, you can position yourself as a go-to destination wedding photographer in your area. With determination, the right marketing techniques, and a passion for capturing magical moments, there are no limits to where your photography career can take you.
Good luck and may your journey as a destination wedding photographer be filled with incredible experiences and successful bookings!
Highly Recommended
11 Tools for Wedding Photographers
If you’re a wedding photographer, don’t miss out on these essential tools and apps that can elevate your work and streamline your workflow. Get exclusive limited-time discounts on these recommended resources.The article is compiled and compiled by tipcamera.com
