The TRUTH about Wedding Photography: Interview with Cliff Mautner

I had the chance to have arguably one of the best Wedding Photographers in the world Cliff Mautner into the loft for a little sit-down discussion. Cliff does not hold back on his thoughts on the current state of wedding photography or anything else for that matter.
To check out the FULL RAWtalk episode 136 click here froknowsphoto.com/rawtalk-136/
But what I love about the interview is it's no BS. It's honest, it's to the point and it's filled with solid gold nuggets of information that you can cash and take to the bank. Don't let our discussion dissuade you from going after weddings. Let it be a guide to help you navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of wedding photography and not let you get sunk.
Heed the warnings, take them to heart, learn from them and you will find your way to the other side. www.cmphotography.com/
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[@ToTouchAnEmu]

"Quit" That is the advice this well established photographer gives to all aspiring wedding photographers? I'm sorry, but screw that. I wouldn't have gotten to where I am now without the support of established photographers I knew giving me advice and encouragement where I needed it most. Sure the industry is in decline, and with gear becoming more affordable, it's becoming more competitive. But that doesn't mean we should just pack it in and quit. No. Get better. Stand out. Show people why you are worth hiring. Isn't that what your website is all about Jared? Helping photographers stay informed and encourage them to get better? This guy just stepped on all those values with that answer. Also his numbers were waaaaay off. It does not cost THAT much to run a photography business... unless you have a ton of overhead. But luckily most photographers (like myself) can work and shoot in their own home.

[@mastermarcus81]

i agree with you. If he' s saying quit, there shouldn't be any wedding photographers ever? ok, that makes sense.

[@zagan1]

it's the costs to print the pics, I've paid $900 to get 8 pictures printed and another $600 to get them framed and that was 8 years ago. now the costs will be way higher.

[@Stonecrusher333]

👍

[@matthewbrooks1589]

ToTouchAnEmu yea of course he tells people to quit. Less competition for him and more money in his pocket from those extra customers he might pick up. Don't you know we live in a world where less and less people encourage others to do what they love and share their knowledge.

[@k0pper]

I agree. His numbers are way off. If you're in the $3500/wedding range like he quoted, that's pretty much "mid-range" in most popular areas of the country as far as wedding photographers go. At that price you're probably just going to have one assistant that will be very affordable hourly. Unless you're terrible at time management and customer service you shouldn't need a receptionist/studio manager. You shouldn't need a physical studio as you're not doing studio shooting. Any halfway decent accountant will get you setup as an S-Corp which allows you to basically save 15% taxes off a large portion of your income with only a little more paperwork required. You have to pay for healthcare yourself pretty much anywhere you work nowadays, and especially if you work for yourself. That's not unique to photography. And yes, you have to take into account the cost of your gear, but unless you're completely careless good glass should last you at least 5+ years and you should be able to get by with body upgrades every 2-4 years depending on features, maintenance, luck, etc.

[@chemroom]

I simply think that Cliff is upset that his numbers of shoot a year is going down... I don't agree with the advice to QUIT... If shooting weddings and making great memories from your photo is your passion, no one can stop you... You will make enough money and at the same time you will have fun doing what you love... Much respect to the Photographer Cliff but i totally disagree...

[@toddlavigne6441]

That's what it comes down to. if it is the only thing you want in life and won't ever want to do anything else then keep at it. As a business it's terrible. You cannot expand or 'stack' to make really good money. I'm talking 500,000 per year and up. It's not a growth industry and there are no barriers to entry. Go to any business school and they would laugh at it as a good business to get into. However, if you must do it and have passion, go for it. Problem is eventually a busy weeding shooter will have 10 weddings per year. When I was in business it was 100+ weddings.

[@travisharrisphotography]

What a great interview! Jared.. I would like to see more like this! Cliff is amazing, and his thoughts are in perfect alignment with that of what I have found myself over the 8years I have been full time.

[@emayen23]

Great interview, I love doing wedding photography, the fact that you can tell a story and you get to do all kinds of photos, from macro images to landscape portrait etc. and yes it is tough out there, and i have a lot of things to learn, but it is worth trying to do what you love.

[@RobertLinthicum]

Jared: Would have been good "Asky McAskerson" if you had called Cliff on his "quit" advice. If he believes that, should have asked him why he continues to encourage people (implicitly) by offering training.

[@jacla1410]

Awesome guest Fro!!!!!! Love his style, saw earlier interviews and he is the god of wedding photography.

[@fredbeaupre]

Very good talk. Saw it from the RAW Talk episode.

[@davidfajardop]

If the only advise you have for new photographers is to QUIT, you shouldn't be doing workshops. You lost my respect.

[@SpeckyNation]

I love that you sound a lot more Camera agnostic now Jared. I can remember years back when you sounded a lot like this guy when it comes to quality, and as we know, at this point, it's definitely more the photographer, than the equipment. :)

[@stephane1234567]

Already watched it last night, gave already my advice. I beg to differ with Cliff, it's true that wedding photography as a business is going downhill for everybody, that's a general consensus, but if you have the right product that nobody has, then you will be just fine. It's a global trend, it's this way in the USA, it's the same way in France or other countries. Usually 10% of the whole wedding goes into photography, that's the maximum, but sometimes you have weddings of $250,000 and you can make more money. Other times you have wedding that will cost you money actually if you take the time to do everything by yourself (workflow on photoshop, dodging/burning, preparing album...etc). Good luck to everybody.

[@froknowsphoto]

Steven Rix Yes I agree, I think the number was off.

[@zagan1]

his numbers are right. to make $122,500 usd thats 35 weddings and you must be paid $3,500 each wedding. you'll have expenses coming out of that, $122,500 so while overall you'll be making that, you won't have that in the bank. and because almost every person will have their mobile with them also taking photos, means you are competing against the people at the wedding for getting that good photo. so if you don't get really good photos everytime then the couple could turn around and want some money back for poor photos. I took my own video camera to a wedding, recorded the wedding, I edited and burned a few DVD to have and hand out to parents all for free. they were really happy with the recording as the photographer wasn't paid to do video, which ended up being a good thing as he lost half the photos, the ones he had weren't great and the couple back charged him. so I think the problem in weddings is you have too many people doing photos, you can't charge real high, in australia you can get a person to photograph a wedding for $300 all up with edited photos. that saying you'll charge $5,000 is hard to push through to people, who could probably get a person who'll do everything for $500. I have that problem with a friend telling them to charge a proper amount but they keep saying they only want to charge $50 or $80 or $100 for doing 20 photos of people's kids or family even though it'd cost $700 to get that printed. this is the problem lots of people aren't seeing or getting.

[@mykkwento9030]

@@zagan1 How can someone who just attend the wedding shoot better photo from me if I am the photographer official? First they will not be having the better angle as before the wedding begin I will ask the bride and groom to tell their guest that they are their to enjoy and not to shoot or block my way to have the better angle because after all they pay me to take their pictures so please let me do my job. If I see anyone getting into my frame because he she is taking a photo then I will tap them in the shoulder and tell them that I am paid to do my job and ask them not to be a hindrance..

[@RandellJohn]

Great interview, Cliffs advice on wedding photography as a profession - Quit. Classic!!!

[@user-po1fe4ru9p]

Best raw talk yet for me.

[@Wuuser]

Thanks for really interesting interview. Great talk. (y)

[@ryanl9504]

again awesome interview, his knowledge and answers too all the questions were great!

[@flaviopresutti]

Really good interview! Thanks Jared! Greetings from Uruguay!

[@hismajesty40]

Thank you for sharing such great educational facts!

[@temimayor7660]

Cliff Mautner...Youre an amazing photographer. i love watching your videos. you stopped making videos?

[@PeterKiska]

Really perfect interview, thanks so much!

[@lucasmartinez4248]

Great interview, really interesting. Thanks!

[@ryanl9504]

Great interview, loved this one!

[@hemidesign]

One photographer to carry 9 lenses and 5 heavy bodies for a wedding?.. this guy must be a Superman! .. Btw, love his work! good stuff Cliff..

[@Nelz459]

Great questions by Jared, and salient points made by Cliff. The more I research wedding photography the less interest I have in doing it for a living. However, I'm addicted to trying to tell a story with my work, capturing those moments that evoke emotion--moments that will never happen that same way again. After viewing Cliff's website, I'm inspired to press on as a story teller. And once you see his work, you'll understand his point about value. Thanks guys for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@Breakdown916]

Excellent interview guys, thanks.

[@UNASHAMEDIMAGING]

This was a really good episode.

[@RobertLinthicum]

Love the honesty, Cliff. I would love to have a beer with both of you. If you come here (Germany), beer is on me.

[@noynic]

Awesome interview Jared!

[@CrenshawBeats]

awesome interview

[@Guggle20]

I think Jared had a hangover in this interview. :)))

[@teashea1]

Good, smart video - well done.

[@VinceLoPresti1570]

Cliff's customer service remarks are spot on!!

[@ahmadnasih1572]

Hello jared please tell me Nikon D750 is better or D800E

[@alexandergomes3317]

no it isn't.. i own both and d800e is spectacular especially in hood light...d750 is world class because of the iso capacity..

[@THSimagery]

refreshing...

[@alexandergomes3317]

i totally agree 100%with cliff per his assertions... contact information please

[@sadenb]

Photography is passion. And a passion remains best when you are an amateur.

[@JoshuaMcTackett]

5 years on I thought Cliff has some bad attitudes about some things. Particularly to say people should quit and that the industry is devalued. It's up to us to show people why they should pay us. I understand that it may have been more profitable in the past, but it makes an environment where pros will be fantastic. I've seen some shocking work from before the democratisation of photography that's happened in the last 10 years. Clients can expect really nice work now and that's a good thing

[@chrisfu1736]

You even took the label off the water bottle, that's some crazy mention to detail not even joking.

[@caseyrodger4080]

I think I had something to do with this chat. I also think I would like to play poker with both of Ya!!

[@Image-i-nationCoUk]

Totally agree with the customer service, always reply to emails straight away etc, we also get a full blog wedding highlights with small story of the day within days after the wedding. Dont copy anybody, develop your own style and be comfortable what your doing, don't pretend to be something your not! Social media is also a massive benefit these days, loved the interview and thanks for sharing facebook.com/ImageINationPhotography.co.uk/

[@shannonmaire]

This room looks like the apartment in the movie Big.

[@Maxxis702]

Do a RAWtalk with James Nachtwey

[@SkYjAcKeR666]

Don't get much in the way of perks?? If you're one of the best photographers in the world they throw Cameras & Gear at you, It's like a sports person, like Footballers, F1, Rugby, Tennis, Golf...make no mistake about that.

[@ianchinphotography]

31:55 yessss! Pinterest boo! :D

[@johncampbell335]

"Quit." Sums it up quite nicely. Customers are happy with shitty pics, as long as they're cheap/free.

[@BoostedInline6]

14:30 Skin tones look better with film. Also, people want physical copies in the form of negatives.

[@zagan1]

doubt it, probably more to brag that it was done with film.

[@kokodada3512]

I feel sorry for that "assistant" who have absolutely zero ways to evolve as a photographer.

[@Ketchupsandvich]

J fresh

[@herreraid2010]

Quit!! Lol yeah, why not? I for one have a passion for photography and I give a rats ass if someone doesn’t want me doing it. I’m very independent but, appreciate advice that helps me on perfecting that passion. If you want to be broke for the rest of your life, hangout with like minded people. If you want to be successful, hangout with successful people. If you have no successful people around, just believe in yourself, apply full focus on your passion and do it because you love doing it..... money is important but, not as much as loving what you do!

[@3akoscielski]

Lol nobody gets an album anymore...

[@alfmoh]

So after inviting people to your workshop, you advise them to quit??? Hmmm......interesting.

[@zagan1]

there's little money in it, a wedding might have every guest doing photos so they might figure why are we paying $10,000 to someone when we can use the photos from everyone at the wedding

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

I was thinking the same

[@Marttyy]

10k? wtf are these guys doing?

[@davidfajardop]

drunk people taking photos with their iPhones doesn't replace a professional wedding photographer.

[@jesseroussellmusic]

do you play poker on that table!? :)

[@CiaranWhelan]

Reading a message on the watch while interviewing? Oh my... that is a whole new level or poor interviewing someone like this. What you have just shown is that your smart device is more important. Look at his expression he is holding back when you looked down at the message.

[@brianstewart78]

#nikonfanboy i like how jared understands that there are pros and cons to all brands, but this guy is just blind to the attributes of both sony and canon that they have over nikon but what ever... *coming from someone with 10 years experience using all brands including canon, sony, nikon, panisonic, olympus, leica, etc*

[@lemonsandants]

he probably has no idea, that Sony makes Nikon sensors..lol. I mean, sure you can favour a particular brand, but you can't entirely discount another either.

[@AngloSaxon1]

Just gone from Nikon to Fuji because I love shooting with the XH1. The man is a true professional but I think he is a bit of a complainer especially when talking about wedding photography. A Crybaby really.

In all professions where "hustle" makes or breaks a career, there are self serving assholes who try to discourage competition. Low T Beta Male, cynical. They are losers. Ignore them.

[@johncuthbert4426]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE slippage.... Normally a huge fan but had to stop and move on... on this occasion... On the plus note I did manage to nearly get to the 2 min mark.....

[@critstixdarkspear5375]

Bride : Psycho hose beast that believes your years of investment in photographic knowledge and equipment should follow her around all day, spend your own time producing a quality album in post and printing and only charge her about $100 for it because her weird drunk uncle owns a coolpix and “could do the same for free”. Fuck wedding photography.

[@SandyPants8]

Quit!!! What a jerk!!!

[@paulcadwallader3000]

my thoughts exactly.

[@toddlavigne6441]

Bride's wanting film????...time to get a new career

[@teashea1]

Nikon and Canon DSLR's are a dying breed - and will soon become extinct. Flapping mirrors are becoming anachronistic.