Thea Dodds has been photographing same-sex weddings since 2005 and is the co author with Kathryn Hamm, of the recently released book: The New Art of Capturing Love: The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Wedding Photography. In this episode, Thea shares how to book more gay wedding photography clients for your business.

Although gay weddings may not be legally recognised in your local area, there will still be a call for wedding photographers that have experience working with gay couples as they celebrate commitment ceremonies. If you're of the opinion that photographing a gay union will be exactly the same as a straight wedding, you're in for an episode of learning. Thea shares some great ideas on the right language, how to work and pose couples plus some fantastic marketing ideas for this growing genre of wedding photography.

In addition to Thea's great advice, you'll hear just how much I struggle with what is right and wrong when even discussing the topic of gay marriage. I definitely learnt a lot from this discussion, I hope you do too.

Here's some more of what we cover:

  • Considering the comfort level of the couple when shooting in public places
  • Who gets revealed to whom in same sex marriages?
  • Recognising your assumptions associated with marrying gay couples
  • “Don't assume and always ask” is the best advice for wedding photographers
  • Using online questionnaires as a way to get to know your client without pushing boundaries
  • What to ask and what not to with same sex couples
  • Posing based on body types
  • Verifying with the couples about what they are comfortable with in regard to showing their affection during a wedding day photo session
  • The importance of not treating same sex couples the same as couples of the opposite sex
  • Why you need to double check and verify with couples regarding the consent they gave with the model release forms
  • Learning by doing is not always the best way to do things when it comes to same sex wedding photography
  • The New Art of Capturing Love: The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Wedding Photography – the largest collection of same sex wedding photos ever published
  • Pricing for gay wedding photography – should it be the same as for opposite sex couples?
  • Understanding the negative repercussions from straight couples when same sex couples are published on your website or blog
  • Where should photographers market their work to attract gay couples for wedding photography?
  • Networking to expand your target market
  • The importance of getting your work same sex wedding photography published

I'd love to think that following this episode, that you'll be in a much stronger position to target, attract and market to same sex couples looking to book a wedding photographer. There are strong signs that this is a growing segment in the wedding photography genre and being prepared for this growth should see you as a market leader if you follow Thea's advice.

Thea Dodds Photography Podcast Interview

What's on Offer for Premium Members

If you're a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear lots more implementable content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • The best blog service to syndicate your photography and get published
  • The importance of making your website gender neutral if you'd like to attract same sex couples to your business
  • Continuing education as a means to get better at the business of photography
  • The one thing that's really working for Thea in her photography business
  • How creating relationships with other photographers helps you
  • How to build your client base
  • Why you can't be creative in a bubble
  • The only way to get better is to practice, but the one thing you never want to do at a wedding is practice

Thea Dodds Photography Podcast Interview

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I'd love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you'd like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you'd like to ask or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.

If you'd like an easy way to show Thea your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically let her know you're listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet

Thea Dodds Photography Podcast Interview

 

iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs

Each week before recording the podcast I check iTunes for any reviews and each week I'm excited to see what you've had to say about the podcast. This week I was blown away to see one fantastic review! Thanks you so much to:

Guil Durant of Durant Photography in Australia.

Sincerely, thanks so much for your ratings and reviews, I appreciate the time you've taken and it's a big help for the show. It's these iTunes reviews that make a big difference to the podcast being ranked well and found in the iTunes store. If you have the time and are happy to leave an honest rating and review, head over to iTunes.

PhotoBizX iTunes Reviews

Don't feel your comments have to be long, involved or gushy, an honest opinion is all I ask. Don't be shy about leaving your business name in the review either – that way I can add a link in the show-notes and show my appreciation with a proper thanks and a Google loving back-link to your website.

Listener Questions

Each week I receive a ton of emails form listeners that include comments, feedback and questions. Some are specifically about the podcast but a lot are business related. I think it'll be a good idea to answer the questions I feel are relevant to many listeners on the show and I'm kicking that off today with two questions.

1. Andrew Szopory writes – Today I made my first video that I plan to upload to YouTube and blog on my site. My question is, do I need to have this transcribed for Google, index it and have it show up in the search engines? From Andrew Szopory

2. Anais Chaine writes – I'd like to hire a photographer to shoot under my business name but have a few questions:

– how much I should pay them?

– should edit their RAW files or have them do it?

– what sort of contract do I need in terms of usage of the images?

– what about insurance?

Tune in to hear my thoughts and answers to both these questions in todays episode.

Get in Touch, Ask a Question or Leave a Voicemail Message

If you'd like to get in touch, ask a question or make a suggestion for the show, you can email me andrew@photobizx.com, find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewhellmich or on Facebook at https://photobizx.com/facebook – I'd love to hear from you!

Thea Dodds Photography Podcast Interview

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Thea Dodds Website

Thea Dodds on Facebook

Thea Dodds on Twitter

Capturing Love: The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Wedding Photography (Book)

Where to buy the book

Allana Taranto

Kathryn Hamm

Wedding Wire

GayWeddings.com

Equally Wed

TwoBrightLights

Equipment

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

Thea Dodds Photography Podcast Interview

That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

If you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love for you to tell another photographer about it – it could be in a Facebook Group you're a part of, a photography forum, with a photographer friend or on twitter.

If you do have a twitter account, simply click here: https://photobizx.com/tweet or use the share buttons below.

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew