Unfortunately for those who are just starting up in the wedding photography business, there are a lot of newbie mistakes made when it comes to charging customers. If you really want to consider yourself to be a paid professional, then you need to affix value to the quality of work that you are doing.

You don’t want to put too high a tag price on your services that clients stay away from you, but you don't want to put a very low value to your services, either. A good compromise would be to check on the ongoing rates in the wedding photography industry.

When I talk to a client who I know have already inquired with another wedding photographer, I try to beat the prices offered to them by adding an incentive or lowering my rates just a teeny bit. But don't make a habit of doing this – too much compromising and you're probably going to be at the mercy of your customers.

The point is, you shouldn't have to work an 80-hour week just so that you can literally earn a living out of wedding photography because you are charging too low. Put a good enough value on the quality of work that you do, and you'll be good to go.