28/11/2025
At a recent wedding, I got talking to a guest who was interested in seeing my work, so I gave them my Instagram handle, and they looked me up then and there.
What they said instantly threw me: "Huh, you show a lot of family photos for a wedding photographer". I think I gave a slightly nervous laugh and replied, "I do, don't I?" and we swiftly moved on.
But now I've had some time to think about it, I have a better understanding of why it made me feel so uncomfortable and why I do it.
When I started my wedding photography business, most of the advice was to post frequently and only post photos that are directly related to weddings. I've never done either.
My posting to social media is infrequent to say the least, and I concentrate most of my efforts on updating my website with my best work and meaningful words about it. When I think that will translate over to social media, I post it there. Otherwise, I mostly stay away. This is because (1) I could never hope to understand or keep up with the algorithms that govern it and (2) I have two small children and not much time or energy, so I have to be careful where I spend it.
I see my social media having a single purpose - to interest the right couples enough to visit my website. As long as it does that, I don't pay attention to likes or comments. By 'right couples' I simply mean couples who are drawn to the way I photograph.
Because I show a lot of my own candid family photography, I attract a lot of couples who either have their own children or are having a wedding where they are having lots of young guests. It's now rare that a couple I meet with don't mention my family photography.
There's also a less immediately obvious reason why I think showing my personal photography works for me.
When I show my family photography, I'm showing you how much photography is part of my life. My cameras aren't squirrelled away in a bag between weddings. They wait in the living room, kitchen and by the door to capture everyday moments in my life.
In short, if I make good wedding photos, it's because I spend the rest of my time making personal photos.
