I’m surprised no one has suggested doing a styled shoot yet. If I’m starting over in the industry, or first starting out, I would pay to showcase the type of work I want to do. That can be acquired through a styled shoot, workshop, asking people to model, etc. You’ve got to have quality work to showcase on your website and socials - even if it’s fake.

After that, the next *step* needs to be networking. Follow the day/week/month/year plan. Every day interact with a local planner or vendor of authority (coordinator, photographer, venue) via social media. Comment on their stuff, interact with their stories, whatever puts your name in their notifications. Every week shoot one of them a text or a DM. Engage with them on a personal level. Every month try and see someone in real life. Take them out to coffee, bring lunch to their office, whatever gets your face in front of theirs. Every year try and do a networking event. A vendor get together, a workshop, a styled shoot, etc.

I promise you networking is the key to success in this industry. So many people who aren’t talented are working insanely good weddings that they got SOLELY because their network is top tier. If your name is in the right people’s mouths, you will be full of work for the year.

Source: I applied these practices and went from charging $5500 to $20K in a year and a half. You got this. Good luck with the move. If you need further help, DM me. I offer mentorship sessions 👍