How Commercial Work Can Replace Wedding Income

There is a common assumption in our industry: if you want to turn your passion into a paycheck, you have to shoot weddings. It’s the "big machine" of the craft. It’s where the money is, sure, but it’s also where the burnout lives. I’ve often sat there—perhaps while nursing a coffee or staring out over a landscape that doesn't pay me back or pay the bills—wondering if there’s a way to be a "professional" without the high-stakes drama of a bridal suite at 8:00 AM.

I recently stumbled across a video by Sergio P. Studio that put words to exactly what I’ve been feeling. Sergio is a guy who’s been in the trenches, shot the weddings, and then decided to walk a different path into the commercial world.

Sergio makes a point that really struck a chord with me regarding the "energy exchange." In weddings, you’re basically married to the client for a year. It’s an emotional marathon. But the commercial world? It’s transactional. You book it, you shoot it, you deliver it, and—crucially—you move on.

Here are a few takeaways that might make you feel a bit better about your "off-season":

• The Winter Pivot: While many of us are sitting around in January wondering where the sun went, commercial brands are in high gear for Q4 and holiday campaigns.

• The Stakes: Sergio admits that if you mess up a commercial shot, you might lose a client or have to reshoot. If you mess up a wedding shot? Well, you've lost a piece of someone's history. I don't know about you, but I’d rather face a grumpy art director than a heartbroken bride.

• The Portfolio Split: He’s quite firm on this—don’t show a brand your wedding albums. They don't care. You need a separate "shop window" for each.

I’ve spent plenty of time wandering with a camera, trying to find my own "Goldilocks Zone" between what pays the rent and what feeds the soul. Sergio’s suggestion of a hybrid model—shooting a dozen weddings to fund your commercial transition—is probably the most honest advice I’ve heard in a long time. It’s not about "quitting" your job; it’s about "evolving" your career.