We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paul Cooper a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investments I’ve made in my business have been in education. When I first started in wedding photography, I was lucky enough to find an extremely talented mentor who saw in me a strong work ethic and thirst to learn. He took me under his wing and taught me a ton in mastering my craft and technique. Through him, I met a few other very talented photographers, and they, too, began offering me opportunities to gain experience and to learn from watching them. During this period, some jobs did not pay great (or at all), and many were 90 minutes or more away from me. But it was well worth the investment of my time and energy to hone my craft and become stronger as a photographer.

Similarly, I’d say my best monetary investment has also been in education. I was able to learn technique firsthand while photographing alongside my mentors. But being a skilled wedding photographer and running a successful business are different skills, and I found that I needed to learn more about the latter. The best investment of my money I’ve ever made into my business was in education from an industry expert who taught me the way to run a successful photography business in a way that aligns with my values.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As a wedding photographer, my mission is to capture dynamic and authentic wedding photographs for couples to cherish for generations. I excel at making even the most shy and self-proclaimed awkward feel comfortable and have fun while creating museum-worthy artwork from their special day. It’s important to me that my couples can be present and enjoy their wedding day, trusting that all the important moments will be captured. I take my role as an experienced wedding professional seriously and guide my couples through the planning process as needed.
Many photographers only provide a digital gallery, but I believe in giving my couples something real to remember their day by. Therefore, I create custom album designs for all my couples, focusing on telling the story of their wedding day through the photos. I also offer wall art, in addition to Italian-crafted albums, helping couples relive their wedding memories every day with museum-quality artwork. This includes framed, matted prints, canvases, and metal prints, all adding sophistication to any room.
My versatility is another standout feature. I excel in cinematic coverage for stunning, art-centric images, photojournalism for creative documentary-style shots, and a traditional approach for bright, timeless photos.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of my cinematic portraiture and the albums I create for my couples. These features truly define my work and my dedication to preserving wedding memories.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One incredible book that has had an impact on my approach to sales, business philosophy, and creating ardent fans of your business is How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I had heard of this book for ages — literally. I’m pretty sure I remember first hearing the title when I was about 9 years old. But I somewhat actually avoided it — the name kinda creeped me out! It sounded like something Charles Manson would write! But it actually demonstrates clear and effective principles of social interaction that make you more relatable and likable to other people in general — regardless of if you’re trying to sell them something or not.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’ve always enjoyed the art of creating, particularly with a camera. I love telling a visual story without words. I find it very rewarding when I feel like I’ve captured an emotion or an experience within a frame. And that’s part of why I love wedding photography specifically — it’s incredibly rewarding when I show my couples their photos for the first time. The joy and warmth and love they experience through my photos remind me of the importance of what I do — that it’s not just taking snapshots. It’s preserving memories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pmc-photography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photographybypmc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photographybypmc
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/paul-michael-cooper-photography-san-diego