How Grant DeWalt Booked

$65K in Weddings in 2 Months

With $1,100 in the bank and years of chasing clients behind him, Grant saved for six months to join The Icon Agency. Then he tripled his rates and booked a year's worth of income in eight weeks.

Interview by Peter Byram Founder, The Icon Agency

Published:

September 23, 2026

Introduction: Meet Grant DeWalt (00:00)

Peter: I'm joined by Grant DeWalt of To Give Of Great Worth. We've been working together for less than two months, and his business is already kind of a rocket ship. Grant, how long have you been doing this?

Grant: I've been a photographer for 17 years. I got my first camera when I was 12, and in 2020 I finally tried making it my work. It was the slowest start ever. I shot my first wedding for $50 and was pumped. I've also worked in the wedding industry for 14 years, as a planner's assistant, baker, DJ and MC, and lighting and sound technician. Before I ever photographed a wedding, I'd already been to about 300 of them. For a long time, I was just booking enough to get by.

Where Grant Was in February: Broke and Uncertain (04:30)

Grant: I was pretty broke, and I'd decided to leave Maui rather abruptly. The wildfires changed the way people booked photos there, and I lost a lot of business. For all of 2024, I was a traveling photographer out of necessity. I flew 47 times for work and was barely making enough to do anything except travel and take pictures. I had to book anyone who talked to me.

$35,000 in Debt from a Pyramid Scheme (06:41)

Grant: I was also $35,000 in debt from a pyramid scheme, and I'd put it all on credit cards. I'd tried coaching programs, workshops, YouTube, and business books, but after we talked, I realized, "I really just need to be talking to more people." I'm good at social media, but I don't love it. Whenever I lost motivation, my account would tank, and I'd be right back where I started.

"I Have $1,100 in My Bank Account" (09:13)

Grant: I told you, "I'm going to be so honest right now, Peter. I have $1,100 in my bank account, and this month I have $1,200 worth of bills. But I'm a man of my word. I know this is the help I need, and whenever I save up enough money, you'll have my business."

Peter: Most people who say "I'll be back" don't come back. But we talked every month, and you signed up in August.

Grant: Other programs gave me lots of ideas for finding brides, but I didn't have the time or money to do all of it. I didn't need more information. I needed specific help talking to more people, and I needed clients right now.

Results: 80 Couples Contacted, $65K Booked in Two Months (16:09)

Grant: I've spoken with about 80 couples in the last two months. We've booked 11 or 12 weddings, which is nearly $65,000.

Peter: When we first talked, you said $60K would be awesome, and I told you to think at least $100K. You did about $40K in your first month and won our client competition, the Wedding Games. With Q4 still ahead, six figures is pretty inevitable.

Raising Rates from $2–3K to $6–8K Weddings (17:34)

Grant: Before this, my biggest weddings were $2,000 to $3,000. My client success manager, Joe, suggested I try booking at $6,400, which was more than three times what I'd been charging. I'd promised myself I'd do whatever they told me, so I did. Then people started saying yes to $5,000, $6,000, $7,000, and $8,000 weddings. The most I'd ever made in an entire year was about $38,000. This has changed my life.

The Two Pieces of Advice Grant Gives Every Couple (25:16)

Grant: I tell every couple, "Thank you for even talking with me," and that my goal is to figure out whether we're the best match. Then I give them my two best pieces of advice for hiring a photographer.

"One, hire someone you're comfortable being around, because every photo will bring you back to that moment, and you only want to be brought back to good feelings. Two, hire someone whose perspective you admire, because that's what you'll be receiving. I can't capture your memories for you. I can only capture my memories of your day and present them in a way I hope you love."

Peter: What I hear is gratitude and genuine care for people, whether or not they book you. People are marketed to constantly, so deep personal connection is the real superpower. At the end of the day, business is relationships.

Grant's Exact Voice-Note Outreach Script (31:28)

Grant: The first thing I do is send a voice note, because I want them to hear my voice and see me as different from every other photographer. My goal is to be their number one option by the end of our call. Here's what I say:

"Emma, hello! Oh my gosh, I was so stoked to see your form come through for the chance to receive $500 off your wedding photography package. Biggest congratulations to you and Alex on your engagement! I'd love to hear more about you guys and the dream of your day, and see if I'm the best person to capture it all for you. If it's okay, I'd love to ask you a couple of questions. I hope to hear from you soon, and I hope you're having the best day!"

If they don't have a venue yet, I help them find one. One client I helped for two months ended up not being able to afford me, and I told her, "That's okay. I'm so stoked you found your venue." When I say I genuinely want to help, it's the truth.

Custom Canva Quotes Instead of Generic Pricing Guides (37:41)

Grant: When it feels right, I propose a call. I never talk price until I've actually talked to people, because that's a good way to never hear back. Instead of a generic pricing guide, I make a custom quote in Canva for every couple, with photos chosen for their style and venue. It takes about 15 minutes, and it helps me stand out.

Peter: People think that isn't scalable, but it's exactly what makes $65K in two months possible. Two people can say the exact same words, but sincerity makes the difference. It's how you do it, not what you do.

"Never Say You Can't Afford It — Ask How You Can Afford It" (51:09)

Grant: If you can afford it, do it. If you can't, figure out how to afford it, and then do it. Never say you can't afford something. Ask yourself, "How can I afford this?" It took me about seven months to save up. And once you're in, keep putting in the work and trust the process.

The Real Gift: Never Wondering Where the Next Client Comes From (53:21)

Grant: Only about three people have said no out of everyone I've pitched. And I know there'll be another bride in my inbox tomorrow, so all the pressure of "I have to book them" is gone.

Peter: That's the real gift. Once you know how to turn strangers into dream clients, you never have to wonder where your next client is coming from.

Grant: You've genuinely changed my life. If I'm right, I'll be out of debt before the end of this year.

$65K

in wedding bookings in his first two months

$40K

booked in month one, winning the Wedding Games

3x

higher rates, from $2K–$3K weddings to $5K–$8K

80

couples he spoke with in eight weeks

Grant DeWalt has been taking photos for 17 years and has worked in the wedding industry for 14 of them. He went full-time as a couples and wedding photographer in 2020. Five years later, he was still just getting by. His biggest weddings paid $2,000 to $3,000. He was $35,000 in debt, and when he first spoke with Peter in February, he had $1,100 in his bank account and $1,200 in bills due that month.

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Grant spent the next six months saving up so he could join without using his credit cards. He signed up with The Icon Agency in early August. In his first month, he booked about $40,000 in weddings. Two months in, he had spoken with around 80 couples, booked 11 or 12 weddings, and brought in nearly $65,000. The most he had ever earned in a full year, while working three jobs, was $38,000.

In this interview, Grant explains how he turns a first message into a booked wedding, why he tells couples he might not be the right fit, and what he'd say to photographers who are on the fence.

In this story

Seventeen years of loving it, and barely getting by
After the fires
"When I can afford it, I'll let you know"
Tripling his rates in the first month
How Grant turns a new lead into a booking
The mindset shift
Grant's advice for other photographers
Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions

Seventeen years of loving it, and barely getting by

Grant got his first camera at 12 and never wanted to put it down. For years, photography was just a hobby. His mom was the one who pushed him to try it as a career. In 2020, he bought professional gear and took a trip through six or seven states to photograph couples and build his portfolio.

He already knew the wedding world well. Over 14 years he had worked as a wedding planner's assistant, baker, DJ and MC, and lighting and sound tech. He'd even been hired to show up as a pretend guest and dance all night. By the time he photographed his first wedding (for $50), he had already been to about 300.

What he didn't know was business. For years he booked just enough to get by.

"I always knew I could make this work. I knew I could figure it out, but I was really just making enough bookings to get by." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

After the fires

Grant was living on Maui when the 2023 wildfires hit. The fires changed how people booked photographers on the island, and he lost a lot of work. In 2024 he became a traveling photographer out of necessity. He flew 47 times for work that year and took every booking that came his way, just to cover his costs.

Meanwhile, he tried everything he could to grow his business. He joined coaching programs, attended workshops, read business books, watched countless YouTube videos, and asked every photographer friend he knew for advice. He tried running ads himself. He even grew a following on social media, including a video that reached a million views and brought in about 50 inquiries. But keeping up with content wore him out, and his account dropped off whenever his motivation did.

"I was like, I need help. And I couldn't figure out the kind of help I needed, so I just kept trying all these different things." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

"When I can afford it, I'll let you know"

When Grant spoke with Peter in February, he could tell this was the help he needed. He needed a steady way to talk with more couples, without spending hours on content or cold outreach. He'd grown his business early on by messaging around 300 couples a week on Instagram and offering free shoots, and he knew he couldn't keep doing that.

He also couldn't afford it yet, and he told Peter so.

"I have $1,100 in my bank account and $1,200 worth of bills this month. But trust me, I'm a man of my word. I know this is the help I need." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

Peter hears "I'll be back" on a lot of calls, and most people don't come back. Grant did. He checked in with Peter about once a month and saved for six to seven months, until he had enough set aside to cover three months without touching his credit cards. In early August, he signed up.

Tripling his rates in the first month

Grant went all in from day one. He watched every training in the program more than once, including the setup videos. He also listened to almost every client interview while he drove, walked and worked.

"The same week I signed up, I told myself, this is going to work for me, and Peter's going to interview me really soon. I didn't know it would be this soon." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

In his first meeting with his client success manager, Jo, she suggested he raise his rates to $6,400. That was more than three times his biggest bookings. Grant had already decided to follow every piece of advice the team gave him, so he did it.

Here's what happened in his first two months:

About $40,000 booked in month one, which won the program's internal Wedding Games competition
Nearly $65,000 in total bookings by the two-month mark
11 to 12 weddings booked, with couples saying yes to $5,000 to $8,000 packages
Around 80 couples spoken with, and only three who said no
Most couples getting married in Oregon and Washington, right where he wanted to work
Destination weddings booked in Peru, Tulum and Yosemite, with more conversations underway about Scotland, Thailand, Kenya and Italy

"I've cried a lot of happy tears in the last two months." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

Ready to stop wondering where your next booking will come from?

In February, Grant had $1,100 in the bank and his biggest weddings paid $2,000 to $3,000. Two months after joining, he had booked nearly $65,000 in weddings, more than he'd ever earned in a year. If you've tried everything and you're still not talking to enough couples, let's look at where your studio is now and whether the program is the right fit.

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How Grant turns a new lead into a booking

Grant says the biggest difference is how much he cares about the couples he talks to, and he shows it at every step. Here's his process:

Start with a voice note. Before anything else, he sends each new lead a voice message congratulating them on their engagement and asking if he can learn more about their day. He smiles the whole time he records, and he mentions their venue whenever he knows it.
Ask questions and help, even if they don't book. Is the date set? Do they have a venue yet? Do they want a whole weekend with guests or just the day? He'll help couples look for venues, and he's happy to do it even when they end up not hiring him.
Suggest a call once he knows enough. When the timing feels right, he invites them to a call to talk about "the dream of your day" and answer their questions.
Never talk price before the call. He found that sending prices too early was a quick way to never hear back.
Give honest advice about choosing a photographer. Most couples have never hired one before. He tells them to pick someone they feel comfortable around and whose perspective they admire. If he isn't the right fit, he offers to recommend someone who is.
Send a custom quote. He doesn't send a standard pricing guide. He builds a quote for each couple in Canva, choosing photos and wording based on their venue and what they connected with on the call. It takes about 15 minutes.

"It's my dream that every client who ever works with me ends up being the biggest winner out of any exchange between us." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

The mindset shift

More leads were only part of the change, Grant says. The other part was believing that he could actually do this, and that what he offered couples was worth what he charged.

He read a lot of books by successful people, and noticed one thing they all had in common: they fully believed in what they were saying. Peter calls this the "transference of conviction." Couples don't have to be sure about the investment themselves. They just have to see that you're sure.

"I'm not in this business to just give people pretty pictures. I'm in this business to help preserve something really special." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

Having steady leads also took the pressure off. Grant no longer walks into a call feeling like he has to book this particular couple.

"I know there's going to be another bride in my inbox tomorrow that I haven't even talked to yet. So all that pressure of 'I have to book them' is just gone." — Grant DeWalt, To Give of Great Worth

Grant's advice for other photographers

If you're on the fence: "If you can afford it, do it. And if you can't afford it, figure out how to afford it, and then do it." Grant took six and a half months to save up, because he didn't want to start something he couldn't keep paying for.

If you're not sure weddings are your thing: "You have to love it." It's a lot of work, Grant says, and caring about it is what keeps it from feeling like work. If you've lost that feeling, reconnect with why you started.

Once you're in: "Don't just stop working once you get here." Trust the process, do the work and keep going.

Key Takeaways

Knowing what to do isn't the same as having the time to do it. Most photographers need more conversations with couples, not more information.
A personal voice note helps you stand out from every other photographer a couple is talking to.
Save pricing for the call, and send a custom quote instead of a generic pricing guide.
Telling couples you might not be the right fit builds trust.
Steady leads take the pressure off every sales call.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How fast can a wedding photographer see results from ads?

Every studio is different. Grant booked about $40,000 in his first month and nearly $65,000 within two months.

Should wedding photographers raise their prices?

Grant went from $2,000–$3,000 weddings to a $6,400 starting point on his client success manager's advice. Couples started booking $5,000 to $8,000 packages.

How do I respond to a new wedding photography inquiry?

Grant sends a short, friendly voice note first. He congratulates the couple, mentions their venue if he knows it, and asks whether he can learn more about their day.

Should I send my pricing guide before the consultation call?

Grant doesn't. He talks with couples first, then sends a custom quote built around their venue and the kinds of photos they connected with.

Do I need to be good at social media to book weddings?

No. Grant had a video reach a million views, but keeping up with content wore him out. His bookings now come from ads, with no daily posting.

Can you book destination weddings from ads?

Grant has booked weddings in Peru, Tulum and Yosemite, and he's in conversations about Scotland, Thailand, Kenya and Italy.

Katrina Kubicina

The Kubicinas

"Booked 12 Weddings in 3 Months After Years of Nothing"

“I did workshops, mentorships—nothing delivered leads. Then I booked 12 weddings in just a few months. This was the first system that finally worked.”