Forget what the so called average pay is for a photographer and look at the delinquencies. 93% of registered photographers are bankrupt in five years irrespective of their genre.
One would guess that the average pay figure comes primarily from employed photographers, i.e public service, newspapers and magazines and other employed occupations and we all know this group diminishing at a rapid rate. And the vast majority of delinquencies are in the "wedding" industry and this doesn't include overnighters who are going to build a bank but instead, break it.
To put it in context, look at Dick Smith. Everyone went there for parts a decade ago and when they were taken over by Woolworths their product line simulated Big W and that was the beginning of the end. Their product range was reduced by 80%. I simple don't believe you can survive as a wedding photographer without other strings to the bow.