Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to learn the art of wedding photography. And while I still have a lot to learn, I hope I can talk about the path to follow when striving to become a wedding photographer, based on my experiences (both positive and negative).
Wedding photographer – where to start?
Be Interested
If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you’re already past that stage. Perhaps you are interested in wedding photography because it hides a potential income, or maybe you just love weddings and want to shoot them.
Either way, wedding photography is an outlandish beast, and really requires a special approach. One photographer I worked with told me that he loves wedding photography because it combines many different types of photography: macro (rings), architecture (beautiful temples), and even a little bit from sports – imagine shooting a fast-moving couple.
- Start assisting.
Can people shoot weddings before assisting a professional? Absolutely. Do I recommend it? No. If you can move on to shooting weddings on your own, you have a lot more skills than I do. I haven’t even tried to do that.
The first thing I did was to scour the web and find photographers in my field. My first idea was to send emails to local wedding photographers asking to assist them or work as a second photographer. Most of them went unanswered.
Working as a second photographer allows you to learn the ins and outs of wedding photography without the burden of responsibility placed on the primary photographer.
However, with enough persistence, I started getting regular work from local professionals. Shooting as an assistant was almost my best experience: I traveled with several different photographers and shot amazing weddings. The professionals I worked with had years of experience, and I really understood the principles of their work. Learning about their work and their methods was the best thing I ever did to understand what it means to shoot weddings.
- Develop the business.
Perhaps more than any other type of photography, in wedding photography it is important for you to learn the principles of business development in order to succeed. This industry has a huge turnover rate, and much of this is due to not knowing what it takes to run a business.
If you don’t like contracts, this is not the right business for you. Contracts enshrine requirements for the composition of the work and protect both parties. Research the contracts that photographers use. There are examples that are ready to use with some amendments.
- Choose the right equipment.
Many photographers make the mistake of sacrificing the quality of their work but buying expensive “carcasses” and lenses. You’ve probably heard that equipment isn’t everything when it comes to professionalism.
However, the flip side of the coin is that the best equipment is a significant advantage in any kind of photography. Wedding photography is no exception. There are situations where entry-level equipment will get you in a lot of trouble. Churches, for example, can be very well lit, but at times can resemble artificial caves. In these moments, you realize that you will need the right equipment to convey the scene correctly and with quality.
- Make a checklist: preparation is our everything.
I suppose people tend to think that weddings are pretty one-size-fits-all events. The truth is, however, that they vary greatly, including depending on different religious and cultural settings. Moreover, you won’t find two weddings that are exactly the same because all couples are different and make different decisions. Consequently, your experience will vary greatly from weekend to weekend.
Creating a relaxed environment for your wedding shoot
I think the most significant skill is the ability to interact with your clients and make them feel at ease. Skills like this are only acquired with practice and time.
- Improve your processing skills
Digital workflow is an important part of almost any photography business. Wedding photography has some specific requirements.
I think the most difficult thing that wedding photographers face is the sheer number of images that need to be processed.
- Keep up the good work!
When I think of my own progress, I think of many wedding shoots in the last year. However, I still have a lot to learn. This applies to the photographic side as well as the business side. I have made wonderful friends in the photography field who have supported me, and it has been a true gift that has helped me develop more than anything else.