Several times a week I will get an e-mail or phone call from beginner wedding photographers asking me the same thing “how can I become a successful wedding photographer?”

Often they will inform me they heard that it is easy money and wedding photographers get paid loads, or that they got a professional type camera that takes perfect photos on auto or that they would like to make a second income.

While wedding photography can be a profitable carrier things are not anywhere near as simple as owning a good camera and looking the part. Wedding Photography Involves not only talent but also many years of training and a complete mastery of photographic techniques. Unlike many other forms of photographer at a wedding you get one chance to get the perfect shot, if you miss the shot not only will it damage your carrier it will also damage the memory’s of someone’s wedding day and that is worth more than every penny they have spent on the album.

Even some of the best photographers in the world would make terrible wedding photographers due to there lack people skills and people management. Being able to make the bride the groom and all there family feel at ease while still getting amazing shots is a skill of its own and without it not only will your images be a failure but you wont get the all important referral business.

My Top Ten Tips For Becoming a Wedding Photographer

1. Learn photography. A wedding photographer is a master in the craft. You will be in charge of capturing the biggest day in people’s lives. The wedding day is not the place to be learning your trade. When I am asked “what do you do if you get a shot wrong?” my answer is always the same…. I don’t get it wrong.

2. All the gear and no idea.  Just because you got the latest camera does not make you a photographer. Photography is much more than the latest tech.

3. Master Postproduction and image editing.  While I don’t believe a wedding is the place for massively edited images, postproduction is still very important and can make the different between a good image and a great image.

4. If you’re in it simply for the money, don’t bother. For many years starting out and trying to make a name for myself I struggled by. While there are some photographers out there making big money it most likely took them years to get there and some may never get there.

5. Be yourself. Create a style that is recognizable to you. Don’t try and copy somebody else.

6. Wedding Photography takes time and effort. Its more than just taking photographs its about running a good business to. My average working day is from 7 am to 11pm with very little time to stop and even think sometimes, hard work and effort will always pay off.

7. Keep learning. No matter how long you have been a wedding photographer you will always be learning new things and your work should always be improving.

8. Don’t rush it. If you’re not ready to shoot a wedding then don’t do it. Even if a friend or family member asks you to shoot there wedding if you don’t have the skills to do so or even if your not sure then politely say no. There are plenty of other ways to get experience in the wedding photography industry (we will go over some of these in later posts).

9. Carry the right gear. Ok so I have already said that having the best gear wont make you a wedding photographer but that does not mean you don’t need the right stuff. Every single bit of equipment should have a back up just in case it breaks. So that means at least 2 camera bodies, 2 flash guns, 2 of each lens, loads of memory cards and well 2 of everything

10. Set the right price. Spend some time a research what the local photographers are charging. Don’t go in undercutting everyone and don’t try and over charge. Set a fair price based on your local market. If you don’t have the skills to charge the going rate you shouldn’t be doing the job.

Thank you for reading our very first post. Keep visiting for many more posts to come.

Andy

A.S Photography