There are a few things that I learned the hard and not-so-hard way when I was first starting out as a wedding photographer. First, practice makes perfect. Second, your camera should be like an extension of your arm. Third, patience, persistence and passion for what you are doing are needed to survive the business.
The first time that I attempted to be a photographer was when my uncle’s son got married. He owns a pretty good SLR digital camera and since he’s the groom’s dad – he handed over his role as the family photographer to me. I was pretty close to where the action was but I wasn’t familiar yet with the settings of the camera so whenever I attempted to get a pretty good shot of the couple during the ceremony, they either turned out blurred or out of focus.
During the formal shots, I was discreetly ‘stealing’ the photos taken by the pro wedding photographer by shooting at a different angle. I had to zoom in to get close-up shots of the happy couple – but as you may already know, the results when I downloaded the pictures later on were amateurish: a mixture of a few good shots, some which will do fine with a bit of fixing on PhotoShop – and a few really disastrous ones which are worth deleting.
But I was determined to learn so I worked as a wedding photographer’s assistant – and later on finally managed to cover weddings on my own. Each wedding is definitely unique, and the mistakes that I made I took as an opportunity to learn.
Now, I do consider my camera as an extension of my arm whenever I’m out covering weddings. Through dogged persistence, I was able to learn about the ins and outs of the wedding photography industry and I can tinker with the settings on my beloved SLR digital camera even with my eyes closed.
But more importantly, I learned that passion for the work that you do is the key if you want to enjoy that immense sense of satisfaction on seeing the newlywed couple’s face light up as they see the results of your work – which is what I live and still work hard for these days.
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Hi
Your FirstSteps article brought a teqar to my eye (just the one). I aspire to become proficient at photography and your artile has inspired me towards taking wedding pics. One thing prevents me, however, is that I do not want to spoil the day for the happy couple as if I louse up, they will be an unhappy couple and maybe after some of my 8 pints.
Roy
Hi
Your FirstSteps article brought a tear to my eye (just the one). I aspire to become proficient at photography and your artile has inspired me towards taking wedding pics. One thing prevents me, however, is that I do not want to spoil the day for the happy couple as if I louse up, they will be an unhappy couple and maybe after some of my 8 pints. An assistant…….may be the answer
Roy
I have taken photographs of family and friends’ weddings and other events. I have not charged anyone, though; I put together a few good shots in a CD and give to them as a wedding present. Except for family members who did not want to spend for a photographer, my friends invite me to the wedding and remind me about bringing my camera. I do not want to miss any wedding opportunity, so I always take my camera with me, and my husband to back me up. Hence, I have a bunch of weddings I can use for my portfolio when I am ready to do it, professionally, that is.
I just purchased your digital wedding secrets. I had a few dollars in my PayPal account, so why not use it for this purpose. I think I am ready to seriously learn the trade. I just filed for early retirement, bought a turn-key photography info business for cheap (won it through eBay auction), and started writing blogs. I am learning Internet business like a tortoise, since I don’t have enough capital to hire a mentor.
I already browsed your digital wedding secrets and it really looks complete, what with the addition of how to prepare a business plan. Hope to absorb your system and start my wedding photography business with my right foot. Since I can’t pay for a mentor, I’ll do my best to learn through your system. Thanks for offering it at an affordable price.
Oh, by the way, let me go back to my friends who hired who seemed to be “professional photographers.” But guess what? A couple of them came to me complaining about breach of contract – that their photographers accepted down payment from them but did not deliver. I asked if they signed a contract, but I was told, “No.” I discovered later on that those photographers were friends like me, so they were hired without any agreement. And since they know I am a paralegal, they came to me to seek advice. I had to tell them, though, that an agreement is vital in hiring a paid photographer especially if a down payment is required.
I was not their paid wedding photographer but I delivered them memorable pictures of their wedding.