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How to Become
a Wedding
Photographer
Written by Nancy Messieh

Published September 2017.

Read the original article here: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/become-wedding-

photographer/

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Table of contents
1. Choose Your Gear 4
Picking Your Camera 5
How Many Lenses Do You Need? 6
Lighting Gear Matters 7
2. Choose Your Editing Software and Style 7
3. Create a Portfolio 8
4. Prepare for Your First Gig 9
How Much Should You Charge to Photograph a Wedding? 9
Draw Up a Contract 10
5. You’re at the Wedding, Now What? 14
6. Delivering the Goods 15
7. Hire an Assistant 18
8. Never Stop Learning 19

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It’s finally happened: after years of praise from friends and family for your photography, you’ve
decided to take the plunge and become a wedding photographer.

Wedding photography can be a fulfilling and even lucrative career choice. But it’s not an easy
one. While you can pick up an entry-level DSLR for a fairly reasonable price and put together a
website, there’s a lot to consider if you want to be in it for the long haul.

There’s plenty to this topic and if we covered each item in detail, we’d be here for days. These
are the essential things to consider when you’re just getting started. But, as with any small
business, you’ll need to do some long-term planning as well.

1. Choose Your Gear

Gear is the backbone of your business. It obviously goes without saying that you’ll need to buy a
good camera, and there’s a whole world of options out there. Maybe you’re already invested in a
brand and have several lenses. Or maybe you have a dream setup in mind. Before you plunk
down that plastic, there are some things to consider.

First and foremost: don’t try to get everything at once. Start out with the bare essentials as you
test the waters. As your business grows, so can your gear. Now, on to choosing that gear.

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Picking Your Camera
It’s been said that most brand-name cameras perform at about the same level, rendering brand
loyalty simply a matter of personal preference. To some extent that’s true for the weekend
shutterbug, but it’s not as true for a working professional like yourself.

Image Credit: Thiti Sukapan via Shutterstock

Unless you’re already into a system, you need to weigh the camera’s options and performance
against your needs. Go to your local photo store — if there’s one nearby — or borrow gear from a
friend.

You could also consider renting gear from a site like BorrowLenses or take advantage of Best
Buy’s try-before-you-buy program.

The important bit is to get your hands on the cameras. Are you more comfortable with one
manufacturer’s operating system than another? The wedding is not going to pause the first
look while you fiddle with buttons and menus. You could have the greatest gear money can buy,
but if you don’t like it, or know how to use it, you’re headed for disaster.

After you’ve determined which camera is right for you, there’s the choice between new and used.
There are plenty of advantages to going the used route — at least until you can reinvest some of
your earnings into newer gear. If you simply can’t afford a new camera, keep your eyes peeled for
any red flags when buying used.

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How Many Lenses Do You Need?
When it comes to lenses, consider building your kit around a few proven workhorses. Which do
you think you’re going to get more use out of, a fast 35mm or that insane 500mm monster
you’ve had your eye on? Develop an absolute mastery of your core lineup and consider renting
those specialty lenses you’re only going to use once a year.

Image Credit: Pixabay

You’ll also want to consider whether you can afford a second camera body. As a professional
wedding photographer, you’re going to need to be thinking about backup — for you, your gear,
and photos.

No bride wants to hear “My camera died” and it’s your job to make sure she never does.

That second body doesn’t need to be a duplicate of your primary rig, but it does have to be able
to perform up to expectations. Cut your potential luggage and learning curve in half by getting a
second body that accepts the same family of lenses as the first and has a similar operating
system .

And don’t forget to invest in (and charge) enough batteries to last you the entire day — from
shooting the bride getting ready to the end of the evening send-off.

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Lighting Gear Matters
In real estate the mantra is “location, location, location.” For a wedding photographer it might
as well be “light, light, light.” You’re going to want a reliable lighting setup for the few times you
can control the lighting during someone’s special day.

Your lighting gear could be as simple as a single flash and umbrella, or it could be a strobe in
every corner of the cathedral. What’s important is that you know how to get the most out of it.

Watch the YouTube video here: Top 5 Lighting Tips for Weddings with Ryan Brenizer: Wedding
Photography Tips

Practice using your lighting equipment beforehand. If you can, get access to the wedding
venuebeforehand. This will give you an invaluable chance to prepare. (But know that this
request cannot always be fulfilled.)

When choosing your gear, also remember that you’re going to be carrying it around all day.
Hefting a pair of DSLRs with light-gobbling lenses might not seem like a big deal in the
morning, but you’ll be feeling it by the time the vows come around.

2. Choose Your Editing Software and Style

In addition to investing in a camera, you’re also going to want to choose editing software that
works for you. Adobe’s Lightroom or Photoshop are solid choices, but come with a steep
learning curve.

With the Creative Cloud Photography plan, you can get the pair of programs for just $10 a month.
Working with a professional program that gives you robust editing control and organizational
poweris a must.

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When it comes to choosing your style, do some market research. See what’s out there. What do
you like? What do you want to avoid? Which unique elements can you bring to the table?

Whether it’s in your shooting or editing style, think about how you shoot — angles, lighting,
movement, and so on. What makes your photography yours?

You set yourself apart with not only your style, but with the services you offer as well. Like a
Polaroid guestbook, for example:

Watch the YouTube video here: POLAROID GUESTBOOK - Fujifilm Instax Wide | Simone Primo
Fotografo

You need to have all this figured out before you move onto the next step: your portfolio.

3. Create a Portfolio
Before the blushing bride is going to hire you, she needs to see that you can deliver the goods.
While this may be controversial in some photography circles, consider shooting a wedding or
two for free to build up your portfolio.

If you’re going to be a wedding photographer, your portfolio needs to exhibit your facility with
photographing people. You may take the world’s best photos of vintage cars, but potential
clients want to see if you can fulfill their needs.

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Watch the YouTube video here: Wedding/portrait portfolio using Squarespace! - A few
practical tips

If you would rather not offer up your services for free, look for a gig as an assistant to an already
established professional. You’ll earn money and learn invaluable lessons from a veteran.

Once you’ve got proof of your abilities, you need to set up a website. If you’re intrepid enough,
services like Squarespace and WordPress are easy enough to use and can help get the word out.
If not, you may need to hire a designer to help you get your site up and running.

Whatever you do, make sure that you only display your own photos. You won’t be doing anyone,
especially yourself, any favors if you misrepresent yourself and your abilities. Make the effort to
build your own body of work — even if it takes a little while, the payoff is worth it.

4. Prepare for Your First Gig

So you’ve finally got your first paying gig. There’s a ton to consider and plan in the lead up to the
wedding, from payment, to contracts, to proper planning for the day.

How Much Should You Charge to Photograph a Wedding?

One of the first questions you’ll find yourself asking is how much to charge. According to
PetaPixel, wedding photography averages from $1,700 to $3,500. They also note that beginner
photographers might only charge around $500.

FStoppers also has a handy recent video that helps you determine how much to charge. They
even advise against undervaluing your work — pricing yourself too cheaply could lose you as
many clients as pricing your working too high:

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Watch the YouTube video here: How Much Should You Charge To Shoot A Wedding

Draw Up a Contract
You’ll need to draw up a clear and concise contract between you and the couple stating exactly
what they’ll be getting and at what cost.

There are some horror stories out there of photographers being sued for everything from
missing the couple’s first kiss to being accused of taking poor-quality images. Manage
expectations and make sure that everyone knows what they’re getting and what you’ll need
from them on the big day.

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SLR Lounge has a sample contract available for download, but having a lawyer review your
contract is advisable.

The contract also gives you a good idea of some of the information that you’re going to want to
have confirmed in writing (and signed) before the big day. At the least, this should include:

• The date, time, and location(s) of the wedding

• The location(s) of the bride and groom’s preparations (if you will be photographing either
of them)

• Complete information on payments, including retainer, late payment fee, retouching fees,
due dates, and consequences of failing to pay

• How the photographs will be delivered: online gallery, disc, etc.

• How long you will be available to shoot

• Your turnaround time for samples and the final shots

You’ll also want to determine if you’re going to charge a non-refundable retainer. This ensures the
couple doesn’t cancel on you at the last minute. Think about if you’re going to charge a late fee
for failure to pay on time, as well.

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Watch the YouTube video here: Wedding Photography Tips: All About Contracts

Charging a non-refundable retainer may be an uncomfortable experience. But it’s a sign to your
clients that your time is valuable, and demonstrates your commitment that if another work
offer comes along, you will not take it.

You’ll also want to discuss the list of people the bride and groom want in the formal shots. They
know which family members they want to get in their group photos, so it’s best to have them
appoint someone on the bride’s side and on the groom’s side to help.

This person will be responsible for wrangling all the rowdy family members into the group
shots. You can also have them provide a list of the various family groups they want photos of.

In the madness of the celebration, the bridge and groom may not realize they didn’t get a shot
with all the cousins. They’ll appreciate your ability to keep track of all of these configurations
with a pre-written list.

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Image Credit: Tom Pumford via Unsplash

Offering to do an engagement shoot or pre-wedding shoot can put the bride and groom at ease
and make for better photos on the day of the wedding. It helps build rapport and calms the
bride and groom’s nerves. And when you have a better idea of their personalities, you can plan
for taking specific photos you know they’ll like.

You’ll also want to read up on poses and suggestions for couples who are uncomfortable in
front of the camera. SLR Lounge has some ideas that you can use:

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Watch the YouTube video here: 9 Quick and Easy Wedding poses

5. You’re at the Wedding, Now What?

There are some other seemingly small but important things to consider for your own comfort
on the day itself. You’ll want to dress comfortably but appropriately.

You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb but also need to be able to move around easily.
Also, always wear comfortable and quiet shoes since you’re the only one who’ll be moving
around during the ceremony. (Unless the bridal party or the venue does not allow it. Remember
to ask!)

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Image Credit: Pixabay

Sometimes gear fails, but you can take steps to mitigate that horrifying scenario. You’ll want to
find something that won’t add to the bulk of what you’re already carrying.

If you have access to reliable Wi-Fi, you could consider shooting with Wi-Fi-enabled SD cards.
This lets you instantly back up the photos to a second Wi-Fi-enabled SD card. Better yet,
a portable backup system, while not cheap, will be worth it for the peace of mind it brings.

6. Delivering the Goods

Once you’ve returned to your studio, you can create a more organized backup — the only
question is how you’re going to do it. The backup selections are legion. Everything from a RAID
system in your closet to Dropbox or your own personal tuft of the cloud.

DC-based wedding photographer Sam Hurd posted an article and video a few years back
showing just how complex that backup system can be:

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Watch the YouTube video here: My Photography Workflow

Pick the solution that’s right for you, and make sure you do it. The only feeling worse than
realizing you’ve permanently lost the record of your client’s special day is realizing that you
could have prevented it. Back everything up. Then back it up again.

Now comes the part where you’ll probably spend the most time working: editing your photos.
Before you get your first paying gig, make sure you have a good sense of how long it will take
you to edit.

Never commit to delivering photos earlier than you think you can do it. Underpromise and
overdeliver.

As you edit your photos, if you’ve committed to sending some sample shots, keep an eye out for
the real gems, but don’t send all of them. You want clients to be excited about receiving the
photos, and you don’t want to disappoint with the final delivery.

Ryan Brenizer has some recommendations for your post-production workflow:

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Watch the YouTube video here: Post Production Workflow with Ryan Brenizer: Wedding
Photography Tips Post Production Workflow with Ryan Brenizer: Wedding Photography Tips

You should have determined how you will deliver the photos in the contract phase. Options
include sending them online using a shared cloud drive or a password-protected page on your
site.

You should also ask the couple if they want to receive all the photos on a CD/DVD or just online.
If you are creating a shared online drive, you will also need to determine whether access to that
online drive will expire after a reasonable time. Be sure to inform them of that date in your
signed agreement.

If you can provide printing services, this could be an additional source of revenue, but as with
all things related to this job, test your options thoroughly before offering any service.

Many brides and grooms will often be interested in a photo album of their wedding photos. You
will need to set up a system that allows them to select which photos will be included in the
album. And, of course, you should test the options you plan to offer. Compare local and online
prices, get print and cover samples, and determine where you’re going to have the wedding
books printed.

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Image Credit: Wedding Stock Photo via Shutterstock

It’s probably best to keep things simple and offer two options: one at an affordable price point
and a more deluxe version at a higher price point.

7. Hire an Assistant
Assistants are the guardian angels of the wedding photographer. You don’t need to hire one, but
if you can afford it, you should seriously consider doing so. Whether it’s running back to the car
to find that forgotten lens, wrangling groomsmen, charging batteries, or just holding an
umbrella, a good assistant is worth their weight in 85mm f/1.4 lenses.

To achieve your full potential, you’re going to need to be behind the lens, and that’s hard to do
when you’re trying to find an empty memory card. If you can afford to hire an assistant, your
sanity will thank you for it.

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8. Never Stop Learning
There are tons of great wedding photography resources out there. And with
the photographyindustry constantly developing (yes, I went there), there’s no end to how you
can learn and grow.

Watch the YouTube video here: WeiMin & YuYen Pre-wedding Photoshoot + Video ᄈၶ৒ᕏ൱୽

Keep an eye on trends, not only when it comes to gear but also to photography styles. See what
photographers are doing in other fields and think about how you can apply it to the wedding
industry.

In 2017, popular trends in wedding photography include:

• Instant photos: While it might be great to get several instant cameras, like the Fuji Instax
cameras, a more affordable way to bring the polaroid sensibility to your clients is to
purchase a small portable photo printer like the Fuji Instax SP2. You can then either create
an instant photo display, or encourage guests to share their photos with a hashtag.

• Aerial drone photos: This is another trend that is costly, but if you already have a drone,
consider using it for outdoor weddings.

• After-wedding shots: The engagement shoot is common, but to set yourself apart, you
might want to offer clients a mini shoot in the first weeks or months of their marriage to
capture that newlywed bliss in a far more relaxed environment than their big day.

• To keep up on the latest in wedding photography trends, be sure to keep up with the
following:

• Photography blogs like Fstoppers and PetaPixel

• Wedding blogs like The Knot and Wedding Wire

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 • Your competitors

• Find your favorite photographers in your field and follow them on social media or their
sites

• Search for wedding photos on sites like Instagram and 500px

• Keep up with bridal magazines

• Facebook groups for photographers

And if you want a career in photography but feel the wedding industry isn’t the right fit for you,
don’t forget there are other lucrative careers for the budding photographer.

Have you dipped your toes in the field of wedding photography? Or a seasoned pro? What
tips do you have for those looking to start in the field? What’s the one piece of advice you’d
give? Let us know all about your experiences in the comment section.

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