Part #1 - How to become a wedding photographer

From what I can tell, it usually happens one of two ways…  Either you’re a photography student and you need some extra cash or you’re an advanced novice and someone makes you an offer that you just can’t refuse.  Either way, you’re about to venture into the word of wedding photography and now you’re on the net looking for some more information on the subject and you ended up here.

My name is Michael Ray and I am NOT a wedding photographer.  I’ve shot a lot of weddings over the years, but I’m now a commercial photographer, with a specialty in food photography, of all things.  So why did write this article?   I’m not really sure myself, but I an sure that the knowledge that I’m about to share will be valuable to those who take the time to read what I’ve written.  While I admit that I’m not currently a wedding photographer, I have shots tons of weddings and I have friends in the industry that that share with me their insights, concerns and stories about shooting weddings.   If you get to the end of this article and haven’t learned anything, I’ll be glad to refund your money. :+) 

Are you ready to be a wedding photographer?

Any idiot with a camera can call themselves a wedding photographer.  Before you take the chance of totally ruining some poor bride’s wedding day, make sure that you know what the heck you’re doing!   Put yourself in her shoes.  Most girls spend hours , days, even months dreaming about that one big event.  You don’t want their memory of that day to be clouded with thoughts of you screwing it up.  And you don’t want that bride’s layer having fond memories of that day either.

Here are four questions you need to answer before you photograph your first wedding. 

Do you know what you’re doing technically? 

I’m not asking you if you can make an occasional nice picture.  The question is, can you produce great photos on demand?  Do you know how to get what you want in focus?  Can you get a good exposure almost every shot?  Are you a master of your camera and your flash?  Is your eye developed enough to make beautiful compositions?  If your answer to any of these questions is “no”, then you might want to practice a little before you shoot that first wedding and make that life long enemy (the bride) and tarnish your newly emerging reputation as a wedding photographer.

Do you have backup plans for equipment failure?

Camera and flashes are like hard drives…  The question is not “if” it’s going to break, the question is “when” it’s going to break.  And what if it breaks during a wedding.  Then what?  Are you prepared with a back-up plan?  The Ceremony is not going to wait for you to borrow a friend’s camera or flash.  You better have a backup plan in place, before you show up to your first wedding photography gig. 

Are you mentally prepared for what you need to accomplish?

Weather you know it or not at this point, the Bride is expecting you to produce certain shots for her.  She might not have mentioned it to you and you two may not have discussed it, but subconsciously, she has expectations and it would be wise for you to find out what those expectations are.  Your real job is to make the bride happy.  If her subconscious expectations go unfulfilled, no matter how many great photos you create, she will end up being disappointed.  And disappointed Brides seldom make referrals.

I guess what I’m getting at, is that you need to be prepared with a shot list and be able to get shoes shots when they happen.  Communicate with the Bride beforehand to see if there is anything special that she wants you to get.  When I say list, I mean a written list.  Have the shots written dons on paper and have an image in your mind for each of these shots.  Also, list these shots in order of when the opportunity for these shots will present themselves.  For example, you don’t want to leave the church and realize that you forgot to get a particular shot.  Wedding are tough assignments in that they don’t often present opportunities to redo something you miss or screw up.  You have to get it and get it right the first time.  You can’t drag the bride, groom and wedding party back to the church to get a shot you missed.  This leads to the next question…

Are you prepared to perform under pressure?

I’ve been a professional photographer for more years that I care to admit.  I’ve worked on projects where tens of thousands of dollars have been at steak, but I have never had as much pressure put on me as I have when I was shooting weddings.  You just can’t do it over.  And then there are all the personalities involved and the inner relationships between mothers and daughters, ex-husbands and in-laws.  Yikes!  It’s a proverbial emotional minefield you have to walk though!  You have to be someone that can handle the pressure.  Many photographers don’t shoot weddings, not because they don’t want the extra money or don’t think it’s profitable, they just can’t handle the pressure.