What do I need to start my wedding photography business?
Any advise to past on, what kind of special equipment should I get 1st? Anything would help me out right now as I am trying to get into the bussiness. Thank you
2006-10-10 06:18:12 · 7 answers · asked by Figment 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
What do I need to start my wedding photography business?
Any advise to past on, what kind of special equipment should I get 1st? Anything would help me out right now as I am trying to get into the business. Thank you
Also I should add which I didn’t in the original posting. I have worked for a studio company for the past 10 years and have schooling in the background. So I do have photography experience.
2006-10-11 01:53:03 · update #1
Also I should add which I didn’t in the original posting. I have worked for a studio company for the past 10 years and have schooling in the background. So I do have photography experience.
2006-10-11 01:53:24 · update #2
I agree with the first poster.
What you need, after the camera of course, is experience!
Without experience, you won't be able to sell your services to very many people. You'll need to have a portfolio of past work you have done to show your prospective clients what you are able to do. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to have a portfolio filled with only wedding shots. But keep in mind, if your portfolio is biased on a particular location (indoors ONLY or outdoors ONLY) or subject that is not so good either. Have a range of different people, places, things and lighting. I'd still suggest having weddings in there too, but other non-wedding related work is nice too. (There are some photographers I would love to have hired but they lived to far away, but I loved their portfolios, even though they didn't do weddings professionally or at all.)
Yes, there are also a lot of books out there that can help you, but they will only do so much. You'll still need to put all that reading into actual use. As for taking college classes to help fine tune your skills, that is fine too, but a lot of college courses are geared towards artistic photography. I guess it depends on how you want to go about with your wedding photography--do you want to be more of an artistic photographer or journalistic (which seemed rather popular while I was looking for a photographer).
Just keep practicing and build your portfolio. Talk with current wedding photographers and ask how they got started. Ask people to refer you. Get out there in the wedding commuinity and make a name for yourself. It will happen for you!
Good luck and best wishes.
2006-10-10 07:23:31 · answer #1 · answered by fallencupid79 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A portfolio would be nice. Other clients will want to see your work. The first thing I asked the photographer when I hired him for my wedding was if I could see some of his previous work. If you have any friends getting married on a tight budget, offer to shoot their wedding for free if you can use the pictures in your portfolio. Tell them you will only charge them the cost of the prints without a markup (if you don't print them yourself).
Are you experienced at photography? If you aren't, definitely take some classes at community college or an adult learning center, even if it's not for credit. Then you can learn about the latest equipment and techniques. As for the business end, there are tons of books on starting your own business at your local library or on Amazon.
2006-10-10 06:23:20 · answer #2 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't cost much to print up some colored flyers and pass them around and post them. You could also place an add in your local paper (it will cost you some money but not much). Some local grocery stores have bulletin boards where you can post an advertisement. A word of advice, most people need to keep a full time job when first starting out, if not the entire time. You can do that though because most weddings are after the regular work hours. Good Luck!
2016-03-18 07:26:31 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. You need some experience. You can get it by offering to assist other photographers FOR FREE. Learn from them - how to pose the bride, the groom, etc, How to flow from one pose into another, how to pose groups of people. Usually after a while they will let you take some of the photographs. If you can't find a photographer who is willing to train you, start going to weddings with your camera. Pretend to be a friend of the bride or the groom. Pay attention to how the hired photographer sets things up. After the photographer has posed and taken his shots he will often let family and friends benefit from his posing expertise.
2. After you have some experience and an album of great wedding photographs (learn to call them photographs and not "pictures"), LEARN HOW TO SELL.
3. Join your local or state PPofA. subscribe to Rangefinder Magazine. Find out when the big names are holding seminars in your area and go to them. If you can go to a Monte Zucker, Dennis Reggie, Charles Lewis, Dean Collins, Clay Blackmore seminar - GO. You will learn art and you will learn to SELL. If they say "do this" - DO IT regardless of how goofy it sounds.
4. Build a network of referral sources. Offer free photographs to brides who recommend you to friends. 4 free 8x10's represent under ten dollars investment to you, but to the referring bride it's $60 to $100 worth of photographs and it could mean $500 - $600 - $700 or more dollars to you in possible sales.
5. Be innovative and try new things, but remember, the photographs you will sell the most of are the ones of family and friends usually taken right after the ceremony and before the reception. These are your Bread and Butter. FORSAKE THEM NOT!
2006-10-10 09:29:43 · answer #4 · answered by tvhasben 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a medium format camera, 6cmx6cm, 6x7, or somthing, work for an apprenticeship with a wedding photographer and when you know what you are doing, go out and do it.
Weddings are a pain in the butt! I would not do them. The bride and her mother always find fault and sometimes you don't get paid. Things can end up in court.
Event photography for corporations might be easier.
2006-10-10 09:25:39 · answer #5 · answered by Polyhistor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SLR camera, fast moving shutter one. You know action shots.
Business license.
mini business cards.
Proof of work portfolio.
Cash. That credit card acceptor machine thingy.
Price quote ready.
Might as well go for the birthday, gradualtion photo ops too!
Good manners. Good profesional dress. Don't show up in jeans at someones wedding! Just don't dress better than the groom, bride, mother, dad and such.
2006-10-10 06:28:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I recommand you to try google picasa.
picasa is a Google's photo software. It's what should've come with your camera.
It can Edit , organise and Share you picture and small video flips.
It's very easy to use and is free, just like Google
Download it free in here:
http://www.bernanke.cn/google-picasa/
Good Luck!
2006-10-10 13:52:45 · answer #7 · answered by good.picasa 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
skill
2006-10-12 22:27:12 · answer #8 · answered by Jason B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋