How to start in wedding photography?

Question

I am a photographer with Digital slr gear. i would love to get into self employed photography, working from home. problem is i have no experience with this type of photography.
how could i build the skills? is it a good idea to do some for free (ie friends/family)? should i try to partner up with a photographer for a bit? should i start with "budget" packages to those that do not want to spend £800+ on a photographer and concentrate on the traditional style and build on my creativity?

Re: the point below about doing freebies when there is already a pro covering. i would love to do this, but feel that the pro might not be too pleased. any thoughts?

Answer 1

Wedding photography tutorials: http://www.net-art.it/photomonitor/html/teoria_tecnica/ripresa-tecniche/matrimonio-cerimonia-e.shtml

Answer 2

You should definitely spend time researching the market first. But be careful of the advice of your friends and relatives.

Do some photos for them for free, but remember that they might not be completely truthful about the results. This is for two reasons - first, they aren't photographers and won't truly know why one photo is better than another. Second - they like you! They won't want to offend you.

If it's wedding photography you're thinking of getting involved in, have a look at: http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/digital-wedding-photography.html
It makes for an interesting read.

Also, ask some pro wedding photographers if you can help them out on a few of their wedding assignments. They may not all say yes, but some will, and you'll learn far more "on the job" than from anywhere else.

Hope it goes well for you, whatever you decide.

Answer 3

Check here a good photography course online:
http://photography-course.info

You can be like the masses of humanity and buy a camera you can afford that has auto this and that for worry free picture taking. And learn through trial and error how to use something like aperture or shutter priority auto modes or even attempt to use the thing on full manual mode.
You seem to know already there is some thinking to using a camera and to take pictures. A good place to start is by reading the owners manual that comes with a camera. Read the information and look at the illustrations with part names and look at the real camera. Handle the camera and take pictures. Let me rephrase that. Take pictures to learn how to use the camera and maybe even to keep some. Don't start with important stuff you cannot photograph over again such as birthdays, a toddlers first steps. That puts picture taking out of the learning phase and puts the pressure and emphasis to taking pictures for real and to keep.
These first pictures are for you to learn how to use your camera. And you have learned how to use your camera when you can take pictures with it and can teach others how to use it. Honest. You can also go to a college in your area and take a beginning photography course. There you will be taught the basics even a pro must learn and do in their work. Camera handling and use, taking exposures with film and/or digital cameras, and maybe even some photo assignments to get some real time learning. In this learning do not take serious pictures you must keep as that detracts from the learning aspect of the class. Do so only if you have mastered the use of your camera before class is over.
It's like growing up in a way. And I am happy you know there is a way to learn how to use a camera and take pictures. It's like learning how to drive I suppose. Someone can teach you or you can get taught at a driving school. Both will get you a drivers liscense. One though will really teach you the fundamentals you can use for the rest of your driving career.

Answer 4

I think a really good price for charging to take pictures at a wedding reception should be around $400-$500. Don't charge any higher than that price. It's a really good starting price for a girl like you who is wanting to continue her photography skills. If your really good at what you do, then these wedding reception photos will turn out beautiful. You need all the experience you can get! This is a great opportunity for you to gain that experience. Good luck and have fun!!!

Answer 5

This site contains photography tutorials and courses for you to study at your own pace. https://tr.im/0J1uc

To get started, all you need is a camera, whether it be the latest digital camera or a traditional film-based apparatus!

Read about what is ISO, aperture and exposure. Discover different types of lenses and flash techniques. Explore portrait photography, black and white photography, HDR photography, wedding photography and more.

Answer 6

only do weddings once you are totally confident with your skills, indoor, outdoors, make ugly people look better with good light, coping with bad weather,

you need at least 2 good cameras, you must have a back up, as you can't afford for anything to go wrong on the day.

Do any type of work first, but days like this are one offs, so you need to be good to get work and get recommended.

Answer 7

Definitely find an experienced photographer who is willing to serve as a mentor to you. Be aware that he or she may also view you as future competition.

Doing some feebies for family or friends who have already hired a professional would also help you learn about lighting, expected shots, etc.

Good luck.

Answer 8

just start showing up at weddings like you belong there. If anyone asks, just say you are with the bride/groom (opposite of who is asking) I am pretty sure that is how 95% of wedding photographers get there start.

Answer 9

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230099960029

Discover the Business Secrets of Professional Photography.

Secrets and Tips You MUST Know to be Successful in the Photography Business

Dear Friend,
Though the digital camera is one of the hottest selling gadgets on the market today, the technology can be intimidating and frustrating to first-time users. To new users, going from click to pictures with a digital camera can be overwhelming thanks to memory sticks, docking stations, computers, image editing software, printers, special papers, processing stations at the store, plus all the confusing terminology. These books gives readers a quick start guide to using a digital camera so they can read a few step-by-step pages and then go from picture to print in moments. Using everyday and easy-to-understand language, explains exposure, focus, lighting, file formats, file storage and organization, how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and improve images, printers, specialty photo papers, and how to get your photos to the Web and email. After reading this book, even the most digitally challenged shutterbug will be able to produce high-quality digital photographs without hesitation.
All the Secrets to Wedding Photography that you need to know. Learn what pictures to take and when to take them. A wedding is a one-time shot. You can't redo the photography if you don't like the way it turned out.

When you photograph a wedding you want the wedding pictures to be the best they can be. You know that if you do a good job other people will come to you for their weddings.

You can have a Fun and Profitable Business.

It helps if you know the Secrets of Wedding Photography.

Learn Professional tips and techniques. Wedding photography is one of the most enjoyable ways to make a living there are.

You need to know what you are doing and you need a plan. Because...people get real emotional if they end up without wedding pictures. One Secret of the Wedding Photography business is that it grows or dies by word of mouth. If people like the photography they will praise you to others.




Here's a sample of what you'll get.

how to get the exposure correct by teaching the user how to evaluate scene and subject luminosities, how to relate this information to how the various metering modes work as well as how to read composite and separate channel histograms, and how to reference the evaluated luminosities to what is seen on the histogram, allowing the photographer to make the EV compensation as necessary to achieve consistently accurate exposures within 0.3 stops;

how to evaluate color temperatures in various situations to more accurately select either a preset or manual Kelvin temperature setting, and why the photographer benefits from accurate WB adjustment even when shooting RAW;

a discussion of various compositional techniques and how techniques which were primarily intended for specific sorts of subject presentations can be applied singly or in combination with other techniques to different types of photography, including a wide variety of examples;

examples and detailed discussion of various shooting techniques for several types of subject material, including the importance of anticipation and timing when shooting action, selecting attractive viewing angles, cropping for composition in the viewfinder, etc.

detailed discussions of workflow, including organizational methods, sorting and selection, processing and post-processing techniques, etc.
After reading this book, even the most digitally challenged shutterbug will be able to produce high-quality digital photographs without hesitation.