Need a little advice from wedding photogs

[JohnT]

Since I promote myself as an event photog, people often ask if I shoot weddings. My answer is always, "No, I feel that's best left to the professional wedding photographers. They really have an eye for that... yada yada..." Honestly, this comes from a lack of confidence; I'm really concerned that I would mess up photographing probably the most important day in the couple's life. On the other hand, I'd love to say yes so as to secure more business and gain experience. What advice would give someone like me?

[Elsaspet]

My advice would be to know your ability. If you can do it go for it. It IS important. It's also the crappiest lighting in all of photography.
I had really crappy wedding photos, so this is a big deal to me. I sit here and work on photos until I think my head is gonna spin off. I've had other wedding photogs tell me not to work so hard......just batch a white balance and let it fly........that brides are too dumb to know a good photo from a bad one.
If I wanted to be ho hum, I could let it fly. Hell, I already have their check, right? I could just batch everything and sit on the couch and dig life instead of working 14 hours 7 days a week..............But I look at my own wedding photos, and I want to make it special. So I work really really hard. Much harder than the client knows of. I want them to love the photos. I want them to hang them in every room of their new home.
If you do this, you will be a sucess. Anyone can do it with the right equipment and the right frame of mind.

[JohnT]

Thanks, Cindy! That's some really good advice.

[Erin Kathleen]

I agree with Cindy 100%. But you not only need the photography skills and the "eye" for the details that make that day important to this couple, you also need the personality. People aren't necessarily at their best on the "most important day of their lives" (to them). Brides will overreact at the slightest thing. Grooms (or groomsmen more often) will show up hung over and tired and not really wanting their photo taken in the first place. And a thousand other little nightmares will pop up throughout the day. You have to have the right attitude and personality to deal with all this chaos and still produce the beautiful memories the clients expect.

If you want to give it a try, my advice would be to tag along with one of the wedding photogs around here and see how the day goes and how you do. With weddings, it's not just about the photography...at least not to me.

[*Mike*]

I think that you've gotten some pretty good advice so far... I'll offer a slightly different option. You seem to be a solid photographer with experience and skills. You're not really in a position where you need to tag along as a second shooter in order to learn the technical aspects of it. So, if you think you're up to it, and you've been shooting events for a while, take a wedding - and then be sure to bring along a second shooter of your own. Just having someone there to act as a second set of eyes, with a different perspective, and no concerns other than covering the day, can take a lot of the pressure of off you. The two of you will do great!

So, if you've got the personality and the drive, but simply feel pressure from the significance of the occassion - go for it. And let a second shooter lift some of the pressure. Between two of you, odds are you'll get great shots of all those irrepeatable moments - in duplicate.

Now, before I get totally flamed, bear in mind that this is advice for a seasoned photographer. Not a newbie with a shiny new camera. Weddings can be a lot of pressure, but once you do a few you'll have a great time - if you're cut out for it.

[cmalana]

John-

I saw your work and you definitely have the photographic skills and the eye to take the images necessary for good wedding coverage. It looks like the photography skills are in place. What you need to learn next are the ff:

1. People skills to interact with wedding clientelle - weddings from a 'core' definition is a type of event photography - but people treat it VERY different and very special - hence the pressure-packed environment. If you don't like pressure and emotion, forget about weddings.

2. Get help: I still wonder how people can cover a wedding by themselves unless it is a small one. We always cover with at least 2 (and 1 assistant) so there is always a 3-person team covering the wedding.

3. Assist or be a 2nd (or 3rd) shooter for an experienced wedding photographer. That way, you get an idea of how the day goes

4. Learn to direct people. When doing event photography, the photographer is predominantly in the background. For wedding photography, you will have to direct the formals at the very least

5. Study portrait photography - A lot of wedding photography is really portrait photography, especially if you do engagement and bridal portrait sessions.

6. Understand your business model - figure out whether you will continue with the 'shoot and burn' that event photography normally requires or you will be needing to have post-event contact with clients for album designs, etc. Also, figure out your target market. While everyone says they want to serve the $10k wedding photography market, it's all about what you're comfortable dealing with. Some people will serve the $1k budget. Just make sure you can sustain what you're doing...there's no such thing as 'free' (that free digital image was taken by an expensive piece of equipment that depreciates, and is stored on a hard drive that cost money, and is processed on a computer that may be obsolete in 3 years).

7. Make sure your equipment is in shape and you have backups. You need a backup camera and lenses. Also need some way to backup your images onsite (I don't like leaving a wedding without at least 2 backups). We use a PD70X compactdrive and a small USB powered portable hard drive.

8. Learn specifically about wedding photography - I highly recommend Bambi Cantrell's books (search on Amazon), and attend a couple of seminars every year.

9. Take care of business admin stuff - insurance, etc. are going to be some standard overhead. You'll be dealing with higher stakes stuff (and some venues will not allow you to shoot without business liability insurance) so figure out what your comfortable with. Pretty hard/expensive to re-shoot a wedding!

10. Have fun! You'll probably quickly find out whether wedding photography is really what makes you tick, and if you like it, then you'll have a ton of fun doing it.

Hope this helps!

[Will Raybourn]

I understand what Mike has said, and everyone has provided some solid advice. However, I do differ in one aspect, no disrepect Mike...I would not just jump into doing a wedding, especially given that you already stated that you have hesitated because of fear of not being able to cover the day. Find a wedding photog in your area and 2nd shoot a couple of weddings. It isn't about skill with the camera as much as it is understanding what to expect. Being a 2nd allows you to watch and learn the flow of the day without the stress of being the primary.
No two weddings go the same way exactly, but you can learn the flow from an experienced wedding photographer and after you have a few under your belt, you'll probably have very little hesitation about them.

The other option if being a 2nd isn't an option is just to be upfront with the B&G about not having done weddings so that they know. Covering events is similar, but not the same. Let them know that you are starting to do weddings and use it to gain experience. Just be upfront with them and you shouldn't have any problems. But, if you have an opportunity to 2nd shoot, do it if for no other reason than to just know what to expect.

And yes, it is possible to shoot a wedding solo...even a large one. I know, I've done it many, many times. I prefer a second, but it is not always possible. You just don't get a lot of time to relax. Just have your backup equipment on hand and have a full understanding of what the B&G want.

[Jay Henley]

John,

You are welcome to help me with my wife's neices wedding Oct. 15th in Tyler and get some experience. I was planning on posting a thread in a couple of weeks to see if anyone was interested in helping me out. It would be nice to have a second camera there just in case something went wrong with mine.

I have no experience either doing weddings but if I do not do it, then the only pitures she will have would be pictures from the guests and their P&S cameras. She can not afford to hire photographer. So there really is not any pressure on me or us if you decide to go since we are doing this for free.

It will be on a Sunday. Outdoor wedding at the Rose Garden in Tyler. I think it is 3:00 PM.

[Clayton Wallace]

John,

Side note here, I like your website. Clean and easy to navigate...refreshing. Good advice posted so far, I'll stay out of that part. I would say the actual shooting, while challenging, is only the tip of the iceberg (at least with some business models).

Jay, if I happen to be in Tyler that weekend I'll assist too. I have family in Tyler and Whitehouse and have always loved the Rose Garden. In fact everyone (but me) is in Tyler right now for my cousin's wedding...I have a family reunion tomorrow (other side of the family) at which I'm both shooting and shaking hands....hmmm, maybe I can shoot left handed?

[Jay Henley]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

Jay, if I happen to be in Tyler that weekend I'll assist too. I have family in Tyler and Whitehouse and have always loved the Rose Garden. In fact everyone (but me) is in Tyler right now for my cousin's wedding...I have a family reunion tomorrow (other side of the family) at which I'm both shooting and shaking hands....hmmm, maybe I can shoot left handed?

Now that would be awesome. I just looked at your website and photos. EXCELLENT!!! If you are in Tyler that weekend I would definetely welcome you. If John would want to go, we both could learn a lot from you.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

John,

Side note here, I like your website. Clean and easy to navigate...refreshing.

Thanks, Clayton! Been thinking about a new design though, something more along the lines of minimalist. The challenge is finding the time to work on it. Let's see: Shoot photos or work on new web site? Hmmm...

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Jay Henley

John,

You are welcome to help me with my wife's neices wedding Oct. 15th in Tyler and get some experience. I was planning on posting a thread in a couple of weeks to see if anyone was interested in helping me out. It would be nice to have a second camera there just in case something went wrong with mine.

I have no experience either doing weddings but if I do not do it, then the only pitures she will have would be pictures from the guests and their P&S cameras. She can not afford to hire photographer. So there really is not any pressure on me or us if you decide to go since we are doing this for free.

It will be on a Sunday. Outdoor wedding at the Rose Garden in Tyler. I think it is 3:00 PM.

Jay, thanks for the invitation. I'll keep it in mind but will need to see how the calendar works out. With school having started back by then, there's no telling what my son's schedule will be with activities. I'll tentatively mark it down.

[JohnT]

Thanks to all for the good, solid advice. I think I'm going to try to tag along at a couple of weddings first just to see what goes on and maybe take a few shots myself. Since I want to build my business on a firm foundation, weddings might be a good way to go about it.

If anyone else has any advice, please bring it on.

[fran reisner]

Hello gang. I've been reading through this thread over my first cup of coffee. A lot of great advice being shared here, and I completely agree that, regardless of your photographic skill, if you have not shot weddings you should latch on to a few well respected WEDDING photographers to tag along with. Being good at weddings takes a lot more than knowing how to shoot a camera. You have to be good on your feet and under pressure, you have to know your gear well enough to not have to think about it (cuz you won't have time to). You have to be well organized, have good... scratch that... GREAT people skills. You have got to have the knack for being in control without SEEMING in control. You'll be sweating your tutu off (especially in this Texas heat) but you can never let them see you sweat! And if you're digital you have got to have a good, efficient workflow. And yes, of course you have to have an eye for it... for the light (or lack of), for the detail, for the romance, for the relationships...

What I want you to understand though, is that you have got to make money at it! I've been in the business a very long time. Shot my first wedding in 1978 The wedding industry has changed drastically, especially with the "digital revolution". My advice... if you want to do them, do them well. BUT, when you figure out your pricing don't forget to include YOUR TIME as part of your cost. As a speaker and mentor in this industry I have sat down with a lot of photographers across the country over the last several years and gone over their pricing with them... only to discover that when all was said and done they weren't making a dime on weddings. Most were actually loosing money, and sitting at their computers late into the night (while their spouse and children slept) doing it! The sad truth is wedding photographers are a dime a dozen now (no offense to any of you, I'm one of them too). Face it... your biggest competition is your own clientele... and their uncle and best friend and brother and gramma for cryin' out loud! Medium format used to set us apart. Now anyone (and many of you are them I know) can shoot the same gear we're shooting, and frankly most photographers I know are least likely to afford it. And cameras are so damn smart these days it's hard to get a BAD picture! Set it on P for Professional and voila! So why do they need you!!!??? My answer to that is the next piece of advice... set yourself apart! Offer something (in style, in service, in album design or whatever) that they can't do! I'm not trying to scare you off, just suggesting that you educate yourself thoroughly before you dive in.

[JohnT]

A lot of things there, Fran, that I haven't even thought about. Thanks!