carsisus

Weddings.

My daughter and I would like to start a business offering wedding photography.
Anyone out there with clear advice for beginners?
Thanks

Luis

pledwith Loc: Dorset, UK

Hi. Having done many weddings I would suggest that you need to be very organised in your approach. Keep notes of your visits / contacts with clients, know what your charges and fees will be before hand. Be the professional in all aspects not just taking the pictures. You may get lots of advice, but you don't have to follow any of it, see what works for you.

Good Luck.

Phil.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

1. Formulate a business plan. You might be interested in a short course such as "Starting A Photography Biz ":
http://www.phototips.biz/p/starting-photography-biz.html
Which will give you such a plan.

2. Learn your equipment. A good place to start is to read your camera's manual.

3. Learn the art of photography and light. You can't go wrong taking a couple of photography courses either on line or at your local community college

3. Buy, rent, beg, borrow or steal professional equipment. Always, always bring a back up camera.

3. Apprentice with an established Wedding Photographer if at all possible.

4. Take some classes such as "Wedding 101 - Downloadable Class" : http://www.phototips.biz/p/wedding-101-downloadable-class.html

5. Learn how to post process your photos.

6. Read and heed CaptainC's advice whom I'm sure will post here.

Good luck :thumbup:

Oops, I forgot, most important......Volunteer at your Church or elsewhere to provide the benefit of your talent to those less fortunate. Not only will you learn but you will be rewarded.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Do you have any examples of your wedding photos you can post?

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Know inside and out the camera you are using.

bvargas Loc: Palm Harbor, Florida

My best suggestion, as a retired Professional Wedding Photographer of 50 plus years, is to find a Professional and be his assistant, if at no charge to get the experience. This will get you the most knowledge and will let you know, if you can handle the stress. Their is a lot to becoming Professional (Charging Money)
WEB-SITE, Marketing, Insurance, Sales Tax, Accounting, Sales and if you charge big bucks, which you should (In Order To Show A Profit), you will also need an assistant. You also need a back up plan, if you get sick on your wedding day.
Hope this advise helps you on your new career.

ThePapaJohn Loc: All over the world.. Currently WA

Liability insurance...

Iron Clad contract, protect yourself in writing in case things don't go exactly as planned.

Watched a friend of mine loose over 6 months of income due to a law suit from a disgruntled bride, and a very sympathetic court, after the bride claimed the photographer ruined her special day... Never mind that the photographer took photos of the bride's dad kissing (rather passionately) someone other than his wife, and it was in the photos that the bride was given.

sidney Loc: London.Eng.

As quoted.the best Idea is be an assistent to a Pro.go out
on weddings for free.learna lot this way..be his back up .

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

That'll do it!...but why blame the Photographer!....unless he was trying to get the old man in troble.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

get properly trained at a photography school, or NYIP correspondence course, or as others suggested work for a pro to learn the ropes. You screw up a portrait you can always reshoot, you screw up a wedding and you are a dead duck between the bride, the brides mom and the mother in law. Not to be harsh but wedding photography is a specialty and a craft. Just cause someone has a camera and a couple of lenses no more makes them qualified to shoot weddings, then does my owning an Axe and a chain saw qualifies me to be a lumberjack!( Oh I am a lumberjack and Im okay, I sleep at night and I work all day......) I am not a wedding photograph but my dad was a professional photographer who took weddings on the side, back in the days of film. I saw what crap he put up with and would never do it, there are better ways to make extra money. Do you own a lawn mower, weedwacker, and a leaf blower? congrats you are now in the ,lawn care business. You screw up a yard it will grow back. there are no second chances in weddings,