Friday, February 17, 2006

How to Become a Successful Wedding Photographer

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Here is one of several wedding photography articles that I have written recently and that have published by several websites. I would love to hear your feedback.

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Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc.

While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people’s most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

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4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don’t come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don’t try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

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9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don’t neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

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Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association,and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer

For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer

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5 comments

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Vittore - 7/11/2006 - 12:52 am

I shoot no more than 12 weddings a year, I believe that a wedding photographer has to be a great photographer.
My prices are hig for a lot of people but there is a great difference between a professional and someone that buy a nice camera with a large file and call itself “photographer”.
I would like to know a little bit more about your workflow.
Thanks

Mrs. Shushan Darakjyan - 8/4/2006 - 1:43 pm

Dear Mr. Juan Carlos,

I’m so impressed by what I saw here in your site. Wonderful!!!
I’ve been looking through verious sites since a few days and nothing,
really nothing could be compared with the images included here.

Now about wedding photography. I’ve always loved photography (though my speciality
is something too far from it), especially black and white photography.
But I couldn’t even imagine how eager would I be one day to become a wedding photographer.
I’m a beginner. I know I have much to learn and achieve but what I feel inside and why
have decided to become one is the following:

I think photographer is not just a profession, it’s a way of thinking and living.
I love my job, I love to see people too happy and I love earning money with joy
(never give up, just in case).
I have made my mind to enter this business to return the joy of people getting
married and their families and friends via my photos. One day I felt I do want it.

Wedding photographer should be a willing person with creative mind, an artist
and should be too shrewd to catch that single moment, which would not be repeated
for another shot, one must have too deep knowledge and experience. I’ll do my best.

And also I found out that I want to catch every single blink that is
possible and transfer into paper for a long and lasting life.

Thanks for your great photos and for your assistance.

Respectfully,
Shushan

Dale Herzog - 10/5/2006 - 9:43 pm

Jaun,

Absolutely great information, and your photography style and craftmenship blow me away. Great stuff. I hope I did not miss something but I really need help with workflow, color and image management. Can you direct me to some good information? I am typically doing second shooter stuff for free to gain expeience. I have CS2, the 5D & 20D, 24-105 4.0 (love it but its slow), 50 1.4, 85 1.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8, and the Tamron 28-75 2.8. Going to add the 16-35 2.8 and try to stop adding lenses. Trying to prepare for life after UPS. Any comments would be welcome….

Dale

Yulia - 3/7/2007 - 8:11 pm

Hello Juan,

I’ve read your article, it’s interesting. But I still did not find answer to my question.
How to find customers, how to put my name out there? So far seems like I tried everything, but I still do not have so many customers. I love photography and I have my own style, and I know that I want to be a wedding photographer. Honestly, not just because of money, but because I really enjoy capturing the moments. Please, if you have a minute, share with me how did you find customers when you were beginner?
Thank you,
Yulia

Ilona M LaRue - 9/5/2007 - 10:39 am

Hi,
I was crusing the web and stumbled on this site. I read it top to bottom ! Wonderful material.
I am a wedding coordinator, however rather then going for the big glamour weddings (and make big bucks) I have restructured my business geared towards wedding parties that are on a modest budget and in need for help. I am blessed enough, not having to worry making a profit. I love the athmosphere of wedding, most of my adult life I was in this business one way or another.
I got a camera, Nikon D70s, decided to try my hand in photography, since the cost of the photographer sure bumps up wedding expenses.
The weddings i have taken on, strickly weddings that otherwise would not have photographers, besides Uncle Ernie with his disposable, so I didn’t take a huge chance.However, I would like to be able to be offer this service confidently, and not worry of lawsuits and such.
I was told, that i am good at “catching the moment” and creating poses that looks “natural” as if did happen. (Example, asked the groom to sneak up on the bride, pick her up and spin..and i set the camera for continues shoot, hoping that there will be a couple of good ones)
I am enrolled to a couple of photography class at PCC.
I love photoshop, actually, I think i got a bit of an addiction going on with it, however, I found otherwise plain weddings can be made pretty with (for example if there is not much decoration at the church, the star filter can add so much athmosphere to it, is that a photography sin?)
Besides the classes, I would really love an internship with a passionate wedding photographer, to learn more tricks of the trade.
For example, I am having trouble to be in command… to direct people to do what needs to be done for the shot… I have a very soft voice also guess not bully enough personality..How do i deal with that? Perhaps, may i send some of my pics for being critiqued?
Anyway, if you would have any comments, suggestions I am all ears and eyes!
Warm regards
Ilona

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