Wedding photography is one of the most lucrative and challenging gigs. As a savvy wedding photographer, you have to shoot the special moments of the couple's lives. Marriages are once-in-a-lifetime events, and you will not get a second chance to click a couple's first kiss, bride's farewell, emotional, and joyful family pics. Simply put, you need to be very active with extensive photography knowledge. It is impossible to succeed in this business without having a keen eye for photography.
Moreover, wedding
photographers must be very social and have good comm skills. These help you to
work effectively with the groom's party, bride's party, event managers, and
every other guest present in the event. The trend of candid pictures has
increased the competition in the wedding photography industry. So, it's imperative to acquire relevant experience and
hone essential skills to succeed in this field. Read the following tips to
produce great work and become technically competent.
1. Learn Basics
Wedding photography is a very
wide field. As discussed above, from mother tears to aisle walk, dancing at
reception to getting ready pics, there is alot to capture on wedding
photography. So it is important to learn the basics of wedding photography to
be successful.
First of all, you should have
become familiar with your equipment and learn to use them efficiently. For
instance, you should be an expert at switching between the camera modes, have
intensive knowledge of lighting, and expert in using different lenses. There
are many ways to learn all these things; you can pursue several photography
courses or get admission to a bachelor's degree. However, photography schools
only cover technical aspects; you have to develop artistic eyes by yourself to
frame stunning photos.
2. Experience
Photography courses and
classes are not enough; you need to gain practical experience to beat the
competition. It is tough to get a wedding photography project without relevant
experience; however, you can learn the photography skills by assisting
experienced photographers. Working as an assistant is the best way to learn how
to cover wedding events as well as develop networks with other photographers
and clients. By doing this, you will also get to know about pricing and
contract writing.
3. Assertiveness Is Indispensable
It would be best if you were a
little firm and assertive to come out with great wedding pictures. For
instance, while capturing group photos, you need to control things; otherwise,
people will take you lightly, which eventually affects the quality of
photographs. Although this rule is not applied every time, you should know when
to take things under control and when to let them happen themselves.
4. Learn To Stay Calm
There will be many situations
when you may feel under pressure while photographing the event. However, you
need to calm yourself in the most irritating moments, like seeing nervousness
on a couple's face, shooting group shots, etc. Learning the skills of keeping
yourself calm in the most challenging time will surely boost your career.
5. Punctuality
Reaching on time at the venue
reflects your professionalism and dedication to your work. So, be punctual when
it comes to meeting clients, scouting the venue, and shooting the wedding. This
will aid you in shooting eye-catching pics and improve your image as a
photographer.
6. Learn To Negotiate
Undoubtedly, being a wedding photographer is a financially rewarding career. However, it will happen when you reach the peak of your career. You have to use negotiating skills to convince the clients to invest in your photography work at the initial phase. Many people hesitate to hire beginner photographers for wedding projects, but you can persuade them to appoint you with effective negotiation skills.
7. Increase Your Stamina
Capturing weddings isn't an
easy feat. Wedding photographers have to work more than 10 hours a day and have
to travel a lot. Plus, you'll need to take a lot of equipment and props with
you. So be prepared and don't neglect your fitness. Take a break and keep
something to drink and eat whenever you feel tired.
The Bottom Line:
In addition to taking great
pictures, becoming a wedding photographer requires you to acquire a variety of
skills; Management, interpersonal skills, and above all, a memory bank, which
will only come with experience.