Wedding season is in full swing! If you’ve been a happy guest at a nuptial or two already, you may have started thinking that the Wedding photography scene is for you. Wedding photography is a competitive business and one that can be tricky to get started in. It can also be fun, rewarding and rather lucrative too. We’re lucky enough to see the work of lots of professional wedding photographers who transfer their images onto canvases with Parrot Print, so is it time you joined their ranks?

If you’d like to make your way as a wedding photographer, like so many other photography career options, you’ll find there’s no set route. However, there are some smart steps you can take to give yourself a fighting chance. We’ve put together some useful pointers for those hoping to pursue a career as a wedding photographer. It’s not quite a step by step, but we hope it helps you to follow your own successful path…

Be Realistic

There are no specific qualifications required to be a wedding photographer, so you might be tempted to get stuck in straight away. If you’ve got lots of experience in other photography genres that might be a realistic possibility. If you’re fairly new to photography and don’t have many hours of practice under your belt, it’s probably not. After all, producing poor photos could ruin your reputation before you get going, not to mention spoil someone’s Big Day.

To be a good wedding photographer you need to be prepared to put the hours in. This means learning your craft as well as you can before you take on your first client. You’ll also need to be prepared for long and hardworking days once the assignments come rolling in!

Many wedding photographers start out by offering their services as a side hussle alongside doing a full or part-time job. This gives financial security and takes the pressure off until you’re confident that you’ll have enough work to make a comfortable living.

Shadow and Second

There are plenty of photographers out there who didn’t shoot a wedding until they snagged their first client. But when you speak to them, chances are they’ll tell you that they wished they’d gotten more experience and advice first. Working alongside experienced wedding photographers, either in a shadowing or second shooter capacity can be very useful.  It’s a fantastic way to gain valuable planning and preparation insights and to learn more about what’s expected. Depending on the agreement between you and the main photographer, you may also be able to build images for your portfolio.

So, how do you snag this valuable experience? Visit wedding photography forums or email photographers direct to search for opportunities. If you do approach someone, ensure you know their work well. This way you can write a personalised cover letter explaining what you can offer them. To start with you only fetch, carry and observe, but it’s all a step in the right direction.

Build Your Kit

Gone are the days when photographers rocked up with a camera and tripod to photograph the main ceremony before popping home. Customers expect much more of wedding photographers these days. You’ll usually be expected to tell the story of the full day. You’re likely to shoot from first thing in the morning through to late at night. You’ll work in multiple venues, covering different activities and shoot under varying light conditions.

Along with your camera, tripod, multiple memory cards and batteries, you’re likely to need multiple lenses, reflectors and other bits and bobs too. You can build this kit as you go or rent it, but you must be realistic (and honest) about what you can achieve with what you own. In the early days, you may find that the money you earn goes straight back into building up your kit, or running a shoot…

Build Your Portfolio

When couples are searching for a wedding photographer, they naturally expect to be able to view a portfolio of similar work. If you’ve not yet shot a wedding it can therefore be quite difficult to get a gig. Those who have done some second shooting may have the basics of a portfolio and luckily there are things you can do to flesh it out. Consider approaching new venues and wedding suppliers in your area to set up your own wedding shoot. The images you take won’t be quite the same as snapping a real wedding, but they’ll be great practice. Plus, you could establish some valuable networking relationships too. You may even find that a wedding publication will publish your photos, which could lead to more work.

Another option is to attend wedding photography workshops held by people who are experienced in the field. Workshops are useful as they are usually formed around different themes so you have the opportunity to explore different creative avenues or topics. Attending wedding shows and events may also throw up some photo opportunities for you.

Find Your Style

The work of well-known wedding photographers is usually instantly recognisable. They have their own distinct style, quirks and approach. Be it documentary-style or cinematic approach or a particular post production flare. It may take time to find your own niche or you might know exactly which direction you want to head in straight from the off. Experiment, explore and above all, practice. Do you and you will hopefully find couples come to you because they love exactly what you do.

We spoke to Features Editor at Belle Bridal, Sarah Adams, to ask her advice on how to start out in wedding photography and she was very much in agreement with this sentiment: “Capturing someone’s special day and turning those memories into something they can hold onto is no easy task, and any photographer who can do this is brilliant,” she said.

“My advice to those starting out, or want to venture into weddings is perfect your own style. Don’t be afraid to try something new, whether that’s angles, lighting, or locations. Don’t forget to listen to others and most importantly, have fun with it.”

Find Customers

When you have some portfolio images to work with and solid photography experience, it’s time to create your own website. You’ll need to make something that showcases your work, fits with your personal shooting style and also takes the importance of SEO into consideration. You might also choose to share your work on Instagram or to pay to have a stall at local wedding fairs in order to meet prospective customers.

Couples can be understandably nervous about employing photographers with limited experience. With this in mind, you may find it pays to select a few weddings to shoot for expenses only. However, it’s wise to be picky about the couples you offer this amazing deal to. Are they well connected? Could your work be showcased to a large audience who may book you? Do they have a large following on social media? Is their wedding venue particularly photogenic? Think about how the photographs will look in your portfolio.

With a few real-life weddings captured, you’ll have a larger portfolio of work to share to market your services. You can then start to charge a fee in line with your limited experience.  As your skills and reputation grow, you can charge more. If you find it difficult to secure those first few paid customers, spread the word among family and friends that you have availability and can offer good rates. Sometimes those working to short timescales or very limited budgets are more willing to take a leap of faith and hire you. And when they do, you can go all out to impress!

Looking for an ideal wedding gift? We have some wedding canvas print ideas to get you started. Do you dream of being a wedding photographer? Perhaps you’re already a professional wedding photographer who has followed some of the steps above? What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start out in the industry?

The post How to Become a Wedding Photographer in 6 Steps appeared first on Parrot Print Tips For The Perfect Canvas Prints.