10 Steps To Becoming A Professional Wedding Photographer

So guys, here’s a look at how to become a wedding photographer. It’s a relatively short article but it summarizes what I think are the 10 key steps you’re going to have to take to turn pro and make a good income out of wedding photography.

1. Get some basic skills. I’m not so sure long term full time photographic courses are all that important. They certainly aren’t a prerequisite. I got so much out of shorter workshops run by photographers, but it’s really useful to have a decent set of basic camera skills first though. You can get these just from reading ‘intro to photography’ books, playing with your camera A LOT, but I also did some evening classes for beginners early on.

2. Get a portfolio together, either following other photographers around at weddings, working for free or almost for free or by assisting.

3. Decide on your market position – targeting anything from the top end to budget basement is fine but make a conscious decision and stick to it.

4. Brand your business according to your market position. Everything from logo to your clothes to your website, albums and framed prints, to pricing and from your email templates to your stationery. Be consistent, and target your section of the market.

5. Get hold of the right camera equipment. Always have at least 2 camera bodies in case of a breakdown, and also 2 lenses and flashguns. Spare batteries and lots of memory cards too of course. Try to cover a large focal range across the minimum of 2 lenses you carry. That way, you can add a lot more variation in to your images.

6. Tell people about yourself. In my opinion, a good marketing strategy for wedding photography is all about getting out there and being noticed. Wedding fairs work well early on, although I never found them very profitable. At the start of your career, you just need some work though to get known. For me, introducing myself to venues and other wedding suppliers worked wonders. Do stuff for them for free, help them out, and they’ll do the same.

7. Once you’ve got the booking, get prepared. As well as making sure all the kit is working (do this well in advance as well as on the day before and on the day) make sure you know exactly where you’re going, all the timings, who’s who, and have a list of all the group shots that have been agreed. Get some copies made to give to the groomsmen if they are helping you get people together.

8. Shoot to sell. Think about the album and possible reprints as you go. Lots of variation in your photography is key, sequences of shots that look great together and photos of important friends and family work well too.

9. After the wedding, remember that your client could be with you for life. They and their family are going to have birthdays, babies and anniversaries. Why not suggest your services to them further down the line.

10. Keep learning, keep updating your portfolio (fashions and styles change so you at least need to change with them) and respond to any positive or negative feedback you receive, whether in terms of your skills as a photographer or in terms of your business processes.

I’ve set up a site called Photography Gems which includes lots more info on the ins and outs of the wedding photography business. Please feel free to check it out.