Models: David and Paige
So you're crouching down in front of a beautiful spring flower in bloom with your camera, knowing you are getting some really great macro shots, when your friend approaches you and excitedly screams, "I'm getting married!"
"That's great!" you say as you kiddingly mumble under your breath that their relationship is doomed.
"I would be honored if you would photograph my wedding this summer, and I will pay you handsomely!”
You reluctantly agree shortly after realizing that you have never photographed a wedding. You’re confident in your photography knowledge, but that fear of the unknown suddenly overwhelms you, and you question whether you can pull it off without completely ruining the most special day of their lives.
Relax! You have time to educate yourself.
Some issues you will need to overcome can easily be corrected just by researching the web. You will need to communicate with the wedding organizer to get as much detail about the venue as possible. Is it outdoors, or indoors? Is it a morning, midday or evening wedding? Do you have the right equipment to do the job successfully? You should also have a basic plan of approach. Communicating with the wedding organizer and reading tips and tutorials on the web should get you headed in the right direction.
You can also get hands on help through wedding photography workshops. Mark Behrens is running a Wedding Workshop in Sacramento on May 22nd, 2010. While the workshop is a great place to build a wedding photography portfolio, it is also a great place to network with photographers who work in the industry as well as meeting first-timers who are in the same situation as you. For more information, you can visit Mark’s website at LookPW.com.
With all the know-how and resources at your disposal, you should be able to walk away with solid results. That being said, if you are not fully confident in your ability to photograph a monumental event such as a wedding, it is best that you respectfully decline your friend’s offer. It wouldn’t be fair to him/her, and there is a chance that you could potentially destroy a friendship.
Before you agree to shoot any major event, you should know how to control your camera in manual mode. You should also understand technical specifications on the lenses you are using. Buying a $3,500 camera and lens off the shelf at Frye’s is not a success plan. It is only a consumer purchase. Researching the web and attending workshops can put you on the path to creating a success plan.
So when your friend’s big day comes, and you’re confident and ready, have fun! Try to think creatively at all times, be available at all times, and remember that your photographs are going to be how your friend’s stimulate the memories of their glorious day until they are old and arguing over meaningless issues. HA!
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Comments
good subject! My husband has been talking about wedding photography as a potential avenue and my response is OMG ouch because I've heard it can be one of the most difficult events to potograph and have happy customers ... no matter how good you are. Very stressful event at times. And, with it being a once in a lifetime event, you can't do a second take so you better be prepared. Thanks for the tips and realistic statement about telling the friend not at this time.
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