Tips for Your First Wedding Photography Gig
If you’re just getting started as a wedding photographer, there are several things you should keep in mind. These tips will help guide you through your first wedding gigs, and will allow you to have a platform from which to grow. These are guidelines that every wedding photographer should be familiar with.
You want to get inspired to make a portfolio, to showcase the types of photos you take. You want to partly define yourself through an original style that will impress your clients. Have a look at wedding photography books, magazines, and websites. By getting ideas from other sources, you can have a base on which to grow. You can then form your own style of what you photograph.
When meeting with possible clients, be open and honest with them. Being friendly helps, and knowing how to talk to people in a genuine but persuasive way is always a plus. Show them your work, so that they can get a general sense of your style and technique. Find out what they are looking for in a wedding album, and be prepared to photograph in the style they request, while also staying true to what you’re comfortable with. Negotiate a specific pricing or a possible package deal, but don’t try to charge too much, since you’re just a beginner.
When at the wedding and reception, freely take photos while the families are talking, walking around, and enjoying themselves. Don’t be afraid to be close to the action, but try not to come off to demanding. You want the guests to enjoy themselves without feeling like you’re in their faces constantly. Photograph the happy bride and groom, as well as their friends and family. Take group photos of the family, the children, the bridesmaids and the groomsmen. Try various poses – serious and silly. Photograph the couple on the dance floor. And make sure to get several photos of individual objects, like table decorations, invitations, and the cake.
Feel free to be unique, but also stay within the requests of the bride and groom. You don’t want to have spent a whole day taking pictures, to later discover that your clients are unsatisfied with your work. Work hard to get the perfect photos, but enjoy yourself. Remember, it’s a wedding, so be part of the celebration and do what you can to make this day even more special.
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Posted on Aug 26 2009 in Entertainment