Wedding Photography: How to Become a Successful
Wedding Photographer
By Juan Carlos Torres
Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from
aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for
advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My
first question is always what their motivation is to become
a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard
from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a
cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like
to make some money on the side etc. While it is true that
wedding photography can be a very profitable business
achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a
matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding
photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete
mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and
a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the
wedding couple.
Here I have summarized some points that I believe will
guide beginner wedding photographers:
1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding
photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You
will be in charge of capturing people's most precious life
moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn
photography.
2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not
automatically make you an effective and reliable
photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and
gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic
vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were
taken with manual cameras.
3. Master the digital workflow, including color management,
digital image processing, file management and image
correction and enhancement.
4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don't
come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of
making money. It is true that there are many successful
wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However
according to the Professional Photographers of America the
average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.
5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek
with all your heart to capture unique photographs.
6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don't
try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique
photographers, with a unique vision.
7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long
when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is
a great way to be remembered.
8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will
happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the
details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the
camera become an extension of you.
9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with
other wedding photographers.
10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions.
It will give you the opportunity to have your work
evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work
quality.
11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of
professional photography organizations such as Professional
Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their
seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding
photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and
techniques.
12. Don't neglect the business aspect of wedding
photography. Learn to manage your business effectively.
Take business courses and seminars.
Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding
photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote
Sensing with a strong background in digital image
processing and photography. He is a member of the several
professional photographer organizations including the
Professional Photographers of America, the Professional
Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist
Association,and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding
photographs are unique and very artistic and have been
featured in national and international magazines. For a
sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding
Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer
For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at
Oregon Wedding Photographer