The fact that some people want you to take part in one of the most significant days of their lives is a great sign of trust. Isn’t being a wedding photographer a real honour and huge responsibility? Keeping that in mind, we decided to present to you this basic guide to what dots to connect when you think about learning wedding photography by yourself.
Take good care of your hobby
Making friends with a new hobby is like getting to know an actual person. Every hobby needs your time, attention, and passion. Take your time, focus, and analyse all its components.
Taking pictures at every turn may be a good exercise, but it’s definitely not enough. Photography is so much more complex than shooting everything your camera lens can see! What to take care of besides your camera then?
Photo Editing Software
Post-production is almost as an important part of the photographing process as taking the shot itself. There’s no shame in improving your pictures with the help of technology. Especially when it comes to planned photoshoots — like weddings! Shooting weddings is about capturing moments and creating beautiful pictures as precious keepsakes.
Take for instance, if you had a marvellous shot of newlyweds on a beach but the colours in the picture are rather greyish and vague? Don’t be afraid to try out various wedding lightroom presets or experiment with different digital editing tools. Post-production can save you lots of frustration and save many of your potentially good photos from moving to trash. Sensible use of such software is also a long process of careful learning!
Sense of Composition
Composition of your photographs is not something you can improve in post-production. If you weren’t born with the artistic sense of composition, you still can learn it and become a pro photographer.
You just need to spend more time at the very beginning of learning the art of photography, compare different frames, let others analyse your work, and keep your mind open for constructive criticism.
Fellow Photographers
Getting in touch with locals connected to the world of photography (either beginners or pros) is another necessary step in your own private hobby care system. It doesn’t matter how much of an introvert you are — developing your skills requires external influences, as well. Inspiration, candid opinions and advice — without these factors your photography learning process will be much slower and inefficient.
Almost every city has its own photography club or cultural centres. Make good use of it! It may be a great opportunity not only to learn but also to contribute to your local society.
Read!
Increasing your photography knowledge needs some good reading, as well. Interviews with professional photographers, personal photography blogs, magazines, textbooks and manuals… These all are important resources building up your theoretical knowledge, feeding your imagination and creative thinking.
Meddle Into Pro Environment
Before specialising and calling yourself a pro wedding photographer, try to get in touch with actual professionalists and offer them your help — even as a one-off. It’ll be an opportunity for you to get to know the specifics of shooting such big events as weddings inside out and to try out professional photography gear.
Assisting someone more experienced will prepare you for your first independent wedding photoshoots. It will make you more spontaneous and comfortable running and jumping around at the ballroom. Getting comfortable constantly moving among guests with camera and lenses is a huge step towards your future wedding photography career!
Watching a pro in action is an irreplaceable photography lesson. You have to know and follow the basic rules first. Remember, though — there are as many photography methods and styles as photographers. Draw inspiration from others but don’t be afraid of looking for your own way. Your style will appear along in its time!
Action!
Offer free wedding photoshoots for your friends or neighbours. If you’re a member of a photography club in your town, organise free photoshoots with your group!
Doing something for free at the very beginning of your career is an effective way to promote your business and working on your reputation as a photographer. Take every opportunity to compile and diversify your portfolio.
Regardless of your motivations or level of insight, becoming a good photographer and capturing just the right moments is a long (if not endless) learning process. But it’s not perfection that counts! Don’t give up and keep trying to stop the time as best as you can. Your photographs will be a priceless gift for many generations.
