There really is nothing more joyful and delightful than photographing a wedding. Sure, you probably just get true joy out of snapping shots here and there, but getting to capture and tell the story of someone’s happiest day is like nothing else in the world. And, this is not to even mention that the industry is extremely lucrative. Wedding photography is all the rage right now, but how can you get into the business and take advantage of the lucrative opportunities?
Know Your Equipment
It might sound like a given, but it really does bear repeating. If you expect to be taken as a professional, you’ve got to have a professional level understanding of your equipment. Get your camera manual out, run through it and find out what features your camera offers. Learn how to change settings and snapshots to see the different effects that the settings have on the pictures. Save the pictures and pull them up on your computer side by side to see which ones you like best and make a mental note as of why you like them the best. If you can’t grasp the features of the camera you can always turn to the Internet for a quick tutorial.
Find A Mentor
There is no better way to learn something than by mentoring someone who has already been through the trials and tribulations of what you are going through. Find yourself a highly skilled and successful wedding photographer like Bozeman, MT wedding photographer and offer up your services for free. If you are lucky enough to get accepted you will not only learn skills that you need to become a better photographer, but you will get an inside look at how the business operates. Maybe you can even build a business relationship with this individual and share client referrals when one of you is double booked.
Build A Portfolio
If you are going to start your own business you have got to have something that represents your work. People probably aren’t just going to hire you because you say you are a good photographer. They need something to visualize the kind of work that you are capable of creating. Attend weddings of your friends and family and follow their photographer around. Stand right behind him and take every shot that he takes. See where he is shooting from and when and where he is capturing the bride and groom. This will provide you with some great shots that you can add to your portfolio.
Take Advantage Of The Internet
Once you have some skills and a portfolio it will be time to venture out on your own. Thanks to Internet marketing and advertising will be easier than ever. Build yourself a website and register a social media account or two and start posting your work on the Internet. You might have to learn a little bit about SEO and keywords before your site starts drawing attention, but it will be well worth the investment of time. You can easily expose yourself to thousands of potential clients when you put your work online.
Visit The Site Beforehand
When you are starting out it pays to visit the wedding destination ahead of time. The experts will say that this is a complete waste of time because the lighting won’t be the same and there is always a good chance that it might rain. However, visiting the destination ahead of time can be extremely beneficial for the beginner. When you arrive for the official shoot your nerves won’t be quite as bundled and you will be able to formulate a lose plan of where you can shoot from during the initial visit.
Know The Schedule
It really is the quick moments at the wedding that can be the most memorable and important to capture. This could be the cutting of the cake, the bouquet toss or even the confetti throwing. These moments will happen quickly and they only happen once. This is why it is always important to be on your toes and be ready to capture these moments. There is no better way to do just that than by knowing the layout of the schedule. Speak with the bride and groom or wedding planner ahead of time and get a good layout of what is going to take place that day.
