Wedding photography can be difficult. If you are about to shoot your very first wedding, or even just starting to consider getting into the huge industry of weddings, remember that is can be a tough job. Your very first shoot that you ever do is important and before you commit to photographing one of the most important days in a couple's life, you want to ask yourself a few questions to make sure you are totally ready.
Photo credit: Chung Li Photography
Are your photography skills ready?
Sometimes this question can be hard for some photographers. You may be able to shoot portraits wonderfully or have always been able to capture a beautiful sunset but capturing all the photos you need to at a wedding requires a few other skills.
You must be organized and good at logistics and staying on schedule. A wedding is a schedule... everything is in order and set to happen at a certain time. Sometimes that schedule gets pushed back for various reasons like weather, or someone who is running late. You also have to be able to work well with other people. You will be coming across many different personalities, some who are nervous, anxious or stressed, and you need to be able to work with each one easily and get the job done no matter what. A wedding is pretty intense and you may feel a lot of pressure to get exactly what the couple is looking for so being relaxed and able to go with the flow is a great skill to have.
Do you need help?
It is hard for one photographer to capture everything you need to at a large wedding. Having a second shooter or an assistant to be another set of eyes is a great idea. While you are off taking photos of the bridal party and the newlyweds, your assistant can be in the reception capturing photos of the little details and guests. Even while people are dancing and having fun, it is good to have someone focused on the bride and groom and still know that other things happening are not being missed.
It is important to find someone who you know you can work well with. Like we said before, a wedding is a stressful and tense event and very fast moving, so working together is imperative. Be sure to read this article on 3 things to think about when you are considering hiring a second shooter.
What should you charge?
If you have never photographed a wedding before, you may not really know what you should charge the couple. You can not price yourself out of the market, but you also do not want to price yourself so low that you do not make any profit.
To decide on your price, try to determine what the entire wedding day will cost you in your time spend, travel to and from the event, any equipment you may need to buy or rent, and even the cost of a second shooter. Also remember insurance you need and meals you bought that day while working. If you still need a little help, this article "How Much You Should Really Be Charging For Your Photography" may help you out!
Also be sure to check out 3 Tips To Pricing Your Wedding Photography Packages To Sell.
Photo credit: Wild Bunch Weddings
Do you have the right gear?
You do not have to have the most expensive camera on the market to take great photos but you do need to make sure you are ready with the equipment and tools you need to shoot and entire wedding day. You need to have a tripod in case it is needed. You also want to make sure you have extras of everything just in case something breaks. Think about extra lenses, memory cards, extra lighting if you think you will need it. It is also good thinking to have an extra camera as backup. We know that sometimes the cost is hard to have a second one... but what if your camera decides to stop working right in the middle of the bride and grooms first dance? What will you do for the entire rest of the wedding if you do not have a backup? It could be disastrous.
Is my insurance in order?
You need to have insurance if you own any business. Something can always go wrong, and sometimes things can go terribly wrong and you want to make sure you have insurance to help if needed. Some of your equipment could get damaged or you or your second shooter could get injured somehow. If this happens, insurance is necessary. Many venues - especially those very high-end ones- will not even let you work on their premises if you can not provide proof of insurance.
Here are a few other wedding photography related articles that you may enjoy:
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