Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography: A Smart Career Move by Jessica Vandelay


Each year an average of 2.4 million weddings occur in the U.S. At an average cost of $27,852 the business of weddings is a lucrative one, representing a $50 billion industry annually. If you are looking for a great way to break into photography as a career, try wedding photography.

Wedding photographers must be competent photographers and use state-of-art equipment. Wedding photographers must be great at people skills and posing skills. Wedding photography is an art. To master it requires being familiar with the minor details, procedures and traditions that are tied up into this special day.

The first step in a strategic plan to become a wedding photographer is to determine your personal style. Wedding photography styles include posed and formal, relaxed, photojournalistic, creative, artistic, candid and traditional. You should also determine if you want to shoot in black and white or color or both. Read about the latest trends in wedding photography in photography magazines like American Photo, Photo Techniques and Professional Photographer and also in bridal magazines like Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides magazine.

The worst mistake a photographer can make is trying to take professional photos with amateur equipment. There are several things to think about before purchasing camera equipment like lens, zoom, camera body, flashes and accessories. Photography magazines like Popular Photography & Imaging, Photo Techniques and Aperture over practical tips on how to choose the best equipment for your needs.

There are many ways to build a photography portfolio. Some practical ways to start working as a wedding photographer and gaining experience are: a) work at a photo studio b) be a photography apprentice c) assist an already established photographer d) take as many wedding photos for friends and families e) take photo classes and workshops.

Your portfolio, or collection of photos, is one of your best marketing tools. Be sure to present a body of consistent, insightful images that tell a story. Each photo should be able to stand on its own while also playing an integral part in the overall portfolio. In your portfolio presentation be sure to explain why you did what you did: lighting, poses etc. It is best to have about 50+ photos spanning an entire wedding day to present to potential clients. Make sure you put your portfolio in an appropriate binder, satchel or case.

The next step to establishing a photography career is promoting yourself. It is now essential to set up a website with a digital portfolio that includes referrals, contact info and general information on your style and rates. Some other ways to generate word-of-mouth publicity are to network with groups like the Wedding Photojournalist Association, display your work and business cards at bridal fairs and to tell everyone you know that you are in business. You may also want to advertise in photography magazines like Popular Photography & Imaging, Photo Techniques and Aperture and also in bridal magazines like Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides magazine. It is also a good idea to advertise on websites like Mywedding.com, brides.com and photographik.com.

Be sure to research and create your own contract. Some essentials for contracts are clearly stating what you will provide with dates; balance due and due date; how much time it will take; agreement to use an arbiter in case there is a discrepancy. Specify storage of images, provision of refreshments/meal on the wedding day. And a provision to provide a prorated amount of any part of the contract that you do not fulfill. Most importantly, pass your contract by a lawyer before you hand out to clients.