{"id":7640,"date":"2014-07-16T10:07:20","date_gmt":"2014-07-16T08:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.pricecheck.co.za\/?p=7640"},"modified":"2014-07-16T10:07:20","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T08:07:20","slug":"how-to-become-a-wedding-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/how-to-become-a-wedding-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Wedding Photographer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"wedding-photographer\"<\/a>You enjoy taking photographs enough that you forked out a pretty penny to buy a “bells and whistles”\u00a0digital SLR<\/a> camera, and took the time to learn how to use it properly. You\u2019ve photographed just about every family function, friendly gathering and landscape you could focus your lens on, and praise for your photographic skills are never in short supply. You upload your work to social media and followers are at a steady, albeit slow climb.\u00a0 Hashtag, you\u2019re ready to take on a real photo shoot \u2013 a wedding photo shoot.<\/p>\n

Freelancing as a wedding photographer… <\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019ve decided on pursuing wedding photography, consider the following:<\/p>\n

Research the art of wedding photography<\/span><\/p>\n

Every newbie wedding photographer needs ideas and a solid plan. You will never forgive yourself if you did a shoddy job of one the biggest celebrations in life, especially someone else\u2019s. Moreover, you will probably never tackle a wedding shoot again, let alone be offered one. This is why doing research and planning your shots are so important.<\/p>\n

Look at what other wedding photographers have done \u2013 locations, angles, poses, props and so forth. You can even download a PDF checklist of a photo schedule, to ensure that you don\u2019t miss a shot. You\u2019d be surprised to discover just how tiring and intricate a wedding shoot can be.<\/p>\n

Tip: Rally family and friends to practice shot ideas and different poses.<\/p>\n

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There are many versions of the wedding photo checklist, opt for the most comprehensive one.<\/p><\/div>\n

Be prepared to work for free<\/span><\/p>\n

A good place to start is by offering your services for free and including an engagement shoot as part of the package.<\/p>\n

You can try different poses and shots with the couple beforehand, and they can decide whether or not they want to use your services. It’s also a good\u00a0opportunity to hear\u00a0their thoughts and expectations\u00a0\u2013 it is their celebration and memories, after all.<\/p>\n

If you plan on charging from the get go, keep your rates low at first or, at least, do the engagement shoot for free. You can also charge for transport costs, especially if the wedding venue is a Groot Trek away<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Tip: This will help with winning over the couple\u2019s confidence when faced with hiring a rookie, while helping you build up a wedding photography portfolio.<\/p>\n

Advertising your services<\/span><\/p>\n

Start small with ad listings on service sites like Gumtree and OLX. Or leave a bunch of flyers at photography kiosks.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve found works best is to get family and friends to market you on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, Flikr, Instagram and so on. You\u2019re bound to get a hit from someone who knows someone who\u2019s looking to save a buck \u2013 weddings are an expensive endeavour.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve secured your first gig, create a Facebook business page.\u00a0 *Remember to inform your clients that you will be using the images, and offer to tag them. Couple\u2019s like that kind of thing.<\/p>\n

Upload photos to start your online portfolio and get family and friends to like and recommend your page.<\/p>\n

Once you have a portfolio of about five weddings, start planning your website. By now you should have a desired look and feel for your business idea. But remember, the more publicity the more likely you are to get work.<\/p>\n

Tip: If it is a part-time gig, or really just a hobby, stick to inner circles and word-of-mouth.<\/p>\n

Customer Relations<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve secured a shoot, discuss the couple\u2019s expectations in depth i.e. the types of shots they want and locations. If you are charging for your services, consider requesting a deposit up front to secure the booking. Most photographers ask for 50% deposit upfront and the other half when the photos are delivered. \u00a0Also decide on the amount of hours you will be shooting and the amount of photos which you will be providing afterward. Will you be compiling a wedding album or delivering the pictures on a CD\/DVD?<\/p>\n

Information required from the couple after accepting the job:<\/p>\n

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Use the engagement photo shoot a trial run for different poses. This will give you an idea as to how comfortable the couple is in front of the camera.<\/p><\/div>\n