Friday, March 18, 2011

How To Become A Wedding Photographer

By Charles Murray


Purchasing equipment, conducting research, planning, finding opportunities for experience, and having a willingness to learn are all integral parts to becoming a wedding photographer. Both students and adults can follow several tips for achieving this goal.

Finding equipment that will produce quality pictures is important, but the new photographer must also learn as much as possible about the capabilities and settings of the camera. While the camera is obviously needed, amateurs should not forget about the importance of quality lenses. Lenses will generally outlive the life of a camera, thus making an investment in lenses an important purchase. New photographers should research and read articles and product reviews before purchasing lenses and cameras. They should also try to determine exactly what type of wedding photography is their interest before making purchases. Investing this time and making these efforts will pay off in the long run. After purchasing the photography equipment, it is valuable to spend a lot of time practicing with the camera and fully discovering the capabilities and limitations of the pieces. Photographers need to be able to adjust their equipment to be effective as conditions change, such as lighting or weather for outdoor photography.

Portfolios are built on foundations created from more than just good equipment. Research and planning are required elements for solid foundations. Students can take high school photography courses. While this might seem far from achieving a goal of becoming a wedding photographer, it is important in the beginning to learn as much about general photography as possible. There are many communities and local art centers that offer photography workshops, classes, and tips from local photographers. Amateur photography exhibits are also ways in which hobbyists can meet professionals in their areas and ask questions. Libraries and book stores are other sources of learning more about professional photography, and wedding photography in particular. Before even purchasing a camera an amateur can study topics such as exposure, composition, lighting effects and tricks, and camera settings. New photographers also need to be cautious not to rely on computer software to make their pictures look of high quality, but instead should instead learn how to take pictures that are amazing on their own merits and merely enhanced through the use of technology.

Once a new photographer has done research and purchased a few basic pieces of equipment, it is time to gain some experience and make contacts in the photography field. Young students can volunteer to be school or club photographers. Those out of school can find opportunities to become free-lance photographers for local newspapers or non-profit groups. Many of these will not be paying work, but the experience and exposure can be priceless if a career in photography is wanted. Perhaps an established wedding photographer would be willing to take on an apprentice, where he or she has the benefits of an assistant and in exchange will provide tips and techniques to the amateur.

As the new wedding photographer works through this process of building a solid foundation, it is important to be able to learn from mistakes and find ways to improve future pictures. Discovering what type of wedding photographer he or she would like to be for an amateur photographer, perhaps either classic or contemporary, as well as developing a personal and signature style. Professional wedding photographers need to have built solid foundations on which their passion for the work can flourish and grow.




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