Tips on how to become a wedding photographer
Posted on 05. May, 2009 by jo wong in Photography
For years people will be displaying photos of their wedding, since it is that kind of occasion. Your clients will be looking for a quality track record because it is such a special moment they want capturing. If you are a photographer you might want to consider photographing weddings because there is a lot of money to be made by doing them. With the money comes the risk which you must manage well.
If this is going to be your first wedding shoot you will want to make sure your contract is written up properly and a disclaimer included in it. A disclaimer is something that can prevent you from being sued later on. There are a few reason you should not be held accountable for and they are failure of equipment, miss placed pictures after they were sent away, and photos that do not develop properly. Otherwise you could get sued for breach of contract.
The hourly rate and how many pictures are to be taken should also be included in the contract. Include how much the cost of development is and the cost of the album. Make sure you discuss with your clients what their requirements are. They might want a certain person or family they would like pictures of since they don't get to see them often, so that should be discussed as well if it is an issue.
Make a list of all the pictures that your client's requested. Generally your clients will want pictures of the pre-ceremony, wedding ceremony, post-ceremony and of course the reception. Discuss with the clients about which shots they want and who's going to be in the pictures. Not every client will be the same so pay attention to what they are saying.
It is smart to always ask for a booking fee. Without this you could be caught out if something goes wrong. If they have paid nothing then they are less likely to try to solve any problems that may occur. At least 50% deposit should be paid prior to the wedding. So you don't end up bothering the bride and groom during the reception, arrangements should be made for when the remainder will be paid. It would look very unprofessional if you did.
Photoshop is a good program to use if you are going to be processing the pictures yourself. You can enhance the photos with all sorts of techniques such as flaw removal, montage, changing the color to black and which or sepia, as well as other unique features.
Always look to see how you can add more value than what you said you would give. A special surprise will keep everyone talking and generating more business for you in the future. Think different. Imagine for example if you uplaoded all their pictures onto a password protected part of your website so that they and their friends can login and view.
At the end of the day doing bridal photograhy can be a lot of fun and you can make good money at it. You may have to take your people skills to the next level but the financial returns will be worth it.
