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Sunday, March 27, 2011

How To Become A Wedding Photographer

By Charles Murray


Becoming a professional wedding photographer requires equipment, research and planning, experience, and the willingness to learn and have fun in the process. Whether the aspiring photographer is a child or an adult, following several guidelines can help attain that goal.

The obvious first step to becoming a professional wedding photographer is to obtain equipment that will produce quality pictures and learn as much as possible about the operations of the camera. The camera, while an important tool, is not the only product a photographer needs. The lenses will typically outlive the camera, so it is a good investment to purchase high quality lenses. New photographers should do research by reading articles and product reviews before purchasing equipment. It is also important to determine exactly what type of wedding photography will be done before buying new equipment. This type of investment in time will pay off when making purchases. Once a piece of equipment has been purchased it is imperative to spend adequate amounts of time practicing with the camera and fully understanding the capabilities and limitations. As conditions change, such as lighting or weather for outdoor photography, photographers should be able to adjust the camera settings to accommodate the new surroundings.

Wedding photographers need to build solid foundation of not only portfolios, but knowledge. This can be done through careful research and planning. Young students can often have access to high school courses on photography. While they might not specifically study wedding photography, the general knowledge obtained is just as valuable. Photography workshops, classes and courses, and opportunities to speak with and learn from local photographers can be found through many community education offerings. Some towns and cities will host amateur photography exhibits where average hobbyists can be connected with professionals in their areas and gain mentors. Libraries and book stores are other great sources of information pertinent to learning more about becoming a wedding photographer. Exposure, composition, lighting effects, and camera settings can be studied via books before even purchasing or using a camera. Beginning photographers should also not rely on computer software to produce quality pictures, but should instead learn how to take pictures that of high standards and simply highlighted 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.

Throughout the learning and foundation building process the new photographer should strive to learn from his or her mistakes and find ways to improve. Amateurs can use this time to discover what type of wedding photographer he or she would like to be, such as classic or contemporary, and find ways to develop a personal and unique style. Wedding photography requires solid foundations built on research and experience, accompanied with a passion for the job and all that it includes.




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