How to Start a Career as a Wedding Photographer

Photography is a career path that involves capturing moments, locations, events, and portraits. A photographer can choose from a variety of specializations, which are usually available in freelancing roles. Understanding the role of a wedding photographer and how to become one can help you decide if this is the career for you.

In this article, we will discuss how to become a wedding photographer, the benefits of becoming one, what the role entails, the important skills for a wedding photographer, and the average salary for this role.

What qualifications do you need to be a wedding photographer?

• Begin working as an assistant photographer for wedding and engagement photoshoots. This gives you the chance to gain hands-on experience and learn from other wedding photographers. You could approach local photographers and ask if you could work as their assistant.   
• Learn how to edit photos in software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom by watching online tutorials, attending workshops, and practicing on your own. Editing software will take your photos to the next level while also allowing you to import and manage images easily.

Invest in photography equipment

• While fulfilling the requirements of your assistant role, you can save some money to purchase the necessary equipment. Start small and make connections with colleagues who have more expensive and specialized equipment so you can practice at the start of your career.
• It is also essential to acquire gear and equipment that relates to your skill levels and experience, putting you in the best position to leverage on them.

Practice with friends and family

• Your friends and family can be test subjects. These shoots help you improve your skills by allowing you to take photographs in low-risk situations and observe how people react to your work.
• Your friends and family can also provide unique networking opportunities by recommending your services to their relatives and colleagues.

Create a portfolio

• Create a portfolio that highlights your best work. Include photos from practise photoshoots with friends and family members. As you continue to work and take high-quality photographs, you can add to your portfolio. Make a portfolio that reflects your photographic abilities and techniques.
• Social media platforms can help you advertise your services and connect with potential clients. Various social media platforms also provide business versions of their personalised profiles, providing access to data and analytics critical to your photography career.

 Advertise your services

• When you are confident in your abilities, you can begin advertising your photography services. Consider creating a website that showcases your work and lists your prices. Social media platforms can help you advertise your services and connect with potential clients.
• Various social media platforms also provide business versions of their personalised profiles, providing access to data and analytics critical to your photography career.

Benefits of becoming a wedding photographer

Workload is seasonal.

• Because weddings take place all year, the majority of your work as a wedding photographer will fall during specific months. You can expect a surge in demand for your services during these months.
• Recognizing the seasonal nature of your workload allows you to plan schedules to improve your skills during off-seasons and prepare for heavy workloads during peak months.

Travel opportunities

• Traveling is an excellent way to broaden one's horizons and meet new people. As a wedding photographer, you are frequently required to travel to various locations for work.
• Typically, the couple or client who hires you will cover your travel expenses. Traveling allows you to combine specialties as well.

Diverse interactions

• If you enjoy meeting new people, a career as a wedding photographer provides an excellent opportunity to build meaningful relationships.
• Some wedding shots necessitate travelling to new locations in order to photograph new cultures, architecture, natural views, and food. Because the role is seasonal, you can interact with people in ways that suit your personality.

Excellent pay

• Weddings are particularly expensive occasions. When budgeting for these expenses, couples consider the cost of getting high-quality photographs, and you can set your own price for your services.
• You can also consider the cost of your equipment, the location of the wedding, and the time it takes to shoot and edit photographs when determining your prices. It is important to note that pay can be average at the start of your career and gradually improve over time as your portfolio grows.

Written by: Anna Martini