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How do I get started in wedding photography?

Kris10lprs asked:


I am a photography student at a community college and I want to start shooting weddings. I can’t seem to find someone willing to give me a shot. I’m not great at photography, but I’m pretty good and the more I check out local wedding photographer’s websites the more confident I become.
I would be willing to start off really cheap, but I need that first break.
Does anyone have ideas about breaking into the wedding photography business?
I am located in the Knoxville Tennessee area.

Wedding Photographers in Lagos

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11 Responses to “How do I get started in wedding photography?”

  1. ?•?•Cassie•?•?

    27 September 2000 at 5:51 pm

    Nigerian Photographers in Atlanta

    Friends an family are the place to start. Most people hiring a wedding photographer want that person to have experience so if you know anyone getting married volunteer to do the photos for cost in exchange for you being able to use them in your portfolio. Or you could start hitting bridal fairs so you could meet dozens of professionals and start asking if any would like an assistant. They can show you the ropes, let you know what to anticipate and let you shoot photos with them. Or if all else fails start running ads on craigslist or in your local newspaper.

  2. clair2285

    30 September 2000 at 6:54 am

    Wedding Photos

    I just got engaged this weekend why don’t you do us!

  3. Katie

    2 October 2000 at 1:04 am

    Wedding Music

    Start a portfolio, just take some pictures of anything, and then make sure to take some with people in the as the main subject matter, once you have a portfolio, talk to a wedding planner and work out a business deal so maybe you could get your first job, then add some of those photos to your portfolio then advertise.

  4. lunchbox

    2 October 2000 at 7:20 pm

    Wedding Photographers in Abuja

    I’m not a wedding photographer, but just as common sense…

    have you called wedding photographers in your area to see if they will let you serve as an assistant? maybe starting with some less expensive, not well-known photographers would be a good idea.

    also, if you have a friend that is getting married, see if they will let you take engagement pictures for free so you can start a portfolio. If they like your work, maybe they’ll even let you photograph their wedding.

  5. kellbug1980

    5 October 2000 at 3:34 pm

    Wedding Photographers in Lagos

    offer to do it for free until you can build your portfolio. Just charge the brides for developing the photos. Advertise in a local newspaper or bridal magazine

  6. L?G

    8 October 2000 at 2:42 am

    Wedding Songs

    Talk to your photog. teacher and get their advice about where to begin. I would say, that you should also contact a local wedding photog in your area and see if you could perhaps get their adivce or maybe work as an aprentice to them. good luck!

  7. pink_x_strife

    11 October 2000 at 9:00 am

    Nigerian Wedding Website

    I would suggest doing some pro-bone-o work first.Maybe just 2 wedding to build your portfolio.Then start a website,or a portfolio advertising your business.

    Make sure that you do have professional cameras,I wouldn’t let anyone photograph my wedding with the same digital camera I have!

    Advertise in your local paper as “amateur with experience and a portfolio” you should get some hits.Then from there build your portfolio and you’ll get more business by word of mouth.

  8. Heather V

    13 October 2000 at 7:40 pm

    Nigerian Photographers in New York

    word of mouth is a great place to start. Also, you could post flyers around the school and contact local wedding planners to get your name out there

  9. roscoedeadbeat

    15 October 2000 at 7:38 am

    Wedding Pictures

    Just go to weddings & take pix. If anyone asks, say “I am a photography student, & just practicing, BUT if you want some prints -call me”
    This way, you don’t have to worry if pix don’t come out perfect. Also you will learn some of the ins & outs of the business.
    JUST BE SURE NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN ANY WAY. (but watch & listen)

    Go for it!

  10. *Getting Married 6-15-08*

    15 October 2000 at 2:01 pm

    Wedding Venues

    I started out with freelancing through a studio.
    So get your name.resume out there telling them you want to do weddings.
    You will learn a TON from them.
    From there, get a website with a profilio. get your name out there.
    post ads where ever possible

    good luck if any questions email me

  11. vicseo

    19 October 2000 at 1:18 am

    wedding photography

    If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you
    can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent
    photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and
    publish your IWeb webpage(s).

    Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card
    by selecting from their many templates a suitable one
    that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of
    your website along with a telephone answering device.
    Do not place your home address or anything personal
    such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when
    you receive the finished business card, pass it around
    to various churches, temples and the like to solicit
    business.

    When you receive a major photography assignment, visit
    your local professional camera store and “rent” the
    necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.
    When starting out, you don’t want to tie your money up
    with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever
    changing technology “becomes obsolete.” Remember, that
    90% of professional photographer are not “buying”
    camera equipment continually which can easily become
    outdated; instead, they merely “rent or lease” the
    camera equipment for set period of time; thereby
    keeping their money for other expenses. Even though
    you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you
    may have to give up that concept for the moment, since
    digital photography offers the most economic method of
    photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on
    a computer and the print quality is often far superior
    to regular film-generated prints.

    You want to buy an “essential/basic” DSLR system which
    has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then
    consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning
    with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with “image
    stabilization” built into the camera body. “Image
    stabilization” is essential for allowing you to take
    telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the
    go and you don’t have to drag along a tripod to steady
    your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have
    chosen to install their “vibration reduction” devices
    into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back
    to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit
    consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal
    lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650
    at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs
    circles around the D40 Nikon!

    For digital print processing, find a private
    professional film processing lab who can handle all
    your client’s print orders. And with a resale license,
    you will be qualified for considerable “professional”
    discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and
    Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with
    various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a
    photography studio and get a dealer’s pricing for any
    number of albums, guest books, etc.

    Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at
    local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to
    the client’s residence or office to set up a photo
    shooting environment which consists of a set of
    lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.

    Good luck!


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