Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tips for Your First Wedding Photography Gig

By Samuel Jackson

As you gain more knowledge on wedding photography, you will become more comfortable with it. And the happier your customers are with your work, the more your wedding photography business will continue to grow. Right now, you may feel like you don't even know where to begin. Well, read through these general tips, and you'll be ready in no time to start booking gigs at weddings in your city.

When meeting with possible clients, you want to present them with a strong idea of the types of photos you take and your individual style of photography. You want to show them something that represents your work, and a reason as to why they'd want to hire you to capture their special day. Don't sacrifice the integrity of your work, just because you want a client. Make sure both you and your client are comfortable with the requests. Discuss what kind of package they might want and get as many details together, so that you can both be clear on the price, desired locations, and any other information.

Once you know the locations of where the photos will be taken, you might want to take time to visit these places. It's always nice to get a better idea of the lighting, the background, and the general atmosphere of the location. This will allow you to put more thought into the photos you'll take, which will in turn give your clients the photos they want and more.

When at the wedding and reception, freely take photos while the families are talking, walking around, and enjoying themselves. Don't be afraid to be close to the action, but try not to come off to demanding. You want the guests to enjoy themselves without feeling like you're in their faces constantly. Photograph the happy bride and groom, as well as their friends and family. Take group photos of the family, the children, the bridesmaids and the groomsmen. Try various poses - serious and silly. Photograph the couple on the dance floor. And make sure to get several photos of individual objects, like table decorations, invitations, and the cake.

It's always nice to get as many angles as possible at the wedding. You want to take all kinds of pictures, of different people, of different size groups, of objects. Anything is great to capture, because you never know what will come out of all the photos you take. Don't be afraid to get in close to a great shot. But try to not be to obtrusive. Take tons of photos of the bride and groom. Take group shots of the bride with her bridesmaids and the groom with his groomsmen. Take photos at both the wedding ceremony and the reception, of people dancing, eating, laughing, and having a great time. Take pictures of the flowers, the table setting, the wedding program, everything. The opportunities are endless as a wedding photographer, and the more creative you can be, the better. If you get a few minutes of free time during the reception, you could go ahead and play the photos you've taken in a slideshow for all to see. The bride and groom would love it, and it would set a happy atmosphere for all wedding guests to be a part of. These are just the beginning tips for wedding photographers, but as you gain more experience, you will gain your own expertise. - 15437

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