How to Photograph Weddings As an Amateur

Anyone can click away with a digital camera at a wedding, but to do it right, in order, with all the required photographs done efficiently and professionally, takes experience.

Steps

1. Advertise and put yourself out there as an inexperienced photographer looking to learn and take up wedding photography.
2. Approach a professional wedding photographer and ask if you can tag along at a wedding firstly without your camera, and assist him (for nothing, although he may throw you a few bucks at the end). The next time, ask if you can take a few reportage or candid shots as long as you don't get in the way of the photographer or the proceedings!
3. Approach a couple who are getting married and explain to them that you would like to take photos alongside the professional photographer (for nothing) as practice, and if they like any of your pictures, they can buy them from you at a reduced rate. Be careful, many professional wedding photographers have it written in their contract that they are the only photographer allowed at the wedding. Be prepared to be asked to leave by the professional. It's usually a "You go or I go situation"
4. Go to a wedding and photograph it alone, and just charge for print costs. By not charging, you are limiting your liabilities but getting some incredible experience under your belt. Be careful though, you can become known as the guy who does them for free. It can be hard to break that, especially with distant family and friends.
5. Put yourself on a 2 or 3 day course with a professional photographer and learn about lighting and posing techniques, along with all the other requirements you are going to have to learn. They normally include a model "couple" for a day for you to practice on.

Tips

• Wedding photography is so much more than just taking the photographs, you have to think about the albums, the organising, the printing and above all, your own proficiency, efficiency and professionalism.
• It is a lot to take in and you won't earn money for a while this way, but when you finally start to charge, you will be more than ready and hopefully have bags of confidence.
• Once you get it, weddings can be hard work but an awful lot of fun and very rewarding both financially and satisfactorily.

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Sources and Citations

• http://www.all-things-photography.com/wedding-photo-tips-for-amateurs.html
• http://tips.romanzolin.com/articles/article006.shtml

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