10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Wedding Photographer
Are you getting ready to do wedding photography? Where do you start? If you are thinking about cameras, lighting, and other aspects of taking a picture? Well, these are all very important, but I want to point out some things the glamour side of the business doesn’t tell you about.
Your real job is to serve the couple, even if it's not photo-related.
I had a situation where the bride got her dress dirty so my assistant had to run to the store for a tide stick! And one time the car they rented smelled like cigarettes, they couldn't even sit there, so we drove them around the whole day. Sometimes I'm the one offering to grab Advil for the bride or bring water to everyone during the morning shoot! I know every photographer might not offer to do that kind of thing — but for me, serving is at the core of what I do. Maybe that sounds crazy, but the photos come out better when you feel like you're in there as part of the family.
2. This job is surprisingly physical.
Everyone in the industry calls the day after an event "the wedding hangover," and it's not because you had any alcohol — it's because you're so achy. I've never weighed my gear on a scale, but I'm probably carrying at least 15 to 20 pounds of lenses, memory cards, batteries, etc. in my camera bag. During the eight or 10 hours of the wedding day, I'm carting around about 10 to 12 pounds with two camera bodies. I've had to start carrying gear in a backpack. And I am a pretty weak girl I’d say haha so usually, the next day, I can’t even get out of bed! Here are some of the best camera bags and accessories I’ve used! Click here for the link!
3. There are no sick days.
During one of the weddings, I was so sick with the flu that I could hardly get out of bed. But honestly, I'd have to be laid up in the hospital to miss a wedding. I committed to this couple months or years ago, and it's the most important day of their lives.
4. Copying other people will not get you anywhere!
If you’re trying to copy other people’s creative pictures and thinking that that will get you somewhere, you are wrong. It will drag you down! Let your creativity do the job and don’t let other photographers' work make you feel bad about yours!
5.Handling wedding guests who get in the way of your shot can be awkward.
“Uncle Bob”. You all probably heard about him before. You can easily spot them. He/she is sitting on the aisle with a large iPad or SLR. Sometimes they get on the way and you ask them to move. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. But what can you do? Just kindly ask and hope they listen.
6. Even after years in the industry, you'll still get nervous.
You won’t believe it, but after 5 years I still have trouble sleeping the night before a wedding. I have nightmares that I forgot my camera or my batteries/cards, or that I missed the first dance somehow. I usually wake up at 5 and can’t sleep.
7. Travel opportunities are fun, but they can be super stressful.
I love to travel, and it's great to have a job that allows you to do that. But it can be a lot: when you have weddings out-of-state (couples usually pay for the flight, hotel, rental car, and sometimes for food if necessary).But you guys have no idea how extremely difficult it is to fly with camera gear. The bags are almost always re-inspected by hand because of all the metal inside, and you’re flying with $12,000 worth of gear on the plane which is kind of nerve-racking. You never want to risk breaking any gear a day before the wedding.
8. It will take up a lot of your time
If you are thinking that it is just one day that you will be working, get ready for me to prove you wrong. You will have to have a few meetings and consultations with the couple. Then you will need to have an engagement session and edit + deliver those images. Shooting on the day of the wedding might be very fun, but imagine taking 2000+ images and then choosing 700-800 to give to the couple. Culling takes a while and then you get to the editing. If you already have your style and presets that help you, that might make it easier and faster. After you’re done with editing, you will have to deliver the images. And that will be your last meeting. Don’t forget to order pretty boxes to deliver your pictures in! Here are the ones that I always used! Click here for the link!
9. Always Have a Backup
You should carry a backup camera, lenses, memory cards, flash, and any other necessary gadget. If you can’t spend on getting a backup of everything, you could consider renting equipment until you can.
10. THIS IS A BUSINESS, treat it like one!
For someone starting out in the business, there is a great tendency to underestimate the cost of shooting a wedding and delivering your images. There is also a tendency to undervalue your time.
Think about the expenses a typical wedding photographer has:
Cameras ( you need 2), lenses, flashes, accessories, computer, software, insurance, travel expenses, website, marketing, and the list goes on
And last, but certainly not least, make sure you properly value your time. Post-processing time alone can eat you alive until you get your workflow down. And yes, at first you can work for very cheap, but after a few weddings, you will need to see if it’s worth it because the expenses add up.
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