Wedding photography, a genre of photography that focuses on capturing the special moments, emotions, and details of people on their wedding days, is a competitive but lucrative niche. A professional wedding photographer makes more money in a year when compared to portrait or even wildlife photographers. However, the niche requires a great deal of skill, creativity, determination, and attention to detail alongside professional gear to produce stunning images of couples.
There are several things to consider and put in place if you are interested and want to thrive as a wedding photographer. Wedding photography requires more than just the ability to handle and operate a digital camera. In addition to having high-grade cameras and other tools, you must know how to research, network, and attract your desired clients.
I have gathered some helpful information to help you start and become a successful wedding photographer. Thus, in this guide, you will get professional steps on how to start and run a successful wedding photography business. We will also explore other things, such as the right equipment, marketing strategies, how you can build a professional portfolio, and how to stay afloat in the competition in your locality or desired region.
Start learning – Timeline -8-12 months
Wedding photographers are in high demand all over the wedding. According to data from Statista, approximately 2.3 million wedding events have been taking place yearly in the USA since 1990, except in 2020, when about 1.68 wedding events were recorded due to the lockdown. But now, approximately 6,200 wedding ceremonies take place per day. Thus, wedding photography is a highly profitable industry worth billions of dollars. It is a lucrative career, and choosing to become a wedding photographer is a great choice.
You can learn more about the worth of wedding photographers and the industry at large in the article below:
Are wedding photographers in high demand?
Although wedding photography is a profitable niche, learning to become a professional wedding photographer is not a joke. It can be a daunting task, just like every other lucrative profession. It requires the ability to handle and work under pressure. It also requires the possession of different shooting techniques, including the art of taking portraits, posing clients, manipulating light to get desired effects, and networking with other wedding vendors.
Aside from these, you will also need enough funds to buy some courses and tools. You can learn more about the basic costs in our article below:
What is the basic cost to start learning wedding photography?
Practically, getting into the wedding photography niche without any prior experience in photography, in general, might seem nearly impossible. However, with dedication and the right attitude to work, you can master the art of wedding photography and become an expert in the niche in less than 12 months.
To achieve this, you must start with the basics, especially if you have no experience with digital cameras. We recommend you start by learning the basics of photography, such as composition, lighting, and exposure. Afterward, you may move to more advanced aspects like using flash, shooting in low light, and capturing candid moments from different angles.
You can learn more about getting into wedding photography in the article below:
Is it hard to get into wedding photography?
Get your basic gear
Once you have gained a theoretical knowledge of the niche, the first practical step is to get your equipment. As a starter or novice, we recommend you start with basic gear instead of high-grade tools. Therefore, below are some tools you will need to begin:
1. A digital camera: You will need a high-quality camera to capture sharp and brilliant pictures of couples on their special days. You may use a DSLR or a mirrorless camera for wedding photography.
There are several low-budget DSLR and mirror cameras available to choose from. But we recommend any of the following:
You can learn more about the best and low-budget cameras for wedding photography in our articles below:
Best camera for wedding photography in low budget?
What is the best camera for a beginner wedding photographer?
Furthermore, before you purchase any camera for wedding photography, ensure:
- It can perform well even in poorly lit environments.
- It can capture and produce high-quality images
- It is user-friendly
- It has a long-lasting battery. At least a CIPA rating of 610 pictures per charge.
2. A lens: Generally, two distinct lenses are recommended for wedding photography. Nonetheless, you may start with one. You may choose a wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens.
A wide-angle lens has a shorter focal length and can capture a wider field of view, while a telephoto lens has a longer focal length and can magnify distant subjects.
The former can create a sense of depth and exaggerate perspective, making objects in the foreground appear larger than they are in reality. While the latter, on the other hand, creates a shallower depth of field and compresses perspective, making objects in the background appear closer to the subject.
To help narrow down your choices and make it easier for you to select a good lens, below are our recommendations:
- 24-70mm f/2.8 lens – this is a versatile zoom lens that can cover a wide range of focal lengths and is ideal for capturing a variety of shots, from wide-angle group shots to medium-range portraits.
- 70-200mm f/2.8 lens – a telephoto zoom lens great for capturing candid moments of the couples from a distance, such as during the first dance or cutting of cakes.
- 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens – a prime lens capable of producing sharp images and beautiful bokeh. It’s great for capturing portraits and detailed shots of couples.
- 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 – another prime lens ideal for capturing portraits, detail shots, and candid moments during the ceremony or reception.
You may go through our article below to learn more about the best lens for wedding photography and when to use a particular lens:
A Wedding Photography Lenses Guide. When To Use Which Lens?.
If you are curious and want to know whether or not you can shoot a wedding with one lens, we recommend you read the following article below to get a brief.
Can you shoot a wedding with one lens?
3. A flash: Furthermore, you will also need a flash to provide additional light in low-light situations and to create wedding shots with dramatic lighting effects. Although wedding venues are usually well-lit, we still recommend you carry a quality camera flash with you just in case.
We do not recommend using the camera in-built or pop-up flash for weddings or any professional photography. Instead, we suggest any of the following:
- An external flash, also called speedlight.
- A ring flash
You may learn more about the best flash for wedding shots in the article – What type of flash is best for wedding photography?.
4. A sturdy tripod: Another important gear you will need is a sturdy tripod. Weddings usually last more than 4 hours. A sturdy tripod can provide support and help stabilize the camera and prevent blurry shots, especially when you are clicking wedding photographs in low-light situations.
5. Memory cards: You will also need at least two high-capacity memory cards to store all the wedding photos you will take.
Apart from all these, you will also need other tools, such as Laptop or desktop computer. We have provided all the required pieces of equipment for wedding photography in the article below. You may go through it to learn more.
What equipment is needed to photograph a wedding?
Educate yourself
There are several things to learn about wedding photography. Some of these may include:
- the best camera and photo settings to capture high-quality wedding photographs
- how you can cover wedding events with or without a flash and many more.
One of the easiest ways you can learn them is by attending workshops, taking online courses (both free and paid), reading articles (such as this one), and watching tutorials online.
Some popular websites you may find free and paid online wedding photography courses include:
- Coursera
- Skillcrush
- Skillshare
- Alison
- Udacity
- Udemy, etc.
You can also learn from authentic photography websites and blogs, such as this one. We have hundreds of articles on this site ranging from camera reviews to professionally written articles on portrait and product photography. In fact, we have provided free articles below to help you learn and determine the best camera and photo settings to capture unforgettable wedding shots. You may go through them to self-educate yourself about these things at no cost.
What should be the camera settings for wedding photography?
What should be the photo settings for wedding photography?
What is the best mode for shooting a wedding?
You can also learn how to click storytelling pictures without a flash in our article – how to do low-light wedding photography without flash?
Generally, we recommend you stay up-to-date by learning about different techniques, composition, and other things. The wedding photography industry is constantly evolving. So it is very important to stay current with the latest trends and technologies. You may follow blogs like this one (www.manualmodephotography.com) to always learn new things and stay afloat.
Assisting
One of the best ways to garner real-time experience and build your portfolio from scratch is to work as an assistant or a second shooter at weddings. If you have zero field experience in any form of photography, we recommend you garner knowledge by working as an assistant.
As an assistant, your role will be helping the primary wedding photographer bear and set up the equipment. This will give you an opportunity to learn networking, camera settings, composition, lighting and posing styles.
You don’t necessarily have to start by working as a wedding photographer’s assistant. Since your goal is to have real-time experience on how to operate a camera and frame shots, you can start with any professional photographer.
You may locate the nearest photography studio to you and ask them to show you or teach you the basic things you need to know about photography. This may cost you a large amount of money, but it will be worth every penny at the end of the day.
Once you have gained adequate practical knowledge of the basics of photography, you may start applying to work as a second or backup photographer for different professional wedding photographers. Many novice wedding photographers detest working as second shooters. However, the role offers several growth opportunities. Some of them include:
- real-time experience of the industry – what it involves and how to go about the business.
- How to network with other wedding photographers and vendors.
- How to fix your wedding photography prices, etc.
You may learn more, including how to become a second shooter, in the article provided below.
How to be a Second Shooter at Weddings and Why it’s Important
Ready to start shooting amazing wedding photographs? You may go through the article below to expand your scope on how to click the pictures.
How to shoot wedding photography?
Practice
Becoming a professional wedding photographer requires a combination of technical skills and creativity. Thus, to gain mastery of the art, you must engage in frequent practices.
You may practice:
- Taking photos in different lighting conditions with and without a flash.
- Taking pictures with different camera settings and techniques to find the best angles for you.
- Different compositional techniques, such as the rule of thirds and framing.
- Posing people.
- How to edit wedding pictures.
- How to design wedding deliverables like photo albums and frames.
The best way and place to practice is on the field. So we recommend attending open-air weddings near you and offering to take shots of the couples and their guests at no cost. Becoming a successful wedding photographer requires some sacrifices, such as offering free shots to create awareness and build your portfolio.
Generally, mastering the niche takes time and requires a significant amount of dedication and hard work. So, keep practicing to refine your skills and, eventually, your income. You may read our article below to learn more about how to improve your wedding photography skills.
How can I improve my wedding photography skills?
Networking
Networking is an important part of building your business and finding new clients. Every successful wedding photographer is a good networker. Below are some tips for effective networking:
1. Attend wedding expos and events: Wedding expos (bridal showers) are great places to meet potential clients and other wedding vendors. We suggest you have your portfolio and business cards ready to share.
2. Collaborate with other wedding vendors: Networking with other wedding vendors can lead to referrals and collaborations on future projects. Some vendors you can network with include:
- makeup artists
- Djs
- Food vendors
- Florists
- Wedding planners
- Event managers
- other wedding photographers, etc
3. Attend workshops and seminars: You may also attend photography workshops and seminars to improve your skills and meet with other photographers and industry professionals.
4. Join different wedding photography online communities: You may also network and meet with other wedding vendors through social media. Some popular sites you can join include:
- Pinterest, etc.
You may learn more in the article below:
Best social media and networking websites for wedding photographers
Networking allows you to meet new people and build relationships. Building and having strong relationships with different wedding vendors can lead to long-term success and a high-income generation as a wedding photographer. So, take the time to know people, show interest in their work, and be genuine in your interactions.
Learn Editing
Knowing how to edit wedding photos will help you improve your shooting skills. Below are some steps to get started with photo editing:
1. Choose a software: There are many photo editing software options available. But the most commonly used by wedding photographers include:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Lightroom
- Luminar, etc.
You can read the article below to learn more about these editing tools.
What photo editing software do wedding photographers use?
Some of these tools are free, while others require paid subscriptions. So, choose the one that suits your needs and budget.
2. Learn the basics of photo editing: After getting the right editing software, we suggest you begin by learning the basics of editing, such as retouching photos (removing blemishes, smoothing the skin), adjusting exposure, contrast, color, and cropping.
You learn through Youtube or any other available source (either free or paid). Once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to more advanced techniques such as layering, compositing, and masking.
3. Experiment with different filters and effects: Try experimenting with different filters and effects to enhance your photos. We recommend you start with free plugins.
4. Evaluate your work: As you improve your editing skills, evaluate the final results to identify areas for improvement. You can request feedback from other photographers and colleagues.
5. Keep practicing: Finally, keep practicing new techniques and styles to develop your unique editing style.
Note: Mastering photo editing usually takes time. So be patient and persistent.
Set Up a Business
Starting a wedding photography business can be quite exciting yet challenging. You need more than just a love of photography and passion to unique click photos of the beauty, love, and joy of a couple’s special days. Generally, it requires hard work, dedication, consistency, and a willingness to learn and adapt to the constantly changing industry.
Furthermore, you need to have excellent photography skills, a strong marketing strategy, and the ability to build a reputation and client base through word-of-mouth recommendations. Apart from these, you will also need enough funds to rent and furnish a studio.
We have provided detailed information on the cost of starting a wedding photography business in the article below. You may go through it to learn everything you need to know concerning the required budget to set up the business.
How much does it cost to start A Wedding photography business?
Although setting up the business might be notoriously challenging, you can navigate and run the business smoothly with careful planning and execution. Below are some tips to help you:
1. Design a business plan: Develop a good business plan that outlines your goals, target audience, marketing strategy, financial projections, and possible competitors in your locality. This will help you stay focused and make informed decisions.
2. Research the wedding photography market in your region: conduct market research to learn the trends among people and what wedding photographers are rendering in your locality. Then seek ways you can do it differently.
3. Build a team: It is impossible to cover wedding events alone. Thus, you need to hire an assistant, and a photo editor, for a start. Ensure you choose individuals who share your vision and have the skills and experience necessary to contribute to your success.
4. Stay agile and adaptable: Remain flexible and open to change as your wedding photography business grows and evolves. Continuously evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Legal
To protect your business, we recommend you go legal and register it with the appropriate government agencies in your state or county.
Below are the basic ways to get started and make your business legal:
1. Choose your business name and logo: Firstly, brainstorm ideas for your business name and logo. You can easily achieve this by thinking about your target market and what sets you apart from competitors.
Once you have chosen a name for the business, we suggest you check the availability by conducting a trademark search. You can do this through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Furthermore, ensure your business name and logo are unique and easy to remember. Use simple colors, clear fonts, and images for your logo. This will help you create a strong visual identity. You may hire a professional graphic designer to design the logo if you are not confident in your design skills.
2. Choose your business structure: After you have chosen a unique business name and designed your logo, decide whether to register your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Each structure has its advantages and disadvantages.
3. Register your brand: Next, register your wedding photography business with the appropriate government agency, obtain necessary permits and licenses, and ensure compliance with local and federal regulations.
In the USA, the appropriate government agencies you may register your wedding photography business with vary depending on your state and local laws. However, below are some general bodies you may need to register with:
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS handles federal tax registration and provides an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is required for tax filing purposes.
- State Tax Agency: Depending on your state, you may need to register with your state’s tax agency to obtain a state tax ID number for tax purposes.
- County Clerk’s Office: This office issues marriage licenses and may require you to register as a wedding vendor.
- City or County Business License Office: You may need to obtain a business license from your local government to legally operate your wedding photography business.
We suggest you conduct further research to know the appropriate government bodies in your state and the necessary papers you will need to retrieve. You may learn more about licenses and tax in our articles below:
Do I need a business license for wedding photography?
Is the Wedding photography business taxable?
4. Open a business account: We recommend you open a new bank account for your business. You may open the account with your business name and contact. This will help you manage your finances well.
5. Get the insurance: Finally, get insurance. Although it is not a prerequisite, it will protect you from any potential risks, accidents, theft, losses, or any events that can impact your ability to work.
We recommend the following insurance policy:
- Liability insurance
- Property or equipment coverage insurance
- Business interruption insurance
You may learn more about the importance and type of insurance policies you will need as a wedding photographer in the article below:
Do wedding photographers need insurance?
Start a Website
As a wedding photographer, having a professional website for your business can be a great way to showcase your work and reach thousands of potential clients. It is a great way to distinguish yourself.
We have provided a comprehensive guide on how to create a professional website in the article below. You may go through it to learn and set up your business site.
How do I make a website for my photography business?
Portfolio
A strong portfolio will put you on edge and help attract more clients. Thus, below are a few professional tips to help you create a good portfolio:
1. Use high-quality images: Only include high-quality and properly edited photos in your portfolio. And ensure you organize your portfolio in a way that is easy to navigate and go through
2. It should highlight your unique style: Your wedding photography portfolio should showcase your style and approach to wedding photography. We suggest you add photos that reflect your style and approach.
3. Include a variety of samples: Additionally, include candid shots, posed shots, close-ups, wide-angle shots, and black-and-white photos that demonstrate your ability to capture different types of moments and styles.
You may go through the article below to learn more about the kind of photos to include in your portfolio:
What photos should be included in wedding photography portfolio
Accounting
To run a successful wedding photography business, you must keep an accurate record of your finances. Accounting is a core part of running a business. Thus, we suggest you keep track of your income and expenses, create a daily target, and regularly review your financial statements.
You can use accounting software to simplify the documentation process. Below are some of the best:
- FreshBooks
- Zoho Books
- Wave
- QuickBooks
- Xero
By keeping track of your financial transactions, you can analyze your financial performance and identify areas for improvement.
Buy Professional gears
As you advance, you have to switch from basic to professional or high-end photography tools. You can buy a high-end camera like the Nikon Z9 and professional supports like monopods, sliders, or jibs to capture great images from different angles and positions.
You can buy them from:
- Amazon
- Ebay
- Walmart, etc.
Generally, professional gear will help you produce high-quality images in different lighting and weather conditions.
Focus on Marketing from the beginning
Wedding photography is a highly competitive genre. Thus, marketing your skills might be a bit difficult, especially if you are new to the niche. However, here are some professional and proven tips to help you:
Have a specific clientele target
Have a specific age group or region you want to cover and focus on it. Although it is good to be versatile, having a specific niche will help you attract more people. You may choose to cover wedding events of couples between the age of 24 to 30 in the LGBT community or those in the general population.
Fix a good and non-competitive price
After identifying your desired customers and region, pick a price that they can afford. However, we recommend you have different wedding packages featuring different content and pricing.
You may go through the articles below to learn more about wedding photography packages and how to fix your price.
How Much Are Wedding Photography Packages?
How to fix prices for wedding photography packages?
Develop a marketing strategy
Next, design a marketing strategy that includes social media, advertising, and public relations. You can use online tools like Yelp, Google My Business, and Facebook to increase visibility and attract your desired customers.
You can learn more about marketing strategies in our article – How to market a wedding photography business?
Get your first client
The first client is always the most difficult to get. Once you are able to break the iceberg, it becomes easier to attract more people. You may go through the article below to learn how wedding photographers always break the iceberg.
How do wedding photographers get big clients?
You may also be interested in the article – How do wedding photographers get first clients?
In conclusion, wedding photography is a profitable business. You can learn it from scratch and become an expert in the niche in less than 12 months. All you have to do is start with the basics and work your way to the top.
Once you have mastered the necessary skills, you may start hunting for clients to generate income to expand the business and your experience level. Finally, if you find this article insightful, please comment and like below. Do not hesitate to let us know if you have any suggestions.