In our review of different careers, we take a look at how to become a wedding photographer. We also look at what a wedding photographer does and what skills and attributes you need to become a wedding photographer.
What Does a Wedding Photographer Do?
A wedding photographer is responsible for taking the photographs of a couple's entire wedding day. This might be covering the process of getting ready, the wedding breakfast, the wedding itself and the party in the evening. It really depends entirely on the requirements of the couple who are getting married.
As a wedding photographer, it is highly likely that you will work for yourself and this means that the aspect of running and promoting your business will be an equal part of the job as taking wedding photographs.
Day to day your tasks might include meeting with prospective clients to discuss their needs, communicating via email, updating your website by adding new pictures or blog posts to gain visitors, advertising your business in the local area. It would also involve research into what the latest trends and fashions are in wedding photography, planning your shots for future weddings, attending and photographing weddings, selecting and printing the shots.
Your hours of work would be generally whenever it suits the client. There will, naturally, be a lot of weekend and evening work when you are having to attend events, but everything else you can do in your own time when it suits you.
Is Becoming a Wedding Photographer Right For Me?
To become a wedding photographer you will need the following skills and attributes:
- Artistic skill and a good eye
- Excellent technical ability and knowledge of your equipment
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Good computer skills and the ability to touch up photos using, typically, Adobe Photoshop
- A good eye for detail
How Much Can a Wedding Photographer Earn?
As a wedding photographer, it is highly likely you will set your own prices. A wedding photographer can cost anything from £200 to £10,000 and so what you are able to charge will depend on skills, experience, portfolio and what you provide the client with for that cost.
What Qualifications Do I Need To Become a Wedding Photographer?
There are no qualifications required to become a wedding photographer. The most important thing is having a great portfolio and really knowing what you are doing with your camera. Just because you don't require any qualifications to become a wedding photographer that doesn't mean that you won't benefit massively from taking a course such as a Level 3 Diploma in Photography.
