How To Shoot Weddings

The simple answer is don’t!

There’s a very good reason I haven’t posted a photo of a wedding on this page about how to shoot weddings. The answer is I don’t shoot weddings!

I mean I have shot weddings in the past but I won’t do one now and it’s for the same reasons you should seriously contemplate before agreeing to shooting your first or second or even third wedding.

The main answer is you don’t want to be responsible for screwing up the most important day in someone’s life because you either didn’t bring or maybe you don’t have an “A” game to bring when it comes to wedding photography.

On Facebook at least once a week some newbie shows up and says my sister or brother or friend wants me to shoot their wedding (probably because they can’t afford a real wedding photographer) and they know you have a camera.

And then you say “yes” and end up on Facebook desparate for answers.

Look it’s like buying an airplane and then running around asking random strangers how to fly it. Most “photographers” on Facebook are newcomers just like you. The only answer you’ll get on Facebook is ill-advised recommendations about gear because on Facebook it seems every question can be answered by suggesting gear (as opposed to get more learning).

To shoot a wedding you should know your camera menus and controls and understand the exposure triangle and your shooting modes inside out. You should be great with on-camera and off-camera flash.

When it comes to gear the standard wedding kit is two top-of-the-line bodies and not two enthusiast-level or worse begineer cameras. That mean two $3,000 to $5,000 bodies (both the same so you’re using the same controls and menus) and the 12-24, 24-70 and 70-200 all fixed aperture at f/2.8. If you don’t know why you shouldn’t shoot weddings with variable aperture zooms look it up on YouTube). Add a macro for jewelry like the ring and maybe an expensive 85mm prime for portraits and you’re more or less done.

So your basic investment is somewhere between $10,000 to $25,000.

But everyone starts somewhere don’t they?

They sure do. They start by shooting as a second photographer for a professonal who needs an assistant. Or they go the workshop route and take a few top-quality weekend workshops with some of the teaching pros who shoot weddings. They practice, practice, practice.

What they don’t do is show up at their sister’s wedding with their all-in-one or their basic camera with its slow kit lens and blast away. If nothing else discuss with your bride what shots they want and make arrangements to have the time and locations agreed upon before the day.

And if you’re so foolish to actually ask for money (and anything under $2,000 a day is a hobby and unsustainable for a pro) have your bride sign a contract and pay 50 per cent up front and 50 per cent before the wedding day. There are courses on how to do this right.