The best wedding photographers capture the love of the couple, their families, and friends. They have a sense of humor, can get along with all different kinds of people, and they know how to work under pressure. What do you need to do to become a great wedding photographer? Well first off:
Get a second shooter.
You need a second shooter.
You should be clear on the benefits of having another photographer, but here are a few:
- The ability to cover more ground and get more shots in less time.
- Having someone else take care of things that you don’t want to do (and vice versa). For example, if you don’t like shooting portraits or candids at weddings, then hire someone who does and let them take care of it for you!
- Two sets of eyes are better than one when it comes to spotting interesting opportunities as they happen (this is especially helpful during group photos).
Know how to capture the best wedding photos
To be the best wedding photographer, you must know how to capture the best wedding photos.
To capture the best wedding photos, you must know how to use your camera. You must also know how to use your flash and lenses properly. Additionally, you should understand how to use camera settings properly as well as any other relevant camera functions such as histogram or light meter.
Take charge of the photo situation.
You’re the photographer. You’ve been hired to capture this beautiful moment, and it’s up to you to make sure that happens.
That means you can’t be afraid of being assertive—if you need something, ask for it. If there are any issues with your shot, talk them out with your client so they understand why a pose might look better than another or why a certain lighting setup works best for their photos. And don’t forget: Always ask for payment in advance! Being paid on time is crucial for anyone working in this industry!
It also helps if you’re patient problem solver who isn’t afraid of asking questions when needed (but don’t overdo it). If things aren’t going according to plan, change course and adjust accordingly—that’s what makes great photography such an art form after all! You’ll need some flexibility and patience if you expect today’s session go smoothly without any hiccups along the way…
Be flexible and adjust to the current situation.
In order to be the best wedding photographer, you have to be flexible and adjust to the current situation.
Be aware of your surroundings, the weather, light and time.
Be aware of people too! They’re going to ask for different things than what’s in your plan and having an awareness about them will help you work with them instead of against them. This leads into location being another thing that should be considered as well – if a location isn’t conducive for what your client wants photographed then they’ll need an alternative location found ASAP!
Be a patient problem solver.
Being a wedding photographer is a difficult job that requires you to be creative, skillful and patient. It’s important to know how to solve problems when they arise and deal with difficult situations.
The following are some of the most common problems that wedding photographers encounter:
- The bride or groom isn’t showing up on time.
- A guest vomits all over your equipment.
Don’t be afraid to use flash.
If you’re a wedding photographer, you shouldn’t be afraid to use flash. It’s an amazing tool that can help you create some really striking images. Here are just a few ways that flash can add drama to your photos:
- Adding fill light (aka “filling in the shadows”) is one of the most common uses for flash at weddings. A little bit of fill light will give your subject’s face more dimension, which will make them look better and bring out their features much better than if they were backlit by the sun or unevenly lit by table candles—and it won’t wash out all of their natural skin tone like harsh sunlight would.
- Adding sparkle or glittery highlights on clothing, jewelry and makeup is another great way to use flash during weddings because it will make everything look more glamorous! Try using a bright white bounce card or reflector in combination with low power from a small compact strobe unit (like our On-Camera Flash Kit) so that only certain areas get highlighted—this technique is called manual metering since you determine exactly where light falls based on its distance from your subject relative to where they’ll be standing when photographed later on after dark outside under street lamps etcetera.”
Develop your own style.
Your style is the way you approach photography. It’s not necessarily what you shoot, but how. If you want to become the best wedding photographer, then develop your own unique approach and personality as a photographer.
There’s no need to copy other photographers or their styles—they’ve already done it! Instead, find out what makes sense for your work and how it fits into the industry. Try new things with every shoot and don’t be afraid to fail because each failure can teach us something new about our art form that we never even thought of before (and sometimes what works doesn’t). Experiment with different techniques and equipment until finding one that feels natural for who you are as an artist; once this happens, it will feel like home inside of your head!
Charge appropriately and ask for the money in advance.
How much you should charge for your services will depend on a number of factors, including (but not limited to):
- Your experience and expertise as a wedding photographer.
- The venue where the wedding is taking place.
- What’s included in your package—and what isn’t. For example, if you’re offering an all-day service that includes shooting photos of the ceremony and reception, then it’s fair to charge more than if you only shoot at the ceremony (or nothing at all). Likewise, if you’re also providing an album as part of your offer, then it would be reasonable to charge more for this component as well.
- The time of year when the wedding will occur (e.g., summer versus winter), or even day/night hours the average cost per hour might vary from one season to another due to seasonal demand for photographers’ services .
Being a great photographer is about being confident and having fun!
You will be so much more confident and it will show in your work.
- It’s okay to have fun at a wedding. It’s okay to crack jokes with the bride and groom, it’s even okay to take a few silly photos! Don’t be afraid to have fun, it will come out in the photos and make you look like a Rockstar.
If you follow these tips and have fun with your photography, it’s guaranteed that your clients will enjoy working with you. They’ll be excited to see their photos and know they hired the best photographer they could find.