I want to be a Wedding Photographer?

Question

I'm a graphic designer...but whilst being a fulltime mummy, I would like to start doing wedding photography partime.

I need advice on what digital camera I should purchase and which lenses to buy. Technology is changing so fast, I wonder how photographers find out the same information too.

Answer 1

Top end SLR`s will be adequate, eg Nikon D100. You dont need a bag full of lenses. I only used one, the "standard" lens,when I was a "Saturday Operator" with a local studio. It`s not what you`ve got, it`s how you use it.

Wedding photography is very demanding. You really only have ONE chance to get it right, forget about trying to do re-shoots if it goes wrong, it never works !

If you can afford it, get a Hasselblad, THERE IS NONE FINER!

Rather than get involved with printing, albums and so forth, I would now just take the photos and sell the "punter" the memory card and let them sort out what they want to do with it

(after making a back-up copy, of course, just in case !!!)

Go to some weddings and see how the REAL pro`s doit,NOT Uncle Bert with his compact digital. You need to be able to "take control" without being overbearing. I found that having an assistant was invaluable

Answer 2

Honestly... Start smaller, get a portfolio going of different works like engagement photos and other things that aren't high stress like wedding photography.

Brides are absolute nightmares and they won't hire you (if they are smart no offense) without a portfolio which shows some exceptional work that isn't done in a studio like outdoor shoots.

Answer 3

the nikon D80 with the 18-135 and a sb-600 or sb-800 flash....now its not a pro camera but its a great camera to grow off of...i shot some weddings with one and they pictures turned out much better than i anticipated. you definatly get your moneys worth with this camera. and later on down the line look into the 85mm f/2.8 lens. its a portrait lens with a great depth of field that you can have lots of fun with.....

Answer 4

It's not about the camera (or the lens), It's about the photographer.

You need to understand photography before you start buying stuff, and taking photos.

By that time you will have aquired quite an understanding about the required equipment. There are no short cuts.

Answer 5

Wedding photography is intense.  No redos, lots of pressure to get the pictures, to get the right angle, having to switch settings on the fly, knowing your camera inside and out, having a backup camera in case yours dies, having someone to back you up, a backup camera for that person, backup lenses and flashes, extra batteries, extra memory cards, multiple smaller memory cards in case there's a card error.

The time it takes is amazing.  The wedding itself is just the beginning.  The processing after takes days.  You don't want to give the bride photos straight out of the camera.  No pro I know does.

As a mom myself, there's not enough time to be able to do it, unless you have someone who can watch your child in the days after the wedding.  Because your time will be on that.

You'll want to find a local wedding photographer to shadow.  Learn as an assistant, then go out on your own.

As for the equipment, it's not the equipment that makes a photographer.  It's the photographer's eye.  Put a cheap P&S in a pro's hands, and you can get an amazing shot.  Put the most expensive DSLR in a novice's hands, and you still won't get amazing pictures.  It's all about your eye.

Better equipment will help.  The body isn't as important as the glass.  Good glass will give better results.  For Canons, the L series lenses are the ones to get.  They are very expensive.  Before you start, you'll need to sink money into your lenses.  A basic body will be fine.  If you get good glass, technology changing doesn't mean much.  But good glass is thousands of dollars.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I would suggest getting a Nikon D300 DX with an 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for a start. Of course you are going to need fast memory card (Extreme 4 or Ducatti Sandisk) for it, get at least an 8 gb, 16 gb. You would also need a tripod and an external flash - SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash. You also should get yourself a book on Wedding Photography book - it has a lot of tips for the wedding and after, look for one that would suit you.

Here are sites that might help you.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D300-12-3MP-...

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-200mm-3-5...

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-SB-800-Speed...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_p?url=...

You are a graphic designer so, I assumed that composition is no problem with you. Learn your camera and lighting (get a book if you must).  Try to go to a wedding and see how the photographer is working the wedding.  There are some rules and ethicets that you should know.

If you are a bit under budget, you could go a bit lower end on your equipments except for your lens.  Good Chance!

Answer 7

I agree, it's more about having an eye for a good picture than having the right equipment, that's not to say that you don't have that talent but many people don't.

A decent camera is going to cost upwards of £500, ideally you need to use lenses covering focal lengths from 10mm to 80mm.