5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Year of Wedding Photography

Thinking about starting your first year in wedding photography? Let's talk about the 5 ways to prepare for your first year of wedding photography. These things are important and will really help your wedding photography business in the long run!

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Video Index:

Intro 0:00
Education 0:11
Client Experience 1:18
Gear 2:51
Practice 5:06
Be a Second Photographer 6:27

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#weddingphotography #weddingphotographyeducation

[SindeeLou]

My dad has been a photographer for 20 years and I barely picked up a camera last year. I have been practicing all year and my dad invited me to be his second shooter yesterday for a wedding. I loved it and it definitely humbled me. I have soooo much to learn still and I'm excited for it. We were on the go all day and didn't get a chance to rest until it was the dinner portion of the wedding in which the bride and groomed fed us. Also, my arms are sore today! Lol I saw so many moments I'm glad I was able to help.

[tbeiber]

Anyone that puts up a full wedding day video is worth watching. That is so valuable to see how different people Brady down their day and why they pick places they do and how you setup group shots or gear choices and everything. I never thought about doing the couples portraits at the first look instead of the ceremony until I saw your video about that. I just never thought about it but finding that little thing was a big deal.

[fiestadigitalmedia]

I shot my first paid wedding in March. The client loved the photos. I would like to do this more often .

[saiyan_princestudios]

Great video! I’ve shot 10+ weddings and still enjoyed it since I haven’t done a wedding since covid. Never stop practicing or learning.

[TheMl]

I am practicing this summer. Basically I told any relatives and friends that I would volunteer to photograph Birthday parties, family reunions, church picnics ect. Any event where both the lighting and what happens are out of your control.

[danc]

Hey John, I just wanted to let you know that after seeing one of your vids mentioning the MagMod I decided to purchase one. Last night I photographed a prom with it. Canon R6 and the results were outstanding. It really gives off the perfect light balance and performed great on the dance floor as well a posing shots. I had my settings on Manual/f4/160/1250iso with WB at 5200. Great skin tones and great coverage without any harsh light effect. Its also great for shooting table crowds where usually a white table cloth will suck up all the light. I would highly recommend it myself now. Thanks

[crystalashford]

I have my first wedding next week. Watching your video has giving me so much to think about and tips to think about. Love your videos can’t wait to watch more.

[bettahalfofme]

John I'm not interested in wedding photography but I love your videos because your advice is helpful in becoming a better photographer period. I'm just getting back into photography after many decades of just snapshots on my phone. First time I heard team zoom or team prime but just with the kit and 1 prime lens I have I know I want to use primes. Thanks for the great advice as always.😁

[TheBlushingGiraffe]

Such great tips 🙌🏽 I’m starting to get busier this year as a wedding photographer, (slowly but surely!!) So I’m taking notes! ✍🏽

[smarthousetech]

Spring is here and I'm ready. Thanks John 👍

[VonHughesStanton]

John, I wished you were around when I first started my adventures in event photography.

[StapediusReflex]

Great videos and advice every time. The behind the scenes videos are extremely helpful as well. I'll be going the double Fuji X-T route with the 18/1.4 and 56/1.2 for my first shoot. Your videos have definitely helped calm my nerves a bit. Thanks for the time you put into this content!

[jhill.]

I appreciate this vid!! 👏🏽👏🏽 I have a upcoming wedding in the next month and my co worker wants me to shoot it for her.

[waynosfotos]

This so true;
It is a lot harder than people think.
I don't do weddings currently but i have been doing Youtube and photos for almost 10 years now.
Learning the camera and editing takes years to learn.
The biggest error i see local wedding shooters make is editing. They love the contrast slider, yeah i use to do this too. It kills the dynamic Range and white and black detail, which is basically what people wear at a wedding.
It is hard to produce a top level photo/video (especially video as it is a baked in mp3 format).
So practice, and with artificial lighting, this is not so easy, although a great tool when learned. Good luck everyone.

[saiyan_princestudios]

For the first time wedding photographer: Definitely really know your gear and also your settings. Accidentally turning a dial on a fuji camera and not realizing it could be a huge mistake especially if you’re new to the camera. Or you have a nice new flash but it’s on an automatic setting where it decides if it wants to flash or not. Not good. Double check your white balance, shutter speed, iso f stop etc.

Also do your best and remain professional even in hard circumstances. My first wedding was in the pouring rain and even had dogs in it in the bridal party. Will always be grateful for that experience bc it made all weddings since then seem easy in comparison.

[kellyturnerphotography]

“Can you do that again” 😂 haha, nope, it’s NEVER the same!! I actually have an upcoming wedding where the preacher said that he would not allow me to shoot the ceremony but would allow us to RECREATE any moments that we wanted 😳🤨🥺 What?! That cannot be recreated!! I reached out to my bride who had no idea that was his way of doing things, and thankfully because we told him my camera can shoot completely silent, he is going to allow it!! I was bummed big time for my couple initially because things like parents reactions, their OWN reactions, that cannot be recreated and captured authentically. So so happy and thankful he changed his mind!!

[sundralawton]

Your videos are always so helpful, thank you!!

[cristianarias]

Hi John thank you so much for your advices, it help us a lot, never lose videos.

[miltonwilliams]

John you Sir are the man! Keep up the great content! You are changing the game of photography!

[jbivphotography]

Anything else you think you should do before your first year as a wedding photographer?