I'm a novice, no doubt, but my wife and I really enjoyed shooting that wedding and have been considering pursuing more.

How do I go about getting started? I'm not looking for shortcuts so please don't run me into the ground.... I'd like to learn the proper way even if it means working for somebody. I'd even work for free with someone or partner with someone that could show me the ropes.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Was there an earlier post where you posted some pictures from your first wedding?

Tad

Nope.... haven't posted any, yet. I had some difficulties with bright sun (outside wedding) and have been concerned about getting "it" handed to me, .

I’ll try to post a few later.

John

That's cool, but you have to give some people some sort of context as to where you might need the most help and such.

Tad

I cold-called a bunch of pros in my area, with an online portfolio available for them to view.

I eventually hooked up with one who let me tag along (unpaid) to his weddings this year as a 3rd photographer. I ended up having more freedom than the paid assistant who had to be the human light stand to aim the 2nd 580ex and the general gopher for the main photographer.

Whether this works for you or not is up to you...

Be kind.... the venue was extremely redneck.

You have some good stuff in there - the last picture really stands out to me as the winner.

Watch your backgrounds - the truck in #2 and the flag pole in #5 are distracting and could have been avoided by repositioning yourself.

GraemePitman wrote:
You have some good stuff in there - the last picture really stands out to me as the winner.

Watch your backgrounds - the truck in #2 and the flag pole in #5 are distracting and could have been avoided by repositioning yourself.

I made plenty of mistakes, no question there!

I was asked to shoot the wedding for friends... I had no plans of ever doing a wedding. The compensation will end up being a roof repair on my house, .

We enjoyed it, though, and if we could do a better job I would like to do it again.

Thanks!

Wow.

Ditto on the "cold call". I emailed a local photog and told him I would like to assist and tag along, to learn more about the business. He saw my portfolio, and didn't hesitate, as he himself, had done the same thing 20 years ago, and another photog gave him the chance.

After 2 weddings, he kicked me to the curb, and said, "your ready to go on your own"..."you don't need me". He has forced me to "Man Up" and start a web-site. He has already sent me customers for dates he was already booked.

Good luck.

redneck weddings can be entertaining but they donn't always give you great shots for your portfolio! My first paid wedding I got $250 for shooting three hours and giving them a CD. It was more than just redneck! They had two ring bearers who were her children from her two previous mariages and they wore white polo shirts, purple bowties and cumberbuns (no idea on how to spell that!),black shorts, white socks and black tennis shoes!! It was hillarious!! She had tatoes all over her chest and asked me to be sure that they were showing! It was definetly one for the record books!! You did a good job in that kind of situation though!!

~Sarah

There is a simple pleasure when you drive your Chevy S-10 to your own wedding, to sit on the tailgate with your new wife and share a couple of beers. And there is NOTHING wrong with that!

Looks pretty good...
Try haveing the bride lower her flowers to about waist level for the posed shots... They always want to raise them... Yep... been at a lotta gigs like yours... shoes off dancing...shirts unbuttoned and untucked.... the whole gambit... Keep up the good work...

I photographed several biker weddiings a few years back... fun stuff there as well... Patches and bonfires... When the groom yells out... "Ok... No Bullets in the Bonfires..." you are gonna have some fun...

Anyone else notice the Mark Twain resemblance?

You guys are cracking me up.... it's like I showed you all the shots! There was a guy at the ceremony with no shirt.... there was a HUGE bonfire... the B&G rode in the back of a Chevy pickup from the ceremony to the reception back in the hay field. Good stuff!

Thanks for the encouragement!

John

Why the square crops?

tcamper wrote:
Why the square crops?
I used a proof portfolio from mpix to present the proofs and a square crop maximized the available print area without having different picture orientation. Not real fancy, but I’m not charging, either.

I looked at my daughters proof book and they did square crops.... it seemed to make sense. By all means please let me know if you see it differently... I'm trying to learn.

i would recommend working on your framing and posing-the last one is a good moment, but cropped a little too tightly-
contact other photogs in your area and ask them to assist-how are your technical skills? you'll need to know what you're doing to second shoot-definitely brush up on your technical and framing skills

also, you can try to advertise locally in places where there are people who need a photographer but don't have the money to get a more expensive pro-that can help you get started-do cheap jobs to get experiences

good luck
daniel

You did an admirable job ... but ditch the square crops ... you can do so much more with a 3:2 rectangle and should force yourself to get the crop right 'in camera'.

Gutsy move shooting formals with heavy backlight ... risky, but when it works it looks fantastic.