I am always awestruck by some of the great photos posted up here, but it got me wondering in general what got you into wedding photography? Do you do it exclusively or are you branched out into other areas? Just curious to see how people "fell into" the craft.
I got into wedding photography because I was generally unhappy with my own wedding photos. Guess what - I shopped for a photographer based on price and I got what I paid for.
When we got our proofs, the first words out of my mouth to my wife were, "I could have done this myself!"
I went out and bought a DSLR and started shooting.
Not sure if it matters, but I've always been interested in photographs (not necessarily the act of taking pictures, but the actual photos themselves). I remember flipping through World Book Encylcopedias and looking at old photos. They bring you back to a time and place where you could never have been.
I especially like looking at old photos of current places to get a glimpse of what life was back in the early 1900's. I have a big book of old photos of NYC. It's very fascinating.
I got a camera from my Uncle when I was a kid, old Minolta, shutter was half broke but I was hooked.
I have also had pretty every version of photoshop because I am a little geeky
I probably got into it like many others, after going to countless weddings (including our own) my wife sensed my interest in photography and bought me a DSLR for Christmas.
I pretty much kept things as a hobby for the first two years until a friend attending our son's birthday party asked if I would shoot an event for her, which turned out to be a rather swanky private event in Hollywood, CA. She flew my wife & I out for a long weekend, I shot the party on a Saturday night, we had a blast and everyone loved the pictures.
The whole thing gave me the motivation I needed to start looking for more work, and after I built up a decent portfolio I called up some photographers who had been hired by my recently married friends, introduced myself, and started second shooting with them.
I intentionally didn't shoot my own solo wedding for a while, simply because I wanted to do things right, but now I'm building up my leads and am really happy with my bookings so far for the rest of 2010 and 2011.
As far as other stuff, I'm really enjoying senior shoots this summer and also have several family shoots coming up that I'm looking forward to.
I wanted to start my own business. I've been in the "image creating" field all my life and photography was my first love so I started my photography biz to help supplement my retirement income (when I retire in a year or two).
I did some research and it seemed like wedding photography was the easiest way to make money with photography. So I geared up to shoot weddings. I practiced for a few months by shooting pics of my kids then shot my first wedding a couple years ago and I've been going strong ever since.
I was already established as a portrait and sports photographer, and a local couple requested that I shoot their wedding. I still only do a few of them per year, as I have a very busy senior portrait and school sports/dance business.
I always loved taking pictures growing up, but it was never a true passion for me (mainly since developing film was too expensive for my family), so instead...art was always my thing (painting/drawing, etc). Loved it. I focused on media arts and animation in college and learned a ton about photoshop, flash and all the other flavors of Adobe.
My wife on the otherhand has always loved photography...and at the same time, has always been the more creative one. I doubt she ever thought it would turn into a paying business, but I'm sure she's thankful that she can now get paid for taking pictures.
On the business side of things...
One day we were asked to do some senior pictures for a friend...we borrowed a camera and did the job. Another friend saw what we did and requested us for his wedding...it was a bit daunting at first, but they didn't have high expectations either. So, we borrowed the same camera again and end result, they loved their pictures. We finally started buying our own equipment and before we knew it, we had clients who were referring more clients.
Inku Yo wrote:
I got into wedding photography because I was generally unhappy with my own wedding photos. Guess what - I shopped for a photographer based on price and I got what I paid for.
When we got our proofs, the first words out of my mouth to my wife were, "I could have done this myself!"
I went out and bought a DSLR and started shooting.
Not sure if it matters, but I've always been interested in photographs (not necessarily the act of taking pictures, but the actual photos themselves). I remember flipping through World Book Encylcopedias and looking at old photos. They bring you back to a time and place where you could never have been.
I especially like looking at old photos of current places to get a glimpse of what life was back in the early 1900's. I have a big book of old photos of NYC. It's very fascinating. ...Show more →
I have always liked shooting photos my whole life, but only on a point and click. I had been a wedding DJ for a few years in my late teens. I enjoyed weddings, just didn't like the hours, so I quit.
Got into IT, got a Digital camera, loved it, got a DSLR, loved it more, and wanted to get better at it.
Married an American woman (I'm Canadian originally) and when I moved here and couldn't work while waiting for my papers, I decided "hey...this is a chance not many are given. I am starting over, from the bottom rung, and working my way up properly. I hate fixing computers, I love taking photos. I will be a photographer."
Took photos at friends weddings, answered a few craigslist ads, got a job at a camera store to network and get discounts and learn.
I am finally at a point where I am being in demand, and getting respect. Today, as I write this, is my last day at that camera store, as tomorrow, I begin my career as a FULL TIME photographer. It's a brave new world, and I still love weddings!
Inku Yo wrote:
I got into wedding photography because I was generally unhappy with my own wedding photos.
ditto... I had just started showing an interest in photography right before I got married... I had a dinky 1.3mp P&S camera. I got our photographer as part of our wedding package... we got married on a beach at sunset... in the bahamas.... we should have had amazing beautiful photos... but instead, we got 4 rolls of film with mostly camera shake riddled photos... As I got more into photography I decided I wanted to make a go @ weddings... I'm hoping in a couple of years on our 10yr anniversary we can go back to where we got married and renew our vows... assuming the money is there you'd better bet I'll be inquiring a few of the fine folks here to come down and shoot.
I've loved photography since being a little boy. I got a Brownie Hawkeye when I was six and an 8mm movie camera when I was seven. When I was eight, I got a darkroom kit (no enlarger, just a contact printer) and started to develop my own photos.
When I was 16, I got a job at the local TV station. One of the photographers/newsfilm cameramen shot weddings on the side. I started to go along as an assistant. By the time I was 17, I started shooting weddings solo for him. At the same time, I had befriended the big wedding/studio photographer in town and I started to assist for him also.
I then went to Art Center in L.A. and got a B.F.A. in photography. Moved back home and did mostly commercial/industrial photography. In a mid size market you take any business you can get so I also did Senior photography and weddings.
I went back to school full time in my mid 30's and earned a B.S. in Computer Science and changed careers. I've developed applications for everything from hand held scanners to mainframes. I'm now a contented amateur photographer who doesn't take a camera to weddings.
Contrary to all the tales of woe and hyperbole about how the industry is "ruined" by the scourge of 550D owners...if I'm genuinely open, I started doing weddings for the money....I KEEP doing it because I love it, I love the atmosphere, the people, how sociable it all is, that it barely seems like work at all, but yeah, initally...for the cash.
I bought a house, I wanted nice pictures in it of landscapes and artistic shots, I would go shopping and see how much it cost to buy anything I liked. Plus I wanted something local which I was having a hard time finding local art, so I bought a dslr.
As I got better at landscapes I found that I had a fascination for photographing people, but didn't know how to make progress with it, and never thought of doing it as a business.
I got married, we chose a photographer that did artistic photography because I really wanted something we could put on our walls. We got our pics and they looked great. I then wanted to do weddings because of those pics.
I never jumped into weddings, too scared to mess up someone's wedding, but have been seriously practicing now and am getting more confident and am now finally looking for 2nd shooting positions and maybe one day do my own weddings, though I'm in no hurry for that as I don't know if I want that responsibility
