Should I be a wedding photographer? 💍 📸

Have you ever thought, “I'm so good at taking pictures and I love weddings…I should totally be a wedding photographer!”

But wait! There’s more to being a wedding photographer than just snapping a few pics and schmoozing with the guests.

Learn what it takes to capture memories on someone's special day!

A wedding photographer can either be "freelance" or work for another photographer. You can usually gain experience from working with another photographer, as a "secondary" photographer. After a few years of experience, you can strike out on your own.

Let's look at what a wedding photographer needs to do before, during and after a wedding.

Before

• Call the client and confirm all details. They may be stressed, so be sure you have everything correct.

• Connect with the wedding planner to make sure your plans line up.

• Pack your bags! Charge your camera and pack some snacks.

  

During

• Make sure you look stylish — comfortable shoes are a must!

• Mingle with guests. Arrange people in pics. Take pics!

Photo by Mariah Krafft on Unsplash

After

• Edit photos — crop, brightness, etc...hundreds of times!

• Print or arrange them in an album, then Gget them delivered to the customer.

At the wedding, you'll also have to:

• Know when the "pre-set" photo sessions will happen on the wedding day.

• Prepare a list of all the group photos (aunts + uncles, friends of groom, friends of bride, etc).

• Hire an assistant (or that's you!) who will take "on-the-spot" photos (people mingling at the reception and on the dance floor).

You'll love it because...

1. You create memories of a couple’s special day — that's priceless!

2. You get to see some wickedly cool venues.

3. You're a people-person and get along with anyone.

You might hate it because...

1. Lost weekends — most weddings are on Sat/Sun, not Mon-Fri.

2. Seasonality — there can be low demand in winter months in some locations.

3. Lots of standing — remember what we said about comfy shoes!

The salary can vary widely, but when starting out, the average salary in Canada is about $40,000 a year ($20 an hour). In the USA, it's a bit higher, around $60,000 a year ($35/hr).

How much you actually make per hour will depend on:

• Commute times to and from the wedding location

• How fast you are at editing pictures

Other factors include:

• If you're renting or buying your lens/lenses

• How you choose to price your package

• Whether you also do videography and/or photo slideshows

• Your sales/marketing strategy

• How you share your portfolio

• Whether you hire assistants

To get a better idea if this is the job for you: