Book Early!

Thursday June 7, 2007 (20:14) | Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography Tips

In Cambridge, Burlington, London and Toronto – cities which my wedding photography studio serves, I’ve noticed an interesting trend over the past few years: Couples who are planning a wedding are often booking their key vendors earlier and earlier – sometimes up to 18 months before the wedding date.

I thought this was a bit odd so I asked a few people who know weddings best – wedding planners and organizers of major bridal shows. They confirmed what I was seeing… couples really are booking their vendors earlier than they used to.

With many reception venues and places of worship filling up quickly with couples wanting to take their matrimonial walk down the aisle, it doesn’t surprise me as there are so few warm weather weekends in Southern Ontario! The same thing is true for the best photographers, videographers, DJ’s, etc – there a many good (and not so good) wedding vendors, but very few “exceptional” ones.

One bride I met with recently explained it to me this way: “If we are spending so much time and energy (and money) planning our wedding, I want only the best people helping us to put our wedding together. And if that means booking a photographer, wedding planner, etc, way in advance, so be it.”

So, if you are someone who doesn’t want to settle for “second best” or “good enough”, don’t you owe it to yourself to find and book those exceptional people to serve you on your wedding day… as soon as you can?

Your wedding day is no “ordinary” day in your life. Your wedding vendors shouldn’t be either.

Fujifilm S5 Pro – Not A Review!

Friday May 25, 2007 (18:09) | Equipment Tips, Wedding Photography Tips

I usually don’t write equipment reviews – nor do I plan to in the future. A number of photographers have contacted me regarding the testing I did on the Fujifilm (Fuji) S5 Pro DSLR and wanted to get my impressions of it. So, I will take a few moments and discuss my findings.

There are a number of in-depth reviews of this camera on the web so if you want a detailed feature list, etc., I would suggest you take a closer look at those reviews.

History

My very first DSLR was the 3/6 megapixel Fuji S1 Pro – the reason I got it was because of the colour! Fuji knows more about colour than any film manufacturer on the planet (and I shot exclusively with Fuji emulsions in my film days) and the sensor in the S1 proved that. The Nikon N60 body it was based on was limited at best, hence Fuji introduced the S2 Pro. It was based on a better amateur body (Nikon N80) and had a 6/12 megapixel sensor in it. A major improvement over the S1. And again, the lovely Fuji colour!

Most camera manufacturers then started getting into a “megapixel race” – giving consumers what they thought they needed – more pixels. Fuji took a different approach with the introduction of their S3 Pro DSLR – a 6/12 megapixel camera. Instead of more pixels, they decided they were going to give us better pixels.

It’s All About Dynamic Range

Dynamic Range is a recording media’s (a digital sensor or film) ability capture scenes of extreme contrast (think of a bride in white dress and a groom in a black tuxedo standing outside in bright sunlight – that is as extreme as it gets). Most digital cameras have the dynamic range of transparency (slide) film – which is somewhat limited. That’s why in the film days, wedding photographers preferred (and still do) print film – it has a very wide dynamic range.

Take the scene I described with the bride and groom standing in bright sunlight. If you used slide film (or a regular digital sensor), exposing the image to retain detail in the dress would leave you with really dark shadows and almost no detail in the groom’s tuxedo. The flip side is that if you exposed the image to retain detail in the shadows and the groom’s tuxedo, the dress would appear “washed out” – that is, there would be no detail in it and it would look like a white blob.

Print film having a wider dynamic range could accommodate the wide contrast in this situation – so both the dress and the tuxedo would have their detail preserved in the final image.

It Tastes Like Print Film (what, not chicken?)

So, where am I going with this?

The sensor in the S3 gave the professional photographer additional dynamic range over a traditional digital sensor. So, it was “easier” to capture high contrast scenes than with conventional digital sensors. In essence, Fuji created a camera and sensor that creates images that mimic print film. Amazing.

Fuji accomplished this in the S3 Pro’s sensor by having 2 co-located photosites for every pixel recorded in the final image – one photosite for regular exposure and the 2nd photosite to capture highlight data. Think of it this way: it is like having ISO 400 film and ISO 100 film loaded simultaneously in the same camera – the ISO 400 film is for the regular exposure and the ISO 100 film is for the highlights.

Did It Really Work?

In my opinion, the S3 Pro was great in concept and there really was more dynamic range – but the camera “fell down” quickly (amongst professional photographers) with Fuji’s implementation.

Why after all the hype?

When it was first introduced, it was really expensive – $1000 (Canadian) more than the excellent 8 megapixel Canon 20D which was its closest competitor at the time. For a “one trick pony” (i.e. the extended dynamic range), you paid a hefty premium.

It was still based on the amateur Nikon N80 body and most professionals (including yours truly) would struggle with its auto focus, sluggish image write speed (I think most glaciers could melt in less time) and the really slow LCD review times. Forget trying to shoot RAW with the S3 Pro – it would “lock up” for 30 to 50 seconds to write the images in its 3 shot buffer and you could not do anything useful with the camera during that time. And for us wedding photographers, waiting 30 to 50 seconds can mean LOTS of missed shots (oh, can you please re-do the “first kiss” because my camera is writing to the compact flash card?).

I loved the images out of the S3 Pro when it worked – but using its body frustrated me to no end. A beautiful file with lots of dynamic range is useless if the image is out of focus. And with a limited buffer, there were lots of missed shots to be had.

I sold the S3 and disappeared into Nikonland for a couple years.

So, Here Comes the Fuji S5 Pro…

My poor wife kept hearing me say over and over:

“If Fuji could just put their sensor in a professional Nikon body, I would buy it!”

Well, 2 years later, Fuji introduces the “new” S5 Pro… that is based on the Nikon D200 pro body and uses a “tweaked” version of the S3 Pro’s sensor.

OK – so I got what I wanted – but could the S5 Pro compete with the Nikon D200 (or other capable cameras) that cost several hundred dollars less? I believe so and let me tell you what I like about the Fuji S5 Pro.

(Please note: I make a lot of comparisons to the Nikon D200 which the Fuji S5 is based on. For most photographers, including myself, it is only natural to do this – I also own Nikon D200′s)

Pros:

• Based on the excellent Nikon D200 pro body
• Auto focus is excellent
• You can now use Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS) and iTTL
• Image write times and image playback are much improved over the S3 Pro
• Expanded buffer in the camera
• Very good high ISO. There is fairly aggressive in camera noise reduction, however, the files print very well. I have an ISO 1600 20″x30″ print hanging up in my studio that looks fantastic. ISO 3200 is totally usable. Don’t expect Canon 5D like performance at high ISO – the 5D is the high ISO king at present.
• Film modes – there are 4 film modes and you can “tune” them
• Out of camera JPEGs require almost no or little post processing
• Fuji “tweaked” the sensor to further improve image quality over the S3 Pro which was quite good
• When I do shoot in RAW, it is astonishing how much highlight detail can be recovered from a blown out shot
• Auto White Balance (AWB) is simply the best I have ever used
• COLOUR – it is Fuji and it is gorgeous
• SKIN TONES – the best I’ve ever seen
• DYNAMIC RANGE – there is no camera – none on the market at present (except for the S3 Pro) that can touch it
• The S5 Pro’s images have just as much detail as a 10 megapixel Nikon D200 or an 8 megapixel Canon 30D image – even with large (20″x30″) prints. Those who say you need more megapixels for wedding photography will also try to sell you swamp land in Florida (and a few gators too).

Now, what don’t I like about the S5 Pro?

Cons:

• Fuji’s menu system is convoluted and clunky. Why they didn’t keep Nikon’s menu system, which is excellent, I don’t know.
• A new battery. Instead of using Nikon’s EN-EL3e battery, Fuji created a new one. It is basically a re-chipped Nikon battery so you have to buy new Fuji batteries if you already have a Nikon D200. Nikon batteries will not work in the S5 Pro. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. You can, however, use the charger to charge both Nikon and Fuji batteries.
• Slow FPS and shallow buffer. I am not a machine gun shooter but the camera in high dynamic range mode shoots at a blazing (kidding) 1.6 FPS with a 7 frame buffer. I’ve filled up the buffer a couple times, but it hasn’t hindered me.
• Fuji’s histogram implementation simply stinks. I still have a hard time, even after 6 years of owning Fuji DSLR’s, trying to figure out where the histogram starts and stops. Nikon is miles ahead of Fuji with their histogram implementation.
• Face recognition is nice (and unreliable at best), however, I still prefer Nikon’s way of “zooming in” on the rear LCD.
• iTTL flash can sometimes be a little inconsistent with periodic “blow outs” (doesn’t happen often) for no good reason. Taking another shot usually works (to get the image) but Fuji service has not given me a plausible explanation for this. I do not have this issue with my D200′s.
• Even though Fuji’s Hyper Utility software gives the best image quality from RAW files, the user interface is awful and Fuji actually charges customers for this. Then again, they make you buy re-branded (and re-chipped) Nikon batteries disguised as Fuji batteries to squeeze a few more dollars (or pounds, or euros, or yen…) out of you.
• Bloated RAW files. 25MB. Wow. Fuji, if you are reading this, please implement a compressed RAW option like Nikon and Canon?

Who Needs The S5 Pro?

If you are a wedding or portrait photographer and have Nikon lenses, then the pros far outweigh the cons – get the S5 Pro. There is no camera on the market that can touch the S5 Pro’s dynamic range – and the colour, especially skin tones, are superb.

If you are into other types of photography, then it is a much harder decision. You will have to weigh (especially with your pocket book) if the extended dynamic range is worth it to you. Fuji targeted wedding and portrait photographers with the S5 Pro (especially with Nikon glass) and they hit a home run, IMHO.

Sports photographers or those like to “rapid fire” at a very high frame rate of more than 3 FPS (and have Nikon glass) should look at the Nikon D200 or the Nikon D2 series of cameras instead. The Nikon D200, if you don’t need the extended dynamic range (or covet Fuji’s colour and skin tones), is a bargain at current prices. It is an excellent general purpose professional camera.

Final Thoughts

I actually expected not to like the S5 Pro – but after using it, I really liked it a lot. OK, I love it. So much so, I bought two of them for my studio to supplement my Nikon D200′s. Yes, you pay a premium of about $500 (Canadian) for the S5 Pro over the Nikon D200 – and it is worth it for the superb (and superior) image quality it produces. That is its major selling point and the justification for the cost premium.

Fuji really has produced a digital camera that produces “print film like” images.

It is not the “perfect” camera (is there a perfect camera?) but for us wedding photographers with Nikon glass, we finally have a great option in the Fuji S5 Pro. Image quality is first rate. You get the dynamic range of print film with awesome Fuji colour in a pro Nikon body. The fact that has very good high ISO is a major bonus too.

BTW, if you wondering what happened to the Fuji S4 Pro, well, it doesn’t exist. In Japanese, the number “4″ sounds like the word for “death”, so Fuji skipped the number 4 in their flagship camera lineup.

Enough Time…

Friday May 18, 2007 (19:12) | Wedding Photography Tips

Wedding season is well underway with many of you about to walk down the aisle soon.

Congratulations!

Here are a few suggestions to make sure you are not “rushed” on your wedding day:

• It is rare that any wedding runs “on schedule” without any “hiccups” – such as getting stuck in traffic, being late from the hairdresser, etc, etc. Try to build a little extra time into the schedule so being late in one part of the day won’t impact the whole day (the domino effect).
• If you are driving between venues (such as the church, park, reception hall, etc.) give yourself lots of transit time. Here’s a suggestion: do a trial run with your own car and then double the time needed.
• Allow 3-5 minutes for each formal group pose. I have seen people try to do 30 large group shots in under 30 minutes… and the bottom line: rushing through formal photography provides images that “look rushed”.
• Appoint someone who is “responsible” to help “round up” family members and friends who will appear with you in the formal group shots (a predetermined shot list given ahead of time to this person usually helps with keeping things on track). A lot of time is wasted tracking down people who have wandered off because they are bored waiting.
• Review your time line with your photographer – make sure they know where they need to be and at what specific time. Most photographers are more than happy to help you put this together, so take advantage of it.

You’ve probably spent a lot of time and money planning your wedding day – so make sure it is worry free and get some fabulous images.

All the best to you!

Don’t Forget That Photography Permit

Tuesday April 24, 2007 (15:37) | Wedding Photography Tips

As wedding season is now in full swing, lots of you will be walking down the aisle soon – and congratulations to all of you who will be doing so this year!

Many couples like to go to parks, beaches, gardens – you name it – to have their formal images taken. They provide for some beautiful backdrops for your wedding images.

Many cities, such as Toronto, Mississauga, London, Cambridge and Burlington – to name a few in Southwestern Ontario – now require wedding photography permits for public places. Some people call it a tax grab – some people call it other things. They are rarely free and can range from $20 up to a couple hundred dollars, depending on the location. Hey, since the government has to issue you a permit to get married, I guess they figured you also needed a permit to take photographs on your wedding day… (I hate to see what government officials come up with next!)

You will need to obtain a wedding photography permint for the public venue you choose – or face a possible fine. And, that is one of the last things you want on your wedding day.

Sounds harsh, but that is reality these days.

In Toronto, you can contact Toronto Parks and Recreation at 416-392-8188. In other cities, you can contact your city hall about a photography permit.

And yes – when your bridal party and families park their cars, read the signs carefully… you don’t want them to get towed…

Please Hire A Professional…

Monday April 9, 2007 (19:53) | Wedding Photography Tips

Dear Friends,

I questioned whether or not to write this post. Quite a bit, actually.

Wedding photography is an interesting product – once a couple decide to get married, they either make photography a top priority or not – and that decision comes very early in the wedding planning process.

For those couples who do not make their wedding day photography a top priority, I suspect it could be for any number of reasons:

• budget
• they are having a “simple” wedding service
• they are having a “small” wedding gathering
• photography is simply not important to them

Unfortunately, most people do not realize how important their photographs are until after the wedding is over and it is too late. I know this is a cliché, however, wedding photography (other than videography) is the only thing that you will purchase for the sole purpose of remembering your wedding day.

A colleague of mine sent this article to me. It is about a woman who planned a casual wedding and decided not to hire a professional photographer. After the wedding was over, she regretted that decision for two reasons:

1. having great photographs of her wedding were now important to her
2. the images the photographer captured were very poor in quality

I get several phone calls a year from people who have recently been married. They ask me if I am able to “fix” their wedding images for them. I then ask, “Why?” – their usual response is that their photographer was not competent and messed up most of their wedding images.

When I ask them why they didn’t hire a competent professional in the first place, they usually respond:

1. my uncle/friend has a really good camera so we asked them to snap a few pics
2. we found this “dude” on the internet who is getting started in wedding photography and he was really cheap…

Enough said.

If you don’t believe me, ask someone who recently got married these questions:

• How important are your wedding photographs now that the wedding is over?
• Did you regret hiring a professional photographer?

I think I know their answers…

Wedding Photojournalism – What Is It?

Friday March 23, 2007 (18:27) | Wedding Photography Tips

During my initial consultation with clients, one of the things I ask is if they know what “style” of photography they are interested in. Most people often say they’ve heard about “wedding photojournalism” and are interested in finding out more about it.

So, what exactly is wedding photojournalism?

In a nutshell, it is where a wedding photographer does not interact with their clients to capture an image – they want to photograph the wedding day story as it unfolds. The photographer is simply a witness to a moment in time (i.e. the proverbial fly on the wall) and they are there to document it with their talent behind the camera. If you hire a true wedding photojournalist, they will hardly interact with you during your wedding day as they are trying to capture “real moments“, not staged ones.

Note that wedding photojournalism is not:

• telling the bride and groom (or their guests) what to do – there is no interaction at all
• taking shots of guests shoveling food into their face
• using a “spray and pray” shooting style – that is, firing a rapid sequence of 20-30 shots hoping there is at least 1 good image
• random photographs that simply do not tell a story

Several well known photographers such as Joe Buissink, Denis Reggie and Jeff Ascough – to name a few, are pioneers in this field. Some say that this style of wedding photography is a fad as it is currently very popular. In my opinion, it is here to stay.

Many of my clients (and other couples too) want their photographer to tell the story of their wedding day. They simply want to be “themselves” – and they want their wedding images to reflect that. They also do not want their wedding album to look like every other one they have seen. A wedding day is a happy occasion – filled with many beautiful and emotional moments – and the last thing you may want is to have your photographer try and “stage” or “direct” them.

A wedding completely shot in a photojournalistic (PJ) style is not for everyone. Families often like to have the “posed” or “traditional/standard” images (hey, how often do you, your family and friends get dressed up and hang out in the same place for several hours?). Or perhaps you may like the high fashion photography style of wedding photographers such as Yervant? If you like those styles of photography, then maybe a hybrid approach to wedding photography is right for you.

If you have decided to document your wedding in a PJ style, it is important that you communicate your wishes to your photographer, so that they do not feel obliged in getting those “standard” shots. Let them focus on the real moments, as they happen, without any interference from the photographer.

Ask yourself the following – your answers will indicate you if you want a PJ style for your wedding images:

• Are you uncomfortable with your wedding photographer having control of how you look?
• Are you interested in having your photographer document the day as it happens, free from interference from them (or their assistants)?
• Do you believe that the “special moments” captured by the photographer during your wedding day will convey your wedding day story – as you want to remember it?
• Do you want your images to be unique and reflect exactly who you are as a couple?
• Posed or formal shots are not important to you?

If you answered “yes” to all of the above questions, then you’ll probably want your wedding shot in a photojournalistic style . If you answered “no” to at least one question, perhaps you might want to consider another (or a hybrid) style of photography for your wedding day.

Whatever style(s) you choose, know what your photographer can do for you and clearly communicate your wishes to them.

Have a great wedding day!

What Makes YOU Different?

Wednesday March 7, 2007 (20:00) | Wedding Photography Tips

In a previous post, Wedding Photography – What’s Important?, I listed 10 items that are important to wedding photography. There is one question I forgot to mention – and it is a very important one:

What makes YOU different?

There are many wedding photographers available for hire (in Toronto, a city that my studio serves, there are literally hundreds of wedding photographers). We all use the same equipment. We all use the same labs to print our images. And sometimes, our service/package offerings look the same.

So, what makes one photographer different from another?

It could be many things: their style, their approach or their personality. It could also be their extraordinary images and album design. Are they the most expensive? Are they the cheapest? It could literally be anything.

So, if you are in the market for a wedding photographer to capture your big day, ask them what differentiates them from the rest of the pack – and see if their answer strikes a chord with you.

Your wedding is no ordinary day in your life. Make sure your photographer is extraordinary and can capture your day the way YOU want.

Test Your New Equipment

Monday February 26, 2007 (16:01) | Equipment Tips, Wedding Photography Tips

I have received many messages lately about African safaris and what photographic equipment to purchase for it. In addition, on many of the wedding photography forums I visit, there are many new photographers who complain that a new piece of equipment failed in the field at a critical time.

The point of this post? Test your equipment before you use it!

Before you take that once in a lifetime trip, make sure you test your equipment thoroughly. I just read a story of a woman who went to Africa with her new camera only to have it fail on day 1 of her 14 day trip (she had no backup camera either). When you are out in such a remote region, there are no Nikon/Canon repair facilities!

Try and understand most of the critical settings of your new gear too. Shoot a few hundred (yes, a few hundred) images and download them onto your computer to make sure your new camera, lens, flash, or memory card works as you expect it to.

If you are new wedding/event photographer, continue to use your old equipment until you are comfortable that:

• your new equipment functions properly
• you understand the interface completely
• you do not need to reference the manual for settings anymore

When I receive new equipment, I will often use it at a wedding, but at non critical times. I do not want to miss (or ruin) that once in a lifetime shot because I wasn’t completely familiar with my new gear. And in case the new item fails, my ability to continue photographing the event will not be compromised.

With PMA 2007 around the corner, there will lots of new goodies for us photography junkies to buy. Just make sure yours works as advertised…

Check References

Saturday February 17, 2007 (14:35) | Wedding Photography Tips

I previously posted on what to look for in a wedding photographer – and an important point was, “Check your photographer’s references“.

A few very unfortunate stories have come up in the news recently:

• There is a report of a photographer who meets with his clients, charms them into hiring him and receives payment in full prior to the wedding. He does show up to the wedding but does not deliver any images afterwards. He doesn’t return phone calls nor does anyone know where he is. But, he is still meeting with prospective clients and taking their money.

• In another bizarre story, there is a photographer who has copied many images from the websites of other photographers… and has posted them on her own site. Very few (if any) of the images on her site were shots she actually captured. For her prospective clients and the photographers whose work she stole, this amounts to fraud.

I know these are extreme examples, however, they do illustrate the point. When you hire your photographer, make sure you check their references.

Now of course, if the photographer was referred to you by someone you trust, then no problem. If you happened to find the photographer on the web (or by some other means), then:

• Ask the photographer to show you complete weddings they have shot. This will give you an idea about their style and how they handle different situations at events.

• Ask for a couple recent client references. Most accomplished and respected photographers have clients who gladly give references. Here are a few questions to ask them:

• • When did they get married?
  • Did they enjoy working with the photographer?
  • What was the attitude of the photographer towards the guests?
  • What did they enjoy most about the photographer?
  • Did the photographer keep in regular contact with them before and after the wedding until they delivered the images/albums?
  • Did the photographer deliver the proofs, albums, etc., in a timely manner after the wedding?
  • Were they happy with the final work delivered?
  • Would they use them again if they were doing it all over?

• Do a search on the web (via Google, Yahoo Search, etc.) to see if you can find any feedback on the photographer. There are lots of wedding websites with online forums where couples discuss their experiences with wedding vendors (aside: if you do find any negative feedback on the photographer, discuss it with them and get the full story).

With a little extra effort, you can give yourself the extra confidence that your photographer will deliver the wedding images you want… and in a professional and timely manner.

Have a great wedding day!

Who Exactly Will Photograph Your Wedding?

Thursday February 1, 2007 (21:04) | Wedding Photography Tips

I previously posted on what to look for in a wedding photographer – and an important point was, “Who Exactly Will Photograph Your Wedding?”

At many of my consultations with clients (where I show them my portfolio), I often get asked, “Will you be photographing our wedding?”. At first, I thought this was a strange question. But after digging a little deeper, I found out why this was being asked of me.

Most of the couples that meet with me often discuss the experience of friends who were married recently. Their friends would visit a wedding photography studio and meet with the lead photographer. They really liked the lead photographer and loved their work, so they booked them. And unfortunately, on their wedding day, a different photographer from the studio would show up – much to their friends’ surprise (and often, to their dismay).

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a large studio photograph your wedding. They often employ several photographers – all having different levels of experience and photographic styles. Just make sure that the photographer you are meeting (and whose work you are evaluating) is actually the person who will photograph your wedding. And, get it in writing.

If a studio cannot guarantee a specific photographer (that you like) will capture your wedding day, my recommendation is to keep looking for someone you like.

Your wedding photographs are one of the few things you will have to remember your big day. Get what you want and make sure you know exactly who will be creating those images for you.

Formal Wedding Photography

Monday January 22, 2007 (03:51) | Wedding Photography Tips

Most of the couples I photograph prefer a “documentary” or “photojournalistic” approach when I capture their wedding memories (i.e. telling the story of your wedding day in an unobtrusive manner). We will, however, reserve some time during the day for “formal” (posed) photography.

It is usually a rare occasion for a couple’s friends and family members to be dressed up and in the same place at the same time. Because of this, formal wedding photography is an important part of the day. We capture the happy couple in tasteful and fun groupings, usually with immediate family and the bridal party.

More often than not, I hear of couples feeling rushed through their formal photography as not enough time was allocated for this part of the day. Some people have asked me if there is a general rule. Here is what I suggest:

• 3 to 5 minutes per group in a photo (obviously, the bigger the group, the longer it takes to set up)

• about 30 minutes of time alone with the photographer for the couple’s portraits

Of course, if you can give your wedding photographer more time than this, even better.

Remember, rushing through your formal photography section of the wedding day does not make for the best photographs. Take your time. Relax. And, plan ahead.

Can you recommend a good wedding photography book?

Thursday January 18, 2007 (15:01) | Wedding Photography Tips

The title of this post might seem a bit odd. Let me refer you to an email that I received recently:

_________________________________________________________________________
Dear Roel,

I visited your website and really like your wedding work. I just got a nice digital camera and have been using it now for a couple of months.

The reason I am writing to you is that I am about to get into wedding photography. In fact, I am getting paid to photograph a few weddings this summer (for some friends).
Can you recommend a good book so I can learn wedding photography?

Thank you for your help,
XXXXXX (name intentionally left out)
_________________________________________________________________________

I get notes similar to this several times a month. So, for those of you who would like to get into wedding photography, here are a few suggestions:

• You’re not going to learn wedding photography from a book. Good wedding wedding photography requires experience – and experience comes from practice and spending a lot of time behind the camera at a wedding. You might glean a couple useful tips from a book, but don’t count on learning the whole wedding photography process from it.

• Assist a professional wedding photographer. The best wedding photographers have years of training and have been doing this for a long time. There is nothing more valuable than seeing a pro in action and watching him/her work. Chances are you will need to assist for a season or two to understand the full process.

• Make sure you enjoy interacting with people. Wedding photography is about (in my experience) 40% technical and 60% people skills. There is a lot of emotion on the wedding day and nerves can run high. You will be dealing with large groups, family members and a nervous bride and groom. In this job, you are constantly interacting with people and dealing with chaos.

• Know your equipment well. Wedding photography is fast paced – there is no time for looking up information about your camera in a manual, nor is there time for experimentation. Whatever the situation or lighting, changes in equipment settings must be made in a matter of seconds. There are events during the wedding that happen only once – and you do not want to miss them because you are fumbling with your camera.

• Be upfront with your clients. If you have only photographed only a wedding or two on your own (or it is your first season photographing solo), be honest about your wedding photography experience so they know what to expect. Then let the bride and groom make their decision.

• Charge accordingly. Someone with a few weddings under their belt cannot possibly charge as much as a photographer with award winning images and several years of experience.

• Get insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance policy (or your camera club’s group policy) will not cover any losses as you are now using your camera gear “professionally” (i.e. to make money). You will need to get a professional studio policy now. Your insurance company “knows” if you are using your equipment professionally – especially if you have a website promoting your photography.

• Have backup equipment. Mr. Murphy always strikes at the worst possible moment. What if your camera fails as the bride walks down the isle with her parents? Have a backup in hand.

• Wear comfortable shoes. You will probably spend the entire time on your feet. Make sure you take care of your feet and back. The following is an extreme example – I once photographed a wedding for 16 hours without a single break to sit down.

When a client books you to photograph their wedding, congratulations! And – fully understand what is involved with wedding photography. You will never be forgiven (emotionally and legally) if you ruin a couple’s wedding memories.