What if someone asks you to photograph their wedding?

Tog-Talk

Having shot weddings for the last 12 years, I've kinda lost that sense of terror when I'm asked to shoot another one. But I remember my first wedding: a combined sense of wonder and an uncontrollable rush of adrenaline. Excitement and panic, all in one.
When you get asked
I regularly meet students who have been asked by friends or family to photograph their wedding.
One the one hand it's a tremendous privilege to be asked. To think that someone likes and trusts your work enough, that they would ask you to photograph what is probably the most important day of their lives.
On the other hand, few photography jobs I know, fill an inexperienced photographer with more sense of dread. Possibly the word 'Terror' is more apt.
Most photographers are terrified of missing the most important shots of the day, they hate the idea of having to organise wedding guests into the group shots (called 'Formals') and are they sufficiently competent with their camera to ensure they can handle the pressure.
Deciding to shoot a wedding can be a real test of metal.
There's no doubt about it, the learning experience is invaluable... it's just that few photographers would want to use the wedding as a learning tool.
Today's Tog-Talk content
In this Tog-Talk, we initially look at the discipline of 365 day photography. Shooting one photo every day for a year is something this week's guest, Forbes Johnston, has been doing for the last three years. He unpacks some of his thoughts.
The main part of the show though is looking at the wedding question discussed above. We covered a lot of ground with loads and loads of really practical tips to help you on your first wedding.
Some links from the discussion:
Used gear
WEX Photo & Video
MPB
Park Cameras
Online Galleries for clients
Shootproof
Take a photo every day for a year
365 Photo Project
Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.
Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.
It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.
Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows
Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.
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