What's a wedding like? One Wedding Photographer’s Perspective

Issue #26

Issue #26

[Read Time - 4 Minutes]

I know it’s a semi-silly question to ask, but it’s also tough to answer easily and succinctly.

For new or aspiring wedding photographers, it’s a very important question to ask, especially if you haven’t attended many weddings.

Of course, you’re familiar with the basics (bride, groom, etc). I’m guessing you’re curious about the “other things.” Let’s start with this:

The wedding day is a special day filled with emotions - LOTS of emotions from many different people.

Many people attending the wedding are simply guests. Some people have a special role in the wedding, and some people play a very special part.

Everyone is important.

Of course, there’s happiness and joy, that’s the primary emotion, but there can also be some sadness, uncertainty, often anxiety and perhaps even fear.

I start with the emotional part because that’s the part new photographers often overlook and find out the hard way how powerful this is.

A wedding day starts very early and usually ends very late. This adds to some of the emotion because, by the end of the day, most folks are pretty spent - both mentally and physically and often a bit “lubricated.”

Three quick things to remember:

• This is a day that’s been planned for many months

• This is a day that’s been hoped for and anticipated for years

• This is a day that is expected to be perfect in every...single...way. *

A wedding day is a series of smaller events smooshed together into one big, fantastic event. It’s like an amusement park.

There are some big rides and some smaller rides. There’s food and entertainment along with costumed characters, dancing and revelry (a fancy word for partying). And it’s all under one big tent called The Wedding Day!

And then there’s you, the humble yet capable wedding photographer, right in the middle of everything being paid to photograph everything, all while trying to figure out ISO, f-stops and shutter speeds of every lighting situation (of which there are many) while attempting to find and capture that perfect shot at the perfect moment (of which there are also many).

Did I mention anxiety yet?

There is a LOT going on for everyone, and for every one of those people, everything is important. Your job is to help make that happen…and take incredible photos.

Oh yes, you’re not JUST the wedding photographer. Your role is much more than that.

If you’ve read any previous issues, you’ve probably noticed a theme -

This day is NOT about you.

The best thing you can do is make sure you’re putting the needs and feelings of others first before you worry about yourself…and take incredible photos.

“Oh sure, that’s easy for you to say! You don’t have [insert your problem here] or you’re not dealing with [insert your other concerns here].”

That’s kind of the point.

Of course, you have a life. You have things you’re dealing with at the very moment (family, kids, money, etc.)

But ALSO, at this very moment, the couple, YOUR couple, who is paying you money to be there with your camera, is experiencing the biggest day of their life so far, and they hired you to preserve it with photos.

You MUST put your things aside and focus on the people at this wedding, along with all the wonderfully crazy things you’ll experience on this day.

What’s a wedding day like? It’s not just a day or even an event, it’s an experience.

If you’re genuinely interested in becoming a wedding photographer, my best advice is to attend a wedding or three, which you probably have already. But the next time you go to one, I want you to LOOK at things differently. Look for all the small and special things that happen.

Watch people’s faces. See the laughter, tears, smiles, frowns, actions, and reactions because THOSE are the things you need to pay attention to as a wedding photographer. THOSE are the things other people will take for granted and ignore. THOSE are the things you’ll be photographing.

THOSE are the moments that define the day and make every wedding day unique.

There’s a reason I don’t talk too much about photography in this newsletter.

Photography is awesome, but it’s also very technical, and it’s the easiest part to master when you’re shooting a wedding.

In my very biased opinion, mastery of wedding photography comes from mastering everything around weddings INCLUDING the photography - the people, the details, the relationships, the timing, the anticipation and the emotions.

Keeping up with all the other things outside of the actual photography is the tough part...and the fun part.

Weddings are not for everyone, but when you master the photography along with the “inner game,” you’ll do much more than make a living as a wedding professional. You’ll find a purpose for your art and creativity…and a WHY for your photography.

For me, that’s what a wedding is like.

“Surround yourself with people you can always learn something from. Always work with people who are better at their craft than you are.”

– Tony Vincent

The “inner game of wedding photography” is what happens outside of the photography part. Photography is the sexy and technical part of weddings. The inner game is the part that keeps you IN business, and THIS is what I write about each week in this newsletter.

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