When MeRa first asked us to write a guest post for her blog, a million ideas started running through our heads. The one idea that stuck out above the rest, however, was to write a post for those of you who have never photographed a wedding, or who are perhaps preparing to shoot a wedding for the first time. These thoughts are just a few of the things we wish had known or done before photographing our first wedding. We’ve tried to include some application notes along with each piece of advice. We hope that these ideas will help guide you toward becoming a better wedding photographer. Happy reading!

~ The Popes

1. Second Shoot—A Lot

If we could go back and start all over again, I think that we would second shoot for at least 5 weddings before jumping into photographing one on our own. When we were first getting started in wedding photography, the entire wedding day process was a bit overwhelming.  By second shooting, you have an opportunity to simply shoot while also seeing how another photographer works. Not only will this help you get the feel for the flow of a wedding day, but it will also allow you to gain experience shooting without the added pressure and responsibility that comes along with shooting a wedding on your own.

The best way to find second shooting opportunities is to find photographers in your community who typically shoot by themselves and often need (or wouldn’t mind having) a second shooter along. Community groups like the Seattle/Tacoma PUG (there is a PUG in every major city) are great ways to connect and meet other photographers.

2. Have Confidence—Or at least pretend that you do.

I know that for those of you who follow MeRa’s blog and/or have attended her Confidence Workshops this isn’t a new concept, but having confidence is key when shooting a wedding. For us, this means more than simply knowing how to use our equipment. It’s about our attitude and demeanor, starting with the very first time we meet with a couple. It’s about having trust in your ability to capture a photo, to tell a story, and to provide your clients with images that they will love.

We spend a lot of time with the bride and groom on their wedding day, and when they look at us, we want them to see the energy and excitement we have and know with confidence their wedding photos are going to be awesome. If we take a bad photo (yes, we ALL take them!), we just smile, keep shooting and pretend like it was one of the most beautiful images we’ve ever captured. True story! It’s important that you don’t let any personal doubts affect your interactions with your clients. If you have confidence, your clients will feel relaxed and your photos will look great!

The best way to gain personal confidence is through experience—get out there and shoot—a lot. You can do this through second shooting, do portrait sessions for friends or family, or attend local classes and workshops.

3.  Always Have a Contract—No exceptions!

Whether you are shooting for coworkers, neighbors, family, friends, or even your spouse everyone signs a contract! It will protect you and your client, and it is one more opportunity for you to clearly communicate to your clients what they can expect from you. If you could perfectly communicate everything with your clients, then you would prevent most of the disputes that people run into.  The problem is that people aren’t perfect, so get it in writing.

If you don’t know where to start, you can check out the Professional Photographer’s of American (PPA) website. You can also have a lawyer draft a contract specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business. We have a lawyer who we love, and I know Me Ra has a great one too, so if you need a recommendation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of us.

4.  Plan Ahead—Then, Be Flexible

Weddings can be a little crazy, to say the least. That being the case, it’s important to do everything you can to be prepared. We always meet with our clients for a pre-wedding consultation a few weeks before their wedding to walk through the photo schedule and make sure they have reasonable expectations for the day. This helps us to identify any scheduling “problem areas” and gently address them with the couple before their wedding day. For example, if a couple is in love with one of our past weddings where we had three hours of creative portrait time, but they’ve only given us a 15 minute time slot for photos, then they need to know that we cannot accomplish the same type of photos in such a short amount of time. However, if they love our documentary work, then 15 minutes is probably going to be all they need for us to be able to capture the photos they’re looking for. The key here is, and always will be, communication.

You may find it helpful to have a clause in your contract that requires a pre-wedding consultation. Not only will it help you to be better prepared, but your clients will love knowing that you have thought through their day enough to be able to advise them on their photo schedule. However –don’t forget that this is their day and ultimately, your job is to serve them, regardless of any scheduling decisions they may make.

Wedding Photo Tips 5, 6, and 7 are coming up on Monday!!

Airika & Gerald Pope (a.k.a. “The Popes“) are a husband and wife photography team. Although based in Seattle, they are passionate about artistically interpreting wedding stories for couples in love all over the globe. To connect with them and their work, you can visit their photography blog at www.blog.thepopes.com.

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