Another "how did you get into it?" thread....

[-Pleiades-]

Hi All, been a long time viewer of this thread, but never contributed before and the more I view this thread and read about everyone's experiences and see their photos the more I want to become a wedding photographer. I think it would be an amazing privilege to be invited to share that special day and represent it in a way that people are going to be looking at for years to come.

I know at the moment I'm not even close experience or equiptment wise but what I would really like to know is how everyone got into the business of wedding photography?

I enjoy all aspects of photography and I would love to study it which at the moment isn't possible because I'm trying to sell my business and it is providing to be a rather difficult task.

But I'm not sure if a course would be the way to go or to start as second shooter for someone and go from there. My other half said to "just jump right in" but all I could think of was the wedding photographer at my brother-in-laws wedding who did a really poor job at it due to lack of experience and equipment and I don't want to be that person.

I guess this bit is more targeted at Australian photographers.....When the business sells my husband and I are going to move to melbourne and there's a private college down there where I can get an advanced diploma in photography it's a 2 year course and will qualify me for the AIPP. It's a little bit expensive but compared to a uni degree which would be a bachelor in fine arts majoring in photography. I think the diploma would be more to the point of photography. I would really like to study to further my knowledge and cover more aspects of photography, but in regards to wedding photography would it be better to work as second shooter to someone?

Sorry this is so long winded but thanks for reading and I would love the hear your thoughts.

Thanks, Kinnon

[samnz]

I reckon it all depends on the type of person YOU are.

Do you enjoy taking risks, or do you prefer the "tried and proven path"?

Are you willing to step into stranger's lives and paint a canvas of memories, or would you rather treat them as a number and print out 6 x 4 glossy prints?

Can you laugh at yourself when you stuff up or do you beat yourself up and cry about it because you made a little mistake?

You need to find out what type of person you want the B&G to meet... Shy, creative, touchy touchy, rip off, defensive or even a bitch!? Your photographs will reflect your personality and it might be what they're looking for.

In my most humble opinion, I believe Wedding Photography is the most tensifying, arsewrenching, hairpulling, emotion exhausting, son-of-a-bitch - type of photography out there! AND I LOVE IT!!!

If you have the fundamentals of photography, which I'm sure you do, I say "Flag the courses". You'll save yourself a fortune by joining a local camera club and learning with people who may have the same burning desire you have. DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! And if you stuff it up, make it a good one and don't do it again!!!!! Best of luck, Sam

[Grace]

I was thrown into it by a friend who absolutely no other choice in photographers. I did cry at my first wedding. Not at any mistakes I had made, but the groomsmen were not listening to me at all. I learned real quick that besides being wonderfully creative and capturing the day - you have to be able to get people where you want them and when. You have to be a wedding planner, a cheerleader, first aid dr., safety pin seamstress and a bobbie pin holder. All disguised as a photographer. And even though I am a stickler for promptness, throw that out the window. I have yet to do a wedding when everyone was ready by the desired timeline I handed out at the rehearsal

I love wedding photography I get to be bossy at least once or twice a month! It's the only time people listen to my voice these days ( I am a full time mommy during the week!)

[-Pleiades-]

Sam and Kathy, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Sam, guess I have to do some soul searching. I'm pretty sure I know what type of wedding photographer I want to be. And it's definatley not the "There's Mr & Mrs $5000 package there". They wont be numbers at all.

I am a naturally very shy person but the business I own at the moment (mobile dog grooming) I love and I'm quiet confident in and that lets me come out of my shell quiet a bit. I have made myself a bit of a reputation around town that I'm great with the dogs and good at what I do, and somehow I want to be like that with wedding photography.

I wanted to join my local camera club but they meet on the weekends, and I work every sunday and 5 out of 6 saturdays at the moment, so that's out of the question

Kathy, I'm scared of crying at my first wedding, all that emotional love stuff just gets me going! Anything you do that takes your mind off things?

I gathered from the other threads that you pretty much have to come prepared for every drama as well as taking photos, and I guess I'll have to learn to be bossy too!

Anyway, thanks again for your advice appreciate it!