Experienced shooters: best advice for new wedding shooters??

This is directed at those of you that make a living shooting weddings. What is the single best tip you can give fellow photographers that are considering going the same route?

be comfortable enough with your equipment that you can concentrate more on the moments that are happening in front of you. when i first started i'd set up lights all the time and i would be engrossed in making sure my ratios were perfect, my exposure was dead on, and all that other jazz. I'd be missing the great moments that would define the wedding to the couple, the in-between moments.

second. get an accountant and lawyer first. build your business right instead of trying to sort it all out after you've been established for a few years. it's worth the investment.

third. don't blow a lot of money on websites like theknot and weddingwire. it's tempting as a beginner, but they usually don't offer that great of a return on your investment.

finally. don't undercut yourself and your competition.

Work with someone for a few weddings before stepping out on your own

Know your equipment front and back

Find photographers that produce work you identify with and assist them.

Do a lot of assisting and second shooting before you step out on your own.

Be completely comfortable shooting all manual, automatic.

Be completely comfortable using on camera speedlights and off camera lights

Be an expert at off-camera light.

Learn how to pose. Check our Roberto Valenzuela's work and books.

Don't go in cheap. Build up your skills. Develop a style and go in expensive. Raising your prices is difficult because you burn your referral base every time you do it. If you come in doing cheap and free weddings, the people they refer to you are going to expect cheap and free weddings.

Hire a lawyer and accountant and set yourself up to succeed. Get your DBA/sales tax id/EIN. Be a legitimate company from day 1.

Have backup gear.

Find your vision and work that vision from day 1.

also. always carry backup clothing in your car when you shoot weddings.

Don't screw up. Seriously. You may not be the most creative photographer right off the bat but concentrate on capturing solid, sharp and properly exposed photos first and foremost. Once you are comfortable doing that, expand your vision a bit.

develop sales skill first

umphotography wrote in post #15736406
Work with someone for a few weddings before stepping out on your own

This

Don't shoot on huge cards and make two physical copies of the originals as soon as you get to your computer.

Find another profession. Seriously.

Know how to run a business before you jump in.

Realistically give yourself a 1 in 5 chance of making it full time, a 2 in 5 chance of only being able to be part time and a 2 in 5 chance of not being able to sustain a business at all.

Persian-Rice wrote in post #15738586
Don't shoot on huge cards

Why not? If you shoot with a 5D MKIII on dual memory cards I'd recommend shooting on big cards.

Planning is everything; everything from shooting the day to marketing yourself, have a plan.

Also, this is a very competitive market with a lot of price pressure. Make sure you can do it and cover your expenses, pay for your benefits, etc., BEFORE giving up your day job. It's a very hard profession to make your full time livelihood.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15738648
Why not? If you shoot with a 5D MKIII on dual memory cards I'd recommend shooting on big cards.

I agree. I only use cameras with dual card slots so I have a backup made as I am shooting.

Others have already given you a lot of good advice on the technical side. I would like to add that you want to ensure that you have confortable shoes. You will be on your feet for many hours and shoes are important. If you are distracted from your job of shooting the best photos you possibly can, your work will suffer.