I'm a rookie

Hello to everybody,
I am a rookie photograper. I plan on purusing a career as a wedding photographer when I retire from my current job. I don't plan on doing it just for the bucks but because I love photography. What is the best way to gain the needed training, I am willing to work as a intern. Thanks for any feedback

Hello Rookie and welcome to the Rookie club!!! LOL Actually, I'm only a rookie to owing a business, as I just started about a year ago, but have been a wedding photographer for almost 7 years now. My best advice to you (which was given to me) is to find a photographer that has a similar style that you shoot, or are looking to eventually shoot. Work with them, and take in everything they teach you. Really when it comes down to it, experience is everything and you can never know too much. Hope this helps and good luck!

wow! welcome both of you to POTN!

Advice: Read, there are a lot of threads on here about how to survive as a wedding photog. and most of the advice is good. check out the search function. it is a lifesaver when you want to know something particular.
Again welcome, and I hope you enjoy your stay!

Hey, thanks there PiRho!!! I'm excited to see what I can learn, just found this forum last night!

Yes, welcome the the both of ya!

Yeah...there is just an amazing wealth of info here. Most of the info is scattered in the various sub forums (lens, flash, bodies, business, post processing, etc). Previously there was a dedicated wedding sub forum here, but it got drawn and quartered.

This particular sub forum is really meant for sharing of images but has pretty much reverted back to being a catch-all for all things wedding photography related. Funny really....

I'd echo the above advice and try to find an established wedding pro willing to take you on as a second shooter/assistant. Many have different experiences with going this route as many pros are either too busy to take on someone else, don't want to "train" their future competition, or don't really need the extra help.

This shouldn't discourage you though. Everyone has to start somewhere and you are in a great place here (POTN) to get input from others.

Since it sounds like you have a little bit of time before you retire I'd suggest putting together a portfolio of you work in order to show those who may want to use you as a second shooter.

I'd think you'd have a better chance if you can already establish that you have a good understanding of your equipment (think backup's here...two bodies, two flashes, etc), an established workflow (how do you manage "all those images" efficiently), shooting outdoors/indoors with and without flash in a fast paced (at times) environment, etc.

In short, be able to offer the pro something right from the first meeting, in return for an opportunity to actual help shoot a wedding. Most pros probably won't want to train someone from the ground up.

Other piece of advice would be to make sure you retain your rights to the images. Some pros may not want you to use the images to build your portfolio, website, advertising, etc. I'd recommend you discuss this up front so there are no issues when you start to break away and go out on your own and you want to show couples the work you've done.

There is just tons of other things...all of it fun...since you already have a passion to want to do this! Keep reading here and asking questions!

Great advice! Especially with keeping rights on your own images. Something I wish I knew as now that I'm on my own, it took 2 years of working on my own to build up a portfolio since all my images were owned by the studios I worked for.

hotshot1 wrote in post #5341925
I don't plan on doing it just for the bucks but because I love photography.

Welcome to POTN and good luck with your goal.

Friendly suggestion - whatever you do, don't offer your services for free.

Thanks everybody for the valuable advise