Expert: Don Wood - 6/20/2004

Question
I'm looking into taking pictures of weddings, family gathering and possibly for schools such as senior pictures.  How did you start, did you get a degree?  Should I get a degree, what should I major and minor in?  Any extra info you could offer that would be great. Thanks
                    Charlotte

Answer
I would suggest that you do a lot of time studying the pix of photographers that are on the WWW. There is a procedure to a wedding that is universal. They will take time before the ceremony dressing, they will march in, the ceremony will be performed, they will march out, they will be in a reception line to greet the guests, there will be a party afterward to wish the bride and groom godspeed. The photographer's concern is to take some of the best pix of the event and display them in some sort of medium for the memories that they will invoke in the future.
You may be helped by acting as an assistant to a studio, problem is that many will resist taking on a possible future competitor and allowing them to observe their business methods. New York Institute of Photography is a correspondence school which can provide a basic study of the basics of photography. They do offer the program both in film format and digital format. Brooks Institute of Photography in California is a more traditional hands-on resident school but is quite pricey.
You will spend your lifetime studying pictures, both fine art and photographic with an eye to seeing what principles they used to capture the moment they captured.
Photography that you are interested in is concerned with creating memories that will last a long time. It is a medium that is very much influenced by economic depression. Consider this, if you are faced with purchasing pictures or buying food, paying rent, etc. which will you do? During the depressions your income goes down. All this being said, this is a good part-time weekend warrior career. But keep your day job unless you have someone available to keep you in your house/apartment, providing food, clothing, living expenses. Bear in mind that most of what you are contemplating doing happens evenings, weekends when you would love to be relaxing with your family.
Get the most education you can be it formal (college, university, trade school) or informal. You probably should get some training in business practices as well.
I wish you well. Bear in mind that of 10 photographers that embark in what you are proposing 7-8 will fail within the first year, 1 may last longer, with another maybe lasting past 2 years.
This is a field that many fail in in spite of their talents. Photography as a career will depend on many different skills and in many different areas of expertise. Working with people is challenging. OTH it is a very gratifying field when you deliver a nice album to a wedding couple and they are very thankful for your efforts.
Good luck, if I can be of further help, please ask.
Don