Expert: Wedding Photographics - 1/25/2007

Question
What type of education is required?
What are the working conditions/environment?
What kind of personality would one need to be a photographer?
What are some of the skills needed?
What are some of the advancement possibilities?
Generally, how much would a photographer make?

Answer
Hi Santana,
My expertise is specifically wedding photography.  So I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities from a wedding photographer standpoint. I will surprise many people when I tell you an education (formal) is NOT required.  How can I say that?  Since county, state and the federal government does not require you to have a photography education to be issued a business photography license. ANYONE willing to pay the fee for a business photography license at their local city hall and/or court house will be issued the license.  Furthermore, even the largest and most respected professional photography associations only require you to pay a yearly fee.  Many so-called professional photographers pay this so they can say they are members of a pro photography association just to simply make themselves LOOK like they are professional.  These associations do NOT require an education or that you take a photography test.  So again, a formal education in photography is NOT required.

Now, in my opinion, formal education or not, you must at minimum be completely familiar with the particular camera equipment you will use to photograph weddings.  Even someone with a formal education in photography would do little good shooting a wedding with a camera they do not know how to operate.  Especially a digital camera.  These cameras have functions and controls that operate in so many different ways.

If you are seeking to learn more about photography, simply look for photography courses at your local college and/or join a photography club in your town.

The working conditions/environment are usually the same.  Inside church buildings or other wedding venues.  Then there are outdoor weddings. For outdoor weddings, always have protective coverings for your gear in case of rain.
As a wedding photographer your personality must include "liking people".  If you really don't like working around people and especially close to people, than wedding photography isn't for you.  The more you enjoy people and enjoy having a good time with them, the better your wedding photography will be.

Some of the skills you need as a wedding photographer are social skills.  Also business skills to cost-effectively promote your services. As mentioned earlier, learn everything there is to be learned about the particular camera gear you use - simply STUDY the OWNER'S MANUALS.
As a self-employed wedding photographer the advancement possibilities are based purely on your talents and marketing of your talents in your area - it's up to you!  By advancement as a self-employed person, I'm referring to your bottom line - the cash you are able to pay yourself from your payroll.

Generally, a very talented self-employed wedding photographer who knows how to cost-effectively market his/her services in their area (usually a 200-mile radius) will make $50,000 plus a year.

Wish you the best with your photographic endeavors.  Hope my answers have helped.