Wedding photography FAQ’s.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to learn wedding photography?

Learning wedding photography can be accomplished in a number of different ways; doing online research (like you’re doing now), taking online courses, checking out other wedding photographers’ work, and assisting or second shooting with a wedding photographer. However you begin, gaining experience is vital, so pick up that camera!

How much to charge for wedding photography?

How much to charge for wedding photography depends on various factors, one of which is your experience level. If you’re just starting out, be sure to charge on the low end of the scale to build more demand for your services, and goodwill among clients. 

How to price wedding photography?

When considering how to price wedding photography, research average rates for wedding photography, gather a few quotes from local wedding photographers, and account for your experience level and overall expertise in photography. Your pricing will also depend on the scope of the wedding, so be sure to gather all of the information you can to inform your pricing.

How to get into wedding photography?

There are a few ways to get into wedding photography. You can start with a formal education in photography, or you can learn through free online resources and landing job experience. If you already have experience in photography, you may already have a solid network to ask about assisting or second shooting a wedding; this is a great way to get going in the business.

How to start a wedding photography business?

Once you’ve got a few weddings under your belt, you might be wondering how to start a wedding photography business. Make sure you have a website and social media, either dedicate a significant portion of it to your wedding photography portfolio or consider creating a new site solely for your wedding photography–consider including a pricing page on your website too. Another thing to try is networking with local wedding vendors, this is a great way to gain exposure to couples and planners searching for wedding services.

How to get wedding photography clients?

We’ve mentioned a few different ways of getting wedding clients, from creating a wedding photography website and adding your services to wedding vendor websites, to assisting on weddings and promoting your business to family and friends. Be sure to promote your services, and add a call to action (CTA) to your website and social media so interested users have a clear way of following up with you.

What lens to use for wedding photography?

When deciding what lens to use for wedding photography, the most important one is going to vary based on the photographer’s preference. However, if deciding on one lens, go for a prime like a 35mm or 50mm, or the flexibility of a zoom lens.

What to include in the wedding photography package?

You’ll want to be as accurate as you can when creating wedding packages. If you can, create a few different pricing levels you’re comfortable with. You may want to consider adding engagement photos to your package to make it more competitive. It also gives you a chance to meet the couple and start creating a good relationship early.

What lenses to use for wedding photography?

​​Macro, prime, and zoom lenses are all good lenses to use for wedding photography. Being able to have a variety of shots at various focal lengths will lead to happier clients and a more diverse selection of images. It will help you also tell a more well-rounded story of the wedding day. Have two camera bodies on you for ease of use.

How to advertise for wedding photography?

You can advertise your wedding photography organically (to an e-mail list, updating your website, posting on your social media, telling family and friends) or through paid channels. This could involve paid posts on social media (Facebook’s ad network is always a great low-cost way of getting started in advertising), Google Ads to direct to your website, or seeing if wedding vendor sites have paid placements to get you more exposure.

How to book wedding photography clients?

​​There are many ways to book wedding photography clients. Getting the word out to your network, paid promotion on social media (Facebook’s ad network allows you great targeting options), updating your website with new work and improved search engine optimization (SEO), gaining referrals from past clients, posting your services to wedding directory sites, and even attending bridal shows. 

How to charge for a destination wedding photography?

Shooting a destination wedding is great for your portfolio, but how do you charge for destination wedding photography? Charge your usual rate, plus the expenses of travel around the wedding: flights, accommodations, transportation, and a few meals. It may be easiest to research what those costs will be and build it all into a destination wedding package to share with the client. 

How to book more wedding photography clients?

A few examples of how to book more wedding photography clients are to let people know you’re looking, promote your past work, expand existing work such as doing engagement, maternity, and other special moments, and assist another wedding photographer. Consider creating a Pinterest account and sharing your work there, as couples utilize the channel looking for inspiration.

What equipment do I need for wedding photography?

There is a fair bit of equipment needed for wedding photography so be sure to have a bag to keep your gear organized. The equipment you’ll need to get started as a wedding photographer is at least two lenses (try renting or borrowing so you can find what combination of prime, zoom, macro, and telephoto works best for you), two cameras, flashes with diffusers, extra batteries for your equipment, several spare memory cards, and any props you’ve decided on with the couple beforehand to utilize. As your business grows, you may also add lighting stands, reflectors or softboxes, and a drone for unique sky-views of your client’s special day.