Wedding Photography the Ultimate Challenge

I think weddings are one of the ultimate photographic challenges. Not only is it one of the most important days of the couple’s life, but also, there is only one chance at shooting those great shots.

I have heard enough friends complain about their wedding photos that I hesitate before saying yes when asked to shoot a wedding. I am more than willing to say that I am far from a wedding photography professional. I love it, and from a purely selfish point of view, I love the challenge it gives me as a photographer. What I (and all of us) have to keep in mind is that we are gambling with somebody else’s “perfect day”, not our own. So, proceed with caution.

I have shot five weddings now, and feel that I am only beginning to learn the essentials of wedding photography. You might ask, “If you are just now learning the essentials, why have you still shot those weddings?”

Well, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience my weddings in a sort of graduation of seriousness toward the photography. My first wedding only had fifteen people in attendence, counting me! The previous plan was to have one of the guests take a few shots with a point and shoot, just to have some memories of the day. So, though this sounds a little bad, I really did not have much to lose. Rather, in keeping the couple as the focus and not myself, I should say, I had the distinct impression the couple did not have much to lose in my taking the photos. I offered and they were delighted.

Each of the other four weddings have been a gradual increase in expectations. If I were approached by somebody I thought had high expectations, I would show them some of my work (wedding and non), read their reactions, and seriously consider turning down the offer. I would turn it down before risking their wedding day memories on it.

I have had a fortunate series of opportunities. If I did not have those opportunities, I would probably seek out a wedding photographer and offer to serve as an assistant. Then, the professional does their job, bears the responsibility, and hopefully benefits from having a second shooter around.

Anyway, the past few weeks since my latest wedding shoot, I have continually been thinking of a promise to a friend to show some of the wedding shots. So, over the next few days, I will show some of the shots and talk through some of the lessons I learned. Feel free to throw some comments into the discussion! Peer critiques are often the most helpful aid we can have to improve our ability, and I know I am still very much in the learning category.