Photographyblog, Annabel Williams, Amazing Wedding

There is so much to consider when embarking on the world of wedding photography - from the images that you capture, right through to the way in which you are going to present these images to the client.

Never underestimate how much is involved in photographing a wedding from start to finish and the responsibility that you have to the bride and groom to get it right. You only get one chance to capture those precious moments, the moments that the happy couple and their family and friends will treasure for a lifetime, so it is crucial to be prepared and organised.

The key to achieving this is to gain experience, as much as you can and wherever possible and from those who you admire. Start buying bridal magazines, create a scrap book of inspiring images as this will form the backbone of how your own style as a photographer starts to develop.

An additional suggestion, one which can have a considerable impact on your creativity and give you a detailed feel for what is happening within the industry, is to attend the designer wedding show in London "It's amazing!".

Go to the designer wedding show this October, soak up the atmosphere, and study all that is there and how the consumers are reacting to what they see. Watch to see which stands are busy and why, what is this year's must have for brides?

Take a moment to people watch - study all that you are seeing and take notes as these will be a great reference for later.

Who is attending the show, who have they gone with and why? This information will help your approach when you really start to build the business. Visit all of the stands and introduce yourself - go early though as this is when those exhibiting will have more time to share their knowledge and expertise with you. Be open and let them know you are a photographer - honesty is the best approach and you will be more natural and relaxed. Let them know you are new to the industry and are there to gain knowledge and learn.

And my last tip while at the show, take time out to watch a catwalk show as you need to gain an insight into what your brides might be wearing, what styles are about to appear as this will really strengthen your conversation when talking to potential brides and grooms.

Make yourself aware of all the forthcoming trends, bridal designers, and future ideas as so much can be gained from watching. The show will leave you full of ideas about your business and how you are going to approach branding and how you position and sell your business.

Knowledge can be very powerful for your confidence, so also consider attending a wedding seminar and take your camera but be careful that it doesn't distract you from watching and listening to the trainer. Many times you actually learn more from watching and listening, than you do purely shooting. You are paying to learn from them, to soak up their insights, watch how the trainer is composing images and setting up the perfect shot, instead of photographing the actual image. You will find that you come away with so much more - the tools that you need to begin shooting weddings yourself, as opposed to images which, albeit beautiful, you are unable to recreate as you have not absorbed the practical knowledge to do so. Your confidence will soar!

If you have a friend who is currently photographing weddings, offer to support them, carry their bags even! Watch how the wedding day unfolds for them – there is a great difference between witnessing a wedding as a guest and observing it through the eyes of a photographer.

Alternatively or in addition, if you know anyone who is currently planning a wedding on a zero budget, offer your services. This is a brave step but the experience that you gain from it will be invaluable. Every bride and groom is different. Make sure that you understand the personalities and expectations of your bride and groom and how important their wedding day is to them as it should be equally important to you. Use this understanding to capture the images that will matter the most to them.

A final and fundamental consideration when starting out as a wedding photographer is that of image presentation so research album companies carefully. Be inspired! Visit album design websites such as Queensberry's. They are a great starting point to provide ideas as to all that you can achieve with your images when they are displayed correctly. Look for a supplier who suits your style, approach and budget. Don't get carried away and lose sight of how much a finished album will cost both you and the client.

Always maintain focus on the end product; get that right and the rest will fall into place.

Biography

http://www.annabelwilliams.com

Catherine Connor is Annabel Williams' business partner, and MD of Contemporary Photographic Training. Catherine's meteoric rise in the often chaotic, always exciting photographic environment comes from an unusual springboard grounded in the world of international corporate management. Her infectious energy never fails to motivate those around her, and equips her with an organic understanding of market direction, fashion trends and lifestyle management.

Catherine is first and foremost a people person; her unique sense of fun, determination to succeed and boundless commitment to her industry make her a born mentor, allowing her to impart to all delegates a wealth of skills and knowledge pitched perfectly at achieving the vital balance of confident ability and self-worth.

It is Catherine's passion for her subject that makes learning from her a pleasure, which her students can then take forward, and are able to apply so effectively to enhance their skills.

All images in this article © Annabel Williams