Question by : How does one get experience in wedding photography when you are not a professional?
Do you email or phone wedding photography companies and ask if they need assistants ? or do you start of with simple studio work.
So far I have been building my portfolio with freelance stuff and nightclub photography. And I have taken pictures of 1 wedding, indoor, but very small
Are there other options then looking out for gigs on craigslist ?
Best answer:
Answer by Flippy
You could try offering your services for free at a local church or synagogue as a way of getting some shots to start building your portfolio.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I would offer services free (or very cheap) to local churches and even high schools for senior portraits. You could also try to connect with a professional photographer or even a DJ. Some DJ’s include reception photography as part of their package.
Another thing I did once out of desperation, I “hired” a good friend to dress up in her wedding dress (you could also rent one) and I did lots of shots of just her. It was actually really helpful and I got a lot of great photos from it.
Bottom line, a bride booking a wedding photographer is not going to be very interested in your nightclub photography, you know? So any way you can just get some portfolio images would be helpful. Best of luck!
interning is the best way. talk to local wedding photographer to see if you could help if you can work with them for a while they may give you a chance to become a second shooter. this will help you build your port and get you some work. this may take some time but you will become a better photographer for it.
Look for photographers whose work you really like/love. Get a conversation going, show them a website or portfolio so that they can see if you’re just another person with a camera or if you’re really showing some skill. Most photographers I’ve talked to are willing to take people on, but only if they know how to control the camera and take some good pictures. They don’t want to spend an entire wedding helping someone figure out what the camera does.
If that doesn’t work then get some couple friends and do some “mock” shoots, engagements, bridals, etc to help you gain some experience in posing, what’s flattering, etc.
Contact local photographers and offer to help out free of charge
after a time, you can help as a second photographer, and perhaps get paid
If you can get work in a Studio that would be great.
Keep trying to do the events you have been doing as it is all experience