Photography is not mere clicking stills; it is seizing a moment with a perception.

Thus, a photographer is a person who tells a story that she witnessed from her eyes and captured by her camera. According to interests and understanding, a photographer may have her specialization like a wedding photographer, who can take better photos of the bride and groom than a tiger in wildlife.

What are the responsibilities of a wedding photographer?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that 60% of the photographers were working independently as of 2015. In most of the world, you will find that wedding photographers are self-employed, and wedding photography is seasonal employment.

The job includes:

1. Client handling
2. Ambiance planning
3. (of course) Taking photographs
4. Editing, album and storybook creation
5. Equipment handling and maintenance
6. Marketing and supply purchasing
7. Other paperwork

Photography has evolved as a profession many years ago.

It also includes knowledge of lights, zoom, dynamics of saturation, depth, white balance, etc. Thus buying a DSLR doesn’t make you a photographer.

You typically need education in photography to be a well-learned photographer. Moreover, just like experience plays a significant role in other fields such as business administration and marketing, experience has a similar impact on the career of a photographer.

According to Payscale.com, the average salary of a wedding photographer is $43,631 per annum in the United States. The median hourly wage is $20.56. A median means that 50% of photographers earn more than the mentioned amount and the rest 50% earn less than that.

The total income of a wedding photographer varies from $20,260 to $238,390 in the same country. The figures may change with the geographic location depending on economic conditions of the country.

It is also crucial to notice that wedding events do not have a specific schedule. Some wedding ceremonies are a one-day affair while some cultures have a week-long wedding celebration.

Thus a single-day income of a wedding photographer varies from $2000-$3000 in the United States. During peak season, some photographers have to work for more than 10 hours a day.

With the improvement of smartphone cameras, amateur photographer typically friends or family members are giving competition to professional photographers. Though, the rising living standards are creating more clients who can afford professional wedding photographers.

Still, the BLS examined that the growth in the wedding photography industry will be slower than the average increase in other industries between 2014-2024.

What does it take to become an exceptional wedding photographer?

As per the above discussion, it seems like the job of a wedding photographer is not a menial task. The blend of creativity and photography skills is the prime requirement to be an outstanding wedding photographer.

We bring you the top five tips that you should follow to get better pictures.

Here we go:

1. Plan the day:

Talk to your client and/or couple in advance and visit the venue before the event day with them. Ask them for the complete schedule of the day, the places that they would attend. You should be aware of all the details regarding the ceremonies, their significance and influential people in those ceremonies.

Weddings are full of spontaneous moments. You can’t script in your mind what should or would happen. You should always be ready to capture the memorable moments of the couple. Moreover, visiting the venue may help you in identifying the spots from where you can capture the best shots. You can also ask the decoration team to make space at those places for you.

2. Know your requirements:

The most significant difference between a professional and an amateur is the strategy to mitigate risks. How would you deal with a situation where your camera run out of the juice during a crucial event?

A spare set of batteries is a must-have accessory. Similarly, appropriate sized memory cards, mirrors, lights, lenses, backpacks, extension cords may be used in various situations. You must analyze how you would be clicking pictures at the venues.

A professional photographer holds knowledge about the use and working of all the accessories of her camera. You would not be going out there to test a feature. So, be specific with the required objects and their use.

3. Always be ready:

Reach the place before the couple arrives. Observe the lights and conditions. Click a few sets of pictures of the venue and people to set the variables such as ISO, shutter speed, lenses, zoom, white balance, etc.

This will help you in adjusting your camera settings immediately according to the background of the couple and other people. Do not neglect the people who are close to the couple. They would love to cherish smiles on the faces in the album of their well-wishers.

4. Ambiance matters:

An open space with the natural light of the sun and flowery green gardens or a golden night under the stars by the side of a fountain, all such beautiful scenes make the subjects of the photographs look prettier than a dull, monotonous background and light.

There might be a decoration designer for the wedding. If not, you will have to push some extra efforts for better pictures.

People in the pictures occupy at most 60% of the space. The rest of the beauty of the image relies on the background.

Thus, you can’t completely depend on a third person for the vital 30-40% of your frame. Talk to the designer. Suggest some colors or themes that will help you in enhancing the beauty of your clicks.

5. Be invisible:

The most crucial factor that makes you the best wedding photographer. People should not be aware that someone has an eye on them. Every bride and groom wants their wedding photographer to click natural smiles.

Be there to seize every smile but don’t pop in front of the smiling faces. Make use of a telephoto zoom lens. Click wide-angle pictures focusing on the smiling faces from a distance. Be a little friendly, crack jokes, make people laugh and seize their smiles in your camera. You will be always thanked for such images by your clients.