Photography Business?

Question

I'm 17 and want to become a wedding photographer. I have good solid shots but none of weddings. Any suggestions on how to build my portfolio or how to start my business. I have all of the equipment I could need for now (Sony FX 1 camcorder and new Nikon cameras, mac's Aperture software and DVD making applications)

Answer 1

Get some friends and borrrow some dresses, suits and make a day of it, you have to start somewhere.

Goodluck!

Answer 2

If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you

can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent

photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and

publish your IWeb webpage(s).

Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card

by selecting from their many templates a suitable one

that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of

your website along with a telephone answering device.

Do not place your home address or anything personal

such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when

you receive the finished business card, pass it around

to various churches, temples and the like to solicit

business.

When you receive a major photography assignment, visit

your local professional camera store and "rent" the

necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.

When starting out, you don't want to tie your money up

with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever

changing technology "becomes obsolete." Remember, that

90% of professional photographer are not "buying"

camera equipment continually which can easily become

outdated; instead, they merely "rent or lease" the

camera equipment for set period of time; thereby

keeping their money for other expenses. Even though

you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you

may have to give up that concept for the moment, since

digital photography offers the most economic method of

photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on

a computer and the print quality is often far superior

to regular film-generated prints.

You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which

has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then

consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning

with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image

stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image

stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take

telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the

go and you don't have to drag along a tripod to steady

your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have

chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices

into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back

to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit

consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal

lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650

at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs

circles around the D40 Nikon!

For digital print processing, find a private

professional film processing lab who can handle all

your client's print orders. And with a resale license,

you will be qualified for considerable "professional"

discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and

Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with

various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a

photography studio and get a dealer's pricing for any

number of albums, guest books, etc.

Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at

local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to

the client's residence or office to set up a photo

shooting environment which consists of a set of

lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Good for you!  I had no idea what I wanted to do at 17!

Do you have anybody in your family or friends that are getting married soon?  Ask them if you could take pictures at the wedding as well as their payed photographer.  That is a good way to build up your portfolio.  

I know there are alot of "models" that do what is called TFP or TFCD (time for print or time for cd) photoshoots.  The model is not paid but they get copies of the pictures you take in return for modeling.  You get practice and portfolio pictures and they get practice and portfolio pictures.  I've done over 25 shoots like that and have even done a few wedding style shoots.  Post an ad on a site like craigslist looking for models. There is also onemodelplace.com and modelmayhem.com.

Answer 4

If you have any friends, relatives or friends of friends who are getting married, ask if you can take photographs at their wedding.  If not, try putting an ad on the web or in your local newspaper advertising for your photography services.