Wedding Photography-My Process Part 2

Here is the long awaited Part 2 of my series on Wedding Photography. I am attempting to explain my process to clarify it for myself and to aid any interested parties who are contemplating moving into this arena. My process is the result of hundreds of hours of research, practice, and successes and failures which I continue to hone on a daily basis.
I left off in Part 1 at the point where most hobbyists will inevitably find themselves. Content with enjoying photography as a hobby, slowly building on the craft, and producing some nice images via web or in printed form. They are then approached by a friend, relative or co-worker who ask "would you be interested in shooting my wedding?"
The road splits in two directions here.
Left- this path is for those that enjoy photography as a hobby only. Those who use a point and shoot, or any model of consumer, prosumer, or even pro SLR system who shoot in auto or program mode and have limited or no understanding of off-camera flash and lighting should follow this path as well. For those who want no responsibility for the outcome of the images that will capture one of the most important days in a bride and groom's life should run for the hills as well.

Right- this path is for the seasoned photographer who has a prosumer or, better yet, professional DSLR kit and a backup kit. This is for the one who is confident in their knowledge and mastery of their camera system especially in Manual mode. This is for the person who understands light and the use of it off camera whether in natural or artificial form. Also, this person should have an understanding of Digital Asset Management and a consistent workflow they adhere to. An understanding of Photoshop and /or Adobe Bridge/Lightroom is a bonus.

Having the newest Nikon or Canon or whatever makes you a Nikon or Canon or whatever owner, only. It does not designate you a photographer let alone a semi-professional or professional one. The camera is only the mechanism through which you, the photographer, create and capture the image. You must do the thinking. Wedding photography requires a firm grasp of the principles of photography, lighting, posing, and troubleshooting on the fly. If this hasn't deterred you then you may be ready for wedding photography.
This is work and alot of it in the building stages, and well into the future. You have no business taking on this responsibility if you have not put in the hard foot work first. Certainly, all first weddings and the next few are practice runs for sure but you must go into it being a good photographer and a better "on your feet" problem solver. There are no "redos" on the wedding day.
In Part 3 of my series I will concoct a list of valuable resources: books, websites, and periodicals that will nicely cover the fundamentals of photography, wedding photography, and lighting. With that out of the way I can forge ahead in Part 4 with the equipment one will need to be prepared to successfully shoot a wedding.
Until then....   I would be remiss if I didn't thank my editor and main follower "suzy button collector".

Wedding Photography-My Process

Yikes! Another few weeks have passed without any blogging. Admittedly,I am lazy and need to make a better effort at this.
It is April and it is wedding season. I am fortunate to have been hired by a friend to shoot his daughters wedding this coming Saturday and I have been thinking alot about how I got to this point in my young career as a photographer. I ventured into this medium mostly as a creative outlet but also in an attempt to make a modest living from it, if only part time. I figure, like anything else I attempt, I would end up going "all in" and if I stuck with it why not recoup some of my initial investment.
I put much effort into mastering my first Nikon digital cameras and reading and studying as much as I could get my hands on. I shot hundreds of images ( the blessing of digital) and was able to see rapid improvement over a short period of time. God blessed me with an eye and a creative bent so coupled with my love of technology and this medium I was able to produce some fairly decent prints.
Like alot of people in my shoes, and with the digital age there are a gazillion, I was asked the inevitable question, "would you want to shoot my wedding? I can't pay you much but I am sure we could both benefit from it." Something to that effect. I said sure! I ascribe to the Herbert Spencer notion of "contempt prior to investigation" as being a stumbling block to success so I decided early on to learn all aspects of photography and then narrow my focus to a few paths. I had no idea what I was in for!
Wedding photography offers a pressure all its own. It offers exhilaration, exhaustion, humility, and a sense of being in the midst of true love and joy if only for that moment. It is a demanding and unforgiving master.
Fortunately, I come from a background in the entertainment industry where "one chance is all you get" is the norm so I felt right at home in that respect. I also have been a guest at many a wedding so I am familiar with the format. The hardest part of approaching this avenue of photography is in the business end of it. It is this that I will attempt to explain, my process at least, in my next blog.
Until then......