There’s probably no better hobby in the world than taking photos. You can capture important moments, create artistic portraits of beautiful models, or even turn photography into a second profession. For me, photography is my first profession, and even in my free time, I always have a camera with me.
The best introduction to professional photography is documenting events that are extraordinary, unique, or simply visually appealing. Of course, it’s best to start as a hobby without any client expectations. I recommend large protest actions, concerts, or sports events; you can capture photos of famous people or wild crowds. These photos can later be used in your portfolio, helping you land your first paid gigs. It’s a win-win!
The best bridge between fun and professional photography is shooting weddings for friends. First of all, they don’t pay, so no one has any expectations 😎. Second, you can really capture some great shots, which might become the foundation of your professional portfolio. Third, by treating it as fun, you don’t need to carry the mandatory two cameras that a professional photographer lugs around. You also don’t have to create a cohesive reportage or capture all the important wedding moments. It’s a win in every way.
But you can also bring a lot of joy to couples who decided not to hire a photographer; surprisingly, I don’t think this is a bad choice at all.
Feel free to check out the material! For more information about wedding photography services, visit the “Wedding Photographer Warsaw” page
Wedding Photography for Amateurs
So how do you get started? I have five essential tips that will help you take much better photos. Like in steampunk stories, you’ll need a bit of magic and technique—that is, a little sense of aesthetics and a little control over your gear.
Magic
A sense of aesthetics is what makes some photos beautiful while others aren’t. Unfortunately, book knowledge won’t help here; you don’t need definitions to frame a shot, just practice.
The only method is to practice a lot and not give up, so keep practicing with friends and don’t go easy on them! 👿 If your friends aren’t very photogenic, that’s even better; you’ll learn less by photographing professional models. Another way is to immerse yourself in the works of great painters. It’s always worth not just glancing but scanning the whole piece (size, proportions, composition, colors, distribution of elements)—all these means of expression are also available in photography.
Technique
Technique involves mastering your equipment, developing the right reflexes, and creating a workflow (packing list, editing sequence, etc.). In my opinion, if you follow these five simple tips, you’re guaranteed to take good photos at your friends’ weddings that will impress them (and may even become the beginning of your photography portfolio).
Take Care of Your Equipment – Have a camera with you (preferably full-frame) and a zoom lens with a wide range (for example, 24-70 or 24-105) and adequately bright. Alternatively, you can bring two prime lenses: for example, 35 and 85 or 24 and 50. If I had to choose just one focal length, it would be 50mm. You can buy such a lens with an aperture of 1.8 for 500-800 PLN in almost any system (Canon, Nikon, Sony, probably Fujifilm too?). You can buy a used full-frame camera (like the Canon 5D “Classic”) for under 1,000 PLN.
If you don’t need large enlargements or an album, you don’t have to worry about how the camera handles high ISO, as photos in internet quality will suffice.
Make sure you have all the necessary accessories, such as enough memory cards and spare batteries. Packing based on a long list is a constant ritual for every wedding photographer—fortunately, you don’t need much “stuff” at the start.
If you have any “equipment” questions, feel free to share them in the comments; I always try to help as much as I can 🙂. I’m a user of Canon systems (EF and RF) and Fujifilm (X and GFX).
Make a Shot List Make a list of shots you want and can take, and keep it with you at all times. This will help you “manage” the situation and see what you’ve already done and what’s still possible. For me, when shooting for individual clients, creating a shot list is essential because it helps increase the number of good photos you’ll get. Having a “dream” shot list is also the best motivation for a photographer.
Stay Smiling and Relaxed If you’re friendly and relaxed, it’s easier to connect with the people you’re photographing, infect them with your smile, and make them look happier in the photos. You’ll spread a smile much more effectively than you can explain to someone that they should smile. Surprisingly, very few good photos are taken entirely in secret; most are taken with the subjects’ awareness, so it’s worth getting them used to seeing you with a camera 🤓.
Something for Everyone Wedding photography combines almost all types of photography, so if you want to create an interesting set, it’s worth taking diverse shots. Looking at a wedding photographer’s portfolio, you’ll notice that various types of photos are mixed:
- Reportage and posed
- Wide shots and close-ups
- With and without eye contact
- High key and low key
- Daylight and artificial light; tungsten and flash; ambient and created
- Photos from the wedding day, from the outdoor session
- Different types of photography—reportage, portrait, detail—you’ll also find fashion (wedding dress lookbook) and event photography (reportage from a wedding dress show) and even nudes
Of course, feel free to check out my work 😉
You don’t need to master everything to take good photos at your friends’ weddings, but try to mix things up: portraits and wide shots, posed and candid photos, shots of the couple and group shots, conversations during breaks and dancing. The added bonus is that by taking a variety of photos, you increase the chances that some will turn out well.
Finally, Keep Practicing If I had to choose just one piece of advice, this would be it.
If you’re serious about photography, it’s worth knowing the basics (for example, that portraits are taken with a longer focal length and an open aperture, and group shots with an aperture stopped down to 5.6-6.3 for sharpness, and that the minimum shutter speed should be at least 1/125 seconds to avoid blur). It’s also useful to be able to quickly adjust your camera settings in different lighting conditions. Practice this in safe conditions before looking for your first gigs.
I hope these tips will be helpful! If you master these five areas, you can confidently take the most basic gear to a friend’s wedding and be sure to capture at least a few good shots. What’s next? Personally, I recommend going through the cycle of preparation, execution, and evaluation a few times to continuously improve your skills.
You can also recommend me to friendly newlyweds (if they’re nice, of course 😎) and join as a second photographer—you’ll get live advice and material evaluation. In any case, if my work philosophy appeals to you
I hope my article has inspired you! Feel free to leave a comment or share this post with friends who want to take their first steps in photography. Commenters and sharers always get priority in sending photos for evaluation and receiving free advice 😎.
For those who want to continue learning about photography, I highly recommend my photography training page—check it out!
PS The title photo (the one on the pink background) was taken with an amateur camera and in daylight.
