How to Become a Wedding Photographer

Co-authored by Victoria Sprung and Kira Jan

Last Updated: January 9, 2023 References

As a wedding photographer, you’ll capture special moments in photos that couples and families will treasure for generations! Plus, you’ll work in a profession that combines creativity, romance, interpersonal communication, and technical skill on a daily basis. To help you launch your creative career and grow your wedding photography business, we’ve compiled answers to your common questions about getting started in the industry.

Question 1 of 7:

What qualifications do you need to be a wedding photographer?

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You don’t need a degree, but you do need photography knowledge. To boost your credibility and enhance your skills, consider taking photography classes at your university, local community college, or online to get a feel for technique and equipment fundamentals.^{[1]
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- Gain experience by working as a photography assistant or second shooter to a local wedding photographer.^{[2]
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- Watch online tutorials, attend workshops, and practice on your own to learn how to edit photos in software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Editing software will take your photos to the professional level and allow you to easily import and manage pictures.^{[3]
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If you’re serious about running a business, you’ll need a business license. The type of license you need will depend on your jurisdiction. Some places might require a county license (especially if you want to lease office space) while other places might require state or federal licensing.
- Apply for a business license by searching online for the local Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or State License Bureau.^{[4]
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Question 2 of 7:

What equipment do you need to start wedding photography?

You’ll need multiple cameras and lenses to get started. While gear shouldn’t constrain your creativity or style, you’ll be more comfortable and produce higher-quality work if you start with at least mid-range products.^{[5]
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Research source} As long as your business generates revenue, you can deduct your full equipment expenses through Section 179 to reduce your business-related taxes.^{[6]
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- Get at least two DSLR camera bodies ($1,500 to $2,000 each). If anything goes wrong with your primary camera on the wedding day, you’ll need to be prepared.^{[7]
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- Choose multiple lenses to be able to shoot different distances and a variety of apertures.
- To process and store your photos, you’ll need multiple memory cards ($50+ each), two or more external hard drives ($120 each), and a computer with enough memory to store your photos ($2000).
- For working on the big day, you’ll need a tripod, monopod, camera bags, and flashes.
- Rent your gear before you purchase to see if it works for you!

Question 3 of 7:

How do you get experience as a wedding photographer?

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Shadow or second shoot professional wedding photographers. Email local wedding photographers you admire and ask if you can watch them during a photoshoot, carry their gear, or be their second shooter (either for free or for a discounted rate). You’ll get to see every aspect of a day in the field and make a professional connection in the world of photography.^{[8]
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- In your introductory email, include a personalized greeting and talk about your familiarity with the photographer’s work. Let them know you’re willing to work as a second shooter, assistant, or unpaid assistant (depending on your experience level), and include a link to your portfolio.^{[9]
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- Email photographers with specific dates when you’re available in order to make the request feel real and practical to them. For instance, try ending your email with, “If you need a second photographer from June 20-29th, please let me know.”^{[10]
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Connect with local photographers to ask for tips on gear and techniques. Look for photography organizations or direct message photographers you admire on social media. As a bonus, they may refer clients to you if they’re too busy to take a job.^{[11]
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Question 4 of 7:

How do you build a portfolio as a wedding photographer?

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Start with styled shoots for wedding vendors, bridal shops, and florists. In a styled shoot, vendors will work together to make their products look great to get promotional images from photographers like you! Look on social media for local photographers who do styled shoots and ask to join as a second shooter, or reach out directly to businesses and offer to shoot their products for a discounted rate. Make sure the other photographers or businesses are okay with you posting the photos on your website or social media.^{[12]
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- Develop your personal style by looking to your favorite photographers’ portfolios for inspiration. See what elements you like, and try to bring them to life in your own work.^{[13]
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Offer to work friends' weddings for a discounted rate. This is a great way to get valuable experience and shots for your portfolio. In general, try to avoid doing weddings for free, even if you need the experience. You're trying to launch a real business, and free gigs can be a slippery slope.^{[14]
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Post your couples, elopement, and wedding shoots on Instagram. When you create a distinct page just for wedding-themed content, you can make it easier for couples to find you.^{[15]
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- Use location tags so that potential clients can find you by searching popular wedding venues.

Question 5 of 7:

How do you start your wedding photography business?

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Create a pricing guide with three different tiers of packages. To calculate prices for your packages, add up the cost of equipment/travel, labor costs, overhead costs (like software subscriptions, etc.). Then, decide what profit you’d like to make after expenses (ex. 20% profit).^{[16]
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Research source} If you’re just starting out, you might charge $1,500 for the cheapest package, $2,500 for your mid-tier package, and $3,500 for your most expensive package.^{[17]
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- Your cheapest package might include just an 8-hr wedding shoot and digital files.
- For your medium-priced package, consider including an 8-hr wedding shoot, an engagement session, and digital files.^{[18]
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- Your highest-priced package might include an 8-hr wedding shoot, an engagement session, digital files, a second photographer, and an album or print photos.^{[19]
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- Avoid severely underpricing or undervaluing your work. You’ve built up a portfolio and you have gear upkeep, software subscriptions, and other expenses to pay!^{[20]
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License your business and set up contracts to give to clients. Getting a business license can enhance your credibility, and depending on where you live, it may be required for tax purposes. Similarly, contracts provide legal protection for you and your clients in case something goes wrong. You’ll create agreements on your right to use the photos on your website/portfolio, what the clients can expect from the photos, and how much you’ll be paid.^{[21]
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- You can hire a lawyer to draw up contracts and photo releases or find several contracts for free online.
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Get insurance. General liability insurance protects you if you’re unable to complete your normal duties, while equipment insurance protects you in case of accidental injury or damage to your gear.^{[22]
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Research source} How much you’ll pay for insurance will depend on the value of your gear, the types of locations you shoot, and whether you need special policies like commercial auto insurance (if you use your car exclusively for work). On average, you’ll pay between $1,500-2,500 per year for general liability insurance.^{[23]
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- Some venues might even require you to have a certificate of insurance (COI) for you to be able to shoot at a wedding.^{[24]
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- Since there’s no official “photography insurance” you can look for a business owner’s policy (BOP) through standard policy providers which will cover general liability and property insurance.^{[25]
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- If you’re a member of a photography organization like Professional Photographers of America (PPA), you might be able to get insured through the organization.^{[26]
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- You can write off all photography-related insurance costs as a business expense.^{[27]
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Question 6 of 7:

How much money do wedding photographers make?

Wedding photographers charge $1,000-$10,000 per wedding. The price you can charge varies depending on your experience, the size of the wedding/wealth of the client, and even your geographical region (rates in a rural area are lower than coastal cities).^{[28]
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- The median salary for wedding photographers in 2021 is around $41,280 per year.^{[29]
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Question 7 of 7:

How should you communicate with clients?

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Set clear expectations with your clients. Make sure you’re on the same page about your style, the clients’ must-have photos, and delivery. When you initially meet with your clients, encourage them to look through your portfolio again so they can have a solid idea of what photos they’ll be getting.^{[30]
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- Create a shoot list with your clients to ensure you don’t miss any must-have photos.^{[31]
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- Decide how and when you’ll deliver the photos. Do your clients want digital access only or will you also provide prints? Should they expect the photos in 2 weeks after the wedding or in 2 months?
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Don’t be afraid to communicate with guests who interfere with your job. At the wedding, if a guest is in the way of one of your shots, politely ask them to move. If you’re concerned about keeping the wedding on schedule, it’s alright to kindly tell guests that it’s time to move along.^{[32]
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- To ask a guest to move out of a shot say, “Can you please move a bit to the side? I can’t see the bride, and I want these photos to turn out well for the couple. Thank you!”
- To encourage guests to stay on schedule, say, “We’ve already taken a lot of photos, and I think they turned out well, but now it’s time for the couple to head to the reception.”

Expert Q&A

Question

Is it hard to become a wedding photographer?

Victoria Sprung
Professional Photographer
Victoria Sprung is a Professional Photographer and the Founder of Sprung Photo, a wedding photography studio based in Chicago, Illinois. She has over 13 years of professional photography experience and has photographed over 550 weddings. She has been chosen for Wedding Wire's "Couple’s Choice" Award eight years in a row and The Knot's "Best of Weddings" award five years in a row. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, the Chicago Reader, Rangefinder, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Pop Sugar.

Victoria Sprung

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

Yes, it can be challenging. To be a wedding photographer, you have to be good at working under pressure and within specific time constraints. You also have to be able to go with the flow, because sometimes things will happen unexpectedly, and you have to be ready.
Question

How do I work in wedding photography in other countries?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Build your portfolio locally first, and then partner with wedding planners who plan destination weddings. Make you obtain all the necessary paperwork to travel and conduct business if you're shooting a wedding in the foreign country.
Question

Is it okay to be only 14 and take wedding pics if my aunt asked me to?

Community Answer

Of course! Try to do a good job, but have fun with it too. If your aunt asked you, she obviously has faith in your photography skills.

Warnings

The job of a wedding photographer can be pretty physically demanding. You might be carrying up to twelve pounds of photography gear for eight to ten hours on the wedding day. Wear comfortable shoes on the job, and see a doctor for any aches and pains.^{[37]
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