Wedding Event Photography

It is well-known among internet marketers that writing and distributing articles is one of the best and least expensive ways to promote products and services to a very wide audience. If you are involved in trade show or event marketing, you can use this technique to very effectively support your event marketing efforts.

**Supporting your trade show marketing with articles**

Let’s say you are a wedding photographer who shoots weddings within a radius of about 150 miles of your office or home. You are selective about which weddings you will shoot because, quite frankly, some pay better than others. So you are interested in reinforcing your carefully developed image. Your image is of a photographer who does work that is more creative and of higher quality than what you get from the average wedding photographer.

One of the successful methods you use to promote your services is to enter two or three specialty wedding trade shows held every year in different cities within your target area. Because these shows are geared specifically towards couples who want “something special” (that is, they are prepared to spend more money), they help you reach the “better than average” clientele you are after.

**A perfect opportunity to reinforce your special image**

This is a perfect scenario for reinforcing your image by writing and publishing articles about wedding photography. Of course you have to be careful that your articles don’t sound blatantly self-promoting. Most article marketers suggest your articles contain interesting, general information that can stand apart from the fact that you just happen to be providing the services you are writing about.

For instance, you might write an article called “Do Something Different with Your Wedding Photos”, where you describe some different techniques and locations that might be used. Or “Wedding Photography Over the Last 50 Years”, or “Should Your Photographer Choose Your Wedding Outfits?”, or “5 Secret Locations to Shoot Your Wedding Photos”, or “Perils of a Wedding Photographer”.

There is really no limit to the number of original and interesting stories you could can come up with if you just use your imagination.

A good article marketing campaign will consist of at least three or four articles written and distributed just before the peak periods in your marketing cycle. If you are trying to reinforce your trade show marketing, make sure you prepare your articles well before the trade shows you are entering.

**How to distribute your articles**

Your objective is to use these articles to create an identity for yourself at the same time as getting yourself lots of free publicity. The more places you distribute your articles, the more prospective customers you will reach, so don’t be timid about getting your articles out there.

The obvious place to start is by posting them on your own website. Create an article section and mix in articles from other (non-competing) writers. This will make your website a more valuable resource for your prospective customers, and it will enhance your image in their eyes.

Second, consider distributing your article to the local print media. If it is interesting enough — and not just a self-promotion — some of them will very likely publish it. The important thing is to find an interesting angle. Think in terms of their readers and write for them. Some media will even have special sections — weddings, home renovations, automobiles, outdoor, sports — that you can contribute to.

Third, if you are entering trade shows, send your material to the trade show organizers. They may publish a show program and may be looking for interesting material that helps make their program appear more substantial.

**Distribution on the internet**

If you are catering to local customers you may think the internet is overkill. But you would be wrong. If you are trying to reach prospects in, say, the Lexington area, make sure you write your article so the search engines know your service focuses on the Lexington area. They will do a great job getting you exposure for searches like “wedding photography Lexington”, “Lexington auto detailing”, or “kitchen renovators in Lexington”.

Distribute your articles to as many key article websites on the internet as you can find. This will do three things for you. First, a lot of people will read your articles on these sites. Second, other sites interested in your subject matter will republish your article, exposing it to an even wider audience. And third, the major search engines will analyse and index your article and it will start appearing in searches.

**Using a professional article writing service**

You may not feel comfortable writing your own articles, and you may think it is much too time consuming to do your own distribution. That’s when you should look for a reliable service to do both of these things for you. You might be surprised to find out how many writers and promoters there are out there ready to go to work for you.

Look for a service that has a solid track record. They should be able to show you writing examples, and they should be able to give you a very good idea where they intend to distribute your articles. As with most other specialized services you will probably find it is a lot more efficient to let a professional do it for you than to try to do it yourself



By: Rick Hendershot

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Most successful potographers start out as assistants to experienced photographers. Assistants acquire the technical knowledge needed to be a successful and also learn other skills necessary to run a portrait or commercial photography business.

Portrait photographers take pictures of individuals or groups of people and often work in their own studios. Some specialize in weddings, religious ceremonies, or school photographs and may work on location. Portrait photographers who own and operate their own business have many responsibilities in addition to taking pictures. They must arrange for advertising, schedule appointments, set and adjust equipment, purchase supplies, keep records, bill customers, pay bills, and if they have employees, hire, train, and direct their workers.

Commercial and industrial photographers take pictures of various subjects, such as buildings, models, merchandise, artifacts, and landscapes. These photographs are used in a variety of media, including books, reports, advertisements, and catalogs. Industrial photographers often take pictures of equipment, machinery, products, workers, and company officials. The pictures are used for various purposes for example, analysis of engineering projects, publicity, or records of equipment development or deployment, such as placement of an offshore oil rig. This photography frequently is done on location.

Scientific photographers take images of a variety of subjects to illustrate or record scientific or medical data or phenomena, using knowledge of scientific procedures. They typically possess additional knowledge in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry.

News photographers also called photojournalists, photograph newsworthy people, places, and sporting, political, and community events for newspapers, journals, magazines, or television.

Fine arts photographers sell their photographs as fine artwork. In addition to technical proficiency, fine arts photographers need artistic talent and creativity.

Self-employed, or freelance, photographers usually specialize in one of the above fields. In addition to carrying out assignments under direct contract with clients, they may license the use of their photographs through stock photo agencies or market their work directly to the public. Stock photo agencies sell magazines and other customers the right to use photographs, and pay the photographer a commission.

Working Conditions

Working conditions for photographers vary considerably. Photographers employed in government and advertising studios usually work a 5 day, 40 hour week. On the other hand, news photographers often work long, irregular hours and must be available to work on short notice.

Some photographers work in uncomfortable or even dangerous surroundings, especially news photographers covering accidents, natural disasters, civil unrest, or military conflicts. Many photographers must wait long hours in all kinds of weather for an event to take place and stand or walk for long periods while carrying heavy equipment. News photographers often work under strict deadlines.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Employers usually seek applicants with a good eye, imagination, and creativity, as well as a good technical understanding of photography. Entry level positions in photojournalism or in industrial or scientific photography generally require a college degree in photography or in a field related to the industry in which the photographer seeks employment. Freelance and portrait photographers need technical proficiency, gained through a degree program, vocational training, or extensive photography experience.

Individuals interested in a career in photography should try to develop contacts in the field by subscribing to photographic newsletters and magazines; joining camera clubs; and seeking summer or part time employment in camera stores, newspapers, or photo studios.

Photographers need good eyesight, artistic ability, and good hand eye coordination. They should be patient, accurate, and detail oriented. Photographers should be able to work well with others, as they frequently deal with clients, graphic designers, and advertising and publishing specialists. Photographers need to know how to use computer software programs and applications that allow them to prepare and edit images, and those who market directly to clients should be familiar with using the Internet to display their work.

Portrait photographers need the ability to help people relax in front of the camera. Commercial and fine arts photographers must be imaginative and original. News photographers must not only be good with a camera, but also understand the story behind an event so that their pictures match the story. They must be decisive in recognizing a potentially good photograph and act quickly to capture it. Photographers, who operate their own business, or freelance, need business skills as well as talent. These individuals must know how to prepare a business plan; submit bids; write contracts; keep financial records; market their work; hire models, if needed; get permission to shoot on locations that normally are not open to the public; obtain releases to use photographs of people; license and price photographs; and secure copyright protection for their work. To protect their rights and their work, self-employed photographers require basic knowledge of licensing and copyright laws, as well as knowledge of contracts and negotiation procedures.

After several years of experience, magazine and news photographers may advance to photography or picture editor positions. Some photographers teach at technical schools, film schools, or universities.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.

Salaried photographers, more of whom work full time, tend to earn more than those who are self employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art.



By: Herb Williams

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sbc asked:


Photojounalistic style. Maybe have “studio” or “photography” at the end. Possibly integrate owners names are Sarah and Erin, don’t want to use last names in business name. Thanks!

Do you have any words to share!

demimonde00 asked:


I’m on a serious budget since I’m paying for my wedding myself. I’ve always heard that you don’t skimp on the photographer. That makes sense, but I’ve never done this before, so I have no clue what a good wedding package would be.

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure? Or a range? How much is TOO much?

Comment please!

Your wedding pictures are the most important pictures you will have taken in your life. When you select a photographer you have to be very cautious. Improvements in camera technology has made it almost impossible to take a bad photograph. Many amateurs, prepared with refined equipment, are capable of taking decent photographs. However, there is much more to Wedding Photography than knowing how to operate a camera. Wedding photography is about seizing moments, capturing emotion and creating memories. The technical skills required to do this are essential, but it doesn’t stop there.

Professional wedding photographers photograph people every day and not only have the necessary photographic skills, but are adept at handling people. How do you find a professional wedding photographer?

Initial, you must ask if photography is their full time profession. Even though you are not required to be a member of a professional organization to become a professional photographer, membership is a good indication that your photographer is very serious about his craft. Membership in the Professional Photographers of Ontario (P.P.O.), for example, requires that you are an active, full-time photographer. Another indication of your photographer’s proficiency is the equipment they use.

All right - your photographer is a member of a professional photographic association and has medium format apparatus. What else do you look for in a wedding photographer? First and foremost, you must view the photographer’s work. Not only should your photographer show you a variety from different weddings, but should also show you a sample of one entire wedding. This way you can see if your photographer can produce quality throughout the event, not just a lucky shot from different weddings. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how they would handle different situations, such as crying children, obnoxious relatives or fainting bridesmaids. If you are not comfortable with their answer, maybe you should look somewhere else. There are many types of professional photographers covering a vast spectrum of classifications. Though your photographer may be a skilled nature, commercial, baby or pet photographer, it takes a different skill set to photograph weddings.

A great advantage of choosing a photographer that is a member of a professional photographer’s association is that they have the opportunity to become qualified and recognized. As a member of the Professional Photographers of Ontario, the photographer must qualify, within two years of joining, to retain membership. The letters displayed after a photographer’s name, FPPO, APPO and LPPO indicate that the photographer has passed precise levels of the qualification program. Accreditation, a national designation from the Professional Photographers of Canada (P.P.O.C.), proves that the photographer is capable of delivering above average quality in a given category, such as wedding photography. It also means that the photographer books up pretty fast, sometimes up to a year in advance.



By: Rafi Michael

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I am often asked by keen amateur photographers how they can make money with their hobby. The answer is very often, wedding photography. Many professional photographers began their careers by shooting weddings. As a wedding photographer, you can make a substantial income, without a lot of overhead. Many wedding photographers work from home, and very often, part time. But if you are ready to take the next step, then my Wedding Photography course can help get you off to a great start. See more at www.howtoshootweddings.net

Wedding photography can be a very lucrative part time of full time option. In the United State alone, wedding photography accounts for approx. $5 Billion per year. That’s a sizable market. And with some know how and a decent digital camera, you can be a part of this industry. I have designed a course that includes everything you need, including business forms, technical discussions, sample ads and business and even tips on using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Apple’s Aperture. You can see more information and order at www.howtoshootweddings.net.

One of the first questions I am asked when shooting with a digital camera (after the “which camera do you use, question), is, what format should I shoot? Tiff, High Res JPEG, RAW etc. And the answer is very simple. RAW! There is NO other option. And you need to make sure that you are using the highest resolution (megapixels) available on your camera.

You should only be using a digital SLR (DSLR) camera, with the most powerful (expensive) flash available for your system. When you shoot a wedding, you will need to use flash for basically every shot you take. Indoors and out, even in bright sunlight. The flash will light dark subjects inside and when you are outside, it will fill in the shadows of your subject, and make the resulting photos look their best.

A very important point to remember when you photograph the bride, is to make sure that there is lots of detail in the brides dress. With digital cameras, the sensor cannot record as wide a range of light to dark as with film, and whites in particular, can be very challenging to record with detail. This is where you need to be able to balance the flash with the available light to get acceptable results. Otherwise, you may have some angry people calling you after the event. And you cannot arrange a do-over for a wedding, it is a one shot deal. So, make sure you do lots of practice before your first real, paying event. A good way to practice is to have you wife/girlfriend/kids dress up in white clothes and take lots of shots and note the settings you need to get detail in the dress, and good skin tones on the brides face.

Whenever possible, set up the kids in the bridal party by themselves. These kinds of photos will sell to the parents, the bride and groom and many other family members, especially the grandparents. Part of your job is to not just take good photos, but to take photos that will sell and keep you in a job and allow you to buy more equipment as you need it. You should always take individual shots of each kid and have the parents help to get them comfortable so you can get some good shots. Always try to choose an interesting background where possible. In order to focus attention on the kids and not the background, I often make a selection around the kids in Adobe Photoshop, and darken the background a little, so the kids will stand out and be the attention of the photo. For more information, goto www.howtoshootweddings.net



By: Tom Jackson

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Your wedding is one of the most beautiful and important days in your life. Something you definitely want to capture with great photographs - both for yourself and for future generations. However, a worst case scenario, could have you paying lot’s of money for a bunch of pictures you really are not satisfied with. This article will walk you through some of the most important aspects of wedding photography.

Choosing a photographer

Your first task is naturally to select a wedding photographer. Most expensive doesn’t always translate into “best”, so it can pay off doubly to check out several companies and photographers. Also, you should be aware of that some photographers only offer the traditional wedding photography style, or strictly a photojournalistic style. It is best to find a versatile photographer that can do both.

When visiting the photo company you should inquire who will actually be taking the pictures. Salespersons often pose as actual photographers and try to woo customers. If at all possible you should speak directly with the photographer and make sure companies deal openly. You should also ask them to show several complete weddings from each of the photographers they offer you, so you can choose. Make sure the one chosen is the one that will cover your wedding. Otherwise, it is better to find a photographer that personally shoots weddings. A two-person team is an even better package because two points of view of the wedding can be taken.

In any case, the photographer should be able to show more than one complete set of wedding photos. Couples should not accept someone who shows only selected prints of their best photographs from different weddings. A photographer who can exhibit three or four complete sets of good quality pictures, all from different weddings, will probably be a very good choice for your special occasion.

Do not be afraid to come across as “too picky”. Because asking intelligent questions will encourage photographers to deal openly with customers. Remember, it’s your special day, and you should make sure that the wedding photography is something that will help you and your loved ones relive those wonderful memories.

The big day - one big photo-op

Once a great photographer has been appointed to the task, most of your job is already done. However, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to make your wedding as good a photo opportunity as possible.

The first thing to do is to give the most opportunities for the photographer when scheduling activities during the wedding day. When planning the time of the wedding ceremony and of the reception, couples should incorporate the time that the photographer requires to capture all of the couple’s special moments. There should be a gap between the end of the ceremony and beginning of the reception, to allow for more photographs for the bride, groom and wedding entourage, especially if they are in two different locations. The photographers and subjects will have a more relaxed shoot and will enjoy all the parts of the wedding if the events are well spaced out.

Selecting a photographer that will provide unlimited coverage for the whole day is also a good way to ensure that none of the photography will be rushed.

The check list

As you see, the most important part with successful wedding photography lies in selecting the right photographer. So, to conclude this article, here is a short check list of things you should ask all potential photographers.

- What kinds of cameras does he use? Does he use medium format equipment and have a back up? Does have a “leaf” shutter or “focal plane”?

- What lenses does he use? Does he use only one, or will he change lenses? Make him show you photo effects that he is able to achieve with different lenses and choose the ones which you like to appear with your photographs.

- Will he provide photographs in both color and black and white, or would he charge extra for B/W? Dramatic effects can be made with black and white photographs, so ask if this is a premium.

- Are hand and digital coloring or digital color separation included in the package or would he charge extra for these? Better pictures are developed when the photograph colors are separated first, improved, and then printed.

- Is he willing to customize a package that is within your budget?

By: Charles Hawkins

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(c) 2008 Tom Jackson

Whenever you are taking photos, either for a big event, like a wedding, or just the family at the beach, you need to take notice of the surroundings. Very often, you will see photos taken by people that would have been very good, but something got in the way, like something in the background or the camera was not held straight, or some other small thing that could have been avoided, but now has lead to a picture that is less than acceptable.

Apart from making sure the camera is held straight, and that the lens cap is off, and your finger is not in front of the lens, the first thing you should look at is the background. This is where most problems occur because the photographer is looking at the subject, not the background. If you do not check the background first, you could end up with tress and other things growing out of the heads of the subjects or worse.

With the advent of digital cameras, it is an easy task to check that the photo looks good, at least on the small screen of the camera. You can tell if there are problems and make any necessary corrections on the spot. Be careful not to get caught up in the emotion, and forget to check these things. Just remember, every time you hold the camera up to take a photo, look at the background, then the subjects, then take the photo.

Also, you need to be aware of where the sun is when taking photos outdoors. When the sun is in front of the camera, you run the risk that the cameras light sensor will expose for the sun and not your subject. Your photos will be very dark as a result, although you will get a lovely exposure of the sun. And, be very careful if you are pointing the camera in the direction of the sun, as the sensor could be damaged if exposed to such a bright light for too long.

If you are taking photos for a bride and groom, then this information becomes even more critical. In fact, if you are taking photos for anyone who is paying you, then you need to make sure each and every photo is perfect. If you do not plan every photo, you leave yourself open to failure. That means a nice enjoyable day taking photos and making some money to boot, becomes your worst nightmare. Remember, plan to succeed and take care of the small details, and you will have fun and make some money along the way.

Whenever you take photos at a big event, wether or not you are being paid, checking the background os critical to taking good photos. Now, instead of just making sure that the background is not causing a problem, you now need to be looking at the background for photo opportunites. In the church or at the reception, you need to be constantly searching out suitable backgrounds to use for the bride and groom and the bridal party. Look for any opportuntiy to use a sunset, water fountain, garden, staircase or anything that will enhance the photo. You can check the blog in the resource box for a photo of a bride and groom, taken at the base of a staircase in an office building downtown Phoenix AZ. This is an example of spotting a suitable background, and then making sure the bride and groom follow the photographers direction, in order to take some stunning photos that will sell.

This office complex had such a beautiful wooden staircase, that it was an obvious choice for some photos of the bridal party. In this situation, and wherever you possibly can, if the groom is shorter than the bride, make sure you position the couple in such a way that the groom will look taller. Even if you have to use a phone book or a small box. Use whatever you can to make the groom look taller. It may seem silly at the time, but the photos will look much better, you will sell more photos and hence make more money. The bride and groom will also appreciate your efforts to make their photos look their best.

This will be a great advertisement for your skills. People will see the thought and care you put into every picture you take, and they will tell their friends. The best form of advertising is word of mouth. And make sure you have plenty of cards with you to promote yourself. People will not want to write down your details, they will want a business card or postcard or flyer.



By: Tom Jackson

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wcufan4life asked:


My brother-in-law is getting married for the second time and has asked me to be the photographer. Since it is the second wedding for both bride and groom, they’re not going all out with the traditional white wedding. I’ve been looking for suggestions for pictures, especially since I’m not a pro, but am only coming up with first time brides in white dresses. I know it won’t be a traditional wedding, but I still want them to have special pictures of their wedding. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Comment please!

Cat asked:


My boyfriend and me have set up e wedding photography business and sp far have done one wedding which went well and have got a few lined up for next year. However we need some advice on what equipment is essential to have. At the moment we have a canon 400D, 75-300 sigma zoom lens, portable flash and the other every day equipment. We would be very greatful for any advice and tips you may have?

Give us your opinion

khela34 asked:


My finance and I are going to go to the court house and get married and I was looking for a nice studio close to home to go get some nice wedding pictures done. I would like a nice outside setting if possible and just a lot of different settings and poses. Thanks for any help.

Please comment!