Wedding Photography How To

Sure, the passionate kiss and the classic theater marquee in this shot by wedding photographer Jason Groupp are romantic but what’s the deal with Anthony Bourdain? The popular chef and host of CNN’s Parts Unknown seems like a cool guy and all but why photograph this couple smooching in this particular spot?

For our annual discussion on the business of wedding photography, I spoke to three wedding photographers who are finding success in doing what they love. One of the keys to their success is that their marketing ideas and tips illustrate top-of-mind awareness, which helps keep them foremost in their clients’ minds.

When it comes to great portrait and wedding photographers, California pro Bambi Cantrell is near the top of everyone’s list. In the tutorial below, she provides three powerful tips for making stunning photos of your own.

Yesterday we demonstrated how to make better outdoor portraits by balancing ambient light with flash. Today’s lighting tutorial takes a different approach, explaining how to shoot indoor group portraits with a simple on-camera flash technique.

We’ve all been there: Your best friend begs you to shoot his wedding in exchange for a case of cheap beer because he’s “really short on cash.” And no matter how much you protest that you’re a wildlife photographer and have never shot a wedding, the response is “I’m sure you’ll do great."

So while many wedding photographers react to a situation to capture the beauty they might see, Scott Robert, as he’s known in the industry, feels that as a photographer who’s charging $10,000 or more, he’s got to knock it out of the park every single time, no matter what. So he became a director of brides, grooms, and situations.

Sooner or later most photographers will receive the dreaded question: “Would you mind shooting our wedding?” If you’ve never taken on this daylong assignment, you may not realize how important and challenging it is. Be sure to watch this video before saying “yes.”