Hi Welcome to my Blog.
This blog is aimed at photographers of all levels that are interested in becoming or even trying out their photography at a Wedding.

So why is it people tell us stay away from weddings, they are to stressful, theirs to much involved etc etc. I was was told this very same thing, however it all depends on your whole attitude toward your skill & mind set in photography.

Your Level.
Most of us think that we can take a perfectly good photograph of just about anything you like, and in most cases is correct, However understanding the concept of what you want to achieve can very different, For example you have just purchased your fist digital camera naturally you want to go out and shoot pictures, don't we all, However most of us in time learn what makes and looks like a good picture from bad or boring picture to something a little more thought out, In time and learning from others we can achieve our own personal goal of where we want to be in the field of photography, Whether we do weddings, portraits, landscapes, lighting & flash photography, travel, and many others, so after a set period of time and learning not only your technique but your equipment as well.

Why Weddings.

Why not it is after all still photography and is of a timed nature, but most importantly it's not something to be afraid of, the only level being that you feel that your not ready for it, this could cover many different aspects of why you think your not ready, Equipment, time spent as a photographer, attitude.. lets look at Equipment. you don't need super expensive Equipment to cover a wedding, I have read of people taking pictures of a wedding using there mobile, however the level of quality would be a factor, and whether or not you are delivery the final images to a would be client, I'm sure that this would be cause for concern for them, being paying clients etc.

So what Equipment would you need, I do have this deep belief of traveling light, keep equipment to a minimum for lots of reasons, but this is just my point of view, Of course a dslr camera is required along with a nice selection of lenses in my case 3x lenses would do a 70-200mm workhorse of lens a wide angle lens and something middle of the road 24-105mm or 85mm these would be more than enough to cover the entire venue.

Time Spent as a Photographer

You don't have to have 10 years as a photographer to start doing weddings or even 5years really there are photographers out there with far less years in the field, however coupled with attitude and passion, commitment this will drive you to cover weddings.
Only you yourself will know if you are ready for them, but remember never underestimate your abilities to achieve anything.

Planning

Planning is in my book is essential dealing with the clients direct, getting to know them so the day goes smoothly, is a very good start, visiting the location either by yourself or with the clients is also important in order that you know the location and can plan your photography on the day, as working out where you want to shoot, where you can shoot, as on the day there is a time factor to consider.
Will there be indoor pictures required, will you require a flash etc, these all come into consideration when planning, Of course planning takes time but its part of the whole wedding photography venue and excuse the pun but is married to it.
Prior to the big day I would concentrate on going over in your mind and using reference images of the location to remind yourself of the location and what photographs you want to achieve prior to the venue as this will help as the location recce could have been several months before the venue day. 

On the Day

The big has arrived and at time especially your first wedding you have nerves to the point that you think that your the one getting married, but on the whole keep thinking of what you want to achieve from your pictures, and remember that nothing ever goes to plan you may well have thought of everything that you need for the day and where to shoot, but 9 times out of 10 something will change and you will have to think on your feet, so having some back ups plans can help.

Conclusion
Never be afraid of shooting a weddings, as long as you have a well thought out plan and have all the information you need, it should run smoothly, remember things can change and seldom always do, so quick thinking can help, as well having someone with you it does not have to be a one man band having someone with you to hold your equipment or lighting is always a plus just remember in most cases weddings photography is a paying profession so pay your helper for there hard work.

I hope this is a helpful blog for all those who are considering taking on wedding photography.
and lastly enjoy it, it's not rocket science.

Many thanks for reading.

Simon
Simon Everett Photography Kent
www.simoneverettphotographykent.co.uk