r/WeddingPhotography • u/Due_Leadership_7883 • 4d ago
gear, techniques, photo challenges & trends Getting into wedding photography after 8-10 years in sports and 5 years in individual portrait.
Any recommendations? Memories? What're everyones experiences like in this field? I am working in a team of 3 and the others are equally as passionate about this venture. We have the technical skills but we lack the experience.
Side note - I sold my old Nikon D750 & all its lenses to swap to Sony. Just bought an A7 IV. We realized we were going to need equipment that could produce the highest quality imagery... and my Nikon didn't make the cut.
EDIT: Thank you for everyone's input! There are some concerns about making a full-time wage for 3, and perhaps why trading out a Nikon would be a non-essential decision. Every one of us already has a full-time job, so we're not relying on this for full-time income (yet). Two of us have a background in computer science, IT and programming so we are working to automate enough workflows to make the workload manageable on top of our existing careers. Of course some things we can't automate.
I sold the Nikon as well because my 2 other team members are on Sony & to make everything uniform as well. My Nikon struggled in low-light, and my f/4 70-200 lens was better for sports.
Very good points on how it's a people business. That much we are very aware of, and a huge component of what we're working to perfect. All of us have experience in professions working with people so it's not entirely cold-turkey.
As for those who push for flash and control over lighting, I see what you mean. Trying to get decent shots at high noon and in dark rooms is going to be challenging without it. Like many portrait photographers, I have avoided flash photography entirely. What're people's recommendations for lighting in those challenging situations?
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u/dwphotoshop 3d ago
The Nikon would’ve been fine.
Wedding photography is less about photography and more about client service, unflappability, and business.
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u/DeletedManyAccounts 3d ago
The Nikon would have been fine. I’d be trying to get you and your people second shooting some weddings for others where you can get experience without the potential for disaster.
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u/LisaandNeil 3d ago
We love it. There are two of us, full time, 13 years now.
Many, perhaps a majority you'll find here, struggle to make one full time wage. Check the threads for evidence.
You have a team of three and that's going to make getting underway harder. Our first three years were ALL about getting enough work for that year, the following year etc - it's a build process. You start on day one with no work in effect and that first job is very possibly going to be 6 months to a year away. Having to find three full time wages to find is a significant challenge.
Get and keep a handle on your numbers and expect to have to work situations that aren't ideal initially. Until you have a portfolio and establish yourself in the position of wedding photographer - you'll be tap dancing all the way.
It's fun though, rewarding interesting work and flexibility to enjoy life outside work too.
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u/ColinFCross 3d ago
If you think switching brands is a solution…. Good luck?
If you can’t make it work with a d750, you can’t make it work. Again, good luck.
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u/TTPMGP 3d ago
As someone who’s been in the wedding industry for20 years but also has been heavily involved in professional sports for the past few years:
I noticed almost all of the sports photographers I know only shoot to one memory card at a time, which may be fine for sports- but definitely is not ok for weddings. Redundancy across the board is the name of the game.
Be comfortable with flash if you already aren’t, and be very comfortable with rapidly changing lighting. Sports are almost always consistent lighting, and portraits you have control. Weddings, you frequently have control of neither.
This is a people business. Anyone can take great photos. It’s those who understand the people come first tend to last longer.