Recently I was asked by a wonderful couple to provide examples and a quote to photograph their wedding. They were very nice and really liked my work. Sadly, I had to turn them away, as I don’t offer wedding photography as a service. I explained that I have no experience photographing weddings and that I would not be a good choice to capture their big day. I referred them to a few popular local wedding photographers and wished them luck.
Wedding photography takes a special set of skills and a desire to make a particular kind of art. Wedding photography takes a special mindset, one that I do not have. Photographers do not simply show up and shoot. There is preplanning, a full day of shooting, specialized post processing, and a follow up sales session with product delivery. There are wedding photographers who will do 50 weddings a year. Think about that. That is one almost every weekend. As a photographer, you can make a ton of money. There is also a fair amount of time and money invested in to a solid wedding photography business.
I like my little niche and the ability to take my time making great art for my clients. While I do offer traditional wedding and couples portraits, as well as bridal sittings, doing the wedding itself is just not in my wheelhouse. The point here is: When you are searching for a wedding photographer, do your homework, ask for examples and referrals, and be confident you have selected a photographer that has the wedding mindset.