One of the saddest days of my career as a professional photographer was watching an amateur photograph my niece’s wedding.

Granted, it was COVID and my sister had booked a work colleague knowing that border closures might prevent me from coming to the wedding, but the borders opened.

As I was preparing for my trip, I offered to photograph the wedding to this other photographer (a math teacher). Unfortunately, the offer was declined.

My wedding day happened to be one of the dreariest, greyest days I’ve ever experienced in Sydney, and while a more experienced photographer would have gotten creative with the lighting, this photographer struggled; his understanding of light surpassed my understanding of calculus.

Being asked to photograph a friend or relative’s wedding is a flattering endorsement of your photography skills, but it can also be very challenging, especially if the day doesn’t go as planned.

Years ago, American photographer Gregory Heisler said, “How many photographers does it take to change a lightbulb?” The answer: “500 – one to change the lightbulb and 499 to say they could have done better!” That’s a pretty true comment, not because photographers are a cynical bunch, quite the opposite, but because each photographer has their own unique vision.

You can literally ask a dozen experienced photographers to photograph the same wedding couple under identical conditions and you will get a dozen completely different results.

That’s what I love about photography – there is no real “right way” to take a photo, there are just good photos, great photos and “oh wow, I wish that was my shot” photos.

However, there are also average and even bad photos. As readers know from their own professional careers, amateurs often assume they are doing great work, usually because they lack knowledge of what can be achieved and how to achieve it.

Most of Australia’s best wedding photographers didn’t just buy a camera one day and start photographing weddings; most started out by working as an assistant for a year or two until they were good enough to photograph weddings themselves.

However, while assisting, they also learned about camera technique, composition, ambient lighting, flash, styling, attention to detail, creativity, moments, emotions, organizational skills, interpersonal skills and adaptability.

There’s nothing wrong with photographing a friend or relative’s wedding, even if you’re relatively inexperienced. The important thing is to have an open conversation with the couple before agreeing to do it, to find out what they want for the day and how comfortable you feel taking the photos.

If both parties agree that you will definitely be happy with the finished photos, you can get started.

I’ve seen most of my niece’s wedding photos and while they were passable (yes, they were sharp and reasonably exposed), the work looked like it was taken on a really sad, gray day.

Yes, the couple were happy with the photos, but I doubt that either they or the photographer realized what could have been achieved under the same circumstances.

With that in mind, here are some tips for photographing your first wedding.

1) Be honest with yourself

Be honest with the couple – and with yourself – about your skills. Anyone can take a good photo if the conditions are right, but what happens if the wedding day is cloudy and rainy, the lighting is difficult in an indoor setting, or your mother-in-law can’t stand you?

When you take on the role of a wedding photographer, you need to know how to handle all the conditions that the day brings to you and most of the time this depends on your experience as a photographer.

If you are honest with the couple and they are happy with your level of experience (or lack thereof), you will have at least established a set of expectations for the day.

2) Work according to a plan

Most couples have a pretty clear idea of ​​what they want from the day. Some may want formal photos in exotic locations, while others prefer to keep it low-key.

The important thing is to listen to their ideas, discuss the practicalities (weather options, travel times, access to the site, etc.) and then create a plan that you will all work to on the day.

I usually like to scout out the wedding venue and photo locations with the couple a few days before the wedding. Then you know what the weather and lighting conditions are likely to be like on the wedding day.

At each venue, make note of where the sun will be at different times of the day and check the sunset time (if I have the opportunity, I often try to get a few photos with the couple in the last light of day).

And of course, you should expect rain. I’ve seen a perfect summer wedding turn into chaos in a matter of minutes because of a thunderstorm. Things happen!

3) Practice, practice, practice

Believe it or not, professional photographers often practice and test their ideas before a big job, just like musicians rehearse before a concert. If you can afford the time, go to the planned wedding venues with a friend before the big day and try to get some portraits taken.

Look for interesting settings, learn what the light does, and figure out how to make your ideas work. Open shade often works well for wedding portraits, but it’s also important to consider where the light is coming from; open shade from above can be just as unflattering as direct sunlight.

A light modifier such as a large reflector can be very useful on this day, but be aware that it can be difficult to use in windy conditions.

Stay tuned for part two next week.