10 DIGITAL CAMERA^ AUGUST 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comStarting out as a
wedding shooter
How do you build up a portfolio, as well as
couples’ trust in you to handle their day?Building an initial portfolio
Tara says: “I studied photography at
university and we had a lot of people
contacting the college looking for a less
expensive wedding photographer. I picked
up quite a few bookings with friends I was
studying with, and that’s how I started
my portfolio.” Once you have shot one
or two weddings, you can start to
show couples your work.The snowball effect
After shooting her first few weddings
with friends, Tara started picking up her
own jobs, through friends telling people
and word of mouth. “Now I also get a lot
of work from the suppliers that I work
with, and Instagram is also really good.”
Referrals and testimonials are invaluable
in the wedding scene.one
to
one
I never ask couples to
pose awkwardly or do
anything they wouldn’t
feel comfortable or
natural doing
Tara makes use of the
even window light to
photograph these
vases of flowers.fleeting moments to the carefully chosen
details and breathtaking bridal portraits.”
Every pro has a different approach, look
and style, and Tara’s is decidedly informal.
“I capture couples and guests enjoying
themselves as the day unfolds, rather than
posing them,” she says. I wonder how she
encourages shy or awkward subjects to play
for the camera. She tells me that she uses
prompts or gestures to encourage their
smiles and affection. Couples will often have
an engagement session before the main day.
“These photos are just relaxed and beautiful
portraits of them spending time together.I love to keep them chatting, walking and
having fun or a quiet moment together. I never
ask them to pose awkwardly or do anything
they wouldn’t feel comfortable or natural
doing. I just give gentle direction on what
I feel will get the best results.” Most couples
loosen up quite quickly, and with Tara’s
gentle direction, it’s easy to see why.
We arrive at Midelney early, which gives us
(mainly me, as Tara has photographed there
before) plenty of time to suss out the lie of
the land. She shows me around the different
areas, including a woodland area that’s
well suited to golden-hour shots.
There’s no standard entry route for
wedding photographers, so I want to find
out how Tara got her career to where it is
now. “I studied photography at university
[Plymouth] and did a lot of portraiture,
beauty, fashion... but it was always with a
fine-art bent. I shot commercial stuff on the
side, but then weddings became my thing.”
Having had some experience with a
marketing agency doing social media, Tara
knows the importance of getting your name
out there. “I’d try to use visual platforms like
Instagram to your advantage when you’re
marketing. I use Hootsuite to schedule my
posts for the upcoming week. It takes me
maybe 30 minutes, but then it’s done.”
Another method of increasing exposure
is networking, particularly when it comes to
weddings. “One important thing to talk about
is collaborations,” says Tara, while perusing
and photographing the other stands at the
event before it officially opens. “I often work
on shoots with other florists, cake-makers,
models, even photographers... all of which
helps me to network and gain exposure.”
During the shoot, I notice Tara planning
a collaborative shoot with exquisite
flower arranger Sarah of The Petal