Career as Wedding Photographer

Wedding photographers click pictures and capture different moods of individuals and small or large groups at a wedding function and frame these magical moments of life forever. Over the last few years, wedding photography seems to have become one of the most integral parts of modern wedding rituals in India. In fact, wedding looks out of place without a professional photographer. Wedding photographers are hired to capture both posed and candid moments in between the frenetic preparations and hundreds of emotions, which, in the end, create precious memories for families involved in the auspicious ceremony. As such, individuals with a craze and passion of attending the grand ceremonies of marriages and capturing the precious moments on the wide lens can give this creative interest a serious thought. They can idyllically think of making a prospering career in wedding photography. With the increasing number of marriages taking place in both lavish and sophisticated manners with immense pomp and grandeur, well-known wedding photographers can find themselves in demand and booked with back-to-back wedding photography sessions.

Course Details
To make a career in wedding photography, one needs to complete a course in photography to learn the basics and minute details of photography. In addition to the requisite knowledge of photography techniques and skills, one needs to possess creativity, talent, and business acumen to excel in this field. No regular courses are offered in wedding photography. Thus, interested candidates can pursue any level of program in photography to learn the very nuances of photography skills. A 10+2 pass student with good aesthetic sense is eligible for Degree/Diploma/Certificate courses in photography both on part-time and full-time basis. One can also become a member of various photography organizations by attending workshops and seminars conducted by these organizations. Assisting any established wedding photographer or specialist photo studios for wedding will be highly advantageous. This will enable budding wedding photographers to see how business operates and develop their photographic skills alongside other work skills.

Career Prospects
Like photography, wedding photography is highly competitive and survival of the finest is one of the most important aspects in this career option. What matters here is the quality and art instead of quantity. Therefore, delivering premium quality to the clients is the first and foremost job of a wedding photographer. The most useful way of gaining experiencing in this field is to work as an assistant photographer under an established and prominent professional. Majority of the work of wedding photographers, in general, involves clicking pictures of weddings and family portraits. After gaining experience, most wedding photographers work independently and establish themselves as top-notch professionals in their respective areas.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
There are no such institutions that offer specialized courses in wedding photography. However, photography is taught in numerous leading institutes in India. Some of the prominent ones include: College of Art, University of Delhi, New Delhi; Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi; Delhi School of Photography, New Delhi; JJ School of Applied Art, Mumbai; Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai; Ambitions 4 Photography Academy, Chennai; Film and Television Institute of India, Pune; Creative Hut Institute of Creativity, Photography & Film, Ahmedabad; Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata; and National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.

Remuneration
There is no fixed monthly income for a professional wedding photographer. While assisting any established photographer in the beginning, one can earn anywhere between several hundred rupees to Rs. 1,000 per wedding. The pay bounces up with increasing number of marriages attended in a single month. As a freelance photographer, one can make up to Rs. 5,000 for a single wedding ceremony. The most established and high profile wedding photographers demand Rs. 20,000, or even more, when contacted for celebrity weddings.