Hi, I’m a long-term Hitched reader and occasional commenter. I have a photography question and you guys are my photography gurus!
I’ve been asked to photograph a family member’s wedding next year. There’s no way I would have considered a ‘non-professional’ for my wedding photography, but it’s going to be a very small wedding abroad and the bride and groom are adamant that they want me to do the photos. I was flattered to be asked and am enthusiastic about the opportunity.
I’ve done a few one day and online courses and am very comfortable in aperture and shutter-priority modes but have no experience with using flash, reflectors etc. I’d like to get some more training but I don’t know where to start.
Should I go back to basics and take a general photography qualification through Open University, night school or an intensive course? This is something I had been contemplating before being asked about the wedding, but will probably be more expensive and time consuming. The alternative would be to take a class in wedding photography, I particularly like the idea of being able to practice wedding portraits before the big day – but how do you find a good training supplier?
I’m not looking to become a professional photographer – I just want to improve my skills for my own satisfaction and to do the best job I can for the bride and groom who’ve asked for my help. As photography is my hobby I’m willing to pay a few hundred pounds if the course is worth it, but how can you tell?
Any tips or recommendations on how to choose a decent course would be greatly appreciated. I just don’t know where to start.
