Online Class: Digital Wedding Photography 101
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18Lessons
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38Exams &
Assignments -
9Hours
average time -
0.9CEUs
Course Description
During the past five years, digital photography has grown by leaps and bounds. It is now considered so sophisticated that traditional film photography is fast becoming an artifact by many professional photographers. In fact, 90% of wedding photographers are shooting digitally.
This course on Digital Wedding Photography will give you advice from experts, provide startegies for interviewing potential clients, review lighting techniques, help you make purchasing equipment decisions and suggest ways to manage and edit your images. Additional topics of discussion include:
- Photojournalism.
Photojournalism has, for a number of years, been the popular choice and has dominated the industry. And yet, today's photographers have no problem with posing an image, as long as the results look unposed and emotion filled. Today's photography is moving more toward fine-art imagery and like any artist, photographers throw the traditional rules aside and push their creativity.
- Old Trends.
The popular saying "History repeats itself" is true as a recent development of formal posing techniques proves with the popularity and resurgence in group portraits. Traditionalists still stand by the tried and true because they evoke a period of elegance.
- Current Trends.
Bridal magazines display the latest trends and poses that are as diverse as the wedding gowns worn by today's brides. Digital wedding photography is a passion revered by many, and while this course is intended to be a guide to the many aspects of wedding photography, individuality and self-expression is the key to the skilled professional.
- Other topics.
Other topics will include the process of photo editing, popular shots, the wedding photographers checklist, marketing strategies, and much more.
Digital photography is here to stay and improving at record pace. Professional photographers are reaping the advantages, and with the choice of both digital and traditional photography, the best of both worlds can be experienced.
Course Motivation
Think back to the posed bride and groom, her upright and clutching her bouquet with the "cheesey" smile, and him also upright and leaning in toward his new bride. Can you picture it? In this early style everything was orchestrated toward classical posing techniques. Today's weddings are meant to be a joyous occasion filled with spontaneity and fun.
- Are you technophobic and overly anxious by technology?
- Are you content to stay in your comfort zone?
- Do you view film as your safety net and distrust digital images?
- Do you fear change?
- Do you fear being proactive with competitors?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, perhaps portrait photography would be your calling. Above all, you want to capture your client's trust. Simply put, a wedding photographer needs to trust that their digital camera will perform. A client needs to trust their photographer will perform.
People want to look as good as can be on the wedding photos. When film is used, eventually people will notice the imperfections, fine lines, oily skin or the hotel kitchen in the background. If you cannot eliminate these flaws, your work will become less marketable and your hands are tied. By going digital, you can open all the doors to become a successful wedding photographer.
Take the digital journey offered in this course. You cannot become an authoritative leader within your industry by staying in the dark ages.
The Evolution of the Digital Camera
By now, you have probably accepted that owning a digital camera is empowering for both your business and personal life. The advantages to going digital give you more creative control, lowers your processing and proof expenses and offers a more refined and flawless result.
As you move away from film you may notice the increased time and effort in being a totally digital operation. Today, fresh concepts and new workflows for image editing continue to evolve. New software and hardware are helping to simplify the process.
Adobe Photoshop has played an active role in the modern changes of wedding photography. No longer must the photographer develop prints in a darkroom. Now, the comfort of home or office is within reach of all photographers. Take the bold step. Rather than copy the works and ideas of successful photographers, try to forge new and creative ground of your own and continue to grow technically and artistically. Work toward making your work innovative, fresh, clear and insightful.
Just as the art and technology of photography helps you develop a positive wedding environment, you must also decide if you will remain proactive or reactive. Proactive photographers are open to change, think beyond the comfort zone and perfect the use of digital technology. Proactive photographers believe that capturing the motion of the moment is the important aspect. The reactive approach is a kind of knee-jerk reaction to what is happening during the ceremony and reception and posing the individuals in the usual way. Many photographers still prefer to use a combination of posed and digital photos. This has a number of advantages for the wedding photographer who prefers a more modified approach of taking photos, however, still wants to capture the emotion and emulate the style of photography that is seen in modern-day bridal magazines.
The Digital Wedding Today
Today's wedding photographer must consider the wishes of the bride and groom while tactfully making credible suggestions. If a bride is getting dressed in poor light, the photographer may say, "Can you sit by the window to capture the light?" These are the moments the photographer should anticipate. This happens with experience.
The move away from film to digital photos continues to be the most popular form of picture taking, aside from the increased time and effort in a completely digital environment. New techniques, software and hardware are becoming more sophisticated. Photographers spend more time perfecting each image whether group portraits or focusing on the bride, groom and wedding party.
Working as a wedding photographer requires many skills. To deliver the best photographs, you must be able to communicate, strategize and plan, focus on work flow and depict not only the anticipated but unpredictable moments. Scope out the places where you will be shooting to help you plan the composition of important shots. Learn to shoot from the hip so people won't know they are being photographed. Who knows? The bride and groom kissing in the corner may be your most memorable shot.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1 - The Progression of Wedding Photography
Even today, with digital photojournalism taking over the world of photography, traditional wedding photography is still being practiced. This first lesson will discuss how wedding photography has changed.Lesson 2 - Learning the Craft of Digital Wedding Photography
A wedding photographer cannot afford to wait until fall when the aspens are changing and the fall colors for a photographer's dream make a perfect background. Planning is crucial to a successful shoot. This lesson will discuss the skills that a Digital WeLesson 3 - The Wedding Photographer's Approach
You'll want to lean toward more candid shots for the engagement photos. No doubt, mom and dad will want a cheek to cheek pose for themselves. The key is to establish interaction, relieve stress and put the couple at ease.Lesson 4 - Workroom and Essential Equipment
It goes without saying digital photography has become popular among many photographers with different levels of experience. The advantages can range from better image resolution, control and an easier post-production process.Lesson 5 - Camera style and Composition
When it comes to exposure, the wedding day poses the greatest extremes – a white wedding gown and a black tuxedo being the ultimate.Lesson 6 - Posing the Subject
The colors and play of sunlight in the background shows the photographer knows his/her stuff. It certainly looks like he/she gave understandable directions to the subject.Lesson 7 - Group Portraits
Many of the group photos are a disappointment mainly to the photographer and frequently to those in the group. Did you notice that the photographer included his open kit in the shot?Lesson 8 - All About Lighting
The key to understanding the correct indoor lighting and creating this in your photographs is to comprehend the single light concept.Lesson 9 - Preparation and Planning
To avoid wedding mishaps, a stress-free wedding starts with preparation. Success depends on how well the photographer and clients prepare for the shoot.Lesson 10 - The Wedding Day
Planning wedding photo shots is almost as important as planning the wedding, as the pictures will be a helpful reminder of that special dayLesson 11 - The Wedding Reception
This lesson will discuss many of the photographs and photography tips that take place during the wedding reception.Lesson 12 - How to Make Your Wedding Subjects Look Great
Tips on how to make the bride shine, images of the wedding attire, the rings, and other wedding ritual shots are discussed in this lesson.Lesson 13 - The Wedding Photographer's Checklist
This lesson will discuss the wedding photography checklist as well as other preparation tools.Lesson 14 - Managing the Computer and Digital Camera
This lesson will discuss what wedding photographers must do after the pictures are taken and on your digital camera.Lesson 15 - Wedding Photography Package Ideas
Wedding Albums are almost a thing of the past. This lesson will discuss the emerging trend.Lesson 16 - More Details on the Editing Process
Graphics editing programs can be expensive and difficult to use. This lesson will go over how you can try out some of the editing programs already available with your computer.Lesson 17 - Designing the Wedding Album
What makes album designing unique is to turn it into a creative design, which means no templates. This takes more time, but nevertheless this is an important service a wedding photographer should be able to provide.Lesson 18 - Marketing Your Studio and Products
Before any business, including a photography business, can produce product, there must be the knowledge of whether there's a market for that product and how profitable it might be.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the progression of wedding photography.
- Describe learning the craft of digital wedding photography.
- Describe the wedding photographer's approach.
- Identify workroom and essential equipment.
- Summarize camera style and composition.
- Demonstrate posing the subject.
- Describe group portraits.
- Describe lighting techniques when doing digital wedding photography.
- Summarize preparation and planning.
- Describe the wedding day and what to expect as a wedding photographer.
- Summarize the wedding reception and what to expect as a wedding photographer.
- Summarize techniques on how to make your wedding subjects look great.
- Define the wedding photographer's checklist.
- Describe managing the computer and digital camera.
- Identify wedding photography package ideas.
- Demonstrate designing the wedding album.
- Summarize marketing your studio and products for future wedding photographer clients.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information
- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
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