30 Days of Wedding Photography
Lesson Info
The Album Process
Success as a wedding photographer requires more than just raw talent and the desire to be a professional photographer. To survive in this highly competitive industry, you need strong business skills and a deep understanding of your craft. In this documentary wedding photography experience, Susan Stripling will teach you how to launch and sustain a successful wedding photography business.
During 30 days of step-by-step instruction, Susan will show you how to:
- Develop your business — everything from honing your creative vision to marketing tactics to studio management
- Fundamental shooting techniques for every possible wedding scenario by inviting you along to an engagement session and wedding day and with real-life clients — not models!Â
- Post production workflow
- Marketing and sales
- Album design
By the end of this course, you will have accompanied Susan through every step of a wedding and will have the skills, mindset, and tools needed to make a living — and a name for yourself — as a wedding photographer.
Lessons
IntroductionEvolution of Susan's Style
Branding and Identity
Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned
Introduction to Gear & Equipment
Lenses Part 1
Lenses Part 2
Lighting
Seeing the Scene
Seeing the Scene Q&A
Rhythm and Repetition
Leading Lines and Rule of Thirds
Rule of Odds and Double Exposures
Intro to Business
Financing Your Business
Q&A Days 1-4
Pricing Calculator
Package Pricing
Marketing
Vendor Relationships & Referrals
Marketing w Social Media
Booking the Client
The Pricing Conversation
Turn A Call Into a Meeting
In Person Meeting
Wedding Planning
Actual Client Pre Wedding Sit Down
Engagement Session Details
Engagement Session On Location
Wedding Details & Tips
Detail Photos Reviewed
Bridal Preparation
Bridal Preparation Photo Review
Bridal Prep - What If Scenarios
Q&A Days 5-11
First Look Demo
First Look Examples
Portraits of the Bride
Portraits of the Bride and Groom
Family Portraits Demo
Family Formal Examples
Wedding Ceremony Demo
Wedding Ceremony Examples
Different Traditions and Faiths
Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception Room Demo
Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception Room Examples
Wedding Introductions
First Dance
Wedding Toasts
Parent Dances
Wedding Party
Reception Events
Nighttime Portraits
Nighttime Portraits with Found Light
Post Wedding Session Demo
Post Wedding Session Critique
Wedding Day Difficulties
Post Workflow - Backing Up Folder Structure
Post Workflow - Culling Shots
Post Workflow - Outsourcing
Q&A Days 12-23
Post Workflow - Gear
Post Workflow - Lightroom Editing
Managing Your Studio
Post Wedding Marketing
Client Care
Pricing for Add-Ons
The Album Process
Balancing Your Business with Life
Post Wedding Problems
Parent Complaints
Unhappy Customers
Working with an Assistant
Assistant Q&A
Lighting with an Assistant
Q&A Days 24-30
Reviews
- <p>oh Susan, you are AWESOME!! I am not a wedding photographer (despite dipping my toe in this intimidating pool for one of my dearest friends), I shoot all forms of portraits and love sports too! Your '30-Days' has been the single most influential and educational moments since I started my venture into photography in 2009! THANK YOU! Your honesty, directness, bluntness, humor and vulnerability makes these 30-Days the most worthwhile time spent away from actual shooting; while simultaneously is the most inspirational motivator to push you out there to practice these ideas/techniques! #SShostestwiththemostest</p> <p>You raise the bar in this industry, not just with wedding photographers, but with all genres of photography! I wanted this course to learn about shooting and thought, great... I'll get a little bit of the business side too... OMG! I got it ALL! I'm dying! What an awesome investment in myself, my business and in YOU! PLEASE keep doing what you are doing! I love your new Dynamic Range, I feel that it is a wonderful extension of the work you do with Creative Live! I watch you EVERY DAY, every morning... I know that I continue absorbing your wisdom through repetition! I don't want to be you, I want to rise to your level! So thank you for the inspiration, motivation and aspiration! Keep on being REAL, its what we love about you! We embrace your Chanel meets Alexander McQueen-ness! :) Thank you for stepping into this educational space and providing us with your lessons learned so we can avoid the negative-time investment making mistakes... we are drinking your virtual lemonade!! HA! Like the others, whatever wisdom you offer in this medium, I will be jumping at the opportunity to learn from you! THANK YOU!</p>
- All the positive reviews say it all. When Susan took on the challenge of teaching this course it must of looked like attempting to climb Mount Everest...and she accomplished just that. Susan is a detailed, well-organized photographer and this clearly comes out in her teaching. Using repetition, clear instructions, a logical and well laid out presentation, she answers most any question you might have when it comes to wedding photography. I felt like I was having a private consultation when watching the course. She is real, honest, tactful, funny, and a gift to the photography community. Finally, her photography is professional and inspiring. Thank you Susan for the tremendous amount of work that you put into making this an outstanding Creative Live course for us all.
- I am actually a HS science teacher, but also have a small wedding photography business. I bought this class because I looked at her work. I won't buy a class on CL unless the instructor has beautiful work. Of course that doesn't mean a person is a good instructor. Well IMO, Susan is a very good instructor. She doesn't get off on too many tangents and sticks pretty much to the point. As a student, that is key. I also have Roberto Valenzuela's course, and his approach is different. Both of these photographers are great. But Susan's approach to business and shooting and work flow is a nice contrast. I appreciate her information about outsourcing work. This was very helpful to me. Kudos to Susan and her teaching abilities.