Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories

• #36 in Best Photography Books

112 Reviews

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...because it is so well written.

Let me start out by offering kudos to Amazon reviewers. I ordered this book because of its 5 star rating. If I just saw it on the shelf at a bookstore, I dont know if I would have picked it up...and it would have been my loss.

Because I keep getting more and more requests to do weddings, I sat down a few days ago and got three books from Amazon, each 5-star rated. I wanted to explore whether weddings are something I dare get into. The other two books I thumbed through, looked at the pics, skimmed a paragraph or chapter when something caught my attention, and kept going.

This one I started on this afternoon and read cover to cover...without meaning to!

Before you yawn and move on, know that this book is twice as thick as the average Amherst book (and only a tad smaller).

First of all, this book is targeted to people like me...folks that have a good working knowledge of SLRs and are either curious or serious about starting to shoot weddings. The book is written in a conversational style without the narrative stuffiness that caused me to put the other two down after thumbing through.

I felt like the author was talking to someone on my level, without all the eliteism I run into when mixing in semi- or pro circles.

For example, I know that shooting RAW gives more control over images. I know that primes are generally sharper than zooms. I've met purists who proudly snub their noses at JPEG, zooms, or both, speaking of them with the same disgust one might have talking about a cockroach that crosses the floor... or the junior photog in front of them that sheepishly mentions he uses both.

I own a couple of primes and will probably buy Photoshop CS2 in the next 12 months. Although its a necessary evil, I dont really enjoy sitting in front of a computer with the image software I have, much less something as complicated as CS2. Rather, Ive tried to spend the last couple of years immersing myself in PHOTOGRAPHY- trying to get the best, most creative images through the lens and into the camera...before all the processing.

I never felt second-class while reading this book.

This author tells you the "what" to do, but he excels in also telling the "why." A suggestion for certain shots has the requisite photo as an example, but often has other photos demonstrating how differences from that suggestion that affect the final image...usually negatively. This author has little problem "showing" as well as "telling."

He gives examples of why RAW is better most of the time, but he freely admits that shooting RAW involves a cost/benefit tradeoff, particularly a solo photog without a studio staff devoted to post-processing. He has no problems with the idea that sometimes JPEG wins that tradeoff for whatever reason. He writes about situations he feels JPEGs work just fine and times where even a JPEG photog needs to shoot RAW if at all possible (for example, shots of a bride in bright sunlight). He shows examples of why he says that. After all that, he then goes into tips to use if you still choose JPEG.

Other authors adopt the tone, "If you don't do what I say, you're wasting both our time by reading any further."

He talks about how digital has changed the landscape of wedding photography (such as folks like me considering it) and the trends of some photogs to provide digital copies on DVD's instead of keeping negatives and extracting money on prints. Rather than judge or cry about either, he simply deals with it and presents business models that take advantage of each issue either way.

The other books have gorgeous pics of gorgeous people getting married in castles, attended by butlers or maids as they get ready, and amazing images of fantasy weddings I doubt I'll ever attend. In fact, my new favorite wedding pic (maybe favorite any pic!) was in one of those books.

But I kept coming back to this book to read.

Even though I cant count how many photog books Ive read over the past two years, I still learned from this one.

I dont know if I will seriously commit to weddings or not.

I do know I am a better photog now than I was 8 hours ago...without even picking up a camera.

UPDATE 11/07

I can agree with one reviewer that the books is probably most helpful to shooters with 0-5 weddings under their belts. I'll add that its also probably most helpful to photogs that have read 0-5 wedding books. As I pointed out, the other books I bought were stuffed with "Photographs!" that dazzle and inspire. Heck, I brought out the other two to thumb through and ogle pics last night. But last week, I broke this one out to read though again.

New to wedding photography? Picture books are great for visual inspiration. Amazon is flooded with thin wedding books with purdyful, full-page pics. Heck, if you're reading this you can see what you probably aspire to right now by searching though the top rated wedding photographs in various online galleries such as photo*net or photosig*com. Some of the work there, as with many other books and websites, is distilled, unadulterated Mastery.

This book, however, is written as a tutorial for your brain (and wallet) more than an art class for your eye sockets. If this describes your needs, then, a year after purchase, I still offer my recommendation to you.

This book tells experienced photographers everything they need to know to make the transition into professional wedding photography. It is one of the best written books I have encountered in the field of photography.

The author starts out by describing three styles of wedding photography: traditional wedding photography, photojournalistic-style wedding photography and portrait journalism with a summery of each to help the reader understand the implications in terms of equipment, wedding day activities, individual style and even fees. Like so much of the book the reader may well say, "That's so clear. Why didn't I think of that?"

Throughout the book, the author assumes he's dealing with photographers who understand how to use cameras. When he talks about equipment, he assumes the reader is familiar with a digital single lens reflex camera's functions and just describes the features he considers important in selecting a camera for wedding photography. His method throughout the book is to follow the wedding photographer's workflow, from meeting the client to the wedding day to delivering the pictures.

His discussion of the dressing room is typical of his approach. He discusses the lenses the photographer will need, and which ones to select for conditions to get appropriate wedding shots. He notes the lighting problems that will be encountered and suggests solutions. He even discusses how to suggest a dressing room location to the bride that will provide the most memorable shots, and moreover, includes advice on dressing room etiquette, including nudity.

When it comes to the ceremony, he tells you the shots you have to have, and how to plan so you don't miss any, while not offending the guests who came to see the wedding and not the photographer.

The book finishes up with some suggestions regarding workspace setup and methods of providing the photos to the customer.

This book could serve as a model to authors of photography books. The outline is clear and concise. There's no unnecessary material, but everything a photographer needs to know to make the transition to wedding photography is included.

The book is not aimed at someone who is attending a wedding and wants to get a few shots of the bride. Rather, it's aimed at the person who wants to photograph weddings as a business and already knows something about taking pictures and processing them digitally.

I'm not certain how much new material the practicing wedding photographer will find here, but even experienced wedding shooters may learn something about organizing workflow to achieve a product that will be artful and please the customers.

And that, by the way, is an underlying theme. You can make money; you can please the participants; and you can create satisfying art as a wedding photographer.

As a beginning wedding photographer, I've had several questions about almost every aspect of the profession and business, and I can truely say that Glen's book offers answers to many of my most important queries.

As you read this book, you feel as though you're in wedding photography workshop whereby Glen shares his experiences, secrets, and tips for digital wedding photography.

I like how he explains the latest trends in the business, especially concerning the Creative Fee model whereby clients pay the photographer up front for complete wedding coverage and he or she in return provides the client with a CD or DVD of a set of full resolution, color corrected and enhanced, photos taken at the wedding. Clients can further hire the photographer for album design and production, but the focus is to provide clients with well done digital photos that tell a story about the wedding day.

From the outset of the book, Glen had me taking notes and making a list of improvements I want to make to my digital photography. After reading the three digital workflow examples he includes in the book, I went to my computer and begin writing out my own workflow which as I refine it will not only save me time but will help me become a better photographer.

In addition, Glen goes into nearly all aspects of digitla wedding photography, including light and exposure settings, essential shots throughout the weddding, suggestions for camera and other digital equipment (go to his website for a must have list of equipment) and post-production work using Photoshop and other photo management software.

As a very busy and experienced destination wedding photographer, Glen doesn't shy away from sharing the challenges of wedding photography. He provides the pros and cons of the business and even shares the thoughts and experiences of his fellow photographers.

Unlike many other wedding photography books, this one is not about show casing high end wedding shots. He includes images that I think can be attained by anyone serious about the craft. Almost every photo includes information about the nature of the shot and the camera settings used to take the shot.

This is a book that you'll you want to write in, yellow sticky selected pages, and constantly refer back to as you prepare for various wedding shoots.

I really appreciate what this hard working photographer has done. It's a much needed book.

I find it hard to find anything to agree with the positive reviewers. After reviewing this book, I conclude that some photography books are just about selling books, not valuable instruction. This one does not provide anything but the most very basic input. If you are not completely new to photography, then this book is probably too basic for you.
I purchased this book because I have a couple of weddings booked as an assistant & 2nd shooter, and like you wanted something to "bone up" on that I may otherwise miss. I flipped thru each section, but decided to return the book instead of spending valuable time reading further. This book is so basic, covering the most basic camera functions and simple personal interactions, that it is not worth the time to read thoroughly. My teenage daughter has taken some high school basic photography classes, and politely commented that "this book is silly".

A wedding shoot is critical to the couple, and there are no 2nd chances for a re-shoot. If you really feel the need to cover the basics, I suggest one covering general photography elements, practicing, and returning to weddings after those become second nature. Although a different genre, I can recommend Michael Freeman's "Light & Lighting in Digital Photography".

Dismayed by yet another book purporting to be a guide to digital wedding photography. The topic is really too big to cover well in a single book, nonetheless Glen Johnson, like many dozens of other photographers charges ahead and tries to do so. As a result there is inaccurate and incomplete information on the digital camera equipment needed to photography weddings for pay without disappointing poor brides who are likely to regret for the rest of their lives the novice that they hired to photograph their wedding, using their Canon Rebel and a single zoom lens with a solitary flash unit and little technical skill or knowledge of composition or posing or even of their camera and flash.

This book is bound to appeal to the complete novice who wants to be told that it is easy to break into wedding photography and no big investment of time, money, and apprenticeship is needed. Easy to read the book and thick that everything is covered and all you really need as Glen mentions is a camera and a 35-135mm zoom lens. Easy to put up a posting on Craigslist and pay for that new camera or lens you have wanted but could not justify to the spouse or afford to buy.

Anyone entering the very crowded field of wedding photography thinks that it as easy as it looks and Glen does nothing to dispel this notion and in fact encourages it. Anyone interested in getting into wedding photography should direct their learning into group posing, composition, lighting, and spend time working with a pro principal photograph instead of learning at the expense of actual couples and their families. Glen encourages people to get a camera and a 35-135mm lens and go for it. What happens when the light level is low as with most churches and receptions or when the single camera fails or key shots are missed while the photographer is checking the LCD display and trying to determine the correct camera and flash settings to use or changing between their two lenses or the flash stops working midway through the day.

I have had the opportunity to review thousands of images taken by people wanting to be second photographers and more than 80% of the time I have to wonder about why they took a particular shot where nothing was happening and people's faces are devoid of expression much less the type of emotion that is much present at weddings, and often the photographers have no concept of DOF, how their camera's AF settings impact performance, how to do mixed light exposures with flash and the camera in manual mode, and they figure they can fix it all later in Photoshop - how wrong they are. If it was just their pictures of a wedding for themselves well no big deal and no harm done unless they get in the way of the photographer hired to photograph the wedding.

Areas like composition are given only the most rudimentary treatment and might as well been left out of the book altogether. No comparisons of bad and good shots and explanation of why one shot failed and how it should have been shot with the single exception of a group picture taken by green plants and grass. No mention of the problems likely to occur from the green light reflected off green plants and onto peoples skin. The many bad wedding photographers out doing shoot and burn weddings are not going to improve their abilities with this book and worse it encourages people with no experience to give it a try with no understanding of what is needed in the way of camera equipment and skill and knowledge of photographing people and the particulars of wedding photography.

There are hundreds of books, many quite good, that deal with photography, camera usage, composition, posing, flash lighting, Photoshop and post processing, DAM, and other areas that deserve to be covered in depth and studied by budding photographers. Many excellent website as well as forums where one can see the work of others and explore what works and what does not and also read about other people entering the field of wedding photography and of their trials and tribulations and try to learn from their mistakes as much as possible. In this area Glen makes no comment much less recommendations for the reader.

Digital cameras have led many people to believe that producing a few properly exposed and in focus pictures is all that it takes. And if they can do it at a friend's birthday party or company picnic then they are ready to photograph a friend's wedding or even charge for their services. These people have never had to take 2000 pictures over a 8-12 hour period indoors and out and with people moving around in dimly lit churches and hotel banquet halls or used their flash for hundreds of pictures with all of the pics correctly exposed, color balanced, and focused, while capturing the essence of the key moments of the day. Books like this one by Glen provide just enough rope for beginning wedding photographers to hang themselves and their brides.

Amazingly bad pictures used in the book. Someone should have looked at the proofs and realized that almost all the pictures were much too dark and hardly professional. I expect that Glen gives his brides and his families pictures that are quite different from what appear in the book and this may be the fault of the publisher. Regardless one would do much better to review images online at wedding photographers' websites and at online wedding photography forums like the digital wedding forum.

With the flood of digital wedding books by photographers eager to earn extra income and gain a little more visibility in the industry it is difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff, especially with the universally glowing Amazon reviews by novice photographers. One book that is really worthy of praise is the book by the Australian wedding photographer, Marcus Bell. What Bell covers he covers well.

Master's Guide to Wedding Photography: Capturing Unforgettable Moments and Lasting Impressions

For getting started with learning posing techniques for weddings there is the very good book by Norman Phillips

Professional Posing Techniques for Wedding and Portrait Photographers

Point is that you cannot get all the information needed from any one book or for that matter any collection of books. A lot needs to be learned by doing and this does not mean at the expense of a bride and groom and parents and friends. Too many people photographing weddings do not even have a basic understanding of how THEIR camera and lenses and flash work. Recommendations like those made by Glen, to the effect that in these situations I have the camera on auto white balance and the flash at -1EV may be perfect for his Canon 5D and 580EX flash but this is not going to work with another camera, even a Canon camera, or a different flash, even a Canon flash, much less most of the equipment the new photographer will take to their first wedding. This is where the information provided on websites like the digitalweddingforum and others provide much better information that is useful and current.

Glen defends the shoot and burn photographers and uses the justification of the money they can earn for the little effort put forth but this really begs the question as to whether it is good for the wedding photography industry and whether it really is fair to the bride and groom and their families that are likely a year later to have only prints from Costco and no album. Hard to imagine a video camera person giving a couple all the recorded tapes from the wedding and expecting the couple to go off and edit them into something for viewing. It is great for the photographer who can leave the wedding, burn the files to a DVD and put it into the mail on Monday morning on the way in to work at their real job.

Do not understand why Glen and others with their books try to glorify wedding photography without a balanced perspective of the cost of all the equipment, the need to stay current with their skills and knowledge of not just photographing weddings but on creating products like gallery prints, DVD's, storybook albums, and business regs for sales tax, insurance, licenses, and liability protection from disgruntled brides when the photographer's equipment fails or the CF cards are stolen and other unexpected events happen. Nor the amount of effort to be attentive and anticipate the events of the day and be in position (and on your feet) throughout the day from when the bride starts to get her hair done to the end of the reception with her departure with her husband. Wedding photography requires a greater investment in equipment and capital and greater technical skill and better people skills than any other single area of photography while requiring that the photographer be a virtually solo act operating without benefit of a safety net.

For reasons I cannot fathom the wedding photography book authors often encourage people to get into wedding photography when most would find it a lot easier and a lot cheaper and involve a lot less risk to start with portrait photography or corporate event photography or team sports photography but somehow wedding photography has taken on a certain glamor that has resulted in an enormous volume of mediocre photographs and doubtless many unhappy brides. I have met more than a few mothers of brides who would still feel the pain of the poor photography of their own wedding and not having the kinds of photographs that they wanted their daughter to be able to enjoy.

If someone spends the $29.99 for Glen Johnson's book and follows his recommendations and think that they have the bases covered to even photograph a friend's wedding for free, they are sadly mistaken. They do not know what they do not know and this book like many others provides an incomplete and at times very accurate overview of wedding photography and the the professional requirements to get the job done and have delighted instead of disappointed couples as the result of their efforts.

I'll give it 1 star, only because a half isn't possible. From the author's description, you'd get the impression this is a book on individual technique and style. There's really not much of that. On page X (preface), he talks about how this book is not designed as a beginning photography book, but he seems to stick to a lot of basics throughout the book, for example page 30-31 discussed the strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons of digital SLR vs. point and shoot cameras. That alone is about as basic as it gets. I believe most anyone who is above 'beginning photography' level is fully aware how to use flash, knows that larger apertures are better in low light, and that a hard case is better for travel than a soft case, etc, etc. This book is overloaded with similar basic 'filler', like his explanation of what depth of field is on page 35. And I'm sorry, the 'secrets' of creating a successful wedding photography business aren't really secrets at all. It's just how he's done things, and reflects a few ways others have too. What this book has to offer is really just a partial printout of the vast resource of wedding photography information which is available for free on the internet through any search engine. There are far better books on this subject. Disappointingly, his one really has little to offer. Books like this, with a description like his lure uneducated, unexperienced camera owners into believing they can get out there and offer services that go shoulder to shoulder with the experienced pros. With 30 years experience in the trade of wedding and portrait photography, I can assure you that the required education and training aren't encapsulated in books like this. Wanna learn quick? Save your money. Work as an assistant for an established, experienced professional. You'll learn more in just a few weddings than a book like this offers. Pretty cover, though...

I am a wedding photographer and have read numerous wedding photography books and this one by Glen Johnson is the best introduction and comprehensive overview I have found. Very thorough without providing information that is likely to be quickly dated.

For someone starting out or making the transition from film to digital and wants solid information on areas including workflow and managing and archiving images, along with the business considerations and people side of the business, this book is very well done.

Very good in explaining the line of reasoning for suggested approaches and provides the why along with the what for photographing a wedding day. Glen even covers ceremony etiquette, which is the first time I have seen this mentioned in a book on wedding photography, but I agree with Glen that the wedding day is for the bride and groom and their families and friends and not meant to be a photo shoot directed by the photographer.

Very well written, well illustrated, and excellent use of side bars to provide additional information with examples.

The one area where I felt it was weak was in providing lighting setup information for photographers having to make often expensive decisions on how to add lighting for formals or dim reception locations. A few sample lighting diagrams would be very helpful along with some information regarding different approaches to using remotely triggered flash, and considerations in choosing flash units and lighting modifiers.

If you have shot 0-4 weddings then there is plenty of good information. The book is very detail-oriented around the business aspect of wedding photography along with some coaching around events, shots, etiquette, etc. So if you are new to digital photography and want to shoot weddings this is a very good resource. However....

If you are looking for lots of ideas for shots this is one place where the book is adequate but really missing a big opportunity. For all the 336 pages you get lots of text and relatively slim numbers of photos. If you are looking to shoot a wedding what you need as much as business sense and technique is.... ideas. Creative ideas are one of the most important things you can have. And for most of us who do not hallucinate about weddings all the time what you really need to seed your creative juices is lots of photos of what others has done. In this specific respect this book did miss this opportunity and hence 4 stars instead of 5. (Twice as many photos would have been the minimum for 5 stars IMHO.)

If you want something to seed your creativity that is slightly better than this book (for concepts) then check out 'The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images from the Pros' by Bill Hurter.

This book was excellent for me since I will be shooting my first wedding in Sept. It provided a tremendous amount of information about how to be organized, where to stand, what lenses to use, ideas for being creative, how to make money, etc, etc. If you are wanting to start down the road of wedding photography, buy this book first. This book has lots of excellent example photographs that help you understand what the author is talking about. I was so into this book I read it over two days. I will probably read it again here in the next week or two.

Based on all the positive reviews, I decided to get this one. Very disappointing. The Digital Wedding Photography is just another general photography book, giving almost nothing specific about this genre in particular. Most of the book is very basic, describing common photography issues, and apart from several really successful shots and couple of good practical tips, you will end up reading about different types of lenses, formatting your CF card, or the difference between JPEG and RAW. Not recommended for anyone above the early beginning stage in photography.

I have been a wedding photographer for 16 years and have purchased many books on that subject. This one by far is the the best yet, Glen goes into great detail about what equipment and techniques it takes to become a proficient wedding photographer. Some wedding books that I've read seem to generate more questions than answers, for instance; the author will talk about a specific technique or problem that you might encounter but then fail to completely explain the proper way solve it. Not so with Glen's book. He answers most any question that you might have and some that you probably didn't think of. I would highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in wedding photography to buy as their "Bible", also wedding pros that are transitioning from film to digital will find most all of their questions answered, lastly, pros like me who have made the leap to digital in the last few years will learn some tricks and tips to make their life a little easier and their photos better.
Here's the line that everyone who reads reviews looks for " If you can only buy one book on the subject, buy this one". I probably own more than a dozen books on the subject and this one by far is my favorite. In fact when I ordered this book I also purchased two other books that were highly regarded on this site, they pale in comparison, they're mostly all whipped cream and no pie, they show fancy images and touch on some techniques but they don't get into the meat of the matter the way that this book does.
My last comment is this; I've purchased over fifty books on various subjects from Amazon over the past 2 years and this one was the first one to compel me to write a review, I'd say that's the highest recommendation possible.

I was very disappointed by this book and don't agree with the glowing reviews.

I am a photographer who was interested in the difference between film shooting and digital shooting in a wedding situation.

I found this book to be VERY basic and is more appropriate for someone who is brand new to the wedding photography.

Even with that I found the information stated the obvious. For example, I think working with flash to be one of the more challenging areas of being new to digital. There were some basic instructions and some pictures that would be in my waste basket not shown as some "cool" effect.

All in all this is a general text for someone who may never have been to a wedding and/or has very little exposure to wedding photography. I would not recommend this book to anyone above the amateur level.

This book gives a tremendous amount of valuable information. The author covers many aspects of the wedding photography world, both the photographic side and the business side. The reason I gave this book three stars, rather than four or five stars is because the author seems to have the idea that the more and fancier equipment a photographer owns, the better and more successful a photographer he or she will be. Throughout the book, the author concentrates on exotic locations and seemingly tries to make a correlation between expensive camera gadgets and sales, instead of concentrating on technique and how to get the best photos out of the equipment you may already own. In reality, a camera is only a tool, and even great equipment can yield poor photos in the wrong hands.

I think this book would be better suited for already-established photographers who are looking for ways to expand their business and build their gadget collection with art lenses and other fancy gear. This book would be the perfect companion to a local part-time photographer looking to go full-time into the world of destination wedding photography, or to any photographer who aspires to one day cater exclusively to the wealthiest and most celebrated clientele. To a less-experienced photographer, or a novice photographer looking to go pro or semi-pro, this book is -- as a college professor once told me -- smashing ants with hammers.

As an advanced amatuer photographer, I became interested in doing wedding photography after attending several weddings for friends and family in a single year. Most of them had paid photographers, so I was free to practice without pressure. A couple were so informal that I was actually asked to be the impromptu photographer. I found that really I enjoyed the work, and was actually pretty good at it too! Somehow word of mouth landed me three paid jobs for weddings in the following year. Having no formal training or experience, I was terrified! So I decided to hit the books.

I bought Glen Johnson's "Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories" at the same time as Bill Hurter's "The Best of Wedding Photojournalism: Techniques and Images from the Pros." Though Bill Hurter's book had some nice pictures and ideas, I was more impressed with the comprehensive business approach that Glen took in his book. He covered all the basis: from developing your own style and business model, ettiquette & attire, equipment & tools of the trade, ceremony/reception logistics, photo tips & pitfalls to avoid, techniques for working with people, the right camera settings for different scenes, and post-processing workflow. He uses photos to complement his text, but it doesn't appear to be a portfolio for him to show off his beautiful pictures. You can see that on his website.

As some have complained, he doesn't attempt to cover every topic in boring depth. Instead, he provides an overview of key points, supplemented by useful references and WEBSITES where you can learn more. His own website is a comprehensive learning site, with all kinds of tips. He even has his contract online for you to reference when developing your own. I also liked that he interviewed several other professional photographers on their ceremony techniques, workflows, and software preferences to show how different approaches can work.

It isn't his job to teach you how to use Photoshop, or how to design your webpage. So he instead highlights where you can get tools (i.e. Actions, templates, and programs) to make them work better for you. If you need to learn how to use Photoshop or how to design a webpage, there are plenty of other great books out there on that.

I have now successfully shot all three of those weddings, and see a bright future ahead for my new business. I owe a majority of my success to Glen's book, for giving me a solid ground to start on.

I have been a wedding photographer for many years(37) and have purchased a lot of books and attended a lot of seminars to continue my education in wedding photography. The information contained in this newly released book by Glen Johnson is simply the latest and up to date you will find anywhere. It would be helpful to those just getting started or those who think they know almost everything. The book contains more information than those written by the big names in the industry. I also purchased another book at the same time by one of the "experts" who are just out to sell you their book and take your money. It was Worthless!! This book is the best buy I have made in years if not for all time. The information is priceless and worth much more than what you pay. Five stars for me. John

95% of all wedding photography books are nothing but fluff. They show off an author's work and allow a forumn for pontificating opinions and you walk away with no real value. This book provides real information on virtually every aspect of the digital wedding photography business. I couldn't believe my eyes...finally someone not afraid to offer real insight and options on everything from the business model, to the exposure settings, and beyond. Initially I was drawn to the number of pages...most of these books are around 130 pages of fluff, at over 300 pages, this is like the wedding photographers encyclopedia. Whether your just beginning or you're a seasoned pro...you will find something useful in this book. I find myself picking it up out of pleasure and not obligation. Kudos to Mr. Johnson...and thank you for sharing these valuable secrets.

I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about wedding photography as I am considering trying to do it as a side business. I have used 35mm and digital cameras for many years now and wanted to find out more about wedding photography.

I have to say, this book is excellent! It really gives you so much helpful information that even if you've never done wedding photography before, the information in this book will help you speak knowledgably to potential clients.

This book does assume you already know photography well as it gives detailed information on exposure and camera settings- and if you don't have a full grasp of these topics, it may go over your head (as it did mine many times). However, the author does explain these concepts and it really helped me to understand photography a lot better.

The pictures in this book are beautiful and this book has certainly inspired me to persue the dream of being a wedding photographer.

Overall an excellent must read book for anybody considering getting into the wedding photography business as a side business or as a full time job.

Yes, as everyone has said its a phenomenal wedding photography book. But, its also a great photography book!
You do need to know the basics to pick this book up, but it can definitely be an asset to help take you to the next level. In terms of general stuff, there's great info on exposure considerations, jpg vs. raw, composition, shooting in sunlight, and just the best stuff I've read on properly using flash.
Wow!

I just would like to thank you Glen Johnson for such informative book. It's a book which must be on a table of every photographer. It's "Wedding Photography Businees Bible"! I improved so much since I red this book first time and I am still getting more and more useful information
Thank you again Glen

I bought this book because of all the very high ratings this book received. This was mostly a waste for me.

There is far too much basic information. Anyone going to shoot a wedding, should already be assumed to have a good basic grasp of work flow, how to load images to the computer (Really? Are you serious? Yes, this is also described in this book) and should certainly know the `rule of thirds'. These things can be found in any basic photography primer and is a waste of space in this genre specific book. These are just a few examples, there is much more that is superfluous.

There is not enough information on posing a B&G for formals and not enough lighting diagrams to go with this. Yes, every wedding is different, but there are basic WEDDING SPECIFIC standard techniques that seem to be missing.

Also, way to much space is spent on `location photographers'. Seriously, how many of us will ever be invited to the Bahamas to shoot a wedding? And if you are at that level, you don't need this book, that's for sure. It seemed to be more of a glorification of the Author, in a pseudo modest way (oh, it's very hard, all that travel and diarrhea...), than valuable information for the reader.

Overall, this is both too much and not enough. Too much basic information, yet not a truly comprehensive primer. Not enough wedding specific help if you are already an experienced photog, yet need to improve your wedding specific skills.

Yes, there are some redeeming points, like etiquette in certain situations, some ideas to be on the lookout for, some creative directions to thing about, yet on the whole, not enough to warrant this pricey book.

As an advanced amateur photographer (I have a love/hate relationship with the phrase "prosumer", but that is me) I have recently read several books on wedding photography, as I plan to enter that field professionally. This book provided all the information I was looking for, as well as answered many of my more mundane, logistical questions about shooting weddings. I also found huge amounts of useful information on the author's website, so the book provides more than what is just between the pages. If you are a wedding photographer already, about half of this book will be old news to you. If you aspire to be a wedding photographer (or have attempted to shoot a wedding and fell on your face) this is the perfect book (and website) for you. I can even say it was an interesting read - informative as well as entertaining. This is the book that will answer most if not all of your questions.

I purchased this book 2 weeks ago and have not put it down. I have read it twice and still enjoy leafing through the pages. It is beautifully illustrated and very well written. It is extremely easy to read and understand. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in wedding photography. Kudos to Glen for such a fabulous book!

I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate this book. I tell everyone to buy it and several have! It has helped me as a weekend wedding photographer to hone my skills. So much in fact that I was just hired to do a destination wedding in the OC (Orange County, Calif.) and I live in Indy!!

The author is amazing and his writing style is mezmerizing. Believe it or not this is one of the best 'page turners' I have read in the last couple of years and I am a big action and mystery fiction fan. If he writes a sequel or something else I will pick it up for sure! He did not set out to want to write a book and that shows! I am glad he was talked into it!

-Jeff, Johansen Photography

I really enjoyed this book. I have been a professional photographer for over 10 years and this book still has plenty to offer. It's not just a beginners book. There is something for everyone.
It's well put together and informative. I highly reccomend it for the beginner or professional alike.

I have been shooting wedding for almost one year and I wish Glen has published this book earlier.

The common problem of a wedding photography book is that the writer didn't relate the images with the text. We see beautiful image, but the text is describing another things. I am glad to find that Glen is able to illustrate what he wrote by picking the perfect picture.

Glen's book covered every little detail on a wedding day and guided you how to plan a shooting. He divided the book systemically into different sessions and gave you tips like what lenses to use, what effect you can achieve, what emotion to be captured and even etiquette during different situations.

The writer emphasized very much on the workflow. He described in detail how to prepare a shot 2 days before, during the ceremony and the after-shot plan. He didn't ask you to follow, but guide you to develop your own and include his colleague's workflow for your reference.

Glen discussed intensively the business mode of wedding photography nowadays and how to present your photos to attract more clients.

All in all, this is the book which should be on the bookshelf for those who is going into the business.

This book really is fabulous, in a word. It is by far the best resource I have encounted for digital wedding photography. It is quite current and timely, and discusses popular styles of photography that are most often sought after by clients.
Though I'm not a professional photographer, I have a strong background knowledge of photography and have shot as an amateur for 5 years. The technical information in this book was right at the perfect level for me; I learned some new tricks and some ways to employ certain techniques, but a basic knowledge of photographic processes is necessary. The amount of information within this book is just incredible for what it costs.
In addition to covering the more technical aspects of digital wedding photography, the author addresses issues such as workflow, shooting on location, running one's own business, and wedding day etiquette. The reader will even get some basic photo editing tips. The author's advice is insightful and very practical.
Though the book is thick with information, it is incredibly readable. The photos are modern (which is more than I can say for many books on the topic) and inspiring as well!

I am not a novice, but still learning ...

this book seems to take all of the thoughts and ideas out there and put them into a concise and complete format that is suitable for the likes of me and you ...and yet does it a mature way...he doesn't hold your hand in any way ... great facts, great images, great ideas ..but no "walk this way attitude".

I bought this book and read it while on vacation just before my first full season in wedding photography and it was absolutely the perfect fit for me.

It has some technical shooting information but that's not really what this book is about. This is about learning how to think. It's a perfect read for the person who already knows how to use his or her camera but wants to learn what it takes to shoot weddings. One of the strong points of this book is that it covers so many different types of situations that when you're faced with a challenge on the wedding day you've already thought through how you will handle it.

You might consider this a checklist that you can tick off before shooting a wedding. Some of the things you'll already know, some you should have known and others will seem like brilliant new revelations.

Here are some examples of things that you'll be glad you've read about if you haven't been thinking about them already:

DRESSING ROOM ETIQUETTE
-how do you act professionally and put people at ease right off the bat?
-how do you handle the nudity issue?

LIGHTING
-how can you be prepared to get the shot under any circumstances?
-when and how should you use your flash?
-what are the trade-offs and benefits to various artificial lighting methods?

GENERAL
-how do you plan your day and know where to be and when?
-couples aren't models and you don't have much time, so how do you get great, unique shots during your creative portrait session?
-how and when are you going to backup your images? (do you have a fire-proof safe?)

Those are just a few highlights off the top of my head.

The point is, if you read this book and really think about it you're going to feel confident and well prepared when you go out and actually start shooting. If you're looking for a something that tells you how to use your camera or something really advanced with very specific detail you might look elsewhere. If you want to learn how to get prepared and THINK like a wedding photographer then this will be perfect. For me it was a 6-star book.

This is my first time writing a review on Amazon, but I really wanted to give this book the kudos it deserves. I've bought and browsed through many photography books, and this one is a standout. Johnson advises readers on so many things--from traveling with equipment, to meetings with clients, to setting up a workspace, to work flow and options for retouching He goes over the different types of lenses and what kinds of shots each one is good for. It's also in full color with great examples/illustrations. Johnson gives you tips for getting great candid shots and on finding locations for portraits. He addresses common challenges (as well as situations and practices to avoid) and provides solutions. I've been re-reading this ever since I bought it. Aimed at baby wedding photographers, I'd think that the material would benefit more experienced pros as well. It's an invaluable reference and a great addition to any library.

If you are looking for a book that will give you ideas on how to shoot a wedding...this is the book for you.

If you are looking for ideas on how to run a wedding photography business, again this is the book for you.

Soup to Nuts...the book covers everything you will ever need to know about running a wedding photography business with lots of amazing shots included.

Excellent.

The introduction to this book explains that it is not for photographers that want to know about depth of field or composition. It is geared toward photographers that already have a decent handle on taking photos but would like insight into what is involved when it comes to wedding photography using a digital camera.

There is an interesting section in the book that explains the differences between traditional, classic portrait wedding photos and the new, now in vogue, photo-journalistic style of wedding photography. Further, why each is important and how to execute each of the two approaches. The book even goes as far as explaining about different revenue models and the strengths and weakenesses of each. This is valuable information (no pun intended).

There are lots of photo examples complete with EXIF camera setting data for each one. The book also gives some excellent tips on taking wedding photos inside and outside given the wide disparity of lighting situations. Great information on using flash and when it is appropriate and how it is best accomplished is included as well. There is a section that explains what lenses are best used in certain situations and why.

In addition to the valuable technical tips and techniques, there is a great deal of very useful information on how to best relate to various situations during the preparation, ceremony, and reception phases of the wedding. This includes manners while taking photos, the best way to approach certain situations, and the people involved that the photographers needs to pay special attention to. One of the more interesting aspects to photographing the actual wedding ceremony are the hints and tips on how to be unobtrusive, how close to get to the wedding couple and the "must have" shots for any wedding.

I already know that I will re-read this book several times in order to commit much of the great content to memory. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the complex and specialized field of wedding photography and especially to those who don't consider themselves "experts". It is loaded with useful information. Weddings take a limited amount of time and the photographer must know what they are doing to get it right the first time because there are no second chances...

I purchased Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories this summer to help me prepare for my first weddings that I am shooting in August. I have bought a lot of photography books, but this is by far the best one that I have read so far. I'm just getting my feet wet in the area of wedding photography and I feel like this book really taught me a lot. I feel very comfortable going into these situations now that I have the knowledge and tips from this book.

As a general overview of wedding photography from a photojournalist's point of view I doubt that Glen Johnson's Digital Wedding Photography can currently be beat. No one topic is covered in great detail but he also does not seem to left any significant aspect uncovered. The book should appeal most to those new, or who are contemplating entering, wedding photography. Some sections seem to have been written for individuals who have only point & shoot experience but who have been asked by a friend or relative to take photos at their wedding as he discusses some very basic camera operations and functions.

If you are new to wedding photography this book would be useful to you as a quick way to begin to understand where you need to learn more about the field. Because Digital Wedding Photography is a general overview nothing is covered in any depth. For example Johnson discussion of PhotoShop is so basic that he could have saved space by just saying that a knowledge of PhotoShop is a necessity for a wedding photographer and then given a list of recommended readings or workshops. Personally I would have liked to have seen more of the business side of wedding photography. This is covered somewhat but again all too briefly.
[...]

I'm a photographer/graphic designer, shooting weddings in my spare time. When I first started out, it was scary. When I asked advice from other photographers or in forums, most of them were discouraging and downright snooty. Glen Johnson's book was like having my own personal wedding photography mentor. He explains procedures and options in a very easy-to-understand, down-to-earth, and encouraging manner. I savored every page and was sad when I finished the book. It was comforting that all that I've learned on my own was what other professionals do. I still refer to it once in a while, if not to just look at his amazing images. A must have for budding wedding photogs!

After a numerous wedding photography books...i finally found a good one that stays on my desk...instead of the bookshelve. Other wedding photography books have so much fill its unbelievable. I know what aperture and shutter speed is already, no need to tell me and no need to spend chapters on it!!! I'm gald this one dives right in. If you are a beginner...then maybe this book is a little too fast paced for you. Well written and the illustrations are good. Also has good tips that i haven't seen in the others wedding books. Real solid reading and advises. Of the 8-9 wedding books i own...this one ranks 1st or 2nd. Good Job Mr. Johnson!

This is a fabulous book for anyone who is enjoys photography. It is a comprehensive step by step on how to get the right shot, using the right lens, down to how to pack for destination weddings. I would recommend this book to anyone in photography.

I have never taken the time to review a book but after reading this book I am compelled to do so. I am an avid videographer and photographer just breaking into the professional realm. This book is a masterpiece for the intermediate photographer, not just for weddings but for tips and idea's on how to use that camera of yours. I am VERY impressed and have learned tons. Thank you for a book well done!

This is an excellent book for the beginners or the intermediates. This book is well written and well organized with many examples and tips on "how to" in many different situations. I would highly recommend for anyone who wants to get into wedding photography.

Kamlesh

What elements differentiate wedding photography from all other types? It's the ability to capture emotion that makes or breaks the wedding photographer - that and etiquette and professional touches in presenting the shot - and these are what DIGITAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: CAPTURING BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS emphasizes. Color photo examples throughout compliments more technical directions on lens choices, settings, composition and art. A top pick for aspiring wedding photographer and newcomers alike.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I would highly recommend this book if you are even thinking about digital wedding photography. The earlier reviews are not hype. I'm a serious amateur photographer and landed a photo gig to do a wedding and I read this book a few weeks before the event and it was worth its weight in gold. I was not very knowledgeable about the digital arena but got up to speed very fast with the help of this book. EXCELLENT!

Over the years I've looked through every wedding photography book I could get my hands on, and quite frankly, I feel like every one of them pales in comparison to this book. It's very well laid out, and the sheer amount of very practical, helpful information is astounding. I'm just switching from 35mm to digital for weddings, so the fact that this deals specifically with digital was extra appealing. I encourage anyone to buy this with no hesitation; I'm confident you'll be extremely happy with your investment. Happy shooting!

Having shot almost 30 weddings, I was looking forward to read some books in order to sharpen my wedding photography knowledge. After reading the reviews, it appeared that this book was for beginners and advanced wedding photographers as well. However I think this book is aimed for people who have never shot any wedding (or just a few) with have very limited computer literacy.

Be ready to get this kind of information:
- a SLR (single lens reflex) camera is better than a point and shoot camera to cover weddings (including an in depth analysis of strength, weaknesses taking a few pages)
- avoid drinking too much at a wedding (really???)
- 1go and 2go cards are a good balance between size and quantity (including several close-up pictures of memory cards of course)
- information about travelers'diarrhea and vaccination (was the author drunk while writing this?)
- a beautiful and large picture of a Sony Vaio desktop computer including this relevant reference: "Figure 14-4: A desktop system offers the most flexibility, speed, and cost effectiveness for the digital photographer"

Ok, that's enough.

The author starts off by saying this is not a manual to learn photography but a manual to learn how to photograph weddings. I shot a wedding the week after I finished the book and used it to capture every photos a bride could want. There are sections from lighting to handling brides which made my first wedding a piece of cake!

I reviewed this book for the first time on January 26, 2009. Today, May 18, I feel like improving my ranking from 4 to 5 stars. I still think that the book is not an easy reading, but it's the subject that is truly a difficult mission: HELP PEOPLE THINKING. Now, after having ground in my mind Michael's tips for several weeks, I have to admit that he mastered the topics with rare ability and profoundness. "The Photographer's Eye" is an endless source of sheer inspiration and a genuine spur to a different way of thinking, more comprehensive and thorough approach to photography. Believe it or not, my friends tell me that my pictures improved. I'm a better photographer, a deeper thinker, a more complete artist. To me, this book lives up to his title......
Max
------------------------------------------
First review on Jan 26, 2009
After a few weeks spent reading this book, I cannot help but giving only four stars, in open disagreement with many other reviewers. To me, the title is deceiving; by any means do not expect to find an easy-to-read check list of what to do or how to do it, nor a list of recommendations or tricks. Moreover, as far as the "composition and design" is concerned, the organization of the arguments and paragraphs doesn't give a proper flow of information and easiness to grab the messages. Bottom line: the book is not for beginners.
Having said that, I would strongly recommend this book to a number of persons. I would recommend it to those experienced photographers that have lost their compass. To those that got stuck with and endless repetition of every day boring shots. To those that are forgetting to think before pressing the black button. To those that need to step back from their first, used reaction to shoot like a machine gun.
The book is in fact a challenging journey to the inner self of any photographer. Mr. Freeman did write it not for pure business, but really to help any willing reader to grow. The Photographer's eye takes your hand through the most recessed convolution of your brain in a page-after-page involvement in a process that ultimately leads you to think to the way you take pictures compared to the way you want to take pictures. It's kind of father asking you what you would like to do when you become a grown up person (or photographer in this case). I really don't know whether I'll take any better photo after reading this book, but I'll for sure be a better photographer. Thanks Michael.
Max

I am a photographer with a passion and an eye, but not too much technical training and definitely far from what I would consider professional. I usually shoot in automatic mode because I'm not as comfortable in the other modes and the only lens I have is the one that came with my digital SLR. Still, I shot a few weddings years ago and was asked to shoot a friend's sister wedding this coming summer. I decided to use this as an excuse to brush up on my skills and expand my equipment. I wanted to be informed going into the wedding and was especially interested in learning about what sort of equipment I should be considering. I decided to buy this book and the Wedding Photographer's Handbook by Bill Hurter. The books arrived in the same shipment and as I flipped through the books, I immediately could tell that if I had seen both of these in bookstores before I purchased them, I would have probably just purchased this book, "Digital Wedding Photography:..." . It is significantly longer and almost looks like a text book with clearly outlined content. I prepared myself with post-its to mark up important things to refer to as I read the books to reference later.

I read the Hunter book first, fairly quickly. It's a lot shorter and while their photos are far superior, offers a more top-level, general introduction to the world of wedding photography. I only placed 3 post-its in this book.

Then I read this book by Glen Johnson and discovered that my first impression was spot-on. This book is much more detailed, including information down to the details of a drill you can do to practice getting the perfect shots for the bouquet toss and ideal angles to shoot from for the cake cutting. I used 12 post-its for this book. The actual photography in the book was not as creative as the photos in the Hunter book so I ended up being glad that I got both, although I value the information I received in this book over the inspiration I received from the Hunter book since I could probably find similar inspiration by looking at images online.

Overall, this book was exactly what I was looking for. The only area I noticed that there wasn't much detail on was pricing. But I think that was done intentionally since it describes how regional pricing can be and how you should find out what the pricing average is in your area before you set up your own prices. I think the most useful information in this book was details about equipment recommendations and information about touching up photographs. I would have liked to learn more about retouching but the amount of information in here exceeded my expectations and if I need to learn more, I should simply get a book specifically on that topic.

I'm a amateur photograper, looking into ways to make some profit of my hobby. I picked this book because of all those great reviews it featered.

In fact, I only found about under 10 tips that made me go "A-ha!" and bookmark the page.

What drove me crazy was the way the book is written - Glen repeats himself on many subjects, thus giving a constant sense of deja vu, when you understand you'd already read that about about a 100 pages ago.

My last complaint is that 80% of pictures featured in the book are not inspiring at all - either plain dull or overly manipulated.

I have read this book multiple times. It is simply excellent. It is instructional, very comical in a sense, down to earth, and blunt. Those of you looking to start a photography business because you think it will be an easy, exciting profession. Quit. Those of you who are following a passion and would like to take your business to the next level, read this book and add it to your collection. It has very good insight and information to contribute to your growth as a photographer and more accurately a wedding photographer. There is no book to tell you how to be the perfect wedding photographer but this one will aid in getting you there. :) P.S. check out his site too...

Wedding photography is more than taking a lot of good pictures. It is about capturing the special moments, creating a lasting memory, and becoming successful at it to stay in business! This book is very helpful on all counts. Not for the novice photographer, it teaches about the proper lenses, the equipment needed, the workflow, post production, the presentation to the client and the cost analysis needed to be done.

Full of good tips and approaches to the art of Portrait Journalism, this is a must have for someone interested in getting into the business. It is obviously written by a person who is not only knowledgeable and experienced, but loves his job.

I do not hesitate to claim that this book is absolutely the BEST overall book on wedding photography that can be purchased for an intermediate photographer looking to get into wedding photography. I'm slowly making the transition from being a landscape photographer to wedding photographer, and while I understand apertures and shutter speeds, there are various aspects to wedding photography that this book covers exceptionally well such as differing business models and types of wedding photography that someone coming from a different area of photography may be interested in learning more about.

I have been also extremely impressed with both the breadth of topics covered by this book as well as the depth of topics.

In fact, coming from someone who has read may books about varying areas of photography (even Ansel Adams' trilogy), I rank this book as one of the top. I find that this book has an excellent balance for the intermediate photographer looking to get into wedding photography. Additionally, this book is much longer than the other wedding books out there-- with 310 pages of information.

Well done Mr. Johnson.

I received the book digital Wedding Photography in less than a week and I am so very impressed. Took me three days to finish reading, but so worth it. It had more information than I expected and I will refer back to it many times, because I won't be able to retain it all. Would like to meet the author in person some time and didn't know he lives in the same town as me. I want to learn so much more in the studio area. I need to get myself some better lenses and update my camera. I learned so many things from reading the book. Better than any other book I have bought, and I have bought many. Recommed it to beginners like me and for advanced folks too.
Thank you so much,
Jessie Savage Springfield Oregon

This is a good book with lots of good info. Not intended for the already established Wedding photog, but good for someone starting out. Better than most of the new photography books out today that are all fluff but no real info.

this book gives a detailed documentation on how to provide wedding photography to your client. However, it is not going to teach you how to make good wedding photos.

Very inspiring book and one thing I've noticed about Glen is he is all about helping others. Many photographers want to keep the secrets to themselves, but Glen let's all the good stuff out in this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in Wedding Photography as he gives you such a wide range of information covering nearly every aspect of the wedding photography project to completion and gives several recommendations on current products on the market. I even noticed after reviewing Glen's website that he offers this book signed by him from his website. It's much more affordable here on Amazon, but it's different to get the signed version. My hat's off to Glen for an outstanding book.

I recommend this book to the non-traditional photographer. This would appeal more so to the photo journalist or the portrait journalist as this is Glen's photography style. Thanks for putting this book together Glen!

I'm just making the transition to wedding photography and this book provided exactly what I wanted.

Experience wedding photographers may not see a whole lot of value in reading the book, but photographers just starting to shoot weddings, it's a "soup to nuts" instructional manual.

I am still new to photography and this book has been a great guide for me. Weddings and family pictures are mostly what I do and this book has already given me good advice. I am not yet completely finished reading it but all that I have read has been extremly helpful.

One of the most practical, comprehensive and truely useful book written for wedding photographers. A must read if you plan to shoot wedding as a career,part-time or as a hobby.

After reading several reviews of this book I had to check it out. As an aspiring professional wedding photographer I found this book had lots of great tips from lighting to what workflow works best for you. I got it a week ago and haven't put it down! The photographs are amazing, and what's better is Glen tells you how it was made. I would definately reccommend this book to anyone interested in wedding photography, from beginner to novice.

Dear Glen,



First of all I wanted to thank you for all the valuable information you've shared in your book "Digital Wedding Photography" I recently purchased it on a working trip prior to shooting a wedding. I have to say that wedding was by far my best yet.

Your inspiration as well as your simple techniques have helped me to improve quite substantially. This business is often frustrating and offers little feedback from seasoned professionals. I felt as if you were there with me helping me to be calm and offering direction.

I would be honored to one day work next to you as an assistant or second shooter should the opportunity ever arise. I'm very serious about succeeding as a wedding photographer and I take any opportunity I can to learn more about my art and my business.

Thank you again for much inspiration,

Mike Barry

www.march7photos.com

Glen,
I just wanted to thank you for writing such a tasteful and informative book on wedding photo. I'm a beginning pro, finished school this year. I'm shooting my first wedding this weekend for a couple whos picture I took while working an event almost a year ago. They liked it so much they asked me to do there wedding. I appreciated the effect that I had on them so I'm honored. I never pictured my self doing weddings early on but as time goes by, wedding photo is becoming an art in it's own right as you know. It's a combination of fine art, landscape, products, portraits etc., all that I love. So as I've begun researching it as a career I've found a lot of information that falls far short of yours. I'm a designer as well so I look for instructional books that are graphically pleasing and rich with information. I can never seem to figure out how photographers and their publishers can have such horrible eyes for design, doesn't it go hand and hand? It doesn't hurt being a good writer as you are. Your text doesn't intimidate.
As for me, I feel confident that I can be a wedding photographer after reading your book. All I need now is your list of equipment!
Cheers!

Spent some quality time with your book Glen and I must say, it's a quality book! Your book has more great digital wedding photography information than any book I have read or seen out there. The chapters on "Developing your own style" and "Destination Weddings" were my favorite. Great section on business also!

That cover image is fantastic!!

I would recommend this book highly!

I have been digital for 6 years and I still learned stuff from this book!!

Get it!

David Beckstead - International Destination Wedding Photographer

This book is very well organized and presented with pros and amateurs as well in mind. The contents guides you through the challenge that represent from starting into or just changing from film photography to digital. It is one of the most complete guides for digital wedding photography. Excellent compendium.

My husband and I are new to the wedding photography business and truly appreciate this book. Glen Johnson has inspired us every step of the way- from our decision to go into business to shaping our business model and workflow. He has also helped enlighten us to the creative possibilities contained within a photographic genre that is often considered trite.

The layout of the book is great, as is the style of prose. It serves as an excellent reference, a book you will return to again and again to peruse randomly or seek insight on a specific topic. We have particularly enjoyed coming across anecdotal gems such as the story of the time Glen accidentally set off the fire alarm in a church. We will definitely take his advice on using the snuffer to extinguish candles!

As photographers in our inaugural year of business, this book has proved invaluable. Having this book at our finger tips is like having a trusted advisor to consult whenever the inevitable question on "best practice" arises. As we continue to grow in our business and as artists, I feel confident that we will always be grateful for the foundation Glen's advice and example have provided for us.

This is an amazing guide to wedding digital photography. Not only does it share photography techniques, but also talks about building a wedding photography business from A to Z. It also shares experiences of some photographers and their style. Although I don't find the author's photos to be of superior quality.

I have read many, many books on wedding photography, and this is by far the best and most comprehensive book on wedding photography ever written. It takes into account that you already know how to operate your camera, and are a skilled photographer already, it then takes that skill and shows you how to apply it to this specific profession. It looks at all styles, and methods. If you are looking to become a professional wedding photographer, this is a must have reference.

I got this book because I wanted to learn more about transitioning into wedding photography from the professional photography that I already offer. I first saw the book and read pages of it at a bookstore. I didn't have my wallet on me to get the book then but I did put it on my birthday wish on amazon and someone purchased it for me.... great book. He gives great pointers as someone would who is walking you through the directions of what to do. I recommend it.

BTW, he also gives a list of equipment he suggest you use and reasons as to why.

along with many others i purchased this book based on reviews, and did not get what i expected. the author claims in the beginning that this book is not intended for a beginning photographer, but yet if that was the case why does he go over so many basics in this book? while there was some helpful information in this book, i was expecting sooooo much more and was very disappointed.

Just finished reading the book. Was everything all the others said and more. Will re-read it before I start shooting my first wedding. If you are new to weddings and already know your equipment, get the book to learn the what, when, where, and how for doing weddings.

My sister is a wedding photographer and thought this book was a good review. From the sounds of it, she enjoyed it.

I got this book to help me with my first real wedding as THE photographer. Great purchase.

I was pleased to find this book covered all the information I was looking for. I have been a photographer since 1971 but had avoided wedding photography until now. The digital cameras of today have changed my outlook and I wanted to get up to speed by studying successful wedding photographers and their work flow. This book didn't fail.

I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain insight into world of a professional wedding photographer.

I am a wedding photographer who has become very serious and busy over the past two years. Glen Johnson (author) has an awesome website which I view regularly. It was on his site I saw the offer for his book which I immediately purchased. The day it came I read it cover-to-cover. I love my autographed copy and carry it as a "good luck charm" to every wedding I shoot. My assistant drives while I read - no kidding. I have read the book over and over and call this book "my Bible for photographers." Glen organizes this book in such a way that it is easy to look for your topic in the index and then read only what you need. It is descriptive but not overly technical with jargon that my amateur photographic assitant can't understand. A very "user friendly" book indeed!!! I use the websites Glen suggests for many things such as labs, equipment and reprint sales. Experience speaks volumes and my only criticism is that Glen hasn't written a Volume II to this book!!! (I hope he reads this and considers it....)

I've read a ton of photography books on photography. This wedding book is at the top of my list. To me a great book teaches not just about a subject (like weddings) but also across the domains of working with folks, tricky lighting, workflows etc.

I was looking for a book that would help me with not only the technical issues, but poses and other questions I had before shooting my first wedding. This book had all that and more. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to start doing wedding photography as a good resource guide.

The author covered the basics of wedding photography quite well, with plenty of good advice for novice photographers who wish to consider wedding photography.

He even covers business issues to consider, to include the three types of wedding photography: photo-journalism, portrait, and the mix of the two.

Though not what I would call a complete source for an up and coming wedding photographer, I must say it is by far the best book I have found on the subject.

This is a very helpful book for those who are getting into the wedding photography business. It covers a large range of topics well and is well illustrated to help convey the message from the text. I refer back to it often. I think it's well worth the money.

Excellent information, especially for photographers new to weddings specifically. Lovely pictures. Good information about the necessary basics for wedding photography. I loved reading this book.

Enjoyable read with tons of information--more of a review for a pro but a nice refresher. If you are new to shooting weddings it would be a good investment to purchase this book. Lots of example photographs and quick tips. Would recommend!

An excellent book. I have searched for books on the real honest basics of using flash. This is it. It all makes sense. As far as weddings. If you are pro working in another photography field this book gives you the basics needed to make the move seamlessly.

I was hesitant to buy this because of the bad reviews, but I sure am glad I did. THis book is crammed full with ideas and techniques that are easy to do. I am very impressed and I think if you are just starting out in wedding photography--this is the best book you can buy.

Being part of planning a family wedding, and being an avid armature photographer stimulated me to buying this book. I was looking for knowledge about what makes good wedding photography and hints and suggestions when picking a wedding photographer. I got a lot more!
Digital Wedding Photography - Capturing Beautiful Memories is exactly what the title implies. It explained the photographic style of Portrait Journalism. A form that mixes a little of the traditional with fine art and emotion, creating pictures that portray everyone as being at ease, comfortable, celebrating, and romantic. It helps tell the love story that makes up the wedding.
I was looking for a "must have" list and I got it. I was looking for tricks and I got many of them. I was looking for portrait tips and I certainly got that as well, plus a way of looking at wedding photography (for me) in a totally new light. Digital Wedding Photography showed the little moments that make up that special day, in a reflective, but natural style.
We will be hiring a photographer but now we know what to look for, and the pictures that we will have, and the ones I personally take that day, will be better-much better because of this book. I highly recommend it for anyone planning a wedding!

As the author clearly states in the introduction, this book is not intended for rank amateurs, but neither is it intended for seasoned digital wedding pros. It's primary intended audience is an advanced amateur or a pro shooter with no exposure (unintentional pun retained) to digital weddings. *IF* you are the "sweet spot" audience (advanced amateur who's never shot a wedding but wants to go semi-pro) I heartily rate this book a strong 5. It's a very well written book which gives a great intro to most aspects of the wedding business. It is quite comprehensive in it's scope. The downside of this is the more comprehensive a book is, the less detail on any one subject it can go into. This book strikes a good balance. Sometimes, the details seemed silly, such as devoting a few pages defending why a wedding photographer should use a dSLR instead of a point-and-click camera like my mother uses. The author should have named it "Digital SLR Wedding Photography" and omitted the granny-camera discussion.

For someone like me who's experienced with traditional Hasselblad weddings and is new to photojournalistic dSLR weddings, it's still a great book, but you won't get quite as much value out of it since you already know how to shoot weddings. For you, it might rate a 3 or 4. I'm still giving it a 5 due to it's breadth and production quality (and I'm keeping the intended audience in mind). Even a seasoned wedding pro can pick up a few bits of new information and ideas from the well-organized common sense it contains.

One thing I would point out... the author's inclusion of common sense minutia, i.e., charging batteries and deleting old photos from your cards (I generally prefer reformatting) the day before the shoot, initially seem like trivial "duh" filler. Actually such items are a good example of what to include when developing your own personal workflow checklists (which I highly advise you do before shooting anything, *especially* weddings).

What? You never forgot anything at the studio?

Wow, maybe YOU should write a book!

;-{>

Very good book, shows the effect of pictures taken with natural flash, and shutter speed etc... it helps a lot.

A lot of real good general knowledge about wedding photography. Excellent for both experienced and first time wedding photographers with a great deal of easy to follow instructions..this book delivers.

Gary

It is an excelnet book and I want to thanks Amazon for the fast delivery

I have a degree in photography and have read many books on the subject of photography have a real respect for authors how can explain their work this well. I hope all photograpers read this book who are invited to shoot weddings. On behalf of all the brides we owe thim a little time researching this very important field of chronicling memories.

I am sure that anyone interested in learning digital wedding photography will find this book very useful. Covering all aspects of digital wedding photography, so far, this is the most complete and most comprehensive book in digital wedding photography.

A must-have book if you are a wedding photographer

i love this book. very detail and very helpful.. people who is starting into wedding photography should read this book. it helped me alot.

I found this book to have alot of helpful information. Ive been doing photography for a while but new at wedding photo and the info in this book is great and helpful to get started in the buisness. worth getting if you started wedding photo or if you have been doing it and are looking for new ideas to better your wedding photo.

This is a wonderful book for photographers who are just starting out in the wedding business, and there's a reason this book is rated so highly. The book goes through the entire process a wedding photographer should be thinking through, from planning the shoot, capturing the moment and to the final product. It has great photos and lots of advice on technique and the thought process behind photographing a wedding. I personally read it about 18 months ago and I still refer to it from time to time. Nothing profound here, just good substantive photography and good technique. Its a "must have" for the beginner!

-Martin

Sometimes artists need motivation. This book has plenty of motivational techniques. Great coffee table book.

Great Book! Perfect for people who want to start the wedding business... not for people looking to learn how to use a camera.

I was asked by a friend to photograph her wedding. Since I had never done such before, I decided to purchase a book on the subject to try and get some information on wedding photography. This book was very helpful to prepare me for shooting the wedding along with various tips on taking the photos. What was really valuable was the subject of lighting both natural, flash fill, and total use of flash. I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to know the basics of wedding photography. The pictures in the book were very helpful for the author to substantiate his points.

The content and images is average, just like my cousin took wedding pictures. I so fortunately live by the library of Phoenix,AZ. I can loan ton of books just for wedding. 80% by Bill Hurter books, I recommend to everyone.

I've been doing photography as a business for about two years and have always been hesitant to shoot a wedding. Much of this is because I'm working in an information vacuum. Short of apprenticing with an experienced wedding photographer, Glen Johnson's book, "Digital Wedding Photography - Capturing Beautiful Memories is a great way to get your bearing in the world of shooting weddings.

Johnson assumes a basic knowledge of photography and dives-in with a description of the three prevailing types of wedding photography today: Traditional, Journalistic, and Portrait Journalistic. He explains how the photographer's financial needs may actually dictate which artistic style is chosen.

The book covers how to be prepared for the key events in any wedding, and strongly emphasizes the authors philosophy of non-interference in what should be a couple's key life event. Not turning that blessed event into 'a photo shoot'. He covers photographic technique; which equipment is essential to (digitally) shooting a wedding, and what not to waste your money on; to creating a manageable workflow.

I'm still not convinced that wedding photography is right for me, but I am sure that any digital photographer who is considering entering this area of specialty, cannot afford NOT to buy this book!

Rating 5!

Would give this book a 5...if only it came without creased covers! Amazon, please be more careful with packing next time! Didn't want to return it because I was so excited to read it. I read the reviews, and I'm pretty much just a hobbyist that occassionally get calls to do event gigs. =). This book worked like a guid, as if though i was working with the pro himself! Some seasoned pros may not find this book too useful, but for some of us who are just starting out, or at least in the middle of making sense of our own photography style, this book is a gem. The tips on pricing models, shooting styles, album resources...and a lot more, are just great. Thank you Glen Johnson for writing such a concise and easy to read book. Photos are great...and if anyone just reads the "photos" on this book, you can actually have enough to go with to shoot/cover a wedding. Thanks! Great book!

I got this book to help me over the winter, my off season, for weddings. I needed new inspiration and new ideas, and I was not disappointed! Great book, I highly recommend this for anyone looking for fresh ideas!

I purchased this book when one of my friends asked me to shoot his wedding. Having never done one before, I took the opportunity to expand my library. This was a good decision. Glen Johnson breaks down the essential elements of, not only the wedding day shoot, but the entire business aspect of digital wedding photography. I didn't want to put it down, I was learning so much. I was able to incorporate his tips into the final product and my results were more than pleasing. I still go back to it from time to time as a reference. Johnson has provided web sites and product names that have proven very effective for any photographer. Before reading this book, I foresaw owning my own photography business as something that would only be feasible years down the road. With Johnson's suggestions and resources, I am launching my own site and making profit on something I love! Highly recommended whether you're a professional photographer or someone who's just starting out and wants to learn more about the highest paying aspect of photography.

If there was a course in photography dedicated to wedding photography this would be the text book. It is written like a college course book and not only gives the opinion of one man but several wedding photographers. It tells of the history of wedding photography as well as the different types that are out there today. It gives techniques, advice, and insight. I would suggest this book to anyone trying to break into the business.

-David-
Beautiful Union Portraits

As a teacher of Photography , including wedding Techiques , and an avid reader on the subject as a whole, I found this an interesting well set out and I love the logic shown. The author and I share the same thoughts and techniques .

Wow, this is a very good book of information on digital wedding photography. Very easy to understand for almost anyone.....

This book is both for beginners and more experienced photographers. It was a great help and had excellent advice all throughout the book.

This book doesn't cover posing much, but is very valuable in its tips and insights into how to run the business side of photography.

kind of vague not as much technique as I expected, but i dont regret buying it

I am new at wedding photography so I purchased this book. It is absolutely the best one I have read so far. It covers everything! Glen Johnson walks you through every aspect of the photography business. It is much more than a "wedding" photography book. It covers everything- from equipment to lighting to everything. I love it!!!!!

This was an excellent book, well worth the price. I bought it based upon all the reviews, and was really happy with how much I learned from it. It was great for me, a newer wedding photographer, to see sample workflows that the author presented, and an overview (soup to nuts) on how other very experienced wedding photographers have honed their workflow. I would think that aspect alone would be valuable for even advanced wedding photographers, but the real value here was for newer photographers like me.

I enjoyed reading this book from the minute I rec'd it. It is full of practical knowledge that you can apply to your photography immediately.
I highly recommed this purchase.

This is absolutely the best book I have ever seen on digital wedding photography. It covers anything and everything you'd want to know. It's written in easy-to-understand wording and the illustrations are beautiful. I highly recommend this book. You'll be delighted with it. I am so glad I bought it. It's worth every penny I paid for it...and more! I can't rave enough about it. It is awesome!

I am starting to shoot some wedding this year 2007, and this book gives me practical knowledge dos & don't on posing, event managing, and where has the best angle to shoot. As a newbie, this book is wonderful.

This book is well written, well organized, very thorough with good discussion and tips on the different wedding situations. It starts from the basic aspects of the different wedding photographic techniques, business models, the different lenses to consider and many more. This is my first wedding photography book and I have been impressed ever since! I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn wedding photography from the ground up. I give it 6 stars!!

It's a good overview of the whole process of shooting weddings for money. There isn't a lot of depth to each topic covered, but it does give you a pretty good idea of how to get started. I'd say it is worth the purchase price.

This book blows me away, I haven't completed reading it but just find so much useful information for both establishment and improvement of ideas and processes as well as confirmation for some of the things we currently do. I'm now going to buy a 2nd copy for my staff as I won't hand over mine.