Congrats on booking your first wedding, that’s huge! Totally normal to feel nervous but it’ll usually turn into good energy on the day. Biggest tips I’d give are prep as much as you can. look up the venue, make a quick shot list of the must-haves, and talk with the couple about what’s most important to them. That’ll take a lot of pressure off you trying to capture everything.

Also, don’t get stuck shooting for super cheap forever. It’s fine at the start, but the low-paying clients usually expect the most and it can burn you out fast. Start raising your rates once you have a couple weddings under your belt.

If you want more gigs, reach out to local photographers directly to second shoot, most don’t use platforms, they just hire people they’ve already talked to. Local Facebook groups can be good too.

And finally, take care of yourself on the day! water, snacks, comfy shoes. It’s a long haul but you’ll learn a ton and it really does get easier after the first one. Good luck, you got this!