Thoughts on Annabel Williams' Get Started with Weddings course

I was recently lucky enough to attend Annabel Williams' ‘Get Started with Weddings’ course, at her Studio in Cumbria. The thought of photographing somebody’s wedding has always inspired pure fear in me – what if I accidentally over expose the dress, all my memory cards fail or the church is darker than Fred West’s heart? After two days on Annabel’s course however I feel inspired and excited about the prospect of shooting a wedding at some point!

The first day of the course is spent in a classroom environment (there’s a maximum of 14 students) where you learn about everything from building your reputation and portfolio from nothing, to networking with other businesses and creating a distinct brand, to make potential customers want to work with you. I was genuinely incredibly impressed with the quality and unambiguousness of the information and advice given, specifically that relating to how much to charge, how to talk about money and how to hold a proper consultation.

The second day, lead by wedding photographer Lisa Aldersley was brilliant. After a look at some of Lisa’s work and a discussion on settings and gear, we did a multi-location pre-wedding shoot with an engaged couple, while Lisa constantly advised on the best poses, light and how to direct the couple.