So, nearly a month ago, I blogged a bit about learning, and today I’ll try to get to the point.

As mentioned, I wasn’t such a great student, but I did learn over the years that given the curiosity, interest and determination, I could achieve things I thought I couldn’t. Through various mediums, I taught myself how to play the drums, how to build and design websites, and how to make images. Today I’ll try to list down some of the more important mediums that got me into wedding photography.

The book that started it all

This was the book that kickstarted my wedding photography. Wedding Photography Unveiled, by Jacqueline Tobin. Inside, 20 top wedding photographers reveal their techniques, philosophies, practices and strategies. The images (obviously) are fresh and inspiring to any wannabe wedding photographer.

On vision

David du Chemin’s Within the Frame sparked something else, the need to create, not just to make memories, but to transform the things I see into art. To find, chase and cultivate my own vision, and then fit it into the frame.

On the business of wedding photography

Having had a few photoshoots before encountering this video, I had questions that needed answering, and what better way than to learn from an expert. Jasmine taught and showed what works for her and what doesn’t, and what she does when presented with more complex situations. Part of the creativeLIVE course, it’s now available at USD149. I blogged about her wedding photography course last year.

On lighting

Not something I can achieve right now, but using flashes to light subjects can be tricky, and this is where Joe McNally and David Ziser came in, from Kelby Training, Joe for his technique in using multiple flashes, and David for posing and lighting wedding subjects with basically one flash and umbrella. I think David explains it a lot more in his book, Captured by the Light.

Mike Colón

Watching Jasmine’s video on her approach to capturing images made me interested in wanting to find out and explore how other photographers do it. Everybody’s different, and I am my own man, but I still have lots to learn. On Location with Mike Colón: Toronto was great; like Jasmine, he vocalized his thought processes during the wedding, explaining why he did what he did, and also learnt how he posed his clients. Amazing stuff. I’ve just started watching Reaching the High End Bride now, and already I can see my thought processes changing.

So there you have it. I guess I’m a good visual learner, and I have no problems recommending any of these learning tools to anybody who’s interested in wedding photography. Till then, keep learning and keep growing.