Wedding Photography Unveiled: Inspiration and Insight from 20 Top Photographers by Jacqueline Tobin

Wedding Photography Unveiled

Wedding Photography Unveiled reveals the art, philosophies, strategies, business practices, and techniques of twenty top wedding photographers from across the United States and showcases their favorite images. The focus is on the freshest styles–especially the blend of photojournalism with more relaxed lifestyle and high-fashion looks, including environmental portraits. These are the styles that today’s brides expect, inspired by the images they see in bridal, celebrity, and fashion magazines. With practical, priceless, straight-from-the-front-lines advice on equipment, setting rates, getting published, websites, albums, and more, this book will give you the inspiration, insight, and instruction you need to navigate the lucrative field of wedding photography.

Special thanks to Watson-Guptill Publications for sending in this book for review.

About the Author

Jacqueline Tobin is the deputy editor of Photo District News. She lives in New York City.

Normally I do a breakdown of each chapter then give my conclusion, but this book is different so it deserves a different type of review.

Concept

I love the concept of this book. You can sort of think of it as a “weekend workshop with some of the best wedding photographers in the industry as your guest speakers” all wrapped up in one book–and it works. It works well.

All of the staples are covered; technique, vision, concept, equipment, etc. Jacqueline Tobin does a great job of allowing the photographers to play to their specialties for you. You get the best of the best in the biz sharing their work and work-flow with you and our author orchestrates the book perfectly.

This is not your standard “how-to” and that made it especially refreshing to absorb.

The Images

Stunning photography fills the book from cover to cover. You’ll find yourself inspired over and over again.

The Best

While the book does a great job throughout as a guide to modern day wedding photography, the real gem lies in chapter 8 “The Business Basics”. We’re talking about some of the most prolific and profitable photographers in the industry sharing some of their business practices. If you’re business is wedding photography then this chapter should act as a launching pad to gearing your business in the right direction.

The Photographers

• Liz Banfield
• Virginie Blachere
• Chenin Boutwell
• Philippe Cheng
• Suzy Clement
• Mike Colon
• Amy Deputy
• Shannon Ho
• Jesse Leake
• Kathi Littwin
• Charles and Jennifer Maring
• Melissa Mermin
• Elizabeth Messina
• Melanie Nashan
• Christian Oth
• Parker J. Pfister
• Ben Quillinan
• Meg Smith
• Amanda Sudimack
• Jose Villa

Conclusion

All in all this book hits a home run. As you read the various photographers’ insights into their craft the one underlying truth is that there is a passion for art and photography that drives each and every one of them to be the best for themselves and for their clients. This is how wedding photography has gone from being a “lower rung” photography profession to becoming a highly respected and profitable career choice for photographers.

If you shoot weddings you should be reading this book for it’s intended purpose–inspiration not instruction.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

You can find the book at Amphoto Books or at Amazon.