Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Author: Glen Johnson

In August of 2005, I was approached by John Wiley & Sons to
write a book on digital wedding photography. After a year of work (the last
portion of which was like being stuck in finals week - but for 6 months) the book is finally out.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, please do so here as
a much larger percentage of the proceeds will go directly to
the author (me) instead of the middleman.

The cost of the book is $30 + $7 for shipping and after reading it,
I'm confident you will agree that it would be a bargain at three times that amount.

All copies purchased here will be personally autographed.

(US orders only please)

International customers and those who wish to save some cash, please purchase from
Amazon.com using this link.... Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories

 

A copy of the Table of Contents from the book appears after the following book reviews.

 

Book Reviews This is but a small sampling of the 60+ book reviews that I've gotten on Amazon.com. All but 5 of them had great things to say about the book. The few complaints it has gotten were mostly from people that claimed to be experienced photographers who were dissapointed at how basic it is. If you are a new photographer, I think you'll love it!   August 9, 2006 By Bakari "Wedding & Event Photographer, As a beginning wedding photographer, I've had several questions about almost every aspect of the profession and business, and I can truly 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.   Glen, Well thanks again very much for sending me another copy of your book! (the first one got lost in the mail) I’ve read it twice now! Wow, I don’t know that I can type in an email and do you and it justice. It’s like you & I talked and then you wrote a book for me. I’ve never been one to hi-lite or dog ear the books that I’ve read but yours is one that I need to do that to. I need the paperback for reference & marking up and a hard copy to keep on the coffee table or bookshelf. I can’t imagine how much I learned by reading the book that would have taken me years to experience myself. Questions that wouldn’t have come up in shooting 20 weddings were answered in your book, so I will know exactly what to do & say when those questions do arise. Your language is clear & precise. When one sees the cover to a book on the internet one never knows what they will end up with; more often than not you get one of those thrown together rags that has less content than “the complete dummies guide to being a dummy”. Your book is at the top of anything that I’ve seen professionally produced. I could gush on and on but what I will do instead is to specifically note things in your book as I reference it and read it a third time. I am shooting my first “professional / contract” wedding April 28th in Vail / Beaver Creek. I feel totally confident in the outcome after reading your book. Please, if you ever procure a client for a Destination Wedding in Vail / Aspen / Beaver Creek or Lake Tahoe in Nevada, please consider me for a second shooter. I am a willing volunteer. Thanks for everything... Have great days! Bobbie Turner A few weeks later..... From: Bobbie Turner Photography Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 5:10 AM To: Glen Johnson Subject: Testimonial part 2... Glen, I guess today officially marks the start of Wedding Season for you (us). I just wanted to drop you a note to say now that my testimonial for your book is officially practical. I just shot my first legitimate pro wedding and applied what I learned from your book and I can tell you it went 99.9% right! The .1% was the bride wanted a photo of the groom’s face as she walked down the aisle. The preacher was her father and I got the two of them in the same frame as she appeared down the aisle. Dad & groom were absolutely expressionless! http://www.5280fotos.com/gallery/2783503 So I can’t thank you enough for putting your knowledge in print. The book has helped me to create my wedding photographer identity and business model. I had my second shooter to read sections in your book and it was a tremendous help to her. Your book lead to a successful wedding and gave me the confidence to raise my price to what I know we’re worth. Being able to show the results allowed me to book a $3,500 job without any negotiations and has allowed me to say no to anything less than I want to do for a package. In one of your emails you mentioned that some of the shots would look good in B&W. Now with PS3 that couldn’t be easier! I joke but thank you for your book, emails and tips... I genuinely appreciate it. Have a great wedding season & summer! Professionally, Bobbie Turner   Just a big thank you, January 11, 2007 Reviewer: Olga Achkar "Studio Olga Photography" (Melbourne Australia) I just would like to thank you Glen Johnson for such an informative book. It's a book which must be on the table of every photographer. It's the "Wedding Photography Businees Bible"! I improved so much since I red this book the first time and I am still getting more and more useful information from it. Thank you again Glen The best book in years, January 4, 2007 Reviewer: John D. Sissom (Cookeville, Tennessee) 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 Something for everyone, November 11, 2006 Reviewer: M. K. Brown "photovideojunkie" (Austin, TX United States) 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. December 16, 2006 Reviewer: P. Lehmann "DFWLens" (Texas) 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 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. 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. November 24, 2006 J. Howard (Paso Robles, CA USA) 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. A Complete Book for Those Who Are Going into the Business, November 16, 2006 Reviewer: Eddie (Hong Kong) 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. Best book yet on wedding photography, November 15, 2006 Reviewer: B. Stenman 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. October 30, 2006 Reviewer: Conrad J. Obregon (New York, NY USA) 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. Best book on the subject, October 26, 2006 Reviewer: E. Eckels (hamilton, nj United States) 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. Great book for beginner to advanced wedding photographers, October 5, 2006 Reviewer: Mike Barry "march7photos" (Whistler BC) 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 Comment | Was this review helpful to you? YesNo (Report this) The Most Well Rounded Book of its Kind!, September 27, 2006 Reviewer: Vicky (Ft Lauderdale, FL United States) 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! Simply the best I've ever seen/read...and that's a lot!, August 30, 2006 Reviewer: Matthew L. Weaver (Salisbury, NC USA) 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! A Wealth of Knowledge ...an Informative and Amusing Read, August 16, 2006 Reviewer: Joshua Finsel & Amber Breiner (Oregon) 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.

 

 

Table of Contents

This full-color resource is aimed at pro wedding photographers making the switch to digital, as well as digital camera owners looking to start a lucrative business. It’s packed with sage advice and great solutions for planning and taking the most impressive digital images at wedding and special events, editing and presenting them in a variety of ways, and creating web-based marketing strategies for building a successful business. It also compares available camera equipment, accessories, software, and printing options; suggests an efficient workflow process; and is packed with superb photos, including those that have been digitally manipulated to include various artistic effects.

Each image presented in the book shows camera settings and other information used to create that image.

Part I - Understanding Digital Wedding Photography

Chapter 1 – The World of Wedding Photography

       Overview of chapters

Chapter 2 – Creating Your Own Workflow
An overview of the process with tips and techniques from the pros who shoot weddings and other celebratory events.

Discovering Workflow
Preparing for the Shoot
Capturing the images
Transferring Images
Creating a Backup Set
Reviewing and Editing Images
Archiving, Storing, and Backing Up Files

Chapter 3 – Equipment and Challenges
This chapter introduces general concepts that can be applied to any photography, but
with special references throughout to wedding and events. Covers why the non-digital, “pre-pixel” phase of photography is essential in digital wedding and event photography.

Choosing the Right Equipment for the Job
Point-and-Shoot -vs- SLR?
Pro Camera Options
Camera Settings and Setup Menu
Lenses
Lighting choices
Accessories
Exposure
Color Balance
Camera settings
Expo-disk

Chapter 4 – Developing Your Own Style
This chapter discusses the three main Stylistic approaches to wedding and event photography. What are the methods used in each style, how do the images differ, what do the clients want, and which style is right for you?

Traditional Wedding Photography
Photojournalistic Wedding Photography
Portrait Journalism - Mixing the two Styles
Finding a style that works for you and your clients

Chapter 5 - Composing your art

Rule of thirds
Moving into the frame
Use of empty space
Cropping people
Shooting a bullseye
Leading the focal point
Natural Posing
Think creative thoughts

Part II – Shooting on Location

These chapters will be modular, with parallel structure in each. They will feature quick-reference tables, expert sidebars with advice from top wedding and event photographers, specific step-by-step for each subsection, and plenty of great color photos. For each situation, there will be an icon/chart system used similar to that of a camera setting (light bulb, flash symbol, etc.) in addition to some other symbols that will allow photographers to quickly identify how it can be optimally photographed, and with what equipment (e.g., flash, SLR, point-and-shoot, lenses, etc.).

Chapter 6 – Finding Beauty and Emotion in the Dressing Rooms

Equipment
Lighting the dressing rooms
The guys room
Dressing room etiquette
Interview

Chapter 7 – Shooting outdoors

Equipment
Choosing Your Locations
Bright sun
Overcast light
Interview (s)

Chapter 8 – Shooting Indoors

Equipment
Choosing Your Locations
Flash
Natural light
Interview (s)

Chapter 9 - Documenting the Ceremony

Equipment
Know where to stand - and when
Interview (s)

Chapter 10 – Seeing Candid Moments

Equipment
Interview (s)

Chapter 11 – Creating Romance in the Magic Hour

Choosing Your Locations
Settings
Equipment
Getting the Shots
Interview (s)

Chapter 12 – Jazzing Up Your Dancing Shots

Choosing Your Locations
Settings
Equipment
Getting the Shots
Interview (s)

Part III – Working With Images in the Digital Studio

Will feature lots of step-by-step techniques specifically based on Adobe Photoshop [Elements?] but applicable to any image editor. Covers how to effectively manage a digital image from the point it is created to it’s often multiple destinations—online, in-print, archived, emailed, and so-on—is essential for the photographer. This is the essence of digital photography workflow, where it diverges from film. Further, it’s important to know the right software and hardware—what’s needed, what’s overkill, what makes work easier.

Chapter 13 - Creating a Digital Studio

Creating your Space – Studio vs Office vs Home Office
Computer Hardware
Software
Color Calibration
Internet Service

Chapter 14 - Working in a Digital Studio

Processing Images
Photoshop Batch Processing
Working with RAW images
Photoshop Actions for streamlining repetitive jobs

Chapter 15 – Finished Products: What Your Clients Take Home

Printing Options: Print Your Own, or Use a Service Bureau?
Online Proofing for print sales
Paper Proofing for print sales
CD proofing (pics to exe, flipAlbum)
Digital Proofing and Presentation in your Studio/Office
The Data DVD or CD as a finished product
How To Create Labels
Specify Home Use Rights
Other files to include on the disk set
Extra Image Sets
Selling Images
Albums - Photographic prints vs. Inkjet prints, Book styles and Layout Methods, Album companies with contact info
DVD Movies
Computer Slideshows
Selling Custom Prints
Printer Options
Color Calibration
Bulk Ink Systems