If you had asked me five years ago what I would be doing now, I doubt being a wedding photographer or writing a book would have been my answer. The truth is, I really had no clue what I was going to do. I probably would have guessed working in sports management or managing a coffee shop or possibly working for a top design agency, or even better: a sports photographer. But my life took a different path to wedding photography, and for the first time in my life, I have found something I am really passionate about.

Wedding photography allows me to creatively express myself in ways I have never been able to do before. It also gives me the opportunity to do what I enjoy the most: meet people, travel, photograph and serve people. There are days when I honestly cannot believe I call this my job and get to do it everyday.

I remember a wedding I photographed in late 2006 when I was first considering this as a full time profession. The mother of the bride, at the end of the day, walked up to me, gave me a big hug and a kiss and thanked me for being an amazing photographer. She said I was the best photographer she had ever seen. At first, I was flattered; then it dawned on me that she made this statement without seeing one single image I photographed that day! It was at that moment I figured out half the formula to becoming a successful wedding photographer—make clients and their families feel special. Being technically sound is the other half, and I am always working to improve and learn new techniques.

By picking up this book, you are either considering becoming a full-time photographer or perhaps you already started and need a little direction. While there are many planning guides available for couples, this is one for designed you, the wedding photographer. The more prepared you are the more you can concentrate on taking the photographs and getting the images that will delight your clients. In this planner you will find numerous tips and checklists from the more than 100 weddings I have photographed in the past four years, as well as some lessons I learned from other photographers. It covers everything you need to think about and plan for when it comes to photographing a wedding—from the initial meeting with the prospective clients and how to make a good first impression, through the various stages of the wedding and how you can deliver the final product to the newlyweds. Just remember that nothing here is really set in stone. The beauty of this industry is that you can study books like this and make it your own.

Welcome to wedding photography. You are in a community of people who will help and encourage to you become a better photographer. Think of this book as just a starting point—the tip of the iceberg. Use it to develop your own style and explore new ways to doing things. I hope you find this profession as rewarding and fulfilling as I have.