How I Accidentally Became a Wedding Photographer (50 Years Ago)

[Tark]

A little story from half a century ago, back when I was trying to break into wedding photography.

I didn’t have a portfolio, and nobody was going to hire a bloke with nothing to show, so I did what any desperate, hungry, slightly reckless young photographer might do: I ‘eye‑dropped’ in on public‑garden weddings. I’d stand well back — fifty metres or more — with a 400mm lens and quietly shoot the ceremony from the sidelines.

After a few of these covert exercises, I had enough material to start shaping a portfolio. In one memorable case, the hired photographer was so hopeless that the couple ended up buying most of my shots instead. That was the moment I realised I might actually have something to offer.

After a handful more of these long‑range practice runs — church steps, parks, anywhere public — I finally felt ready to hang out my shingle. And it worked. It turned into a very successful business.

Was it ethical? By today’s standards, probably not. Even back then it was a bit cheeky. But it was fifty years ago, and it was the only way I could see to get started. And in the end, the couples got better photos, and I got a career. Sometimes the path in is… unconventional

 

[mmerig]

About 60 years ago, I was an "innocent bystander" to my father's experience in wedding photography. One of his friends was a professional photographer (newspaper freelancer I think) and he helped my dad get started. He stuck with it for a while, but it was a side hustle so not a big financial incentive, and he moved on to other fun stuff. I have a dim memory of him going to a Beach Boy's thing.

None of that rubbed-off on me. It is very difficult for me to take a picture of a person or people. But two friends wanted me to take their wedding picture -- just one, on a 4 by 5. That was fun for all of us minimalists.

A local back-hoe operator around here got his start by just saying "I can run a back-hoe". He'd work a job for a while, very slowly and clumsily, but eventually, after being fired a few times, became good enough to hold onto a job as long as anyone else. On the job training at its purest.

 

[Tark]

Well your dad running off to a beach boys thing (Southern California in the 60's?) to laze in the sun and chase girls must have been more fun than shooting weddings! I'm glad to hear that none of it rubbed off on you - shooting people is no cake walk either!

 

[koraks]

Was it ethical? By today’s standards, probably not.

Yeah, I was going to say that. Perhaps legally speaking it would have been OK if the weddings took place in public space, although even that is doubtful in today's legal climate. Ethically speaking, I'd consider this really, really iffy and I think if this was attempted today, the odds of getting punched in the face would be pretty big.

Sometimes the path in is… unconventional

There's that, too. I'm happy for you that you were successful and I hope your work has been to your and your clients' satisfaction. Thanks for sharing your story!

 

[Don_ih]

Was it ethical?

If you were offering the photos you took to the wedding party for sale (or even for free), it was not ethical in a professional sense. You were being a leech. But in terms of a broader view, you weren't doing anything particularly immoral. That the people in the wedding may not like you taking photos doesn't make it immoral. The backhoe operator, on the other hand, was, since he was endangering other people by being incompetent while pretending he was fully trained.

 

[Tark]

Yeah, I was going to say that. Perhaps legally speaking it would have been OK if the weddings took place in public space, although even that is doubtful in today's legal climate. Ethically speaking, I'd consider this really, really iffy and I think if this was attempted today, the odds of getting punched in the face would be pretty big.


There's that, too. I'm happy for you that you were successful and I hope your work has been to your and your clients' satisfaction. Thanks for sharing your story!

Thanks, Korak – fair call.

If someone tried this today, they’d probably be wearing a 400mm-shaped bruise before they got the lens cap off. Differentera, different expectations, ad I wouldn’t dream of doing it now.

Back then it was more a caseof a young bloke trying to find a way in without any real roadmap. No malice, no interference, just standing well back and learning the craft the only way I could at the time.

I appreciate you taking it in the spirit intended – a little slice of history, not a how-to-do guide for the present day.

 

[Tark]

If you were offering the photos you took to the wedding party for sale (or even for free), it was not ethical in a professional sense. You were being a leech. But in terms of a broader view, you weren't doing anything particularly immoral. That the people in the wedding may not like you taking photos doesn't make it immoral. The backhoe operator, on the other hand, was, since he was endangering other people by being incompetent while pretending he was fully trained.

Don, I hear you.

From a professional-standards point of view, it was definitely outside the lines – no argument there. I wasn’t trying to undercut anyone or pretend to be part of the hired crew; I was just a kid with a long lens, standing well back, trying to build enough of a portfolio to get legitimate work.

And you’re right: the backhoe example is a different beast entirely. Nobody was at risk from me quietly taking a few frames from fifty metres away. At worst, someone wondered who the bloke with the telephoto was.

It was a different time, and I’ve always looked back on it as a slightly cheeky stepping stone rather than a model of professional conduct.

 

[koraks]

Yeah, no worries; I think what you emphasize and what I understand is that this should be understood within the context of the time (and place) in which you did this. And of course there's always the personal aspect to it, in that all of us will have a different set of motivations and considerations upon which we base the ultimate call we make.