The Essentials of Wedding Photography for Beginners

Are you ready to turn your passion for photography into a successful career?

This 6-part online course with International Wedding Photographer Shae Estella Photo and Sony Scene is your comprehensive guide to getting started as a wedding photographer.

From attracting your first clients and planning for the big day to mastering your unique photographic style and troubleshooting common challenges, you’ll gain all the tools and knowledge needed to succeed. Shae will take you through every step of a wedding day, highlighting what to shoot and what to watch out for, and teach you how to deliver stunning photos that leave couples raving about your work.

Perfect for beginners, this course sets you on the path to building a thriving wedding photography business.

DATES: 

Tuesday 3rd February, 2026 @ 7PM AEST

Thursday 5th February, 2026 @ 7PM AEST

Tuesday 10th February, 2026 @ 7PM AEST

Thursday 12th February, 2026 @ 7PM AEST

Wednesday 18th February, 2026 @ 7PM AEST

*Please note - this is Queensland time (AEST)

ADDITONAL CONTENT & LEARNING IN PERSON SHOOT DAY (PRIVATE EVENT TO BE LISTED):

Brisbane - 13th March at 4:00pm - Location TBC

Sydney - 14th March at 4:00pm - Location TBC

Melbourne - 15th March at 4:00pm - Inner City

In person Shoot Day & Posing Master Class - $700 each

COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK ONE

Pre-Wedding Prep: Building the Ultimate Client Experience: Master pre-wedding workflow, client care, gear prep, and location scouting.

In WEEK 1, we’ll dive into the essential pre-wedding preparation to help you deliver an unforgettable client experience. You’ll learn how to set up a smooth wedding workflow, from the first contact with clients to the final delivery of their photos. Discover the importance of engagement sessions, how to work with second shooters and associates, and why location scouting is a game-changer—even if the wedding is far from home. We’ll also cover the must-have gear to bring to ensure you’re fully prepared for any scenario. This module sets the foundation for creating a seamless and professional wedding photography experience.

WEEK TWO

Attracting Clients & Crafting a Seamless Wedding Day Timeline: Learn how to attract clients and shape timelines for photography success.”

In WEEK 2, we’ll focus on building your wedding photography business by attracting the right clients and mastering the timeline for a successful wedding day. You’ll learn proven strategies for client acquisition, including what to post to appeal to your ideal clientele and what truly sets you apart in a competitive market. We’ll break down a typical wedding day timeline, show you how to gather the information you need from clients, and teach you how to shape the schedule to maximize photography time. Plus, we’ll cover the value of engagement sessions and how to seamlessly offer them as part of your services. By the end of this week, you’ll feel confident in both booking clients and creating a smooth, well-planned wedding day experience.

WEEK THREE

Building Rapport & Navigating Wedding Day Challenges: Master connections, troubleshoot issues, and elevate your wedding photography.

WEEK 3 is all about strengthening your relationship with couples to create a positive, memorable experience that leads to glowing reviews. You’ll learn tips for building trust and rapport, which are essential for a seamless wedding day. We’ll dive into troubleshooting common wedding day challenges, such as time delays, unexpected weather, and helping clients stay calm under pressure.  Explore current trending photography techniques and how to imprement them into your work correctly. Finally, we’ll discuss how to build a compelling portfolio from scratch to attract future clients. This week equips you with both the technical and interpersonal skills to excel as a wedding photographer.

WEEK FOUR

Crafting Romance & Defining Your Wedding Photography Style: Refine your style and master key wedding shots with timeless techniques.

In WEEK 4, we’ll dive into the art of creating romantic, flattering images that capture the essence of a couple’s special day and explore lighting techniques for every part of the day, camera setups to maximize your creative potential. This week includes essential shooting tips, such as taking flattering photographs, as well as a detailed wedding shot checklist. We’ll cover key moments like capturing the details, getting ready, the first look, ceremony and family portraits. By the end of this module, you’ll have the tools to deliver a stunning and cohesive wedding gallery.

WEEK FIVE

Enhancing Client Experience & A Complete Wedding Day Walkthrough: Watch a full wedding walkthrough and learn to elevate client experiences.

WEEK 5 is all about creating an unforgettable experience for your wedding clients while giving you an in-depth look at capturing every moment of a wedding day after the prep (covered in week 4). We’ll address submitted Q&A questions and explore the typical order of events for a wedding post ceremony. The highlight of this week is a final wedding walk through—from family portraits to a sparkler exit. You’ll see behind the scenes as I capture key moments, including wedding party and family portraits, guest interactions, reception entrances, speeches, dancing, sunset portraits, and the final exit. This hands-on module will give you actionable insights and strategies to elevate your client experience and ensure you capture every memorable detail.

COST

Each week of the course is priced at $30 AUD.

Be sure to register for each session individually to receive the unique Zoom meeting link and passcode.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

- 5 Lessons over 3 Weeks of 1 hour online classes with Shae on a Tuesday, Thursday or Wednesday night at 7pm Via Zoom

-While these classes are primarily designed to deliver a wealth of valuable information rather than being interactive, there will be a dedicated Question and Answer session in Week 5, where questions submitted by attendees will be addressed.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

-These classes are not recorded to maintain their exclusivity. Registered attendees are encouraged to have a notebook and pen ready to take notes and capture all the valuable information shared.

 - In March 2026, an in-person content shoot and photography learning day will be held, specifically designed for beginner wedding photographers. This workshop is directly connected to the course, and registered attendees are strongly encouraged to participate. Full details will be announced in a separate Sony Scene event.

- Individual mentorship with the online courses.

• See course description