Once you have done this once or twice, and you feel confident that you can do it alone, I would suggest that once again, you photograph a wedding free of charge, but this time as ONLY photographer, and just charge for print costs.

By not charging, and fact that you are NOT yet a business, and as long as you make this absolutely clear to couple, you are limiting your liabilities but getting some incredible experience under your belt.

Before you finally take plunge and start charging for your services, I would suggest that you put yourself on a 2 or 3 day course with a professional photographer and learn about lighting and posing techniques, along with all other requirements you are going to have to learn. They normally include a model "couple" for a day for you to practice on.

Wedding photography is so much more than just taking photographs, you have to think about albums, organising, printing and above all, your own proficiency, efficiency and professionalism.

It is a lot to take in and you won't earn money for a while this way, but when you finally start to charge, you will be more than ready and hopefully have bags of confidence.

Once you get it, weddings can be hard work but an awful lot of fun and very rewarding both financially and satisfactorily.

I have a full run down of wedding photo tips for amateurs at my website;

http://www.all-things-photography.com/wedding-photo-tips-for-amateurs.html

Including a wedding photography checklist of all photographs you may have to take.

Please feel free to use this article for private or publication use.

Good luck!

Professional photographer with over 20 years experience in many aspects of photography.

www.all-things-photography.com