How did you become a church photographer?
June of last year I decided to volunteer as a photographer for my church. This has lead to me photographing many important moments for my church. I have photographed many events and holiday services. The experience has been rewarding since I get to serve my church by providing a service that I love doing. It does not feel like work when I am in the middle of photographing a church service.
Liberty Church April 2023
How many services do you photograph?
Most of the time I only photograph one service when I am scheduled. Throughout the course of the month the most I photograph is two services. We have a team of four photographers. The job entails taking photos in the atrium, worship (which is more concert styled), and the main part of the service with one of our amazing pastors. Most times I am taking photos for 30-45 minutes. Unless it is a special service (Holy Week, Easter, Christmas) I am not photographing the full hour or more. I photograph with two camera bodies, so I can provide different focal lengths of different events, but this also leads to me having way more than enough footage.
How do you take photos without flash?
Camera settings are fun when you are in a church, but you learn quickly to adapt. I primarily take photos with a 50mm and 85mm f/1.8 lens. However most of the time I'm using f/2-3.2 depending on situations and the amount of people that I am photographing. ISO and shutter speeds are also dependent on situations. I photograph everything in Manual mode.
Liberty Church April 2023
Serving the church is a blessing
Providing images for a church is amazing. To know that someone could have seen a photo that you took and it helps them walk through the door is definitely rewarding. I know we are all given gifts and some of are gifts have a bigger impact than others. Just knowing I could help lead someone to our church what makes what I get to do amazing.
Liberty Church April 2023
I am blessed
Through this church I have met so many amazing people and have been touched in such a positive way. If you have the opportunity to serve your community, definitely do it. The impact that this has made on me is something that can not be replaced. I will look back on this and think "I had the opportunity to touch people just by taking photos".