Are you helping someone plan their special day by capturing lifetime memories?
If you are, and you want to know more about wedding photography, read on – we’ll be exploring what it takes to create the most beautiful and memorable photographs for someone’s wedding day.
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Wedding Photography
Wedding photography is a huge responsibility. Why? Because it is a one-time event, so there is very little room for error.
Each picture needs to be perfect and you can never miss a good shot. Once the moment has gone, you can’t get it back.
If you are doing a wedding shoot for the first time, you may want to familiarize yourself with these wedding portrait photography tips.
What Are the Challenges with Wedding Photography?
The first challenge you may face is dealing with the stress of the day.
Brides and grooms, as well as their families, may be very anxious which can have a knock-on effect for the photographer.
The first rule of wedding photography: be calm and always listen to the bride and groom.
Before you agree to a contract, you need to make sure you have everything made clear. Read and agree on the terms to avoid any glitch after the shoot.
At this stage, it is imperative to decide the number of total portraits with the bride and groom. This will be a big help when planning your schedule.
The final challenge is time. Most wedding ceremonies can be quite short, which means you have less time to capture every moment.
With this in mind, you will need to ensure that you are extra diligent and have your eyes open at all times. You can’t afford to miss any special moments.
Wedding Photography Tips
Practice
All novice artists need to start somewhere.
If this is your first time doing a wedding shoot, you need to make sure you get in plenty of practice before hand. You can do this by following a professional and seeing how they do their job.
It is very useful to assist a professional photographer first to familiarize yourself with the process of wedding photography.
The more practice you have, the better you will be on the day.
Check Your Camera
The most important tip is to make sure you have the right tools for the day.
Make sure your camera is working. It is useful to get yourself extra lenses and lighting to take with you on the day, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
You should always make sure you have the correct accessories with you. Before the day, ensure you have enough memory cards and batteries.
Pre-Plan the Shoot
As you are the photographer and have a huge responsibility, the bride and groom will be following your instructions.
You should show them a manual during the planning of the shoot. This will allow them to choose the poses they like best, which will make them happier with the final result. It is important to add this to the contract.
You should scope out the venue of the wedding and get an idea of the best lighting, as well as the best locations to take portraits on the day.
You should create a schedule beforehand to keep you organized and put a picture in your mind of how you want the photographs to look.
Capturing the Best Shots
During your planning, you should ask the bride and groom which special moments they want to be captured especially.
Some of these moments may include the first kiss, the first dance, the first look of the bride, etc.
During these moments, you have to be extra alert as they can happen very quickly and can be easily missed.
It is best to plan these very first moments with the couple, so you can capture the best shots in the right order.
For all these moments, you must put the camera on high shutter speed and take multiple photos, as this allows you to select the best ones from numerous pictures.
Reactions and Smiles
These are vital wedding candid photography tips. As a photographer, you should be looking to capture worthy reactions and smiles.
As well as taking perfect pictures of the bride and groom, make sure you are looking for priceless moments in the guests. The expressions of relatives, friends, and family deserved to be captured.
When you are busy shooting poses of the couple, it may be useful to ask your assistant or another photographer capture reactions in the guests. You need to ensure that you cover as many faces as you can.
You should also look out for other great shots; this could be of a child smiling or laughter from a group of people. These moments are rare and original, which is what makes them perfect for a wedding album.
The video below shows what not to do as a wedding photographer.
Do you have any wedding photography tips of your own?
