Wedding Photography
Some things are best left to the professionals, and many people feel that official wedding photography is one of those important jobs that amateurs shouldn't attempt. But in real life, sometimes there's no choice. Tight budgets, short time schedules, or just personal preference may leave you looking to a friend to take your photos, rather than a professional.
The stakes are high for wedding photography. After all, these are the photos of a lifetime, so they need to be great ones! It's important to capture the mood as well as the actual event.
One of the most critical elements in being a successful wedding photographer is preparation. You must have advance preparation (at least 2 months ahead) and the photographer needs to get to know the bridal couple to understand their needs and wants. Some good topics to discuss include:
- How many photographers will there be?
- What type of photos would they like? Do they prefer formal group portraits, or mostly candid shots of the couple?
- How many guests will there be at the wedding? Are they mostly family members or friends?
- Where will the wedding take place? Will there be a formal church service, a reception or a dinner?
Most photographers like to go inside the church before the wedding, to check out the lighting, décor and environment. It's important to find the correct positioning places to allow for great pictures without getting in the way. Do take note that some churches do not allow flash photography during the wedding ceremony.
It’s also important to check out places like the reception area, or the podium where the speech will be made. If there will be a wedding dance, check out the dance floor and the seating arrangement. Organized photographers will get a list of people who should be photographed, as well as particular scenes that the couple wants to record.
The person taking shots of the bride getting ready should be one of the earliest to arrive, in order to set up positions, tripods or other equipment.
If there are any formal group shots to be taken, be sure it's helpful to have an assistant there to help. Try to start with the big groups, and then slowly remove family members to get a variety of combinations of family and friends.
After the wedding, the photographer will need to do some basic image editing, like removing red eye, cropping and rotating as well as burning the photos into CDs and DVDs, (usually in a slideshow format).
Here are a few tips from the experts:
- If the photos are indoors try to arrange your subjects closer together but avoid a bunched up appearance.
- If time permits, sit the bride on the steps and group her attendants around her, have them lean slightly in toward her and get a big smile!
- Get a picture of the bride and groom with the flower girl and ring bearer. Have the bride kneel to their level and you move in close to frame your shot. Don't overlook other members of the immediate family.
- Try hard to vary the "look" of the photos, avoid lining everyone up in straight lines and shooting from the same position. Use the pews of the church to sit some people while others stand directly behind them. Have the subjects turn slightly in towards the middle person instead of everyone facing straight toward the camera.
- For a daytime wedding, take the subjects outside and use the "fill flash" feature on the digital camera. Avoid having the sun directly in the eyes of people, since squints don't photograph well.
- Try to find a quiet spot with a bench if possible and don't forget the bouquets of the bride and attendants, since they always make a colorful accent and are expected to be seen in most photos. If the reception takes place in the same building as the wedding, take a few shots of the cake and decorations before the guests arrive.
- White wedding cakes are very hard to photograph with a built-in flash unit. Most pros either bounce their flash off the ceiling or detach it from the camera and hold it off to one side. If there is sufficient light, this would be an ideal time to use it.
- The reception is a great time for candid photos. One of the last things done at most weddings is the throwing of the bouquet by the bride.
Wedding photos are a crucial part of a very special event. Years later, the couple will smile and reminisce about how wonderful their wedding day was, so choosing a photographer is a very important decision!
Published 06/01/07
