20 Wedding Photography Tips You Must Read!

While searching through some wedding photography tips, I found this wonderful article that has some great wedding photography tips. Wedding photography is quite a challenge in of itself, and I know I can always use more tips on how to capture those precious moments even better than the last! A lot of these tips are pretty much squared away by us here at Intrigue Digital Photography, however there were some that made us go, “Wow what a great idea!” So, without further ado, here are 20 tips to help you with your own wedding photography.

1. Create a “Shot List”

One of the most helpful tips I’ve read about Wedding Photography, is to get the couple to think ahead about the shots they’d like you to capture on their big day and compile a list of those special shots. This is very helpful for family portraits. There is nothing worse than forgetting to take a picture of the Bride with her Grandmother. One way to help them think about the shots they would like, is to have them go to a site like Pinterest, and show you the kinds of photos they have in mind.

 

2. Assign a Wedding Photography Family Photo Coordinator

The family photo part of any wedding can be the most stressful. People are going everywhere, and you’re unaware of the different family dynamics at play. Everyone will be in a festive spirit, and probably have been drinking a few spirits to enhance the festivities, to the point where it can be quite chaotic. Ask the couple to nominate a family member or two (one for each side of the family) who can be the director of the shoot. They can round everyone up, help them prepare for the shoot, and keep things moving faster so that the couple can get back to their party.

 

3. Scout the Venue

Visit the locations where the wedding and reception will be held, as well as surrounding areas that might be good for some shots between the wedding and reception for the wedding party. I’m not sure if everyone does this, but I feel it is imperative to know where we’re going and how the lighting could play out. You could even take the happy couple to these spots for a few test shots, and turn them into nice engagement photos.

 

4. Preparation is Key!

So much can go wrong on the big day; so you need to be prepared. Make sure to have a backup plan in case of bad weather, bad batteries, bad memory cards, or anything else that could go wrong. Make sure to have your routes planned out and check for construction, and be sure to have an itinerary of the full day, so you know where to be next. If you can, attend the rehearsal of the ceremony where you’ll be able to gather a lot of information about the possible positions to shoot from, the lighting of the location, the order of the ceremony, etc…

 

5. Set Good Expectations with the Couple

Be sure to show them your past work and your style. Find out what they are wanting to achieve with you as their photographer, how many shots they would like, what key things they want photographed, and how your shots will be used (prints, etc.) If you’re charging them for the event, then make sure you have the price agreement in place up front.

 

6. Turn the Sound on your Camera OFF

One great way to make your customers mad, and to drive away possible references, is to have your camera sounds on. Beeps during speeches, the kiss and vows, and other parts of the event don’t make for happy customers. Switch it off before you even start your day, and keep it off.

 

7. Shoot the Small Details

Make sure to photograph the small things that you wouldn’t normally think of shooting. This could be anything from the rings, the back of the dresses, shoes, flowers, table settings, menus, etc… These shots help give the album an extra dimension and shows the couple that even the smaller things that many people take for granted, was noticed by you. Be sure to flick through a wedding magazine while waiting to check out of your local grocery store for a little inspiration.

 

8. Have Two Cameras

You should always have two cameras with you. Acquire an extra camera for the day by any means necessary. This includes, but is not limited to, begging, borrowing, hiring, or stealing an extra camera for the day (don’t actually steal a camera; we don’t condone thievery.) We try to be sure to shoot with one wide angle lens (great for candid shots and in tight spaces) and one longer lens (I have a nice 70-200mm f2.8 lens that is great to get in close to their facial expressions during the ceremony.)

 

9. Consider a Partner in Crime Photography

Having a backup photographer can be a great strategy! I know, as I shoot weddings with my husband, and there have been times when one of us missed a specific shot (the kiss!) and the other got it. It could mean less moving around during ceremony and speeches, and also allows for one to capture the formal shots and the other to get the candid shots. It also helps to take a little pressure off you for being the one to have to get every shot.

 

10. Be Bold, but not Obtrusive

Being shy won’t get you the shot, as sometimes you need to be bold to capture a moment. Timing is everything and thinking ahead to get the right position for key moments are important so as to not disrupt the event. Try moving around during the ceremony when songs, sermons, or longer readings are taking place. During the formal shots be bold and know what you want, and be sure to ask for it from the couple and their party. You are the one who they are paying (presumably) to take shots of their special day, and you need to keep things moving along.

 

11. Make Sure You Know how to use Diffused Light and Fill Flash

One of the many challenges of wedding photography is the low lighting that you will find in churches and other buildings. So to help counteract this very annoying part of wedding photography, you must learn to bounce a flash or to diffuse it. If you’re allowed to use a flash (some churches don’t allow flashes) think about whether bouncing the flash will give you the light you need, or if you want to use a flash diffuser to soften the light. Sadly, if you can’t use a flash, you will have to rely on a fast lens with a wide aperture, bump up your ISO, or both. Image stabilization in your lens or camera body might also help. Also, while shooting outside during midday lighting, if your subjects are backlit, or if conditions exist where there are a lot of shadow, fill flash is a must.

 

12. Always Shoot in RAW Format

You may think that shooting in RAW format (click here to learn why you should shoot in RAW) is tedious due to the extra processing that is involved, but a wedding is one time that it can be particularly useful as it gives so much more flexibility to manipulate your shots after the fact. Weddings are prone to low and tricky lighting, and the ability to change your exposure and white balance to compensate makes shooting in RAW a great asset.

 

13. Use the Reception to Display Your Work

One of the best things about digital photography is the ability to access your shots immediately. One of the coolest things I’ve seen at weddings (and people are doing it more and more) is that the photographer downloads his/her shots from the ceremony, and uploads those same shots into a cool slideshow for everyone to enjoy. This adds a fun element to the night, and really shows off your work at the same time. (It might even help people see how good you are and they’ll come to you asking for your card.)

 

14. Take into Account Your Backgrounds

One of the many frustrating points about wedding photography is that there are often people going everywhere, including into the backgrounds of your shots! Formal shots particularly, be sure to scope out an area where there will be good looking backgrounds, but less people. Ideally, you will want uncluttered areas and shaded spots that avoid direct sunlight, and somewhat farther away from the people mulling about.

 

15. Never Trash Your Trash Shots

One of the many temptations of digital cameras is to check your images as you go throughout the day, and delete the ones that don’t work immediately. The issue with this is that you may be getting rid of some of the more interesting and surprisingly useable photos. Always remember that you can crop and manipulate your images later, and even add some artsy/abstract looking qualities to the ones that you may have discarded to begin with. These can make for nice shots to the wedding album.

 

16. Use Many Different Perspectives

Get your creative juices flowing and work your leg muscles by changing up your perspective while shooting. Some amazing images are taken from the floor, with a wide angle lens. Some are taken from a balcony, where you can see a big group of people, and not worry about a head or two being hidden by others. While the majority of the images in your album will probably fairly normal, make sure you mix things up to get your own flair going and show your clients a cool new perspective on their big day.

 

17. Get Group Shots

While at the wedding, one thing to do is try to get a big group photo of everyone in attendance. One way to do this is to arrange for a place that you can get high above everyone, straight after the ceremony. This could mean using a tall ladder, a balcony, or even climbing on a roof! The great thing about getting up high above everyone, is that you get to see everyone’s face in the photo and you can fit quite a lot of people in one shot. Make sure you get everyone to the place you want them to stand quickly and be ready to shoot right away without everyone having to stand around for a long time. This is one great task you can assign your Wedding Photography Family Photo Coordinator to handle.

 

18. Use Continuous Shooting Mode

The ability to shoot a lot of images quickly is a very handy tool for weddings. So be sure to switch your camera to continuous shooting mode, and use it well! Sometimes, you can capture the best moments with your continuous shooting mode right after the formal or posed shoot, where everyone relaxes when they think they’re not being photographed anymore. Relaxation can bring out the best shots in people.

 

19. Expect the Unexpected

One thing you can be 100% sure of while shooting weddings, is that sometimes things just have a mind and will of their own. Things are bound to go wrong, but these things can be the best parts of the day! In every wedding, something always goes wrong whether it be that the best man can’t find the right, the rain pours down just as the ceremony ends, the groom forgot to zip his fly (oops!), the bride rips her dress, or any other number of things. These moments can cause anyone to panic at the time, but it’s these moments that can actually make the day and give the bride and groom some great memories. Attempt to capture them and you could end up with some funny shots that people talk about for years. It’s kind of like the, “It wasn’t funny then, but it sure is funny now” moment. The ones people remember for a long time.

 

20. Have Fun with the Day

Weddings are one thing, if nothing else – celebrations! They should be fun, and as the photographer, the more relaxed and the more fun you are having, the more comfortable everyone else will be. Perhaps loosen people up with a silly smile, or a corny joke. Either way, make the day a fun time, and I’m sure everyone will follow suit.