Wedding photography remains etched in the minds of people throughout their lives. These specialized snapshots will outlast any marriage, and remain talking points in photo albums, on the Internet, and in the rooms and halls of homes throughout the world.
Bright eyed couples are frozen in time in wheat fields, in front of churches, alongside fountains, trees, and every other setting you can imagine. Whether their smiles look natural or artificial, you can always bet that they look happy.
When it comes to matrimonial photos, there is very little room for error. Everyone wants high-quality pictures, and the pressure is always on photographers to capture a perfect setting that newlyweds will cherish forever.
15 Wedding Photography Tips and Tricks
It is necessary to realize that a compromise for mediocre photos does not exist. You only have one occasion to get it right. So, how do you pull it off? Here are 15 wedding photography tips and tricks to make a photographer’s or bride and groom’s job easier:
Practice a Test Run – A week or two before the ceremony, you should make a test run. You should try to practice taking photos in the same church or another place with a similar lighting to learn what the best settings will be on your camera.
Take a Photography Course – Get a couple of trusted family members to take a quick course on photography in advance of your wedding. Instead of pointing and shooting, they will have the knowledge of how to take a good photo and not rely on pure luck. This can never replace a professional photographer, but it can add some beautiful additions to your wedding album collection.
Create a Shot List – You don’t want to rely on your memory when it is time to shoot your photos. A shot list reminds you of everything you need to shoot during the wedding. You should also get the bride and groom to agree with what is on your list.
Ask the Bride and Groom for Favorite Photos – Ask the bride and groom to give you a list of two or three must-have photos in advance. These could include an entire family portrait, cutting the cake, walking down the aisle, etc. You will naturally probably take these shots anyway, but it is nice when you can focus on them and make sure they are some of your best shots.
Get Enough Lighting – Overexposure can instantly ruin a photo and not having enough light is equally harmful. Anyone can make photos look better by taking shots that have enough natural lighting. So, during any outdoor settings with the bride and groom, take advantage of natural light and your surroundings.
Use Bounce Flash Lighting – Bounce flash lighting happens when you rotate an external flash away from your subject to get enough natural light, but without placing a light spot from the flash on the face. Along with the tip of getting enough light, it is one of the most important tips in good photography.
Implement the Correct White Balance – White balance can quickly distinguish you as a professional or it can scream, AMATEUR. Make sure your photos always have enough white balance without interfering with any other fine details of the photo. So, you can still be an amateur, but you can produce professional looking photos.
Composition Adjustment – When you adjust your camera to get the perfect frame, it could mean slightly moving your camera in a vertical or horizontal motion. Or, you could slightly change your position to frame a better angle of your subjects.
Capture the Smallest Details – There is some extensive planning that goes into a wedding. That includes down to the bouquet of flowers, special gift wrapping, the intricate details of the bride’s gown, and more. You should capture close-ups of these items, too. They are an intricate part of the wedding, too.
Make Digital Edits – You can edit many of the photos that you make with your digital camera. You can make some good photos look great, and turn others you wanted to delete into shots that are worth saving. Of course, there is Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as other commercial editing programs that can accomplish this.
Reduce Wedding Photographer Costs – No one in their right mind is going to have a wedding without a professional photographer. However, some people might not have the money to pay for an all-day event. To reduce costs considerably, hire your photographer for the ceremony and an hour before and after. This should get most of the photos that you need while at the same time cutting costs.
Check Your Photographer’s Portraits – You might have a professional wedding photographer who makes excellent photos of the wedding ceremony, but does not make great portraits. If this is the case, you might want to hire a second photographer for studio portraits only.
Look for Bonuses – Some wedding photographers will also take some engagement photos at no additional costs. These make a nice complimentary addition to your wedding album.
Look for Other Tender Moments – In addition to planned shots, always look for other tender moments that may or may not involve the bride and groom. Emotions will flow during a wedding ceremony and all of that should be captured with photos.
Always Have Backups Ready – You’ve got the biggest event planned, now you should be prepared. Always have backup memory cards, batteries, and even an additional camera, just to be sure.
Wedding Photography – Conclusion
Wedding photography is a fine art. You must practice to get better at it. Also, if you better prepare, you will reduce stress and lower the chances of anything bad happening. Remember about Murphy’s Law, “If something can go wrong, it will.” If you prepare yourself, you will always have better results.
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