Of course, we always recommend that you rely on professionals, and above all on us! But we are under no illusion that everyone hires a professional for their wedding, nor that you can all refer to our studio. This doesn't mean it's impossible to have great shots to remember the event. However, taking photographs is more difficult than you think, and being able to take a good photograph requires more effort and equipment than you normally imagine. Given the large number of images we deal with both as active and passive subjects, it is good to remember: a smartphone with a good camera does not replace the work of a professional. However, for friends and relatives who want to take on the burden and responsibility of crystallizing the big wedding day in the history of images, we have decided to give some organizational advice, which if nothing else will help you to be prepared at the right time: this way you will avoid having to get the essential shots and you won't disappoint your spouses!
Here are my 21 tips for you. Otherwise, contact us immediately, and the responsibility for the memory of the big day will be supported by more than twenty years of experience and a close-knit staff. And visit our gallery to see our works.
1. Create a “shot list”
One of the most helpful tips I've received about wedding photography is to get the couple to think ahead about the shots they'd like you to capture on the day and compile a list so they can check them off. This is especially useful in family photos. There's nothing worse than getting your photos back and realizing you didn't photograph the happy couple with grandma!
2. Find a group photography coordinator
I find that family photo of the day can be quite stressful. People go everywhere, you don't know the different family dynamics at play and people are in a "holiday spirit" (and have often had quite a few drinks), so much so that the situation is chaotic. Ask the couple to nominate a family member (or one from each side of the family) who can be the 'director' of the shoot. They can round everyone up, help you get them into the frame, and keep things moving so the couple can get back to the party.
3. Explore the ceremony location
Visit the various places you will photograph before the big day. While I'm sure most professionals don't do this, I find it very helpful to know where we're going, have an idea of some locations for shots, and know how the light might come into play. At one or two weddings I even visited the venues with the couples and took some test shots (so I could take the engagement photos)
4. In wedding photography, preparation is key
So much can go wrong on the big day… so you need to be well prepared. Have a backup plan (in case of bad weather), have fresh batteries, empty memory cards, think about routes and time to get to places, and get an itinerary for the whole day so you know what's coming next. If you can, take part in the rehearsals of the ceremony where you will collect a lot of information on the possible positions from which to photograph, the lighting, the order of the ceremony etc…
5. Set expectations with the couple
Show them your work/style. Find out what they want to achieve, how many shots they want, what key things they want to be remembered, how the shots will be used (printing, etc.). If you are charging for the event, make sure you have an agreement on the set price.
6. Turn off the sound on your camera
Beeping during speeches, kissing and vows are not exactly the best for the event. Turn off the sound beforehand and keep it turned off.
9 pick up the small details
Photograph rings, the back of clothes, shoes, flowers, tables, menus etc. – these help give the final album an extra dimension. Browse a wedding magazine at a newsstand for some inspiration.
9 uses two cameras
Beg, borrow, rent or steal an extra camera for the day – put a different lens on it. I try to shoot with a wide angle lens (excellent for candid shots and in tight spaces (particularly before the ceremony in the preparation phase of the day) and a lens with a longer focal length (it may be useful to have something as large as 200mm if you can get your hands on one – I, among others, use a 70-200mm).
9 consider a second photographer
Having a second backup photographer can be a great strategy. It means moving less during ceremonies and speeches, allowing one to capture formal shots and the other to get more candid images. Then it takes away the pressure of being “the only one” in charge of every shot.
10. Be bold, but not pushy
Shyness won't get you the big shot – sometimes you have to be bold to capture a moment. Timing is everything and thinking ahead to get the right position for key moments is also important so as not to disrupt the event. In a ceremony I try to move at least 4-5 times, but I try to do it in a way that coincides with songs, sermons or longer readings. During formal shoots be bold, know what you want and ask it from the couple and their party. You're running the show at this point in the day and you have to keep things moving.
11. Learn how to use diffused light
The ability to bounce a flash or spread it is key. You will find that in many churches the light is very low. If you are allowed to use a flash (and some churches don't allow it) ask yourself whether the flash will work (remember that if you bounce off a colored surface it will add a colorful pop to the photo) or whether to buy a flash diffuser to soften the light. If you can't use a flash, you need to use a fast lens at wide apertures and/or increase the ISO sensitivity. A lens with image stabilization may also be useful. Learn more about using flash diffusers and reflectors.
12. Use raw format
I know many readers feel they don't have the time to shoot raw (due to the extra processing), but a wedding is the typical occasion where it can be particularly useful as it gives you much more flexibility to manipulate the photographs after you've taken them. Weddings can present photographers with tricky lighting resulting in the need to manipulate exposure and white balance after the event – the raw format will help greatly.
13. Show your photos at the front desk
One of the great things about digital photography is the immediacy of the medium. One of the fun things I've seen photographers do more and more is bring a computer to the front desk, load up previously taken shots and let them rotate like a slideshow throughout the evening. This adds an element of fun to the evening
14 consider Your wallpapers
One of the challenges of weddings is that there are often people going everywhere, including the backgrounds of your shots. Particularly with formal shots, study the area where the bride and groom will be taken well in advance in search of good backgrounds. Ideally you'll want clear areas and spots shaded from direct sunlight, where a wandering great aunt is unlikely to wander into the background of the shot
15. Don't discard your "mistakes"
The temptation of digital is to check images while you're working and delete those that don't work immediately. The problem with this is that you might just get rid of some of the more interesting and usable images. Keep in mind that images can be cropped or edited later to give you some more artistic/abstract shots that can add real interest to the final album.
16. Change your perspective
Get a little creative with your shots. While most of the images in the final album will likely be “normal” or formal poses, be sure to mix things up a bit by shooting from low, high, wide angle etc.
17. Wedding group shots
One thing I have done at every wedding is photograph everyone who is there at the same time. As? Arranging a place where he can rise high above everyone right after the ceremony. This could mean climbing ladders, using a balcony or even climbing onto a roof. The beauty of standing tall is that you get everyone's face and you can include a lot of people in one shot. The key is to be able to get everyone to where you want them to be quickly and be ready to shoot without everyone standing still for too long. I've found that the best way to get everyone is to have the bride and groom there with a couple of helpers to herd everyone in that direction.
18. Flash of light
When shooting outside after a ceremony or during posed shots you will probably want to keep the flash attached to give some light. I tend to turn it back a little (a stop or two) so that shots don't blow out – but particularly in backlit or midday shooting conditions where there can be a lot of shadow, you need to use fill flash.
19. Continuous shooting mode
Having the ability to take lots of images quickly is very useful on a wedding day, so switch your camera to continuous shooting mode and remember to use it. Sometimes it's the shot that takes a second after the formal or posed shot when everyone they relax which really captures the moment!
20. Expect the unexpected
“Things will go wrong, but they can be the best parts of the day.” In every wedding I've attended, something tends to go wrong on the day. The best man can't find the ring, it rains as the ceremony ends, the groom forgets to zip up, the flower girl decides to sit in the middle of the aisle or the bride can't remember her vows...
These moments may seem like sheer panic at the time – but these are the moments that can really make the day unique and provide memories for the bride and groom. Try to capture them and you might end up with some funny images that sum up the day well.
I still remember a wedding I photographed where the bride and groom crashed into a tram on the way to the park where we were about to take photos. The bride was in tears, the groom was stressed, but after we all calmed down, people started to see some fun aspects of the moment and we even took a couple of snaps before hitting the park. They were everyone's favorite .
21. Think about having fun!
Weddings celebrate the holiday – they should be fun. The more fun you have as a photographer, the more relaxed those you are photographing will be. Perhaps the best way to melt people is to smile like the photographer (warning: I always come home from photographing weddings with sore jaws and cheeks from my smiling strategy).