25 Wedding Photography Tips for Photographers
Photographing a wedding remains exciting - especially if you've never done it before. Do you want to exceed your client's expectations? Prepare well and gather inspiration with these 25 essential tips.
1. The wedding venue Visiting in advance is allowed, but not necessary 'Are you visiting the wedding venue in advance?' A frequently asked question from couples. But secretly, this doesn't make much sense at all. You can view the location, but on a wedding day, you should have enough time to take everything in - especially if you arrive on time. Additionally, the lighting on the wedding day may be very different. Explain this to the couple; it will only testify to the fact that you are a professional.
2. Consider a pre-shoot. If you are dealing with a couple that is very apprehensive about the wedding shoot, consider a pre-wedding shoot. This way, they get used to you and the camera. They learn to cope with that initial awkward feeling, which means they will have little trouble with it on the actual day. Additionally, they will already have unique material to use for the invitations!
3. Rent a second photographer yourself in advance in. Do you feel that this wedding is going to be very large and do you think it would be impossible to handle it on your own? Then just hire a second photographer yourself. Make sure that this person has experience with weddings, otherwise you will just get in each other's way. Make clear agreements in advance with the second photographer. It is your assignment, so you are the primary photographer. Your partner can focus on the guests and help you with the wedding photo poses. And split up in the morning: one starts with the bride, the other with the groom.
4. Adjust your clothing. Maybe a bit of an open door, but considering the bride and groom and their guests have put a lot of time into their clothing, you show respect by also dressing nicely. You don't have to show up in a three-piece suit or haute couture dress, but a shirt or nice dress will suffice. Choose something that isn't too flashy, so you blend in more with the guests. Go for something comfortable: after all, you'll be standing, walking, and bending down all day. And you might even find yourself on the ground for that perfect shot. In any case, choose an outfit in which you don't have to worry, so all your focus remains on the wedding.
5. Watch your shoes. Perhaps the most important outfit tip: pay attention to your shoes! Go for a light sneaker or something with a flat sole, but definitely something without a heel. Nothing is more annoying than everyone hearing you walk around during the ceremony...
6. Take care of a second camera, battery, and lens. Take a backup camera with you. You really won't be the first one to drop their camera, or for the camera to suddenly stop working out of nowhere. It's the most memorable day for the couple, so you can't afford to take the risk of not being able to capture it. The same goes for your battery! Finally, you can also choose to bring an extra lens to ensure plenty of variety in the photos.
7. Check the camera settings. One very, very important thing: check the settings of your camera in advance, but also during the day itself. You may often switch between lighting situations or lenses, and sometimes in the rush, you forget to adjust your settings. Before you know it, you're outside and have a series of overexposed photos when the bride and groom walk out of the town hall.
8. Take your flash with you. You prefer to photograph with natural light. But sometimes there simply isn't enough light to work with, and then a flash provides the solution. Be careful not to take the atmosphere out of the photos by overexposing them with the flash. First, see how much you can get out of your camera without flash by increasing the ISO value and lowering the aperture. Only flash the light that is still needed. This way, you maintain a natural atmosphere in the photos - and for the guests, a soft flash is also quite nice.
9. Know the schedule. Ask the planner or the script in advance from the master of ceremonies. This way you know exactly when the important moments are and when you need to be in which place. Preferably arrive a bit earlier at the locations, so you have some time to measure the light.
10. Know the bridal couple. At least as important as the planning: get to know the couple you are going to photograph! How did they meet? How long have they been together? Building a bond with them will help you work together more comfortably and relaxed. It will also assist you in wedding photo poses: what suits them and what doesn't? The more you know about them, the easier it will be to get them relaxed on The Big Day.
11. Know the guests. Also ask the master of ceremonies for an overview of the most important guests (preferably with photo and phone number), so you don't have to constantly figure out who is who on the day itself. Not every guest likes to be in the picture, but you certainly don't want to unintentionally lose sight of the shy sister.
12. Make the master of ceremonies your bestie. You now know the schedule, the bride and groom, and the guests. Make the master of ceremonies your best friend right away! On the wedding day, he/she is your right hand. Make sure to meet in person before the wedding day takes place.
13. Find out when the golden hour is. Depending on the season in which the wedding takes place, it is important to find out in advance when the golden hour occurs. Often this is during dinner or just as the party is in full swing. Since this is the most beautiful light (warm and soft), it is definitely worth taking the couple aside for some extra beautiful shots. Do not do this at the moment itself, but announce it a little in advance.
14. Arrive well in advance. No matter how fun a wedding day is - there is also time pressure. And especially the bride is often extremely nervous. Make sure you arrive well in advance. This way both you and the bride have time to get used to each other and your camera. Also, take into account the travel distance and any traffic jams.
15. Choose two positions in the church. Is the bridal couple getting married in the church? Then choose a maximum of two viewpoints from which to photograph. It is distracting if you walk around too much (even if you are not wearing heels). As soon as you enter, immediately look at which two viewpoints you would like to photograph from and try to stick to that.
16. Show some results in between. You will notice that guests can't wait to see some of your photos. Therefore, show some previews in between, also to the couple. Preferably send some previews as soon as possible after the wedding, because the newlyweds are still enjoying a wedding bubble.
17. Play with the wedding photo posesWedding photographers sometimes tend to go to many different places during a photo shoot. But you can also achieve a lot with a variety of wedding photo poses at one location. First of all, it saves you a lot of time, and secondly, the bride doesn't have to walk far in her dress. Change your perspective and walk around the bride and groom as well. This way, you'll get diverse photos!
18. Play with the light. Photography is writing with light. So always pay attention to the light. Where does it come from? Do you want to photograph with the light, or do you consciously choose backlighting? When you play with light, you can also create many different photos of the same moment. For example, a silhouette immediately gives a completely different photo than photographing with the light.
19. Take into account bad weather. It rarely happens that it really pours all day long. But it is handy to be prepared for it! Perhaps the wedding venue is already a beautiful setting for indoor photos. If that is not possible, you could also consider a garden center for the wedding shoot. Think about this in advance and discuss it with the couple. Tip: with a few transparent umbrellas, you can also get quite far!
20. Think of yourself. Because you are so absorbed in the moment, it may well be that you forget to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom. Of course, plan this around the important moments; if necessary, set an alarm on your mobile phone when you want to take a break. Make sure to have a nutritious and healthy breakfast and also consider bringing some protein bars, so you have all the fuel you need to stay focused.
21. Take your time. A wedding lasts a long time. To avoid having ten thousand photos at the end of the day, it is extra important to pay attention to your timing. You can take a photo just to have a photo, but when you teach yourself to look and wait for the right moment, you'll capture those award-winning shots.
22. Anticipate emotions. Perhaps one of the reasons why you are there that day. To capture the emotions of that day! Listen to the officiant, the father of the bride during the speech, and capture those important moments. Be ready and wait patiently, ready to take that one perfect shot. Don't forget the guests, with their tearful faces. These moments the couple will not get back and are so beautiful for them to see later!
23. Take your business card with you. Don't forget to take your business card with you! A wedding is the perfect moment to network. As a wedding photographer, you are often one of the last parties to be booked. So when you build a network during a wedding, you have a great chance of getting assignments through that route.
24. Follow a day with a wedding photographerWhether you are a beginner wedding photographer or have been in the game for a while: keep developing and challenging yourself by shadowing a colleague for a day. Since you have no performance pressure, you can think completely outside the box and try new things. This will help you grow as a photographer!
25. Blow the bride and groom away with the final result. When you are done with your assignment, you naturally want to blow your couple away with the final result. So make sure you don't just deliver the photos loose on a USB, but ensure the reliving in a luxury album. Beautifully printed in the colors you have in mind (because how painful can a non-calibrated computer monitor sometimes be?). The photo album is your business card and signature (which you can literally have printed on the album in the form of your logo). In addition, can you earn extra as a photographer to the album, by calculating a profit margin on this product.
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