Wedding Photography: Best Tips for Beginners
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents
Memorable events in life ought to be captured. Weddings are one such event. And to know that you, the wedding photographer, are entrusted with capturing the smiles and joy of many, is a great honor in itself. With such a daring task at hand, you might need some help with a few basics. To ace wedding photography, here are a few tips.
Get to know the couple
The main stars of the event. Talk to them and ask them how they would like it.
If they have a particular tradition, or a desire to have something snapped a certain way, get it done. Do it their way. Keep a note of their preferences. If they are a bit shy, take the initiative to break the ice. Make them feel at ease with you.
Interaction is the key. Gain their trust. Show them that though you are a beginner, you are very passionate and goal-oriented, and you will get the job done.
Make sure you have all the family members and close friends covered. Don’t leave anyone out in group pictures.
Wedding photography Red-alerts
Watch out for bad frames – like blurred shots, red eyes, unfocused images. Redo it if you have to. Don’t be afraid to ask people to pose again.
Look around and observe. Don’t catch people off guard, it is considered rude. But keep an eye out for genuine emotions floating around and capture them. Make sure to use the candid camera.
Don’t just focus on the couple. Snap the others too, friends and family.
Keep the others at bay
Weddings become intrusive when the guests start crowding near the stage with their phones to take a snap. While it is understandable that friends and family want a memento for themselves, ensure that they don’t get in your way, politely.
Don’t get too close to seeming intrusive. Make sure people are not too conscious of the camera that they feel nervous around it. Keep it natural. Take quick snaps and move on. If you spend too much time on one frame, you might miss out on other candid moments.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo
Rehearse and prepare
Sharpen your photography skills. Make sure your angle and focus are right, and your hands are steady.
Keep different cameras for different shots – like one for the close shots and one for the far ones, or with different foci. It is better to use high-resolution cameras with a wide frame.
Go to the venue beforehand and plan a mind map of where you will position yourself for the best shot. Notice every small and minor detail. Keep your gaze wide.
Keep a rough sketch of events and their timing, so that you don’t miss out on anything.
Rehearse and keep in touch with your skills by taking a few snaps a day before the event to get the hang of it. Practice makes perfect. But don’t overdo it so as to not exhaust yourself.
Equipment Check
Check your equipment. The most important thing – without which the show can’t run.
Make sure your camera is charged, you have enough memory space to store all the pictures, the lenses are clean and properly placed, the flash is working. Take a stand (tripod) if you think you need one. Keep extra memory cards in handy.
Work on the lighting. You might have to change it multiple times, from one venue to another. Outdoor venues will require low lighting and maybe no flash, but indoors, like the church, will require high lighting and flash.
Make adjustments regularly. Clean the lenses occasionally.
Backup
Plan for the worst and hope for the best – just in case things don’t go the way you planned. Keep a plan B. You don’t want to let down the ones who called you for the task or ruin someone’s big day without intending to.
Avoid technical glitches. Have an extra handy camera gear just in case something happens to the one you have. Have another well-experienced wedding photographer on standby, to back you up, or an assistant photographer if a professional is expensive. Be prepared for anything.
If a situation does arise, handle it with grace. Don’t fret over it, give a quick explanation and move on. Don’t let it shatter your confidence.
Get feedback
It’s always good to let others judge your work. Some pictures might not look good to you but might look nice to others. Be open to suggestions and be willing to adapt to a new style or change your style if needed.
Display your pictures. Let others see your work. The more pictures you have, the more you can display.
It is very important to get the opinion of some professionals. Meet a professional wedding photography studio and a professional wedding photographer and show them the pictures you took. Get their advice on how to display it effectively.
Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance when you need it. The more help you get, the better.
Remember to enjoy
You have the skill of wedding photography, do it with passion. Smile, and make others smile.
Just because you have an immense responsibility doesn’t mean you have to look grim and be serious all the time. Don’t feel burdened.
Make the people around feel at ease. Take as many pictures as possible. Move around and interact. Involve the group.
Have confidence in yourself and believe that you are doing a good job. Keep a positive mindset. Put your skills to full use.
Conclusion
There is a first time for everything. A responsibility so big can be overwhelming at times, but that’s how you learn.
You got this. You’ll do a wonderful job. Just remember to keep the above things in mind, and have a wonderful time. Give it your best shot.
This experience will help you do better next time and give you more opportunities to learn.
Capturing smiles is beautiful so as capturing emotions. Isn’t that what wedding photography is all about!
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo
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