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Contemporary Wedding Photography Tips

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The keywords for this style of photography are creativity and fun. Keep the bridal party as relaxed as possible and aim to capture their natural actions and expressions.

Photo Credit: © Viorel Dudau | Dreamstime.com

Wedding Photography Techniques

Here are our top contemporary wedding photography tips:

Tip # 1: Have Multiple Lenses Available

Because you are catching the wedding in a candid manner, you need to be prepared to capture different elements of the ceremony on film. This is done best by having a 200mm lens, and a wide angle lens camera that can handle shots in front of you as well. Some professional wedding photographers enjoy playing with a variety lenses. Consider what you can do with a macro lens or a tilt shift lens. Experiment with a 10mm lens versus a 600 mm mirror lens or a 50mm f1.2 lens shot wide open. It's all about stepping back and trying different things.

Tip # 2: Watch the Setting and Anticipate Memorable Moments

The goal of the contemporary photographer is to ensure that you capture the magical moments without a formal approach. This can be done by taking a moment to understand the interactions people are having, as well as looking to see who is interacting. Being several steps ahead will help you to capture the perfect shot.

It is only when you start to connect with your subject, and 'get' the emotions that they are experiencing, that you can capture images that they want to own. It's easy to buy a good camera and take lovely shots, but a professional's work has to be so much more than that.

The successful contemporary photographer understands that weddings are just a constant stream of natural reactions and expression of feelings. You have to be in the right place and you have to be able to feel it to capture it.

Tip # 3: Pay Close Attention to Lighting

Because weddings take place in darker settings, you will want to be sure that you have the proper amount of lighting, without creating a blinding flash. A great way to avoid this happening is bouncing the flash. In cases where you are dealing with really bad light, consider using image stabilization and doing your shots in RAW.

It's also important to be open to pushing the boundaries with modern technology. For example, you can capture wonderful images with a couple silhouetted in the lights of their car, but when you're on the run, shots where the light is not controllable can become very challenging. The solution may be to take portable battery powered video lighting with you, allowing you to splash light where-ever you need it, for example adding to a background, for rim lighting or as a main light source making the background dark and moody and the eyes sparkle.

Tip #4: Shake Up the Staged Photos

There is little doubt that your bride and groom will want to ensure you have the staged group photos. But when you are approaching these from a contemporary stance, you can ask the wedding party to adopt new and / or more natural poses. For example, you might have the bridesmaids kneel down from low to high and have the best man lying in front of them to get the group shot done in an interesting manner. Be sure to be creative and think about how you can shake things up.

Tip # 5: Mix People Up

There are your standard staples that you will be required to take when you are doing your wedding photos, but consider mixing things up. You can have different and interesting combinations of people to help you create a series of photos that are going to impress the bride and groom. For example, have the mothers in a shot with the groomsmen and have the fathers with the bridesmaids. Spend some time thinking about different photos that go against the norm and this will help you to stand out as a contemporary photographer.

Tip # 6: Liven up the Reception with Instant Photos

One of our favorite contemporary wedding photography tips is to set up a mobile print studio and provide a collection of informal and impromptu photos to the guests as a gift. We discuss the how-to on our wedding photography ideas page.

There are an endless number of options you have for creating contemporary wedding photos. Be sure you take the time to research all your options and you should end up with a photo shoot that will impress all those involved.

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