Wedding Photography Tips

Wedding photography is often the most challenging artistic endeavor that an amateur photographer can face; after all, there are no retakes in a wedding. Add to this the very high expectations of the bride who has been fantasizing about her big day since grade school and you will understand exactly why most amateur photographers get butterflies in their stomach at the prospect of wedding photography. However, you simply can't ignore the financial and the aesthetic rewards involved in this type of photography, so if you are all ready to capture memories that will last a young couple for a life time, here are some tips that will prove useful.

Wedding Photography Ideas

Wedding Photography Tips # 1: Get the shot list ready

One of the most important wedding photography tips is to get a shot list ready. The three types of shot lists that you should consider, are:

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* An essential shot list: Talk to the bride and the groom about the photographs that they absolutely must have. For example, it would be unforgivable if that momentous picture with grandma was never clicked. This list will particularly prove helpful for family pictures.

* A creative shot list: This is the list that will make your work stand out from that of the other wedding photographers. These pictures are not going to make or break the album, but they will certainly highlight your artistic talent.

* A dream shot list: This list should include shots that would be reflective of a perfect wedding day, for instance something special that the bride is willing to do in her wedding dress besides walk down the aisle and kiss her groom.

Wedding Photography Tips # 2: Get Inspired

Even if you are an experienced photographer, it never hurts to take a few pointers from wedding magazines. These publications will usually offer tips on the perfect setting, poses, portrait ideas, shot settings and wedding photography techniques.

Wedding Photography Tips # 3: Check out the location

As an amateur wedding photographer, it is vital to get a feel for the various locations that will be used on the big day. Pros may not feel the need to go through this grind, but it will do a lot for your self-confidence to pre-visit the setting where formal photogs will be taken. Consider possible shot angles in this place and explore the light factors that will come into play.

Wedding Photography Tips # 4: Be Prepared

Preparation is one of the key elements of wedding photography; follow Murphy's Law and be ready for everything that can possibly go wrong. Get extra batteries and memory cards to take along, plan your itinerary, and if possible, try to attend the rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Photography Tips # 5: Work with the Couple

Get the couple mentally prepared for the end results: Show them your work so you can help them to set their expectations. Find out about the number of shots that they want and about how the shots will be used. Ensure that you discuss the prices in the beginning.

Wedding Photography Tips # 6: Capture the Details

Don't shy away from shooting the details, for instance the table settings, flowers, shoes, backs of dresses, menu etc. These pictures will lend an extra dimension to your work.

Wedding Photography Tips #7: Be ready with a backup

This is an extremely important part of wedding photography. Beg, borrow or steal but ensure that you have an extra camera with you on the big day. Apart from the fact that you can set both of them up with different lenses, you will also have a backup in case something goes wrong with one of the cameras.

Wedding Photography Tips # 8: Take an Assistant

This move could really take the pressure off your shoulders because while one of you shoots the formal pictures the other can go for the candid shots. This would also mean less work and running around for you as the only photographer.

Wedding Photography Tips # 9: Master the use of diffused light

It is important for a wedding photographer to know how to bounce the flash or diffuse the light. Many churches are not well lit and while some may allow you to use flash others may not. Bouncing the flash will be one of the options that may work. However, you need to remember that bouncing the flash off colored surfaces will lead to a color cast in the picture. If the church does not allow the use of flash, you can always use a fast lens or increase the ISO. You may also want to consider the usage of a lens with image stabilization.

Wedding Photography Tips # 10: Shoot RAW

Because the venues for weddings differ greatly, you may also want to shoot RAW so that you can manipulate the exposure and work on the white balance even after the shot is taken.

Wedding Photography Tips # 11: Get the Background Right

For a formal shot, the background of the picture can make a world's difference; so scope out the venue to find a good one. Ideally, you should choose uncluttered spaces and spots that are out of direct sunlight.

Wedding Photography Tips # 12: Change the perspective

A little bit of creativity can yield remarkable results so don't be scared to experiment a little; particularly with the angle of the shot. While most of images that make it t wedding album will be formal poses, you can spruce things up by taking shots for varied angles such as low, high and wide angles.

Wedding Photography Tips # 13: Group shot technique

You can always try to take a group picture of everybody that attended the wedding; this type of picture makes a lovely closing to a perfect wedding album. However, you will need to be high above everybody else to capture all the faces, so you might want to consider using a tall ladder or even a balcony.

One of the primary challenges faced by wedding photographers is to live up to the expectations of the couple; then there are the dozens of relatives and friends who are all bustling about the place and the photographer has the daunting task of capturing all of them. However despite the hard work, the fact that your work will be cherished for a lifetime or even generations is the biggest reward.

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