Wedding Photography Tips including Digital Wedding Photography Tips
Having photographed weddings for more years than I like to count there are some points and perhaps wedding photography tips I would like to throw into the mix.
If you are considering becoming a wedding photographer or engaging the services of one, the first point in wedding photography tips and tricks is the same what type of wedding photographer do you want to become or services engage?
There is the ‘traditional’ style of wedding photography or the more modern photojournalistic style or a combination of the two.
The first style of photography the traditional approach is now seen as old school but has its merits. It limits the length of time actually spent on the wedding day on photography, usually working from a mainly pre-arranged schedule of formal photographs. These photographs are usually centred round the newly married couple, family close friends plus pertinent points of the day, including putting the ring on the finger, signing the register, throwing the bouquet and cutting the cake etc.
Then we have the photojournalistic style of wedding photography. This style has become popular with both the wedding photographers and their clients, because of the perceived creativity involved in the process. Unlike the traditional style, a photojournalistic style of photographing weddings moves away from posed planned pictures – and covers the events as they unfold, still covering a the salient important parts of the day but allowing them to happen naturally without any intervention by the photographer. Thereby capturing the completely ‘natural’, un-posed pictures that everybody loves.
Then lastly, there’s the combination of both styles of taking wedding photographs. Here, a wedding photographer mixes a variety of traditional posed shots with photojournalistic pictures as they happen. This gives clients greater choice because they can decide which style of photographs they prefer after the event, often making a selection of both styles.
Points for and against.
The traditional style has the benefit that both client and photographer knows exactly what is required to photograph and when, then once this is achieved the clients can move on to the next phase of the wedding day. This style has been successful for many years and perhaps pragmatic in approach and results but at least all parties involved are sure what are needed to be done on the day to get the required results.
The photojournalism style in its purest form, by that I mean where the photographer has no intervention with the clients on the day but records the wedding fully as it unfolds, has some potential downfalls. The main one is that if the client has images or ideas for images in their mind’s eye that they want to receive as part of their wedding picture selection; whatever these images may be, without some form of intervention or set up may not actually happen on the day. If this aspect is not fully explained and understood, by both parties, it can lead to some disappointment. This point aside when photojournalism style is used the results can be spectacular.
The third style the mixture of both traditional and photojournalism can require more work and planning before the wedding day but can take the element of uncertainty away, the client and photographer will both be aware of the minimum requirement of images and where and when they will be photographed. As the day progresses they will be sure that the important images have been recorded but add to that the immediacy and surprise images captured as the wedding day unfolds. In these litigious days perhaps these are safer options for all concerned. This way both parties can relax a little and get the best images from the day.
The modern wedding photographer needs many social skills including a requirement to react to situations and record them quickly as possible so to take some worry and stress away from the day.
Wedding Photography Tips
A good professional wedding photographer regardless of style of photography will visit the wedding venues a few days before the wedding, this is their chance to walk around the buildings, to note any features that need to be avoided in the pictures, select where the pictures will be shot, noting where the sun or shade will be on the day. All this is vital information that they will need to be aware of on the day, he or she will know where the pictures will be taken at the church as well as at the reception, they will know if the reception is a better location than the wedding with regards photography and not waste any time on the day finding out, leaving all the time available to just concentrate on the photographs.
It is also a good tip to have a meeting with the couple in the last two weeks before the wedding to compare notes of timing schedules and picture requirements this will reinforce your professionalism to the couple adding to their confidence in you on the day
These are all good wedding photography tips for photographers careful planning is paramount add to that camera equipment checking prior to the event make sure it all functions correctly and that you all fully conversant with the camera and its functions so you won’t have to think about it on the actual day. Take backup equipment in case of failure or damage. These particular thought are for traditional film as well digital wedding photography tips. These confidence building checks can only enhance the day and its results for all parties involved.
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