Professional Wedding Photography Tips
Getting it right on the day – using Professional Wedding Photography Tips
Arrange a meeting with the couple at least two weeks before the wedding. Use this
time to take notes, formulate detailed plans and get to know them in a relaxed setting.
This gives you two weeks after the meeting to check out the location, introduce
yourself to the people at the venue and go back to the couple if there are any special
observations or difficulties.
Special requests
Tell the couple what you plan to photograph and show them examples. Ask them if
they have any special requests — special
guests who may have come halfway
around the world perhaps, or a particular group of school friends. But apart from
any such ‘specials’, ask the couple to leave the photography up to you. Avoid creating
a list of ‘must-have’ photographs it may not be possible to stick to it, and this
could cause bad feelings later. Make a note of the names of parents and also of
all the bridesmaids, ushers and the best man or supporters so you can address them
by name.
The ceremony
You need to know full details of the ceremony that will take place. Details can
vary considerably even within the same religion or denomination, and civil ceremonies
are held in all kinds of buildings and settings. Make notes about when special readings
and music will occur so you can position yourself in the right place at the right
time.
The reception
It is important to decide with the couple where the formal and casual photographs
will be taken and when. Will you spend a few minutes with the couple a ssoon as
they arrive at the reception venue, or after they have greeted everyone? Many people
do not realize how long a formal receiving line can take. If the couple opt to have
a less-formal handshake on the way into the meal, it takes a lot less time, partly
because everyone will have arrived, and partly because they will be hungry!
No flash
At some religious ceremonies you can move about as much as you like and use flash
photography, but try to resist the temptation. Be discreet if moving around and
use available light unless you are attempting to capture movement. By avoiding flash
photography, you will give a more accurate feeling of the occasion. At some churches
you may only be able to take photographs from the back, in others you may be offered
the chance to go into a gallery or the choir stalls.
Transport, route and parking
Enquire how the couple will be travelling. If it is a pony and trap it will take
a lot longer than a car. Are they taking a picturesque route? If so, you should
precede them and take pictures. If the church has reserved parking ask them to allocate
a space to you.
Timetabling the day
At Professional Wedding Photography Tips we believe in planning ahead. Your schedule
must be planned beforehand, and the couple have to understand that if there are
delays for any reason, they will either miss out on the portrait photographs or
the meal will be served late. Good planning and an understanding of exactly what
the bride and groom want will help prevent any problems.
At home
If planning to photograph the bride at home, calculate how long it will take you
to travel to the ceremony, and tell them you will arrive an hour before they leave.
If you are lucky, you will get up to thirty minutes with the bride and her family.
At church
Plan to arrive at church a few minutes before the bridegroom, who should arrive
thirty minutes before the ceremony for portraits and casual pictures with his attendants.
Bridesmaids should arrive twenty minutes before the bride.
Afterwards
Establish how long the ceremony is. Plan to spend up to twenty minutes on groups
at the church and later another twenty on portraits of the couple. The casual pictures
are taken before the meal while they have drinks and socialize.
Here at Professional Wedding Photography Tips we hope you’ve enjoyed this article
on wedding photography. Why not try one of our other Photography Tips article. Check
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