Wedding Photography: How to Capture the Big Day
When photographing a wedding there is a lot of pressure to get the picture. Wedding photographs must be beautiful and creative. A wedding is a special time when people get together and share a lifetime event. People really open their hearts and that doesn’t happen on a day to day basis. You want to capture this feeling when photographing a wedding.
Although no two weddings are the same it is important to use an eye for composition and design. Every occasion and wedding is different from one another. Each group of people and setting creates different energy. Capture the energy and personalities of the people in the group. This is what makes the photograph really special.
Most often, people tend to look more comfortable in outdoor photographs. Take as many outdoor photographs as you can. The outdoor light often makes people look healthier, and thus happier. You want your pictures to look like a relative or the best friend of the bride took the pictures. Get involved when you take the pictures, otherwise it will look like the photographs were taken by a stranger.
Whenever possible you should offer the bride and groom unlimited film. Limiting the amount of film you can use at the wedding may limit your artistic ability. What if there is one more great shot you can get and you run out of film? Don’t limit yourself by limiting the film. If you can afford it, offer unlimited film to all your customers. Surely they will be pleased with your work if they have more to choose from. Make sure that you also get a list of family and friends the bride and groom want photographed the day of the wedding.
When choosing film for a wedding, make sure that you purchase color as well as black and white film. People tend to think of black and white photographs as romantic. Photograph details like flowers, candles, and the like in color. When you create an album for the bride and groom it looks nice to see black and white photographs on the same page as colorful details. If you are photographing a cultural wedding that is very colorful you may not want to use much black and white film.
If you are shooting a colorful wedding you should capture the color, after all that is the essence of the wedding. Indian weddings tend to incorporate many bright shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and orange. If you are photographing this type of wedding make sure that you are using quality film that will not bleed colors. Carry 2-3 cameras with you at all times during the event so you never run out of film, or can switch back and forth between black and white and color quickly.
Before photographing the wedding you should arrive at the location a day or two in advance. Invite the bride and groom to join you. Survey the inside of the church and any land where the photographs will be taken. The location of the photograph is just as important as the picture itself. Make sure places the bride and groom wish to take pictures is not going to cause problems later. Keep a watchful eye on places that may become muddy if it is wet. Mud on a white wedding dress is a horrifying site and you don’t want to be the blame for it.
When you photograph a wedding you are telling a story. On the day of the wedding you may want to begin by taking pictures of the bride getting ready. These are intimate moments that can only be captured once. Take pictures of the groom as well. It is often tradition that the bride and groom remain separated until the ceremony. Try to catch the emotions of the bride and groom during this time.
During the wedding ceremony it is very important to take pictures. This is why everyone came to the wedding, to see the ceremony. Try not to stick out like a sore thumb. If there is a balcony or side aisle take some pictures from there. Take a picture of the bride walking down the aisle from the front and back if possible. During the exchange of vows it is best to refrain from taking photographs. Of course make sure that you get a tasteful shot of the first kiss between husband and wife. This is a very intimate moment for everyone and should be captured.
After the ceremony ask the new Husband and Wife to take a few minutes for them alone. Look for a location outdoors that is undisturbed by guests, and ask the bride and groom to forget you are there. The bride and groom will easily forget you during this special time. Use this time to get as many romantic shots as possible. This is an excellent time to use black and white film.
When a bride and groom look at your wedding portfolio you should show them your favorite pictures, as well as an entire wedding. This will give them an idea of how you tell a story and will help them make a decision. If your favorite pictures aren’t their favorite pictures you probably aren’t the right photographer for them, but that’s okay. There are always more people. You want to be able to form a close and comfortable relationship with your clients. After all you will be taking some of the most intimate pictures of their lives.
If you want to take better photographs here are some tips.
� If bridesmaids have bare arms ask them to remove any unnecessary jewelry. It is a distraction in the photograph.
� If the bride and groom are not comfortable in their shoes have them remove the shoes. If they are in any kind of discomfort it will show in their faces. The bride and groom should also feel comfortable in their clothes.
� Powder the face of the bride and groom to avoid shine from flash bulbs and sunlight.
� Photograph the first dance. This is one of the first moments that the bride and groom share together.
Photographs are a record of the bride and grooms special day. Some of the most important things that people have are their wedding pictures. Typically most family albums are made up of 25-50% of wedding photographs. This just shows how important these pictures are. Most photographers avoid booking weddings because of the pressure to get the picture right. When done properly wedding photographs can look beautiful and tell the story of an important day.
