Shooting professional wedding photos

The wedding season is in full swing, and at every wedding, there is always a photographer striving to capture the most important day in the lives of two people. It doesn’t matter if you are a first-time wedding photographer or have already built a career in this field, capturing love and the celebration of marriage in a frame is quite a challenging task.

Tips from wedding photography masters

These tips, compiled by wedding photography experts from the ranks of Shutterstock, will help you approach your work with the knowledge and confidence needed to create a unique photo album for the newlyweds.

1. Build a close connection with the newlyweds

This is the first and most important step in creating exceptional wedding photos. To capture authentic photos that convey the uniqueness of the couple, take time to understand the dynamics of their relationship and recognize their aesthetic.

Spend some time with the couple, whether in person, over the phone, or through correspondence. This will bring you closer and help them feel at ease in your presence, which is crucial since you will be a key player in their most important day!

Jessica Love knows that the best photos come from a deep understanding of the subjects. She connects with the couple to “learn their story, which helps her be inspired by their personalities and love”.

Carmen Santorelli has a few key questions she asks the couple to better understand them and create a list of shots. Among these are: “How did you meet?”, “How do you spend time together?”, “How did he (or she) propose?”, and “Will any family traditions be followed at the wedding?”.

Adrian Hankow doesn’t always have the opportunity to meet his clients face-to-face before the big day, so he developed a unique method of correspondence to get to know the couple better. His “magic questionnaire” is called PVDZP (Useful Questions for Long Distances or Busy Couples) and “unveils almost every aspect that helps me understand the aesthetic idea of my clients – not only for the specific event but also as a lifestyle image”.

Heidi Ryder believes in the importance of ensuring comfort for the couple so that even posed shots appear natural and sincere. “The couple looks at me, waiting for each shot to be set up. But I don’t want the wedding photos to look stiff and artificial. So my understanding of the couple’s relationship and their acquaintance with me helps them relax, and even posed portraits feel genuine and not staged”.

2. Learn about the families of the newlyweds

Wedding photography is not just about the couple – the album should also include photos with family and friends, so it’s a good idea to learn about the wedding guests as well. Understanding the relationships within families will provide the knowledge necessary to capture important and meaningful moments at the right time.

Among the standard shots, there will definitely be the father-daughter dance or a group of bridesmaids, but with more information, you might capture something more intimate or unexpected, such as divorced parents putting aside their differences for a dance, or a younger sister asking to sit at the adult table.

Carmen Santorelli asks couples about family relationships and each individual family member so that she can identify important moments when they occur. “I always ask about family stories they want to share (divorces, deaths, etc.). I always remember that family is the most important part, so I try to take as many photos with the family as possible. And 20 or 30 years after the wedding, they will look at these photos and remember their loved ones and the wonderful events they experienced together.”

3. Be incredibly organized and thoroughly prepared

No one can predict what will happen during the shoot, so it’s important to check and recheck everything beforehand.

Photographer Maria Lamb has a checklist she uses to verify the readiness of her equipment, her knowledge of posed shots, and everything needed for her own comfort (something most energetic photographers often forget):

• I make sure I have enough film.
• I ensure all batteries are charged and memory cards are cleared. I double-check that I saved the previously shot material before clearing the memory cards.
• I ensure my assistant and their equipment are ready.
• I verify the date and time of the shoots, finalize and review the list of posed shots.
• I reread the specific requests from clients, contracts, and any information I’ve received from them.
• I go to the store to stock up on snacks, water, energy drinks, and everything needed for the day.
• I print out the address and directions to the shooting location so I don’t get caught off guard if my gadgets fail at the critical moment.
• I get plenty of rest before the shoot to ensure I am fully prepared for the shoot.

4. Don’t light just for the sake of lighting

Lighting can either make a photograph perfect… or completely ruin it. It’s very important to study the ceremony location and the lighting options you’ll be able to use there.

Knowing the timing of the ceremony and its location involves understanding the temperature, areas with the best natural light, and adjusting your own equipment settings for the best shots. Many photographers also prepare for outdoor shoots, where weather conditions can unpredictably change the lighting.

Adrian Hankow prepares for outdoor shoots with astronomical precision: “I check the sunrise, the set time, and the direction of sunlight for each hour of the shoot.”

Nerida McMurray recognizes the value of sunlit shots, so she plans her shot list to fit into the unmatched “golden hours”. “In my opinion, to achieve what my clients want from their wedding photos, you need to find the right quality and direction of light. I usually work outdoors, and this requires knowing the location and the timing of the shoot. We try to capture the ‘golden hour’ just before sunset, and then move to the ceremony venue as dusk sets in.”

original: shutterstock.com/blog/expert-wedding-photography-tips

This article is also available for reading in the following categories: About Microstocks