Essential Tips Every Budding Wedding Photographer Should Know by Heart

Weddings are fun and memorable events. Couples and families want to capture every moment of the event through pictures. It is a beautiful ceremony with people gorgeously dressed, happy faces, and fantastic moments. The best way to capture these moments is through photographs.

It might feel like a lot of pressure as a budding wedding photographer because you are trying not to disappoint your clients by producing breath-taking photographs even with the various activities associated with the event. However, there are essential tips you should know by heart that will help make the photography smooth and yield good outcomes. 

Talk to the Couple and Create a Shot List

It is the couple’s special day, and they will have expectations of the result of their photo album. Talk to them about the special moments they want to capture, the number of shots they want, and how the pictures will be used (like print or softcopy). Use this information to compile a list for you to check each item off during the event. The professionals behind Catherine J. Gross Photography emphasize the need for this shot list as the couple can get overwhelmed by the activities and forget some necessary details. Doing so will help prevent any troubles during the wedding day.

Check the Location

Visiting the location is helpful in preparation. It helps you to consider the background and how you can work with it. It gives you insight into the position for shots and how you’ll use lights during the event. Checking the location also helps you get prepared for uncertain situations especially, for outdoor weddings. 

Have an Assistant or a Second Photographer

An assistant is necessary for effective capturing during a wedding. You cannot carry all your accessories alone, and setting up can be challenging especially, in a spacious location. You will need someone to help with managing lighting, take test shots and cover extra scenes. A second photographer or assistant will be good for these tasks as you will be less stressed. It will also enable reduced movement by you during the event. With a second photographer, you can take all the formal shots while the other person captures other fun images. 

Get a Family Photo Coordinator

As a budding photographer, you are new to most activities, and you likely are not familiar with the guests. However, family and friend pictures are an integral part of wedding photographs, and it will be disappointing to have them absent in the pictures. To avoid having a stressful group and family capturing, you need to get a reliable family photo coordinator through the client. The person should understand the different dynamics of the families for easy organization. You can get two people, one from each family. 

Have a Backup Plan

Everything about a wedding, including photography, needs backup in case of unforeseen circumstances. Relying solely on your equipment can be risky because devices fail. You need to go to a wedding with two cameras, backup lenses, memory cards, flash, and other necessary gadgets. If you can’t afford extra equipment, you can rent or borrow from other photographers.  Having two cameras is not only needed for backup but also to get two different angles. You can set up one with a wide-angle lens and the other with a longer lens.  

Use Natural Lighting

It enables you to have the best professional picture. As a wedding photographer, you should know by heart how to shoot a wedding without flash. Lighting is very vital to producing a good picture quality. Outdoor weddings will benefit from the use of natural lights. 

Capture all Details

The couple and relatives usually put a lot of effort into planning the wedding. As a photographer, you can complement their effort by capturing all detail especially, the small ones. Remember to shoot the couple’s jewelry and shoes, their outfit, table decorations (flowers, linen and tablecloths, place settings, menu), and the wedding cake. Another set of detail to remember is the romantic and fun moments, wide shots of the venue, guest group photographs, and the local scenery. 

Use a Tripod

As a wedding photographer, you should always carry a tripod to the venue. It helps avoid shaking of the camera while shooting and blurry pictures. 

Shoot in RAW

You might be considering the processing time associated with shooting in RAW and want to avoid it. Weddings are the events that you can appreciate the usefulness of RAW. It allows for flexibility to edit captured shots. Even with a background and location check, lighting can fluctuate and get tricky. Pictures that are taken in RAW allow for manipulation of exposure and white balance.  

Fast Shooting

The skill of fast shooting is vital during a wedding because you want to capture many activities without missing memorable details. Remember to set your camera to a shutter speed that matches the focal length of the lens. A way to achieve fast shooting is by switching your camera to a continuous shooting mode. Sometimes, the second shot produces a better picture. Another way to achieve fast shooting is by using a lens with wider maximum apertures. It allows you to get the proper exposure at a faster shutter speed. 

Change Perspective

As a photographer, you should know that one perspective creates a monotonous result. No couple will like all their pictures looking similar. Try to be creative in every of your shoot; change your view to get a desirable outcome. You can change perspectives by taking down low, up high, and wide angles. 

Dress Appropriately

It is necessary, yet some photographers do not consider their dressing when going to a wedding. Your presence at a wedding will be professional, but you don’t want to look like an outcast while shooting. Therefore, it is necessary to dress like a regular guest at the wedding so you can fit in. Your outfit should also be comfortable, especially your shoes, because you will be moving and standing a lot.

As a photographer, to perform well at a wedding, you should keep these tips at heart and follow them. Your career as a wedding photographer starts with having happy clients. The clients only get satisfied when you perform well and produce fantastic wedding pictures.