Anxiety Free Wedding Photography Tips

Wedding photography can be the most stressful form of digital photography. Understand and follow some vital rules and you will survive this most challenging of assignments.

The Shooting List

Before you worry about your equipment, you must find out exactly what shots are wanted and needed. Ask the bride if she’s already thought this through – she probably has. You need more specific directions than that to capture the mood and happiness of the occasion. Now is the time to start worrying. Request or propose a listing of the most essential photos.

A shot list is best broken down into three general categories:

1. Prior to the Service
2. The Service
3. Following the Service

Prior to the Service

These shots can take in the following:

* The bride getting ready
* The bride with her friends
* The bride and parents
* The groom with his friends
* The groom with his parents
* The Dress
* Getting into the limo
* Sitting in the limo
* Arriving at the church

A few of these can be candid shots. Some work better if you pose them.

The Service

These shots depend on the venue and if you are permitted to photograph the actual exchange of vows, etc. Get the bride to find out if the celebrant is okay with you shooting during the ceremony. Be as unobtrusive as possible, and place yourself somewhere you can frame the bride. Remember, always concentrate on getting good shots of the bride.

These photos should include:

* First take some frames showing the bride and groom from the waist up and celebrant.
* Medium shots of the bride and groom.
* Three quarter length to full length of the entire bridal party including the maids and groomsmen.
* Semi-close-ups (head and upper torso) of the bride and the groom together.
* The ring (close-up on the hands if you can zoom in fast otherwise go for the semi-close-up)
* The kiss (semi close-up)

Lighting plays a big part in the ceremony shots. Flash during these tender moments is definitely not acceptable, so do what you can with the available or ambient light. Going to the rehearsal lets you plan your shot and evaluate the lighting conditions. Make sure you use a tripod.

Use your camera’s mute option so there is no distracting shutter noise. Do that so you can shoot many frames without disturbing the event. The more the better. Set the camera to multiple frames and hold the shutter down at the important moments. Some otherwise excellent pictures have been completely ruined by capturing a blink mid-flight. Shoot more – not less, and avoid this pitfall.

Some fancy footwork may be needed to photograph the new couple walking towards the front doors. Now this is an important wedding photography tip: The rehearsal is also useful for planning where you will move at each phase of the ceremony.  The walk down the aisle is straight reportage – so use the flash. You can see more about this under the heading ‘Equipment’.

After the Ceremony

Again some of these can be candid and some ought to be posed. These should include:

* The bride and groom outside the church/venue with well-wishers
* The confetti moment (just hold the shutter down!)
* The bouquet
* Groups of bride and groom and all parents
* Getting into the limo
* Sitting in the limo
* The limo itself if it has been tricked up with cans and graffiti etc.

After-After the Ceremony

These usually need to be planned ahead. Now go ‘on location’ to a nearby park or garden. Don’t forget the dress – you can achieve some nice photos here against a peaceful background. The subjects can relax here and figuratively let their hair down. Posed shots should be done first, then move off for shots with the zoom so they can be more spontaneous.

This includes the reception. Guests will probably want photos with the bride and groom but in my experience once the big day is over you discover that those ‘must’ shots sit neglected on the disk.

Definitely shoot the cutting of the cake. You should also cover the bridal table, early on before it becomes messy. The most wanted and treasured pictures will probably be the ceremony so concentrate on that.

At the reception it’s wise you have a helper to organize the group shots.

The Final Product

It is best to supply a Compact disk or DVD with the duds edited out. A dud is anything that makes you look bad as a photographer. For added effect you can use video editing software to quickly make a slide show of the event in sequence. Test your final selection so see if it is still clear and sharp at A4 size – if not, reject it. Make a CD of the best photos and you’re done.