the ultimate complete guide to wedding photography with 12 tips
The best ultimate complete guide to wedding photography with 12 tips
You’ve been dreaming about your wedding day for years, and now it’s finally here. You’re sitting on top of the world and ready to start putting all your thoughts into action. Now what? Well, if you want to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch, you’ll need some amazing pictures to show off when it’s all over—and who better than the person who knows best: YOU! You’ve got an incredible team behind you (the photographer), but they won’t be able to capture every moment in time because everyone’s busy having fun. So this guide will teach you how to use your camera settings and get down on one knee for some perfect shots that will last forever.
With tips from industry experts
1. Create an inspiration board
Creating an inspiration board is one of the most important things you can do for your wedding photography. It’s what will help you decide which pictures to take and how to frame them, as well as give you a visual sense of what your day will look like.
The first step in creating an inspiration board is finding great photos from other photographers or websites (we recommend using Google Images). Once that’s done, it’s time to organize them into categories: bride/groom portraits; details shots; party photos; ceremony shots etc… Then just go through each category one by one until all the pictures are placed in their appropriate places on the wall or table top where they’ll stay throughout the entire process (unless someone throws them out).
2. Get to know your clients
- Get to know your clients
Knowing your clients is the most important part of wedding photography. You need to know their personalities, expectations and what they want from you as a photographer. It’s also important to get an understanding of their wedding theme and style so that you can help them achieve it in your images as well as on the day itself.
When working with couples I like my clients to feel comfortable around me because this means they trust me more when we are out shooting together at the wedding location or during pre-wedding shoots at home or somewhere else nearby where it won’t be too far away from where everyone lives (if there’s no room at all then we’ll go somewhere else). I usually get on well with most people; however some people may have different personalities than others depending on how confident/unconfident they are about themselves – so understanding this aspect will enable us both better understand each other’s needs before hand instead of finding ourselves stuck trying figure out why something didn’t work out after spending hours trying everything possible just so nothing goes wrong!
3. Shoot a mock wedding first
Before you get married, it’s a good idea to shoot a mock wedding. You can use your friend or family member as the subject and make it look real by getting them dressed up in their best clothes. If they’re not willing to dress up for this purpose, then perhaps you could find someone who would be willing to be photographed by themselves without having any other people around them (like maybe some models).
You might also consider shooting videos of the process instead of still images because they are easier for people with busy lives who don’t have time anymore just like myself! Also remember not all videos require high quality cameras though; some amateur videos are really good too because those tend come out better than professionals’ products anyway so don’t worry about spending money on expensive equipment yet!
If none of these options work well enough then why not just hire professional photographers? Yes indeed! You should definitely do this if possible since most professionals charge less than $1 per hour while many amateurs charge as much as $10/hour plus travel expenses etcetera…
4. Get comfortable with the camera
- Practice at home.
- Practice with a friend’s wedding.
- Practice with your camera in different conditions and settings. This can be as simple as taking photos of some flowers you see while walking around a park or going on vacation, to more complex photoshoots like those that involve setting up a shoot outside in the middle of winter (or even better yet, during the summer). You’ll want to get used to operating your camera properly under different lighting conditions, so practice making adjustments when it gets dark out—and then again when there’s no sun! If possible, try shooting with multiple lenses so that one doesn’t feel outdated compared to another model that might be better suited for certain situations.
5. Have the right equipment ready
Having the right equipment is essential to taking great pictures. It’s even more important if you’re planning a destination wedding, because it can be hard to find good places for photography close by. Here are some must-have items:
- A camera with interchangeable lenses
- Lenses that match your focal length (wide angle, telephoto). You’ll want a wide angle lens when shooting landscapes and people shots; a telephoto lens helps create depth of field in portraits. The best way to choose which kind of lens suits your needs is by researching what other photographers have done at similar events or venues in your area—see our guide on choosing which camera is right for you! Card readers also come in handy if they work with memory cards rather than directly onto the system itself!
A sturdy tripod with a fluid head is essential for shooting landscapes or long exposures, which require you to set the camera on a tripod and wait for something interesting to happen.
6. Test your camera and lenses at home before the wedding day
- Test your camera and lenses at home before the wedding day
If you are planning to shoot a lot of photos on the fly, then it is important that you test your camera and lenses before the big day. This will help ensure that everything works properly and nothing goes wrong during the ceremony or after party.
Test all settings in advance so that when it comes time for actual use at your client’s wedding, everything works as expected! Test batteries (and make sure they are good), test memory cards (and make sure they work) etc…
It also helps if you can get used to working with different cameras or lenses by going through some practice shoots in advance too – just like any other skill set!
5. Bring spare batteries and memory cards You never know when your camera’s battery will run out or if you will be able to take a photo because of an error on the memory card. Make sure that you have extra batteries, memory cards and other accessories with you in case anything goes wrong!
7. Do a site visit of the ceremony and reception sites
- Do a site visit of the ceremony and reception sites
A site visit is when you go to your clients’ wedding location to see it from all angles, including their ceremony and reception areas. You want to make sure that the lighting will be good for photos, where you’ll get enough space for everyone in your group photo, as well as other details like finding good spots for portraits—and even if there aren’t any places available during this time (which sometimes happens), knowing what they’re looking at can help guide future planning decisions.
8. Scout for good angles, lighting and backdrops for group photos or portraits
If you’re looking for good angles and lighting, scouting for good backdrops is an important part of the process. Look for natural settings that will work well with your theme or style. For example, if you’re having a country wedding, it’s best to find an outdoor location with lots of trees. This will help create an organic feel while still providing enough space to take photos in front of them without having too much clutter around your subjects’ faces (iStock).
In addition to using natural backgrounds like trees or fields, make sure that there isn’t anything else interfering with their view (like traffic). You don’t want anyone blocking their face when they’re trying to smile! Also keep in mind that some people may have allergies or breathing issues during certain times outdoors so make sure no one sneezes near them – this can cause headaches among others symptoms such as runny noses/eyes etc..
9. Prepare your memory cards and batteries, and have some spares ready as backups
Make sure your memory cards and batteries are fully charged, as you don’t want to be caught with a dead phone or camera. If you have more than one card, make sure they are in their own protective cases so that if one fails, the other can still be used.
Furthermore, it’s wise to bring extra batteries for the cameras as well as backups for everything else from the computer (if applicable) and hard drives (if applicable).
10. Be on time, but come earlier to be sure you’re ready when things get started
- Be on time, but come earlier to be sure you’re ready when things get started
The best way to avoid last-minute scrambling is to schedule your wedding photography session for a time that works for everyone involved. This will mean arriving at the venue early in the morning or evening so that you don’t have any trouble getting settled and ready before guests arrive (and then leaving before things start). If your bride is used to being fashionably late, she’ll appreciate knowing that her photographer has already arrived and will already be set up by the time she gets there—which means fewer last-minute changes in hair/makeup/wardrobe!
11. Dress sharp and blend in with guests
- Dress sharp and blend in with guests
Dressing for the occasion is important, but it also has to be comfortable and easy to move around. You don’t want your wedding photographer’s job of capturing memories from your big day to be hampered by a tight suit or uncomfortable shoes. When choosing what to wear on your big day, consider wearing something that you feel confident in—it will ensure all eyes are on you instead of some strange outfit making everyone stare at their feet!
12. Approach bridesmaids or groomsmen for help when needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (read more)
As an assistant, it’s important to approach bridesmaids and groomsmen for help when needed. Be polite and respectful of their time, but also explain what you need help with. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to make their friends’ big day special as well!
When working with your clients in person or over email, remember that they’re likely very busy people—even if they’re not technically vendors on your wedding day (yet). It may be tempting to jump right into photos without checking in first; don’t do this! Introduce yourself by name; ask them how things are going so far; thank them for letting you tag along; connect with all the vendors before hand; introduce yourself again after each interaction so that everyone knows who’s taking pictures at all times during the process—and then after everything has been photographed: thank each person profusely again before moving onto another group or individual…
Conclusion
The key takeaway here is that you’ll need to put in the time and effort, but it will be worth it when you’re shooting at your dream wedding. If your client is still hesitant about having their photos taken by someone new, then tell them that they need not worry because they can rest assured knowing that their pictures will look great!