Are you clear about the rules and guidelines associated with wedding photography?
For instance, what are the essential shots?
What does the photographer actually shoot?
Can they also do video?
There is a lot to know about wedding photography. And whether you are someone just beginning to plan a wedding or someone eager to work as a wedding photographer, there are a few "must know" rules that will benefit be of tremendous benefit to you.
These are rules that apply to the before, during and after periods of the wedding, and they are not about getting the best shots. Instead, these rules emphasize such things as disaster avoidance, meeting expectations, troubleshooting ahead of the big day, and ideas about amateur shots, too.
In other words, they are rules that also answer some of the biggest and most important questions.
Like what?
Well, let's start with what ends up being a major area of concern for lots of couples - discomfort in front of the camera on their wedding day. Have you ever seen a series of photos of a couple and wondered why one or both looked awkward, odd or unnatural in terms of their body position and facial expression?
It is probably due to the fact that they had never had much experience in front of the camera and were surprised by the discomfort of being the main focus of a day of photography.
What's the answer? Let's find out…
Prepare for the Spotlight
Trends come and trends go, and one of the most popular and emerging trends in wedding photography has nothing to do with the wedding day at all.
What is it?
Engagement shoots. Used by couples to announce their engagement on social media, their wedding website or even as save the date cards, these are photo shoots of a far more casual nature.
They are the obvious solution to awkward or unflattering wedding day photos because they let a couple spend several hours with the photographer they selected. This lets them get to know one another, become comfortable and familiar with posing, find the best angles or attitudes to the issue and, in the end, have incredible wedding day images.
The process allows the couple to see how the photographer works, what styles they will apply, and they can exchange all kinds of ideas with one another. It gets any potential issues out of the way, and really lays the foundation for a fantastic working relationship and final results.
Another major benefit of an engagement shoot is that it allows the couple and the photographer to get incredibly proactive about the wedding day itself.
Prepare for the Worst Case Scenario
A wedding day is a blur of activities, so it behooves the couple to have already mapped out all of their goals and expectations with the photographer. A formal photo shoot ahead of time is perfect for this as it can involve sit down discussions about everything from the schedule on the wedding day, the lighting and shots required for the ceremony and reception (and any other locations), and discussions about contractual issues.
For instance, do some proactive disaster planning by asking the photographer to itemize their backup plans for malfunctioning gear, broken or missing equipment, failed lighting or other glitches. Ask them how they track those "key" shots such as elderly family members or images with those who have traveled great distances.
Will there be a group shot? If so, is it formal or fun?
This ensures the photographer can easily meet all of your expectations and that there are no last minute surprises, arguments or problems.
When the wedding day arrives, your photographer will feel like a friend rather than a potential worry, and they'll already know how or what to do to make the best photos of you (the couple) as well as the entire event. They'll know if you want shots of favors and table settings or if you prefer loads of candid images of friends and family enjoying themselves.
Remember, too, that a photographer is a great resource for consulting with about the use of DIY photo booths or photo booth rentals, props and other issues. They may even know a trustworthy vendor or help with the setup of a DIY booth.
Prepare for the Amateurs
While many couples ask for no-tech in their ceremony, telling guests they would rather that everyone watch and participate instead of film or photo with a mobile device, the reception is tough to control.
Instead of trying to control it, work with the photographer to find ways of making the most of the digital devices. Maybe the photographer can work with you to setup a digital download station where guests can plug in and upload or share their favorite photos before they leave the venue?
Maybe the photographer has a URL they can give to guests to share their favorite shots, or maybe even the photographer will have an online photo gallery or social media page for images to be shared.
This can make the most out of those shots, and will even cut down on the amount of time people spend trying to take photos. After all, if everyone knows ahead of time that there is going to be a stream of images available the same day or evening as the wedding, many will not bother to attempt amateur shots of their own.
While we all want our wedding days to perfect and without any glitches, that is rarely possible, and yet with these tips about wedding photography, you have some great "rules". These are going to help you to work around any potential problems in order to get the finest images and videos of your big day.
Photographers are creative and flexible professionals, and if you work with them to follow, and even create a few of your own rules, you'll find greater success and enjoyment.
A wedding day flies by, and the photographer is the key to capturing the most important moments. These rules can really help them achieve such a goal and give you amazing images to treasure.