Photographing Weddings

Photographing weddings is an unpredictable business. Every wedding is different and you never know what is going to happen on the day. Sometimes the photo opportunities flow faster than the champagne and other times you need to create moments yourself to get fantastic shots.

This collection of handy wedding photography techniques will help take your images from being good to being outstanding. You will learn to work around some of the toughest situations including the weather, children and nervous grooms.

The Young Ones: Children at a wedding are charmingly delightful. While all eyes are on usually the bride and groom, children too are often the center of attention too. They move fast and you usually only get one chance so just keep a constant lookout at what the little kids are up to. Cute images can be children giving flowers or kisses to the bride or being the first to hit the dance floor. Don’t miss them innocently doing things that are unexpected such as trying on the brides shows and lying in the isle. These are the never repeated moments that you have to watch out for and be fast to catch.

Fresh Point of View: Angles are so important for wedding images and all genres of photography. There will be periods in the day where you have time to step back and look at the larger picture – literally. Go high for aerial shots if you can. This means going upstairs and looking down. Having the bride and groom slow dance while looking from above creates a feeling of intimacy and closeness. If the wedding is outside see if there is a way to get upstairs in a nearby building. This is great for large weddings to capture everyone in an informal setting. Stand on chairs, lay on the ground, use windows, garden greenery and doorways to frame shots. The person being photographed might not move but you can still get 4-6 unique looking shots by just moving yourself around and finding the creative angles.

Fun and Laughter: Wedding days are full of excitement and also nerves. And while sometimes the nervous expression of a groom can appropriately represent the moments leading up to the ceremony it is not one you want shown in too many photos. And some people just tense up at the ideal of having their photo taken. One way to get incredible and natural bridal shots is to get a member of the wedding party or family member to stand behind you and either make gestures or say something funny that only the person being photographed will understand.
Yes, it is a bit silly. But not many people can resist a giggle or a full-on laugh and you will get at least a few seconds of uninhibited emotion. And once the ice is broken the laughter comes more naturally!

Gifts and notes: For a pre-planned bride and groom photo that looks spontaneous and candid ask the couple to write a little love note and pop it in a colorful box or envelope. During formal portraits you can let them open the surprise message. A surefire method to capture that look of love and they will forget you are even there. Passing it around the bridal party can provide more expressive photo opportunities.

The flying veil: This is a classic shot that can’t be missed if the bride has a beautiful, flowing veil. A gust of wind that is strong enough to lift the veil but light enough not to ruin perfected hairstyles is ideal. But in reality this almost never happens. The trick is to have your assistant or someone else to hold the end of the veil and lightly throw it skyward while then bolting out of the picture. Put your camera on a fast setting to capture as many frames as possible. If you do this 3-5 times you can usually get one dreamy shot that looks natural and romantic.

Show the photos: If you take a special photo of someone show them a sample of your work. It only takes a second of your time and is invaluable towards making a reluctant poser feel relaxed and confident. It also is a great technique for children who can be persuaded to pose if they think they can see the image on the spot.

These tips can be used by professional photographers or by keen amateurs taking snaps for the bride and groom. They can save the day when you have limited time or locations for shooting. Some require nothing but an awareness of what is going on around you, while others require a little planning or assistance. Try these techniques and you will see the results in the photos and on the faces of your just-married customers.