Rhadit Six Blog

One of the easiest ways to learn is just to do it. When you make mistakes you learn from them. When it comes to wedding photography you really do not want to make lots of mistakes. Hopefully by the end of this article, I will have provided you have enough quality information for you to take better photos on your next wedding.

wedding photography is unlike most types of photography that you only have one chance to capture a shot, no retakes a shot is gone you will not be able to recapture that moment. So if you want a happy bride and bridegroom, less stress and more money in your bank account then read on, because these practical tips will save your butt when it comes to shooting weddings.

1 Create a shot list

If you are just starting up then shot list is vital. After the shot list will allow you to make sure no shots are missed. If you start shooting weddings on a regular basis then the chances are that you will not need a shot list after a while, but I believe it's always handy to have one as a backup. Some of the shots I recommend taking include:

wedding dress hanging / leaning on a chair brides dress getting done up Brides garter Bride getting hair / looks in the mirror Bride / bridesmaids have to put on makeup Groom tying tie Groom hugging parents parents / godfather of the groom's tie straitening Bride and father arriving at the ceremony Family members are seated Bridesmaids walking down the aisle Bridesmaids walking down the aisle... Groom seeing bride for first time bride before her entrance father and the bride walk down the aisle the back of his father and the bride walk down the aisle (if you have a second photographer) Close up of bride and groom exchange vows Close up of a ring favors first kiss as a married couple walking up the aisle as a married couple Bride and groom outside the site family by throwing confetti at the bride and groom

After the ceremony you'll get a chance to be the bride and groom with the bridesmaids and groomsmen pose for some pictures. I said usually, because I shot a wedding in which couples did not want these kinds of shots. You'll find most couples expect these photos but I personally enjoy this type of photo taking. Here is a shot list of some of the posed photos you should take.

full length bride shots Bride and bridesmaid (3 / 4 and full length videos) Bride with all bridesmaids bride and parents Groom with parents Bride and Groom Bride and groom with each set of parents Groom with his best man Groom with bridesmaids Bride with groomsmen Bride and groom with bridesmaids Bride and groom with groomsmen bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen

One piece of advice would you give for shooting large groups is that you have to take control. One of the first wedding I ever shot I have had people not paying attention to me and looking in different directions. When I realized I quickly took control and specifically asked everyone behind me with their digital cameras to stop taking photos while I took mine and then I would keep a group together for a few seconds, so anyone with a digital camera can come in and take their pictures. It worked and I had no problem with people looking in the wrong direction.

Another tip you'd like to invite you first look at the camera, and then close your eyes. Then ask them to open their eyes to the number three. When they open their eyes ask them to find your camera lens with your eyes as quickly as possible. And then I'd recommend taking a burst of shots. This will help reduce the chances of anyone having their eyes closed.

One final tip when dealing with a large group shots to say "everyone can see the camera, and then follow that line with" if you can not see the camera that you can not see. "This will ensure that nobody gets head covered with other guests.

Once you have moved past a group taking a shot that you want to start taking pictures at the wedding reception. The following is a list of shot I would recommend catching:

outside the reception site Candid photos of guests outside the reception bride and groom arrive at the reception bride and groom laughing and joking with guests Inside the reception before the guests arrive little details on the table, such as patterns or decorations guests names on the cards on the table wedding cake (more shots and angles) first dance Parents dancing Cutting the cake toasts / speeches throwing the bouquet Bride and groom leaving

Once you set a list to help you make sure not to miss a thing, but do not rely on them too as May miss some spontaneous shots. I would also recommend sending the set list for the bride and groom before hand to see if there are any extra shots they wanted.

2 You have the right equipment

Now I'm sure the best photographers in the world could produce stunning images with point and shoot digital camera, but unfortunately I'm not the best photographer in the world and there is no shame in it admits. I still book a wedding more than enough each year to earn a living from it. You have the right equipment will make your job as a wedding photographer much easier.

wedding photographer can be expensive to get into, however, you can pay off your initial investment and turn a profit of only one or two shooting weddings.

I recommend at least two camera bodies and at least two lenses to a minimum. The reason for this is that in setting a wedding you do not have time to change lenses. So, for this reason I recommend using a camera lens that covers a wide range of focal lengths. If you are a Canon photographer I recommend the following two lenses that are must haves:

Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens Luxury (Medium Range Lens)

Canon 70-200mm F2.8 II lens (telephoto lens)

You May also want a lens like the Canon 17-40mm F4 L lens for wide angle group shots.

If you Nikon Sony or photographer, then look for a similar lens.

3 Use Flash

Now that the outdoors can be a temptation to use natural light and there is nothing wrong with that at all. However, simply adding a little flash will do wonders for your image. After the flash to give a little fill light will give you a nice catch light in the eye and will get rid of any nasty shadows on the face of the sun.

Now that the outdoors can be a temptation to use natural light and there is nothing wrong with that at all. However, simply adding a little flash will do wonders for your image. After the flash to give a little fill light will give you a nice catch light in the eye and will get rid of any nasty shadows on the face of the sun.

Canon 430 EX II Speedlite

Canon 580 EX II Speedlite

I also would not leave his home without a Gary Fong diffuser. This small addition given to the top of the flash gun and makes the light less harsh, giving your images a lot softer and more natural feel.

4 Stick to the bride and adhesives

OK maybe not as glue but you get the idea. Wherever you go you must follow the bride and keep your eyes on it at any time. Now You May be thinking about what the groom, the truth is you want to include the groom as much as possible, but in reality, all eyes are on the Bride. People want to see her hair, her flowers, her makeup and everything else you can imagine. The bride is the center of attention on her wedding day to make sure it reflects your photos.

5 Make sure you backup

Thankfully I never had any of my equipment is not on me, but if I did the equipment is ready to back up. For this reason, I carry two camera bodies, 3-4 lenses, more batteries, more memory cards and 3 flashes.

If something is wrong you would not want to be in a position where he can not shoot the wedding. Be prepared and you'll do well.

Conclusion

I believe that there is a special type of person to become a wedding photographer, wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. Photographing a wedding can be stressful, but I believe if you're prepared then you can take a lot of stress from the situation.

Things will go wrong when you're shooting a wedding. If you stay calm and composed, however, there is no reason why you can not handle any situation thrown at you.

Most importantly enjoy the experience. Very often, guests and family members will take care photographer who was polite and courteous. I personally love the pressure put on me to get good shots at the wedding and I think that because my wedding photography work improves every time I take pictures of different weddings.