Wedding photography requires a great deal of patience, preparation, people skills, and the ability to work on the fly under large levels of stress. The following quick wedding photography tips serve as a great guide and refresher for those that take wedding photos.

Use the Natural Light

Photo by Carlos Mendoza Lim

Often times using natural light from large windows or north/south facing windows will help make for very flattering photographs. Using reflectors to reduce shadows and contrast may be necessary depending on how diffused the lighting is in a particular room. You’ll want to avoid west or east facing windows as these often give direct, harsh light.

Don’t Be Obtrusive

Be sure not to get in the way of the event, whether it’s during their preparation or the actual ceremony. This will just annoy people and you don’t want to get in the way of their big day. Instead, use longer lenses when shooting to not get up close excessively.

Justin Lowery

Anticipate and capture the moments as they occur instead of making people pose all the time.

Talk to The Couple Before the Big Day

Nothing can be worse than showing the photos to the newly weds and them expecting something completely different. Be sure to find out what they want and agree upon what you can give them. Get to know who the important people are in the ceremony. Try to get to know their personalities as best you can. This will make you have some sort of trait to bring out in their photos.

Photo by Jeff Belmonte

Scout the Location Beforehand

Never go to a wedding shoot before scouting the location. Study the lighting, notice vantage points of interest, and check out areas that would provide good backdrops for group or individual photos.

Have the Proper Equipment

You will definitely want to bring a tripod, extra memory/film, a standard focal length lens (18-55), and something to back your photos up onto. Always be ready for anything and bring back-ups of every important piece of equipment you have. Ever have a camera malfunction while shooting for a gig with no backup camera? It’s not fun…

Document the Stages of the Wedding

Photo by Norman Frances

Photographing all of the different stages in the wedding will make for a more enjoyable photo album for the couple. There’s no need to get carried away. Getting the most important stages as well as the little details will be fine.

WHITE dress can mess with the meter

Don’t rely on the camera meter or a light meter when photographing the bride if she’s wearing a bright white dress. This can lead exposure issues if you follow the reading. Instead, try to underexpose the shot a bit.

Photo by Ali Nishan

Have a Shot List Ready

Having a shot list will make photographing the wedding go much more smoothly. You don’t need a highly rigid/detailed shot list, but a general overview will help greatly (especially when you’re forced to rush).

Make It A Fun Experience

Photo by Steve Jurvetson

Getting married is a big deal for not only the bride and groom, but many members of the wedding party as well. Try to make the experience as fun for all of them as you can. Keeping them relaxed is the best way to get authentic expressions.

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