5 Useful Wedding Photography Tips
In our last blog, we talked about how to create a photo book for the summer season, but what we didn’t mention is that we’re not just entering the summer season, but the wedding season too.
According to recent statistics, summer is one of the most popular seasons for newlyweds, with over 30% of couples getting married between June and August every year.
Out of these couples, we’re willing to bet that an even higher percentage have a professional photographer. But if you think this means you can sit back, relax, and drink a little too much pink champagne, then you’re sorely mistaken.
In our opinion, if someone special in your life is getting married this year, it doesn’t matter if they have a professional photographer – you should photograph as much as you can. This is because, while professional photographers often have the best-looking, best-choreographed photos, they don’t capture everything.
Those little moments between the ceremony and the reception, those heartfelt family reunions in the driveway, that laughter behind the scenes of the professional photo shoot. These are the photographs a professional might miss, but if you’re on hand with your smartphone, you can easily snap and upload to our photo book creator.
In terms of a heartfelt gift, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better. So with this in mind, let’s take a look at everything you need to do to capture a more personal side to the wedding day, ensuring you come away with something special.
Getting Ready
No matter whether you’re part of the groom's party or the bridal party, you should be taking photographs as soon as those curtains are opened in the morning.
Despite the fact everyone’s a bit tired, the suits are still hanging in the wardrobe, or the makeup is still yet to be applied, it’s important to take pictures of the morning and try to capture the atmosphere of the occasion. The nerves, the excitement, the anticipation. A professional will typically start snapping when the suits are in check and the wedding dress is on, so don’t shy away from snapping the prologue!
The Arrivals
One of the biggest moments of a wedding is, of course, the moment the bride walks down the aisle. You’ll find, therefore, that the professional photographer is pretty busy finding the best spot to capture it!
This can sometimes mean that the people arriving at the church or ceremonial hall do so without their picture being taken, so this is where you can step in and capture those excited faces. Take pictures of any reunions, meetings, and the little catch-ups that happen before the ceremony takes place.
Don’t Get in the Way
We think taking photographs is a good idea, but you don’t want to go too far. When it comes to those must-capture moments, take a step back and let the professionals do their job.
Those are the moments that will be captured no matter what, so there’s no need for you to be holding up the lens too. Try to enjoy as much of the day as you can, and only take your phone out for the moments you fear will be missed.
The Hustle and Bustle
While weddings are wonderful occasions, they can be pretty stressful too! Even during the day itself, a lot is happening behind the scenes to make the day run like clockwork, and it’s a good idea to pay homage to that. Ask the chefs if you can snap a few photos, or ask the waiters and waitresses whether you can take a fun group shot.
In the days leading up to the wedding, capture those frantic moments where everything feels like it could fall to pieces at any moment! It might feel stressful at the time, but the bride and groom will only remember it with fondness when they know how good a day it turned out to be – and how worth it all that hard work and stress really was.
Get the Memo
These are a few tips on what you can capture during the occasion, but it’s important to note that every wedding is different. Have a discussion with the bride and groom about how they want their wedding day to go, and whether they would rather people refrain from taking additional photographs.
The chances are they’ll want as much of their wedding as possible to be captured, but more and more, people are opting for unplugged weddings, so it’s always best to check! Once you’ve done so, you know you’ll be doing the right thing either capturing those photographs, or sitting back with that fizzy pink champagne!
