1st Create a 'Shot List'

One of the most useful tips I was given about wedding photography is to take the couple to think ahead about the shots, they might be able to capture the day and creates a list, so you'd check off them. This is particularly helpful in the family shots. There is nothing worse than the photos back and realize you do not photograph the happy couple with grandma!

2nd Wedding Photography Family Photo Coordinator

I think the family photo of the day can be quite stressful. People are going everywhere, you are nothing of the other family dynamics in the game and the people are in a "festive spirit" (and often drink a few spirits) to the point where it's pretty chaotic. Get the couple to a family member (or one for each side of the family), the "director" of the shoot can nominate. You can get around to all, help them get in the shot and keep things moving, so the couple can return to the party.


3rd Scout the Location

Visit the shooting locations of the various places you'll be before the big day. While I'm sure that most pros do not do this - I find it really helpful to know where we're going to have an idea of a few positions for shots and to know how the light could come into play. On one or two weddings I attended locations even with the couple and made a few test shots (this one has nice 'engagement photos ").

4th Wedding Photography in preparation is the key

So much can go wrong, on the day - so you must be well prepared. Did you know a backup plan (in case of bad weather), batteries are charged, memory cards blank, think about routes and time to get places and get a course for full day, so that you know what happens next . If you can attend the dress rehearsal of the ceremony, where you will find a lot of great information about possible positions come together to get out, the lighting, the order of the ceremony etc.

5th Set expectations with the couple

Show them your work / style. Find out what they want to achieve, how many shots they want, what important things they want to be recorded, as the recordings are used (pressure, etc.). If you are charging them for the event, make sure the agreement of price in place forward.

6th Turn the sound on the camera

Beeps during speeches, the kiss and vows not to add event. Turn off the sound before hand and keep it off.

7th Shoot the small details

Photo rings, back clothing, shoes, flowers, table decorations, menus, etc. - give them help at the end of the album an extra dimension. Flick through a wedding magazine at a newsstand a little inspiration.
8th Use two cameras

Beg, borrow rent, or steal an extra camera for the day - put it with a different lens. I try to have a wide angle lens (great for snapshots and in tight spaces (particularly before the ceremony in the preparatory phase of the day) and a longer lens (it can be useful, some as large as 200 mm to shoot, if you can get your hands on one - I use a 70-200mm).

9th Consider a second wedding photographer

With a second backup photographer can be a good strategy. It means less moving during the ceremony and speeches, it allows the formal shots and the other to grasp in order to get snaps. It takes a little relieved to as "the one" to have to get every shot!

10th Be Bold, but not intrusive

Do not be shy, "the shot" is - sometimes you have to be brave, to capture a moment. But timing is everything and thinking ahead to have to get into position for the decisive moments of importance in order not to disrupt the event. In a ceremony I try to move at least 4-5 times but try, this time to coincide with songs, sermons or more readings. During the formal shots be bold, know what you want and ask for the couple and their party. You drive the show at this point of the day and need to get things moving.

11th Learn how to use diffuse light

The ability to change a flash or spread is the key. You will find that in many churches, the light is very low. If you allow a flash (and some churches do not allow) to think about whether bouncing the flash works (remember, if you cast in a colored area is colored, the picture adds bounce) or whether you might want to use to buy a flash diffuser to soften the light. If you can not use a flash, you need either a fast lens with wide aperture and / or bump up the ISO. A lens with image stabilizer may also help. Learn more about Flash to use diffusers and reflectors.

12th Shooting in RAW

I know that many readers that it is not the time for shooting in RAW (due to additional processing), but a wedding one time, it can be particularly useful because it gives so much more flexibility for shooting after shooting to editing. RAW will help considerably - wedding photographers can with difficult lighting conditions which are in the need to manipulate exposure and white balance to show after the fact.

13th Display your pictures at the reception

One of the great things about digital photography is the immediacy of it as a medium. One of the things I have seen to do more fun and more recently the photographer takes a computer at the front desk to copy pictures taken earlier in the day and let them rotate in a slide show during the evening. This adds a fun element to the night.

14th Consider your background

One of the challenges of weddings is that there are often people everywhere - including the backgrounds of your shots. Particularly with the formal framework shots from the area where they will be taken on the lookout for good background ahead of time. Ideally you will want to tidy areas and shady areas out of direct sunlight, where it is unlikely that a wandering great aunt wander into the back of the shot. Read more about the backgrounds are always right.

15th Do not throw away your "mistake"

The temptation with digital pictures is to see how you and you to them that are not immediately deleted. The problem is that you can only get rid of some of the most interesting and useable images. Remember that the images will be cropped or later, to find you even more arty / abstract images that can be manipulated at the end of the album really interested to add.


16th Change your perspective

Get a little creative with your shots. While the majority of the pictures at the end of the album is probably quite 'normal' or formal poses - make sure you mix things up a bit by borrowing from low down, up, etc. at large angles

17th Wedding Group Shots

One thing that I've done at every wedding that I photographed is trying to put all that will be present to photograph in one shot. Just as I have done is, for a place that I can get up high on everyone to agree immediately after the ceremony. This could mean, always high ladder, with a balcony or even climbing on a roof. The beauty is always high that you get everyone's face in it, and can fit a lot of people in one shot. The key is to be able to all the place you want them to stand fast and be ready to be shot without all that standing around for a long time. I found the best way to get all in place, the bride and groom and then receives a couple of helpers to herd everyone have in this direction. Read more about how groups to take photos.

18th Fill

When shooting outside after a ceremony or during the recordings made​​, you will probably want your flash to fill in to give a little flash. I tend to choose them back a little (a stop or two), so that recordings can not be blown out - but particularly in backlit or midday shooting conditions where it can be much shade, fill flash is a must. Read more about using Fill Flash.

19th Continuous shooting mode

With the ability to quickly shoot lots of pictures is very practical, so a wedding you switch the camera to continuous shooting mode and to use. Sometimes it is the shot you take a second shot after the formal or made, if any relaxing that really captures the moment!

20th Have Fun

Weddings are celebrated - it should be fun. The more fun you have, the more like the photographer whom you are photographing, be relaxed. Perhaps the best way to get people's resolve to smile when the photographer (warning: I've always come home from photographing weddings with sore jaws and cheeks with a smile because of my strategy).