8 Wedding Photography Tips for Beginners
Posted on January 6, 2010
Filed Under Digital Camera Features, Good Digital Cameras |
Weddings are one of the most deserving and difficult occasions to photograph. Lots of movement, lighting and distance from the subjects are all challenges with wedding photography. So, here are 8 wedding photography tips you can use to help make sure that your wedding pictures are just what you (and the bride and groom) want.
- Bring Lots of Batteries – This is especially important for digital camera users since digital uses more power than film. And if you’re like many guests with digital cameras who share their pictures during the reception, then that LCD screen will use up even more power. So pack lots of extra batteries.
- Bring Extra Memory Cards and Increase the Resolution – You never know which pictures will end up being the ones you want to frame or make prints of for the photo album, so be sure that your camera is set to medium or better yet, high resolution. Having extra memory cards will help make sure you don’t run out of space.
- Look for the Unexpected Moments – {In addition to all of the traditional moments you need to take like the bride and groom getting ready, exchange of vows, the first kiss, there will always be the unexpected “Kodak moments” that you want to capture}. Along with all the traditional moments that you don’t want to miss: the bride (or groom) getting ready, the exchange of vows, the first kiss, the cake cutting ceremony and so on, there are bound to be many unexpected “Kodak moments.” Watch the children too as they will often provide many comical and precious moments to remember! And don’t forget to honor the parents of both the bride and groom by taking their pictures. There will be lots of happy moments on this important day to capture with your camera.
- Increase the ISO – If you have a film camera use higher speed film like 400 but if you have a digital camera you will need to increase the camera’s ISO. Try increasing it to 200 or 400. If needed, use digital noise removing software. The higher ISO can brighten otherwise underexposed pictures better than a compact’s built in flash.
- Photo Edit Out the Red Eye – Most wedding photos are taken from too far away for the camera’s red eye reduction to work, but you can remove the red eye by using photo editing software like Photoshop or Picasa.
- Save the Flash for the Most Important Pictures – Since it can take the flash a while to recharge, plan ahead. Unless a “can’t miss” spontaneous photo opportunity comes up, save the flash for moments you most want to have pictures of, like the bride and groom cutting the cake, kissing after their vows, their first dance, etc.
- Make Use of Optical Zoom or Your Feet – For those far away photos, use the optical zoom (not digital zoom if you can). If your camera doesn’t have optical zoom, and you can physically move in closer this is the better choice.
- Don’t Let Shutter Lag Ruin your Pictures - While this isn’t a problem with film, if you are shooting with a digital camera, be prepared to compensate for the shutter lag. Some cameras shoot much faster (or slower) than others, so if you haven’t done so yet, get acquainted with yours before the wedding. When taking action pictures like dancing at the reception, take them the same way as you would at a sporting event. Try to guess what’s going to happen next and point the camera in that direction and press the shutter half way down. Be ready to take lots of pictures where there’s people in motion, so that you end up with several worthy of framing. And on such an important occasion, it’s a good idea to take several of the still shots as well.
Hopefully these 8 wedding photo tips will help you make the most out of your next wedding and give the bride and groom pictures they love displaying. Until then, keep taking pictures and have fun learning photography!
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