If this is your first wedding shoot, it is normal to lack a little confidence. But remember that the bride and groom hired you to capture all the magical moments of their day, and it is your job to get in there and capture them. Does this mean that you may have to step in front of a relative to get the great pictures? Sometimes, yes it does.
As you gain more experience in wedding photography, you will learn how to anticipate some of the moments that will occur. This will help you be in the right spot at the right time, without getting in the way of too many guests. You want to mind your manners and not be rude, but also remember that you need to do your job and be there for the big moments.
Get the Great Group Shots
While you will take a lot of pictures of the bride and groom, both individually and together, weddings are also a time for lots of group photos as well. You need to get the wedding party, the friends, the family, and all those extended relatives so that the memories will be there for years to come. Getting the picture shot of a group, especially a large one, can be daunting the first time, but you will gain more experience and get better at it.
To make this easier, some of the tips you can follow include:
- Choose a safe aperture: You do not want to do a group shot in wide open. Depending on the lens, the distance of the group, and the arrangement of the group, you should go with an aperture of f/4 or more to help get all the faces in focus.
- Remove the sunglasses: Either have everyone wearing them, or no one. The picture will come out strange if a few are wearing and the rest aren’t.
- Watch for huggers: If men start to hug each other in a line, their jackets will start to ride up and this does not look good. Either ask them to take off the jackets for this or hug lightly around the waist if they are going to do this.
- Get close family to connect: You can have hands holding together, around the waist, on the shoulders, or some other method, as long as they are connecting in some manner.
- Take lots of pictures: The larger the group you try to capture, the more likely it is that someone is yawning, blinking, looking away, or doing something else. Take a ton of pictures so you are more likely to get the best one of everyone.
Setting Up Your Wedding Photography Business
As a wedding photographer, you need to be organized and ready to go, no matter what happens on that special day. Having a good sense of humor, the right equipment, and a great understanding of the couple can make all the difference. The best wedding photographers are able to master the basics of wedding photography to give their clients the very best.