Photographer sitting around looking glum.

This story I’m about to pass on to you is common place and yet many photographers in the early days of their careers make small mistakes they could have avoided. I’m guilty of many of these little learning curve events. None more common than the customer or client exclaiming that you hadn’t told them it was going to be this expensive.

The Ugly Scenario

I was recently contacted by a subscriber who had produced magnificent pictures for their client’s wedding. Really went out on a limb and used an assistant, ladders, extended rods/poles, pre visted the church and reception locations and planned everything down to a detail etc. There was only one thing missing…

The photographer (remains nameless) visited the  customer with proofs to discuss how many and which photos, enlargements and so on. I might add this photographer is a really nice, friendly and passionate photographer. Some might describe her as too meek, caring and forgiving for her own good.

The client waited for the presentation to end and said they were disappointed because the photos were average, would not present them to others from the wedding and rudely demeened her in front of their family by stating the photos were a rip-off! Why were they not told the prices before hand!

The Rude Self Centred Client

It’s true that many hard working photographers who make an above average effort enjoy a more than reasonable income from photography but you will not enter a career in photography without eventually crossing the path of a rude, shrude, nasty customer. Get ready for it if it hasn’t happened to you yet. Similar things have happened to me over the years.

The case above eventually moved to the customer showing their hand by making a stupid and unreasonable offer ie. less than half of the asking price of each shot. This resulted in the photographer being brought to tears and was left sobbing as she quickly walked to her car and drove off in a state with the customer calling out behind her “What about my offer cry baby?”. Remember, she went the extra mile for these people.

The Problem

As it turned out, she hadn’t discussed the prices clearly and not presented them with a list of fees and package options. I learned early on (due to this kind of thing) you must always get their signature verifying they understand the prices and their options. There should always be a minimal cost too!

The Solution

When I received her email (same day as the altercation). I suggested she learn from the incident but keep all the images because there’s still a chance to receive compensation. I have also learned that if you are holding the only wedding photos and the customer has seen them (and they’re good) you are by default in a position of negotiating strength in instances like this.

I suggested she write a polite letter (yes, polite) immediately indicating the photos were being held until such time as the customer felt they were ready to pay and pick them up. Rather than leaving it there. I also suggested a negotiated 5% discount would be considered but no more. The levels (bullet pointed) she had gone to attain these wonderful shots and how wonderful they would look as enlargements. There was no retribution, mention of poor behaviour or lack of integrity.

The Outcome

The customer did return and purchased more than what was expected. Why?

• Because the customer had time to think on the fact that there was only one source for the photos

• The photographer had not retaliated with insults and threats but instead avoided confrontation

• The polite strategic letter allows the reader to read it a few times and get the message without distraction

• The discount offer from the photographer still allowed the wedding couple to ’save face’ and be more comfortable in paying a reasonable price (they got 10% discount)

My 2 cents worth – If you do go through this type of painful dilemma, make sure you only do it once!
Roy.

PS. The photographer in this story now has strategic, well written documentation pre printed for signing for every future wedding shoot.

If you like this piece, please bookmark it below so you can find it later or leave a comment below that.

Wedding Photography Prices

While it can’t be emphasized enough, the photographs from a wedding are the one tangible thing that will last, long after the candles are all blown out and the guests have gone home.  It makes sense, then, to rank the wedding photographer fairly high in importance when planning a wedding.  That doesn’t mean, however, that the photography needs to completely overwhelm a wedding budget.  Here are some tips for wedding photography that will ensure the photographs are a wonderful keepsake of the event.

Typical Costs

To decide on the type of photography package, it is important to know the typical costs and range for certain categories.   Luxury wedding photographers will range between $5,000 and more than $10,000. Upscale photographers generally charge between $3,000 and $5,000, moderate photographers between $1,000 and $3,000, and budget photographers under $1,000.  The differences will be in the amount of time spent with the bride and groom, and how comprehensive a photographic record of the day the couple desires.   Certainly, the experience level of the photographer is important as well, and those who’ve photographed many weddings successfully will command a higher price.

Even those on a very limited budget can get some excellent photographs by asking a relative or friend who has an eye for photography to take photos of the ceremony and reception with a digital camera. Compiling a list of must-have pictures is crucial so that the couple is not disappointed.   Another budget-friendly idea is placing a disposable camera on each table and encourage the guests to take random shots of the evening.

What should you expect?

When hiring a photographer, it’s important to carefully consider wedding photography prices and what is included in the cost of each package that is presented.

Basic packages (under $1000) will normally include from one to four hours of photography by one photographer, online proofs, and a limited amount of prints or images burned on a disc.

A moderate package ($1,000 to $3,000) should include more hours, and possibly an assistant, with more prints and maybe special albums.

Upscale packages ($3,000 to $5,000) will probably include up to eight hours with two photographers, and special albums, special parent’s albums or keepsake photo books.

Luxury packages (over $5,000) will most likely include extensive photographic coverage by as many as three photographers in multiple shoot locations, plus extra albums or photo books.

Saving money

No matter which photographer does the shooting, there are some common ways that can help to save money on wedding photography prices.

Consider purchasing just a basic package from a skilled photographer and put together your own custom albums and prints to save substantially.  Paying for an expert’s hand will assure you of great images, and give you ample time to recover financially from the costs of the wedding before putting together an album.

Do not be afraid to negotiate with the photographer; ask for a discount, and even ask to barter if there is something of value, in goods or services, that might be useful to him. Packages are typically the most budget friendly way to save on wedding photography prices, and will give the photographer the most room to negotiate.

You can save money by avoiding added services like multiple exposures, split frames, or sepia tones. Select digital photography, and get a copyright release so that you can do whatever prints you like later at discounted prices. In this way, you can cut down on the number of prints you need to order, and you can also post them on one of the photo-sharing sites so that your friends and family can see them and also order prints that they want for themselves.

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

You can get more information about wedding photography here.

Posing bride

Plan Ahead Making sure you get perfect shots of everything the happy couple wants is easy if you make a plan and stick to it.  Creating a checklist of every shot they want is the most important part of planning the photos. Once you have that checklist in hand, you can decide how to pose the people involved.

Meet as many people in the bridal party and the family ahead of time as possible, so that expectations are clear, and you also know if there are any odd requests, estranged family members who can’t be posed near each other, or if Uncle Jack is seven feet tall and best posed seated.

Your job is to take the bride’s vision of “perfect” photography and put it on film. Obviously, unless you know what her vision is, you can’t get this right. What does she consider perfect? Does she prefer casual, spontaneous, reportage or journalistic style, or formal traditional poses, or some combination of all of them?  Have a discussion with her, show her samples, and let her show you some she’s found that she likes, so that everything between you is very clear.

Always check out the lighting ahead of time, so you can plan for it when the day arrives. This way you’ll know where best to pose everyone for formal photos, and how your candid shots will develop in the lighting you have to work with.

At this page, there is a very good, very long and comprehensive wedding photography checklist of potential wedding photography poses that the bride and groom might like you to capture.  As part of your planning process, talk with them and check off those that are important to be certain you don’t miss anything.

Happy, beautiful bride

Without further adieu….

Unique Wedding Photography Poses

Now is the time to put all your planning and organization to work. You have your checklist, you know what the couple wants, you have extra batteries and film, (you do, don’t you?) and you are completely ready to get the show on the road.

Here are some tips on getting the formal portraits taken:

• If your list of photo subjects includes kids, save everyone involved some grief and take care of any wedding photography poses they are to be in first. Patience is generally not a virtue that children have yet grown into.

• Don’t force it.  Formal poses are great, but even when filming those, snap some candid shots as well. They often turn out to be everyone’s favorites.  Try to use humor and a playful demeanor to make everyone feel comfortable, and make them smile naturally rather than forcing a phony smile on command.

• Always, always keep the camera ready at all times. Some of your absolute best poses will not be posed at all. You will see touching moments all around, like the bride and groom gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes as they dance for the first time as husband and wife, and those are the wedding photography poses that become treasured and special over time.

• Set up a photography session for an hour before the reception starts and get everyone there that needs to be in the photos. You will want to move from one shot to the next as quickly as possible, but don’t rush it.  Always take several shots of each of the formal portraits.

• Make use of the ushers to round up Uncle Gary from the bar, and grandpa from his table where he was telling war stories.  The ushers will also keep them there until all their formal pictures are done.  All of this is much like keeping kittens in a box, so you will need to keep things moving along.

• Your pre-selected photography area is extremely important to the photos. Outside wedding photography poses with trees and flowers are
  

  Groom and friends

  ideal.  In the event of rain, your backup plan should include a large enough area to accommodate the group shots, and avoid garish decorations if possible.

Otherwise, take close-ups as much as possible and crop out the background.

With the formal portraits done, you are free to look for the spontaneous and capture it on film.  These pictures can be anything from the flower girls napping in the car to barefoot dancing on the bar.  You will see inspiration all around if you just keep your eyes open. Remember, it’s these little slices of life that will become the most unique remembrances of the day.

If you’re keen to specialize in wedding photography, then like every other successful wedding photographer, you’ll need to invest in yourself, follow proven steps and read. There’s more to this than having a list of potential poses. That’s why the professional wedding photographers rarely run out of work, they’re in demand! You should be aiming for the same – plan to place yourself in a position of being in demand! That said, check these few articles for some extra tips and make sure you see the two guides I’ve made available below them. If you can’t get both guides, at least get one to start!

• contemporary wedding photography

• beach wedding photography

• 9 wedding photography tips

• wedding photography poses – a list

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Here is another wedding photography checklist.

Copyright Photography

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Contemporary wedding photography is a constantly evolving art, and the latest trends today are the transition to candid photos, in the manner of wedding photojournalism.  This type of photography captures the event naturally, “as is,” and without a lot of stilted poses. Creativity is absolutely key to getting great shots. Here are a number of tips to get the best contemporary shots and finished photos:

* Journalistic wedding photography can capture very romantic and subtle interactions between the bride and groom on the day of the wedding that might be missed with overly posed traditional photographs, which adds a more dramatic story line to the photo albums, and gives the couple memories to last throughout their entire lives. This new, ‘candid photography’ concentrates on capturing the emotions and fun things that happen throughout the day.

* Some brides and grooms, and their families, will want to see a mix of the traditional and new styles. Photos of the bridal party, and of both sets of parents with the happy couple, are a must.  Blending the classic style with the new reportage style is common, and the finished product will be a mix of trendy and traditional photo albums.

* Even in the photojournalistic style, there are occasions that arise where realistic posing might make for a much better photo, and it’s the photographer’s job to pose when necessary. Of course, the more natural it looks in this style, the happier the couple will be.

* Boudoir sessions are increasingly becoming a part of contemporary wedding photography, for both the bride and groom.  These sessions are generally shot just for each other, and add a more personal touch for the couple, making it romantic and unforgettable for both of them.

Contemporary wedding photography#2

* Many contemporary wedding photographers will take photos of the bride looking out a window or gazing down at her flowers.  The shots are angled down from above, which are very slimming shots, and the bride will be very happy with those!

* Other shots of the bride can be taken outside, and have her gazing into the distance, twirling to show off the full skirt on her dress, or holding hands with the flower girls.

* Get a few good shots of the bride and groom gazing at each other lovingly, or sneaking a kiss- they will love these shots.   A shot of them walking away holding hands is great, as well.

* A more casual feel is what contemporary wedding photography is all about.  If you spot the flower girls sitting on the lawn in their white dresses, snap their picture.  Have the groom sweep the bride off her feet, and get it on film!  It’s these types of shots that will thrill the couple for years to come.

* Multi-exposure photos can be layered on top of one another using Photoshop. For instance, a shot of the bride and groom layered over a wine glass is popular, and fairly easy to do.

* Experiment with some of the things the photo software can do, but don’t go crazy with it!  A few photos done in black or white, or a sepia tone, all really cool—pages of them, probably not.  There are lots of special effects tools you can use, and you might try out some, but also never delete the original. (They may like it much better!)

* Likewise, careful editing is crucial. Remember, it was their wedding, and they should have input in how things are done.  Always make sure that you keep the happy couple, happy. (And, never upset the bride!)

While photographing a wedding in the contemporary style, creativity is essential.  However, make sure that you talk with the bride and groom and know what their expectations are from you, and let them have a say in the finished photos.

If you’re keen to specialize in wedding photography, then like every other successful wedding photographer, you’ll need to invest in yourself, follow proven steps and read. There’s more to this than having a list of potential poses. That’s why the professional wedding photographers rarely run out of work, they’re in demand! You should be aiming for the same – plan to place yourself in a position of being in demand! That said, check these few articles for some extra tips and make sure you see the two guides I’ve made available below them. If you can’t get both guides, at least get one to start!

• wedding photography poses

• beach wedding photography

• 9 wedding photography tips

• wedding photography poses – a list

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Copyright Photography

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Couples who hire a professional to photograph their beach wedding certainly won’t need to worry, as pros know all the tips and tricks of this type of photo.  However, many couples are on a tight budget and have opted for a beach wedding because of its frugality.  Chances are someone in the family or a friend or friends will be serving as photographer for the big day. These tips will help those amateur photographers to get some awesome shots that will rival those of the best pros.

Later, when you’re finished reading this, you should read the article on contemporary wedding photography for more ideas.

Beach Wedding Photography Tips

* Beach weddings by their nature are much less formal and looser than traditional weddings, and it is more than okay for the pictures to show that. In fact, it should be celebrated, as the couple has chosen this open, airy, natural wedding because it is what they love and wanted to share with all of their loved ones.

* Make sure the person who will be photographing the wedding is familiar with taking pictures outdoors, especially in sunny places like the beach. The entire lighting aspect is totally different in this kind of natural space. If they are a relative newbie to this type of thing, it would be wise to give them the camera ahead of time and send them off to take some beach photos to practice.

• In most shots, the sun needs to be behind the photographer, and off at an angle. The people in the photo will be looking into the sun, and there will be some squinting, but the lighting quality is awesome with this type of shot. Get at least one or two shots of the bride and groom literally walking off into “happily ever after” together, from behind, as these are truly romantic photos.

• For romantic silhouette shots, the exact opposite in lighting is true. The photographer will need to take the photos INTO the sun, and will end up with just black silhouettes of the bride and groom.

• Beach weddings can be a little tricky at first, so shoot about twice as many shots as you think you will need.  When going through the photos later, you will see why, as many of the pictures won’t be as good as you’d thought they would be.  The lighting can play havoc, and you only want the best photos as keepers.

• You may need more than one person to take the photos, but start shooting very early and keep taking the pictures until everyone has left the beach. Vary the photos, and take pictures of things that seem inconsequential, but might look amazing in tandem with all of the other photos later.

• Cool action photos always add a fun, whimsical touch to wedding photo albums. With beach weddings, it’s easy to do.  Just have the wedding party run barefoot in the sand, or splash in the surf…..at the end of the wedding of course.

• With the sun over the water, you can position the wedding party in front of it and also have them block the direct rays. Use a flash to keep the shadows off their faces, and scatter the bouquets in front as well for extra color.

• Another cute shot is one of the bride and groom inside a large heart drawn in the sand, maybe with their initials or names and some rose petals scattered around.

• Most beach weddings also have a nice beach reception planned right nearby, so be certain to get lots of pictures of the reception as well.  Especially scout out any kids, like the flower girls, as chances are they will be so pooped they’ll be napping somewhere, which makes for a great photo.  Likewise, Grandma doing the “Electric Slide” or boogying to disco music with the groom are feel good pictures to get.

Beach weddings are beautiful, and the photos will be too. Beach wedding photography is not that difficult, but you do need to learn a little about the lighting to be successful.  It is just a little different, but can be loads of fun!

If you’re keen to specialize in wedding photography, then like every other successful wedding photographer, you’ll need to invest in yourself, follow proven steps and read. There’s more to this than having a list of potential poses. That’s why the professional wedding photographers rarely run out of work, they’re in demand! You should be aiming for the same – plan to place yourself in a position of being in demand! That said, check these few articles for some extra tips and make sure you see the two guides I’ve made available below them. If you can’t get both guides, at least get one to start!

• wedding photography poses

• contemporary wedding photography

• 9 wedding photography tips

• wedding photography poses – a list

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Here are more wedding photography tips.

Copyright Photography

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Wedding Photography Tips

Wedding planning by its very nature keeps everyone involved on high stress alert where each little detail seems emotionally charged.  Nowhere is this more evident than with the photography. Each bride feels like she is princess for the day, and when you deliver the pictures to her, Heaven help you if she doesn’t look like she is!

These are some basic wedding photography tips for those inexperienced photographers who are interested in capturing their first wedding on film.  Be forewarned that you cannot take on this project lightly, and you only get one chance to do it right. There are no re-takes. (Indemnity insurance is also not a bad idea.)  Those things being said, there are some ways to make sure that you get all the shots the happy couple wants, and look like the star photographer that they’ll happily recommend to all their friends.

Plan your work, and work your plan

Preparation is absolutely essential to making sure you are successful in this job.  In fact, you might spend as much time scouting venues and talking with the couple beforehand as you actually do in shooting their wedding.  How do you prepare for the big day?

Here are some wedding photography tips:

• Make a shot list. Having a handy checklist that you can keep in your pocket and check off as the day goes on will ease your anxiety tremendously.  Have the couple sit down and make a list of every shot they absolutely must have, including where- at the church or the reception, or both; and who should be in each picture.  (Of course, you’ll want to shoot three or four of each and pick the best.)  You’ll also want the couple to introduce you to a family liaison who will help to round up Aunt Sally for you when it’s her turn to be photographed.

• Before the wedding day arrives, you should know exactly how to get to the church and to the reception hall. You also should check out both places, and any others where the couple has asked for photos to be taken, to see what the lighting is like, and also locate places in both which would be particularly suitable for taking special photos.

• Make sure you have the proper equipment including backups in case of equipment failure, and you must be expert and comfortable using all of it.  Your camera should be a 35mm SLR camera or an 8 megapixel digital SLR, at a minimum, along with numerous lenses- super wide angle and medium telephoto, most importantly.  Be sure to turn off any sound-producing mechanisms as well-at the wedding, silence is golden.  Likewise, no flash!

The Big Day has Arrived

You’ve planned and prepared, and now it’s show time!  Gather all of your equipment; load it into your van, round up your assistant, (you have one, right?) and your extra batteries, and you’re off.

• First stop: the bride’s house. You will want to get pictures of her and her mother getting ready, the bridesmaids, the dress hanging up, the bouquet, mock shots of them all leaving for the church. Then get out of their way, for pandemonium is sure to strike at any moment!

• Move on to the church (or perhaps it’s beach wedding photography) and get some shots of the groom and his best man waiting outside, maybe take some candid shots of guests arriving at the church.

• Shoot small details that might seem inconsequential-like the rings, her shoes, the candles at the front of the church, a detail on her dress. These things can make for great pictures in the albums.

• During the ceremony, try and get shots from as many different angles as possible, without being intrusive. Move around a few times, but try to stay out of Grandma’s way, or you will be in trouble!

• Don’t delete shots from your digital camera. They may not look really good in that tiny little screen, but on the computer, they may be fixable and good pictures.

• During the reception, you’ll at least want pictures of the cake, the bride and groom entering, and each set of parents entering the hall.  After that, candid shots of everybody relaxing are great.

Hopefully, with these wedding photography tips, your first wedding shoot was a smashing success, you have some beautiful photos for your wedding portfolio, and you are now on your way to becoming an experienced, in-demand wedding photographer!

If you’re keen to specialize in wedding photography, then like every other successful wedding photographer, you’ll need to invest in yourself, follow proven steps and read. There’s more to this than having a list of potential poses. That’s why the professional wedding photographers rarely run out of work, they’re in demand! You should be aiming for the same – plan to place yourself in a position of being in demand! That said, check these few articles for some extra tips and make sure you see the two guides I’ve made available below them. If you can’t get both guides, at least get one to start!

• wedding photography poses

• contemporary wedding photography

• beach wedding photography

• wedding photography poses – a list

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

There are more articles at my category list on wedding photography.

Copyright Photography

Wedding photograph of bride relaxing

This is a photography list typically given to a photographer to carry out at a wedding.

Your photographer is great – he or she must be, or else why would you have chosen them? But when you want things done a certain way, you should make sure to do them yourself. In that vein, if you know your shots you want for your wedding photography, then give your photographer a list of shots you don’t want to miss. You can even get more specific and show him examples of specific photos from other wedding you’ve seen that you like.

Consider these shots for your list: Before the Wedding

Bride and bridesmaids arriving at ceremony site before getting dressed. Wedding dress on a hanger and fine details of the wedding dress. Bride getting zipped up in her dress.

Bride, bridesmaids and mothers getting dressed and getting hair and makeup done. Bride with her something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Bride’s mother helping her with her jewelry.

Close up of bride wearing her garter belt. Bride handing maid or matron of honor the wedding ring for her. Groom and groomsmen arriving at ceremony site. Groom, groomsmen and fathers getting ready in dressing room. Father of groom helping the groom straighten his tie or bow tie.

During the Wedding, Guests entering church or site of ceremony

Groom standing by altar as he waits for his bride. Bride and father hugging before he walks her down the aisle. Groomsmen and bridesmaids walking down aisle. Parents of bride and groom walking down aisle.

Grandparents of bride and groom being seated. Flower girl and ring bearer making their way down the aisle. Father of bride and bride finally making their way down the aisle.

Reaction of guests as bride walks down aisle. Groom when he first sees his bride coming down the aisle. Father of bride giving the bride away. Bride and grooms holding hands during ceremony. Bride and groom stealing glances at each other during ceremony.

Bride saying her vows and groom’s reaction Groom saying his vows and bride’s reaction. Exchanging of the rings Bride and groom’s first kiss.

Bride and groom turning to the audience for first time as man and wife. Bride and groom walking down aisle Bride and groom making their exit. out of ceremony site in a rain of rice or birdseed or butterflies.

Congratulations to new couple from guests. Exit into the getaway car. Getaway car as it is driving off. Photos of couple, Wedding Party, Family, Bride and groom. Bride and groom with bride’s family. Bride and groom with groom’s family. Bride with bridesmaids.

Groom with groomsmen Entire wedding party. Bride with groomsmen. Groom with bridesmaids. Bride and groom with both families. Reception Photos Entrance of bride and groom into reception site Close-up of Wedding cake. Close-up of Groom’s cake. Empty table with centerpiece.

Guest signing guest book. Bride and groom greeting and talking to guests. First dance between bride and groom Bride dancing with father.

Groom dancing with mother. A full dance floor. Cutting of the cake. Feeding of the cake to each other.

All toasts (best man, maid of honor, groom, bride) Bride throwing her bouquet to single women. Groom taking bride’s garter off. Groom throwing garter to single men. Bride and groom leaving reception site.

Here are some wedding photography tips which are useful to the photographer if they are not well experienced with weddings.

Randolph Quan specialises in reportage wedding photography, and advises people on the top 10 wedding photographers UK.

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Important – I updated this article with this resource as soon as I knew it was available. This is the next level of wedding photogaphy. This will be of interest to you only if you aspire to the highest level of professional wedding photography. There are DVDs to take you through the tricky parts. The parts you cannot afford to get wrong or miss out on if you want to charge top-end fees and produce enviable results. Might be best just to look at this link below before you think it’s out of your league. In most instances it’s not! This is the creme de la creme of professional wedding photography training courses.

bride sitting

Most weddings will require a combination of photographic techniques, including portraiture, outdoor group photos and low light or indoor images. There are however exceptions to this standard, and these include evening weddings, and indoor weddings.

Indoor weddings will require some bold actions on the part of the photographer as well as some preparation ahead of the event. A good photographer will always scout their locations prior to the day of the wedding, and for indoor wedding photography both the wedding and reception areas should be reviewed thoroughly.
This is primary for a successful number of shots of the event as it will allow the photographer to see and understand the nature of the lighting within both spaces. Also, it is not a bad idea for a photographer to ask to attend the wedding rehearsal in order to find the best locations to stage shots during the ceremony.

Some wedding ceremonies will not allow flash photography, and for this reason alone a photographer will need to really examine the venue prior to the event. When taking images during the actual ceremony a high quality professional will select from three to four locations to take pictures. These locations should be reached during hymns, musical interludes or longer readings, rather than during critical moments in a ceremony where movement and noise may disrupt or annoy the guests and wedding party. Also, a photographer will always disable all sound features on their equipment to eliminate unnecessary bells and chirps from interrupting the ceremony or ruining the atmosphere.

For an indoor wedding a photographer must understand how to use and rely on diffused light. If a church or wedding ceremony will allow flash photography a good photographer will know how to bounce the light off surfaces to better illuminate the scene, or they will use a flash diffuser to create enough light to capture the image, but not over light the entire scene. Here are some additional wedding photography tips. If a flash is not allowed the photographer should use their fastest lens at the widest aperture or bump up their ISO. Some lenses now offer image stabilization that can help with any hand shake that can spoil or blur an image.

All professional digital photography should be shot and saved in the RAW format. If a photographer allows the camera to store in the JPG format many of the settings and features will be eliminated by the requirements of the file size. RAW formats can be enhanced to much greater effect in image software such as Photoshop where inadequate lighting can be adjusted manually through contrast and brightness settings. RAW will also allow easy manipulation of white balance in any images which can also accommodate some of the issues presented by tricky lighting.

Contributed by Amy Renfrey who has provided this guide which greatly enhances the above tips. You might have already heard of it. It’s called Digital Photography Success. If you’re a struggling even just a little, this is a handy photography guide to set you straight on many of the professionals tips.

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Important – I updated this article with this resource as soon as I knew it was available. This is the next level of wedding photogaphy. This will be of interest to you only if you aspire to the highest level of professional wedding photography. There are DVDs to take you through the tricky parts. The parts you cannot afford to get wrong or miss out on if you want to charge top-end fees and produce enviable results. Might be best just to look at this link below before you think it’s out of your league. In most instances it’s not! This is the creme de la creme of professional wedding photography training courses.

Wedding photograph of bride relaxing

Photographing The Wedding

Just about anyone wants to hire a photographer to capture their life-changing event of marriage in beautiful pictures for keepsake purposes. Most couples seek out a professional photographer to make sure they receive the highest quality photographs to remember their beautiful day with. Weddings provide some of the largest profit jobs available to photographers in this day and age.

Most weddings should include a contracted agreement between the couple being married and the photographer hired to capture the moments. This contract should include disclaimers for the sole purpose of relieving the photographer of grievances caused by poor lighting, failed equipment or any other events not readily under the photographer’s control.

You’ll want to be in contact with the bride, groom, and parents of the couple before the wedding is scheduled to commence. This allows the photographer to give proper price quotes on portfolio options; number of prints and hours of service the customer will be paying for. Make sure to ask the bride, groom and the parents of the couple for any special photographic request at the time of the first scheduled meeting to put all events of the wedding day into perspective.

The best time for taking photographs at a wedding happens to be before the actual ceremony. Often times, the close family and friends will be taking pictures during the ceremony and you’ll want to make sure you have copies of photographs to sell, which aren’t in competition with ones picked up by family members. Make sure the place conducting the ceremony allows the use of photography during the wedding.

Arrive to the place of the wedding well ahead of time to get a feel of the most optimal places to position yourself for taking pictures. Running through the day’s scenario a few times through routine and in your head will better prepare you against any surprises during the ceremony. You’ll want to make sure you get a professional commentary for future work prospects, as the wedding industry relies heavily on word of mouth for photographers. Here are some additional wedding photography tips.

You can concept some of the most commonly requested and photographed events of the wedding day, below:

Pre-Ceremony ~

The Bride

Bride request of getting ready.
The arrangement of flowers including the bouquet.
The jewelry the bride will be wearing or is wearing.
Bride requests of wedding shoes to be artistically shot in a photograph.
The bride and her father.
The bride and her mother.
The bride accompanied by both mother and father.
The bride along side her attendants.
The bride and her family members of choice.
The bride along side her grandmother and grandfather.
Capture photographs of the flowering girls.

The Groom

The groom and his best man.
Groom with his mother and father.
Groom with his grandmother and grandfather.
Groom and his Ushers.
Groom and minister or wedding celebrant.

The Bride and Groom

Take request in this department.

Just Before The Ceremony Commences ~

Bride’s mother and usher upon entrance to the wedding floor.
Groom’s mother and usher upon entrance to the wedding floor.
Grooms father upon entrance to the wedding floor.
Bride and her father in preparation.
Additional requests.

At The Point of Nuptials ~

Groom, best man and other attendants.
Bride’s attendance in parade.
Coming of the bride and her parent down the aisle.
Arrival of the bride and parent at altar.
Altar capture of bride and groom (only if permissible)
Bride and groom commencing the kiss.
The signing of each individual to the wedding certificate.
Bride and groom coming back from the altar down the aisle.
Additional requests.

Post-nuptials ~

Altar with bride and groom.
Altar with only bride.
Bride with groom and priest or person whom wed the couple.
Attendants with bride and groom.
Bride’s family and wedded couple.
Groom’s family and wedded couple.
Photograph of the bride and groom’s rings.
Kiss between the bride and groom.
Female attendants.
Male attendants.
Ushers
Additional requests.

Reception ~

The place holding the reception.
Personnel as they enter the reception area.
Various guests.
Seated guests in company of others.
Photograph the wedding cake.
Table décor pre-use.
Speech by the attendants or bride and groom.
Cutting of the cake.
Feeding each other, (bride and groom)
The first wedded dance, (bride and groom)
The parents on the dance floor. (bride’s and groom’s)
Various guests on the dance floor.
Throwing of the bouquet.
Garter removal from the bride by the groom.
Throwing of the garter by the groom.
The bride and groom waving goodbye to their attendants and other guests.
Exit of the bride and groom.
Capture the “just married” sign.
Leaving in car (bride and groom)
Additional requests.

If you’re keen to specialize in wedding photography, then like every other successful wedding photographer, you’ll need to invest in yourself, follow proven steps and read. There’s more to this than having a list of potential poses. That’s why the professional wedding photographers rarely run out of work, they’re in demand! You should be aiming for the same – plan to place yourself in a position of being in demand! That said, check these few articles for some extra tips and make sure you see the two guides I’ve made available below them. If you can’t get both guides, at least get one to start!

• wedding photography poses

• contemporary wedding photography

• beach wedding photography

• 9 wedding photography tips

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Before the big day: the Consultation

Make sure you sit down and talk with the bride, groom, and anyone else who is involved in the wedding planning. Do this well before the day of the event. This is their time to tell you what they want, but you need to get this information out of them. Ask what kind of shots they’d like: do they want candid, photojournalistic shots, or would they like every picture posed? Which specific shots (of who, and where) do they want? Make some suggestions to give them ideas.

I suggest writing all of this in a small notebook along with all the other details about the wedding. Make sure to bring the list of must-have shots with you on the big day.

At this consultation, you also need to express your requirements to your customers. ALWAYS have them sign a contract, or you will end up with difficulties. Make sure they understand the fees for the particular package they have chosen, and whether it is an hourly or flat fee. Discuss the schedule of the ceremony and reception, and let them know how much time you will need at each point to get all the shots they’ve requested.

Lastly, use this opportunity to get all the relevant information from the couple. This includes information about all wedding locations: addresses, phone numbers, and directions for the reception hall, the church, and the bride’s home, if needed. How many guests will be present? How large is the wedding party? What type of reception will there be? Here are some extra wedding photography tips.

What type of wedding will it be?

If it is a religious wedding, there may be specific traditional shots that should be taken at some points in the ceremony. The couple may assume you know what these are, so it is best to ask.

Who will be included in the shots?

In order to avoid awkward situations and get a complete set of photographs, you should ask some probing questions about family relationships. This will save both you and the wedding party some embarrassment! For example, are the mother and father of the bride married (likewise for the groom’s parents)? Are step-parents or step-brothers and -sisters attending? Do either the bride or groom have children? Make sure that nobody close to the couple is left out of the photographs.

Before the big day: Planning

Make a check list of equipment and use it! Don’t forget to test all of your equipment and bring backups of everything. This is extremely important; if you need to run back to the studio to get additional equipment you could hold up hundreds of people on an important day.

Take a moment to figure out how many shots you should take to be able to offer the couple enough proofs for their package. With the advent of digital photography, you no longer have to worry about running out of film. However, I advise you to take more memory cards than you think you will need!

I also suggest going on a road trip. Visit all the wedding locations before the big day so you know the locations and travel times. You can also use this opportunity to investigate the lighting in the various sites and even do some test shots. (Keep in mind that flash photography might not be allowed during a church service.) Find the best angles for your shots, keeping in mind the time of day of the ceremony.

All of this preparation will save you a lot of stress during the actual event and will make the couple’s day even happier. If the couple and their family are pleased with your work, they will gladly recommend you to their friends. In addition, weddings are a great chance to give out a few business cards and meet folks who will soon need a photographer for that wedding/family portrait/graduation in their own family!

Wedding Photography Must Have List – If you are thinking of doing wedding photography properly, you need to know about preparing invoices correctly, wedding poses or posing the bridal party and couple. Then there are things you must know like; extended time agreements, the photographers contract, skilled thank-you letters (you want more business later from this – right?), and a tactful photographer’s deposit reminder. It would be wise to have a better and more detailed wedding photography checklist than this helpful though basic list above. A wedding photography website is also a must and there are templates specifically for that purpose available. Here’s one of the few places we know of that can help with all the above - at least it gives an idea of what you should be looking for if you would like to get started as a wedding photographer.

Important – I updated this article with this resource as soon as I knew it was available. This is the next level of wedding photogaphy. This will be of interest to you only if you aspire to the highest level of professional wedding photography. There are DVDs to take you through the tricky parts. The parts you cannot afford to get wrong or miss out on if you want to charge top-end fees and produce enviable results. Might be best just to look at this link below before you think it’s out of your league. In most instances it’s not! This is the creme de la creme of professional wedding photography training courses.