Wedding photography can be a lot of fun if you know what you are doing but it can also be very stressful if you are not experienced enough or well prepared. The biggest thing about a wedding is that there are a number of photographs that a bride would want you to capture that are “once off” photos and if you miss the shot, it is gone. You will never get that unforgettable first kiss of the newlyweds again! So here are a few tips to help you be prepared for photographing a wedding and get the best wedding photographs ever!

Firstly, you need to sell yourself as a professional wedding photographer so you need a good portfolio of wedding photographs which you yourself have taken. Do not show your potential client your corporate or family photos or any of your other work (no matter how good your portfolio may be) – your client wants wedding pics and nothing else. A porfolio of an entire wedding will also show the couple that you are capable of photographing an entire wedding, so while you may be tempted to just show off your best photographs from various weddings, this may not be the best selling tool and could lead to an unhappy client in the end. Your portfolio will also give your client a good idea of your particular style of wedding photography which is important for them to see from the outset. If your style is more informal and you prefer the more natural, candid photographs, then your client needs to know this in advance.

Once you have been appointed as the professional wedding photographer, you should meet with the couple and discuss things such as the venue, time and season of the ceremony and reception. You need to consider things such as what time the sunsets, whether it might rain, etc. How long will the service be and what time would you begin the photographing. What is the planned schedule for the day? All of this information is vital if you want to wow your couple with amazing wedding photos. Go and visit the venue (preferably at the same time as the wedding is planned for) as this will give you an indication of lighting as well as what kind of traffic you can expect. You will also be able to find good spots for different photos. Where will the group wedding photos be taken? Are there any secluded or unusual loactions to take some romantic wedding pics? It is also advisable to find out what type of ceremony it will be ie hindu, catholic, jewish, informal, alternative, etc and speak to the minister beforehand to find out what special moments need to be photographed during the ceremony and if you would be imposing at any times during the ceremony.

Also, find out who the wedding co-ordinator is as they will have a load of valuable information for you that can assist you and make your life a lot easier. There are many beautiful and popular wedding venues, all of which have there own charm and defining characteristics and the wedding co-ordinators will help you to get the most from each venue. They may also be able to refer more business your way should you do a good job. Ask them about the availability of a conference room or hall in the event of bad weather. Find out about reception seating and layout ie where is the bridal table? If the main table is right next to a big window at midday, you might wish to move this beforehand. Find out where you will sit – you need to be close to the main table so that you don’t impose. Ideally you want a clear line of vision for the speeches. Find out about alternative access points to the venue, plug points and extension cords for lighting, are there dimmer switches, etc. Look for fluorescents above the briday table and try to be at the rehearsal.

Make sure you speak to the bride and find out if she will be using a make-up artist. If not, inform her that her make-up should be darker than normal or you will have a bride looking like a ghost in some of the photographs. Ensure that all your equipment is working properly before the time, have spare batteries and memory cards or spare film and preferably a spare camera too. On the day, be assertive and take charge. it is your responsibilty to get the best wedding photographs ever and you will be expcted to deliver – so if people get in your way, politely and firmly ask them to step aside. If you have an assistant, make sure they understand how you work, how your equipment works and what style your wedding photography is.

A contract is also highly recommended to make sure that everything is covered beforehand. This will ensure that the couple know what to expect and will also protect you. The contract will include things such as how long you will be photographing, what the cots implications are and what is included in that particular wedding package. It will also state things such as the amount of time you require to take the photographs. You need at least an hour after the ceremony to photograph the newlyweds or you may not quality shots. Get your client to sign and agree to these terms beforehand. Plan to be there until a certain time and negotiate beforehand if there is an extra cost thereafter. You could be expected to stay at the reception till 4am if not discussed beforehand.Another good idea is to do a fun pre-shoot of the couple about 2 weeks before the wedding in casual clothes. This will get them used to posing and working with you and get them more relaxed in front of the camera. Make sure that your equipment is serviced and you have a full tank of petrol.

Make sure that you dress for the occasion. It is usually a formal occasion, unless it is a beach wedding or something similar, so dress the part. You don’t need to wear a suit and ladies don’t need to outshine the bride, but  look the part and make sure you wear comfortable shoes as it is a long day! In terms of posing, look at things such as hands and feet. Get the bride to hold the bouquet as long as possible, you want to avoid arms just hanging straight down or behind her back. Grooms will try to put their hands in their pockets – one hand in the pocket is okay with the other either leaning on a prop such as a tree, windowsill, bridge. Grooms holding arms crossed also looks good.

In terms of the upper body, avoid a confrontational stance. Try to have the body off center to the camera. If sitting, get the bride or groom to sit on the edge of the chair so as to avoid slouching. Use props where possible – a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses work well  (take some water along too as the couple could get thirsty). Finally, be professional and respect that this could be the biggest day of the newlyweds lives (even though you may have photographed hundreds of weddings) - so give of your best and always remember to have fun!!

<!– Start AMATOMU.COM code–>
<img height=’1′ style=’display:none’ width=’1′ src=’http://www.amatomu.com/log.php?blog_id=3887′ />
<!– End AMATOMU.COM code –>