Professional Wedding Photographer Advice and Tips

TIPS & ADVICE FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Advice for Professional Wedding Photographers from other
professional photographers in the photography industry.

TIPS & ADVICE FROM FELLOW PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

"When doing wedding poses, I try to schedule more time than I think I really need. I also try to get some "alone time" with the couple, since other people tend to distract from the shoot. Carefully compose your shots, and check your composition through viewfinder before shooting. Pay attention to lines, form, shadows and highlights, as well as getting a good exposure for the wedding dress. You want a good "flow" in the composition, so watch the placement of arms and hands. Generally, strong horizontal lines break the flow of a photo, so keep arms more vertically aligned. Finally, the placement of the wedding dress and veil should compliment the overall shape of the bride, rather than distract from it. Dresses often take the form of an S-shape or curve; you should use arrangement, lighting, and other compositional techniques to enhance this look in your photos."
- Shawn of Shawn Mac Photography
Somerdale, NJ

"Using simple light techniques give more flattering results than just flash. Natural window light, candle light and up lighters make the eyes sparkle and give the skin a more natural and beautiful look."
- Mimika of Photo Lyrical Photography
Waxhaw, NC

"My best tip is to lose the flash and learn to work with the light that is available. Take brides to interesting places for their portrait sessions, and remember if there isn't something pretty at the church to use as a background the ground, and the sky are ALWAYS available."
- Jennifer of Beck and Call Photography
Fredericksburg, VA

"Always go to a wedding shoot knowing your couple and having a plan in place to make sure you get the shots they are interested in and the artisic shots that match their personality."
- Craig of Craig Bybee Photography
Connersville, IN

"Help the Bride overcome nervousness and camera-shyness by occasionally asking her to "VOGUE" - that is strike a Fashion Model type pose. It really works and most times you can get a really great photo out of it! "
- Ed of Diaz Digital Discoveries
Oxford, MA

"When the background is too busy, and you are looking to do a head and shoulders close up try using a window as a background. You must have your camera on manual settings to expose the photograph properly. You can achieve a high key white look with this technique, just set your exposure for the shadow."

- Rene of Rene Minnis Photography
Sabattus, ME

"I know this is probably obvious to most, but I was told my my fellow photographer partner this past wedding, that I should shoot at an ISO of 1600 when I was inside the church. Well I continued to shoot at that same ISO the rest of the day, indoors and out, and many of my pictures had nois if magnified. So don't shoot at an ISO 1600 unless lighting forces you to. : )"

- Caroline of Story By Pictures
Glendale AZ

"Learn how to upload digital to on-line processor to SAVE on your print cost."
- John of Absolutely Only Wedding Photography
Portland Metro OR

"Never underestimate the powerful beauty that natural lighting can offer."
- Janet of Hudson Schroeder Freelance
Bentonville AR

"The lower a bride holds her flowers the thinner she will look. "
- Alyssa of Alyssa Hennessy Photography
Bakersfield CA

"I always take pictures of the children at the wedding after I feel I have an adequate number of the photo's of the bride and family. I also make sure that the cake, favors and the venue gets a few pictures as it serves to refresh the memory of the occasion."
- Tepin of South Florida Photography
Lake Worth, FL

"Pay close attention to the facial expressions of the subjects. Do not seek only the smiles, but also the frowns, grimmisses, and genuine emotions of the moment."
- Jeremy of Jeremy Igo Photography
Huntersville, NC

"To our fellow photographers. It is best to bring a calm demeanor and a confident attitude to each wedding, even when things go wrong. A bride's wedding day is probably her most stressful and by seing your relaxed persona, she will usually become relaxed in return. "
- Geneva of Geneva's Photography
Dayton TN

"Be Creative! Every Bride deserves images that look like nothing they have seen before."
Christian of OnSight Photos
South Huntington, NY

"Lighting has much better qualities if it is not hitting the subject straight-on. Try to place subjects in such a way that the light will be mostly coming from one side or the other. If you can take your flash off camera by using a cord attached to your camera, you should do this and place it higher and to one side of your subject."
- Ron of Southern Wedding Photography
Campobello, SC

"For those photographers who shoot with Canon digital cameras, don't feel shy to crank up that ISO and shoot wide open. You'd be surprised what your camera can produce. If you question my rational then check this link and keep in mind that almost all these images were shot at 3200 ISO at 1.8 to 2.0. http://jeffnewcum.com/DWF/DWF07"

- Jeff of Jeff Newcum Photography
Natick, MA

"Wedding Favorites! Try mixing it up a bit with the wedding party. Wedding parties like being able to see everyone... so in addition to the traditional shot of everyone all lined up try sitting everyone on the steps leading up to the alter. I usually group them by couples with the bride and groom in the middle. That allows me to get a much closer shot of the wedding party so that in a 5x7 reprint everyone can be seen!"
- Scott of Family Album Photography
Freeland, MI

"The best advice I can give that will bring the best overall results is to purchase a stroboframe bracket that allows you to turn the camera without moving the flash."

- Kenny of KG Image Solutions
Birmingham, AL

"Shoot manually to set exposure on your subject in unique lighting situations (ex: backlighting against windows)."

- Alison of Alison Rose Photography
Fort Collins, CO

"Consider using a unique viewpoint. Get down on the ground and shoot from there or get high and shoot down upon the subject."

- Michelle of About You Photography
Minot, ND

"Photographers, get to know your bride and groom. Ask how they met, how he popped the question, where their planning their honeymoon. Make everything about them and demonstrate your interest in making their day run smooth, be memorable, and most of all let them know you care!"

- Nick of Nick Corona Photography.com
Norco, CA

"Use natural light when available. Take test photos ahead if you can to check your lighting so that you are prepared. Look for the little moments that are not rehearsed but say so much."

- Tracie of TKW Images
Asheville, NC

"In addition to all of the standard photos, look around and if anything looks like it cost extra, then photograph it."

- Gene & Penny of
Images of Georgia Photography
Pooler, GA

"Photographers: Are you cropping your images to fit within "standard" photo sizes. Educate your clients on the true aspect ratio of 35mm or Digital SLR cameras. In order to make a 5x7 or 8x10 the image has to be cropped and good photographers use the entire frame while photographing, therefore cropping can result in undesirable loss of information and overall quality. Use the entire frame and offer prints that incorporate the entire frame (4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 11x17) "

- Matt of Matt Theilen Photography
Reno, NV

"Walk around the church or reception site and look for any architectural details, such as arched windows, stone steps or balconies that would add a special element to your photographs. Consider how to arrange groups in an interesting way so that you can capture the personalities of those involved and the place they chose to celebrate their marriage. "

- Alan of Arizona Photo & Video
Flagstaff, AZ

"Fellow digital photogs: download your ceremony images to a notebook computer, then run them as a slideshow at the reception with a stack of your business cards nearby."
- John of Flora Photo Thorntown IN

"Try to use as little flash as possible in situations that permit it. When it is necessary to use flash, use only fill flash, or bounced flash. This will result in much more natural lighting on your subjects."
- Kevin of Kevin Quinlan Photography Newark DE

"Always be prepared for that unexpected photo opportunity."
Chad of Bruce Photography
Newburgh, IN

"Almost any photograph can be improved by getting closer to the subject (or zooming in) to eliminate needless background details."
-Teddie of Abundant Light Photography Rogers AR

" Try to follow your subject around without them noticing. You can ofen get a natural pose that captures the moment like no posed photo can. "
- David of D Coleman Photography Springfield, MO

"1. Photographers know that natural light is the most beautiful. Talk to your bride about the set-up of the ceremony/ reception. Is it possible to have the cake set up by a window, can you do the bouquet toss outside, etc.? There are a lot of not so photogenic venues out there...don't be afraid to push for some photo opts outside. The couple will be happy when they see the results.
2. Encourage your bride to tear pictures out of bridal magazines to show you what she likes. This will tell you what shots are important to the bride. Are there tons of tear-sheets of flowers, are all of the tear-sheets of the back of the dress, etc.? This way you and the bride are on the same page."
- Sara of Brennan-Harrell Photography Greensboro NC

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