Asked By:
Fabian
in
Photographers
-
180 days ago
Charlotte's Answer
Wedding photography is a profession which requires knowledge and talent and which can be very challenging for a photo enthusiast.
Nevertheless, if you are quite an avid amateur photographer and you have some friends planning their wedding, it's very likely that they will ask you to be the photographer for this special occasion.
Preparation :
In wedding photography, preparation is as important as the shooting stage. If you are well prepared you won't have any problems when taking the pictures and you won't miss any photo opportunity. As a wedding photographer, you don't have the right to make mistakes.
Talking to the couple :
Communication is very important in wedding photography. Talk to the couple to agree exactly on what they need and also ask about the most important people in the ceremony (parents, and close family). Getting to know the people you are going to shoot will make it easier on the wedding day. Also, tell them to take their time and to not rush things during the ceremony. This will get the people to appreciate the ceremony and will give you the opportunity to document the occasion successfully.
Scouting the location :
During the preparation stage of wedding photography, it's important to know where you are going to take photos. So, you need to visit the wedding venue a day or too before the wedding to familiarize yourself with the location and to choose the spots from where you will take photos. Another part of location scouting process is to study the light you are going to deal with on the wedding day. So, follow weather forecast channels to determine how the weather will be.
While the weather can always be unpredictable, you can still determine the direction of the sunlight with precision. So, while on location try to find out the direction of the sunlight in different times of the day and then try to figure out the best times to take pictures in the different spots. Scouting the location will also help you determine the equipment you will need.
Wedding photography equipment :
Following is a non-exhaustive list of the equipment that you might need for wedding photography. Remember though, don't over load yourself with things you don't need. Only take what will help you succeed in your mission.
Prepare your equipment the night before the wedding: The main reason behind forgetting something is usually late preparation. So, it's better to check your equipment the night before the wedding. Make sure your batteries are fully charged and your gear is clean. A good way to guarantee you didn't forget anything is to write a list of what you need and to go over it item by item before closing your camera bag.
On the wedding day :
You need to be aware of the huge responsibility you are taking when you delve into wedding photography. When you see photos of other weddings taken by professional photographers, it may seem easy to take similar photos with your photographic talent. But the difference between an amateur photographer and a professional wedding photographer is that the former takes photos of subjects he/she likes and in light conditions that are optimal most of the time, while the latter doesn't have that luxury.
The wedding photographer needs to deliver great results whatever the conditions he/she works in. This makes wedding photography a great exercise for the amateur photographer to learn patience and polyvalence, as a wedding photographer will have to be able to take posed portraits, group photos, candid photos and many other types of images.
Portraits and official photos :
They are the photos which will stay in the family photo albums or will be hang on a wall for decades. So you need to take care of getting them perfect, or you will have to deal with a bunch of angry parents and grandparents
During the wedding day the time that can be devoted to posed portraits is usually small. That's why many photographers suggest to the newlyweds to take these shots on a separate day. If you can't do that, you will have to do with what you got. This is where you preparation pays off. Since you scouted the location before the wedding, you will know exactly where to take the portraits, which angle to choose and which lens to use. Don't forget to take some photos of meaningful details such as the wedding rings or the couple holding hands
Find a wedding photograher at http://www.extradirectory.com/shopping/weddings/wedding-photographers/
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180 days ago |
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