Wedding Photography

Make your Wedding Photography Better

Brides and grooms (yes the guys) will always be looking to enlist the help of professional photographers to get the best wedding photography. They want to have the best photos so their memories will be preserved as long as they live and to share them with family and friends.

By using your digital camera to take pictures of weddings you have the advantage of taking the pictures straight from the memory card and storing them on a computers hard drive, easily create backups of the wedding photos, and reviewing them as soon as you've copied them off the memory card. You can also review the pictures via the LCD monitor (I don't do this much but if necessary you can).

I don't review the pictures much because it uses more battery power and you don't need to run out of batteries (which is one reason you carry backup batteries). Another reason not to review pictures during a wedding is time.

But, you know how sometimes you get that feeling something isn't right or you've missed something - there might be times when you follow your gut instinct and check some pictures because - yep there it is - the eyes Were closed; now you can go back and retake the picture if necessary.

Taking Better Wedding Photos

It's a big day not only for the bride and groom but for you as well. It is so important to be a professional photographer as the photos you take of the wedding day will be shared with family and friends for generations to come. No pressure.

Below are some tips to get the best digital photography for weddings. Besides these tips, get yourself some books on wedding photography .

Choosing the right background.

Check out the wedding location prior to the wedding day. This can usually help you find some good places to take the wedding pictures.

Photos can really look great if they are taken with the right background. You can use the decorations in the church, the reception area, and if it's not raining - outside using the landscape.

If you do take pictures outdoors don't be thinking you won't have to use the flash. I wish I could do a good portion of my wedding photos over again.

A family member was taking pictures and "Knew" what he was doing so I didn't question it and it was a hectic day. We had an outdoor wedding on a sunny afternoon. It was a vintage home with beautiful gardens and a gazebo we were married in front of and had pictures taken in.

After we received our wedding pictures and started looking at them I was heart broken - none of the pictures with the gazebo turned out because a flash was not used. The shadows were so deep I couldn't fix it enough either and wouldn't you know that one of those pictures was our favorite. Big Disappointment.

If you have stands and backdrops, bring a couple with you. Get to the church or wedding location early so you can set these up somewhere non intrusive to the busy activities that will be going on.

A good photographer will make a simple background look great no matter the situation.

Watch for reflective surfaces.

Glass can cause reflections in the photos. Whether it's eyeglasses, windows or wine glasses. Any of these can cause unwanted reflections in the pictures; if it happens to be one the wedding couple wants you to print for them, you may have to touch up the photo and I always feel it's better not to touch up a photo (if at all possible - sometimes it can't be avoided).

If one of the wedding party is wearing glasses, ask them if they would like to take them off during the pictures. I have purchased a variety (the more typical styles) of inexpensive eye wear and taken the lenses out. If someone wants to keep them on I ask them if they wouldn't mind choosing one of mine for the photos.

The perfect timing.

When you're photographing people they don't always have to be facing the camera or smiling for the picture. Some of the best pictures are the candid photos you've snapped. Those unaware moments between a mother and her daughter or the bride and groom or the kids partaking in the wedding.

If you find yourself idle for any reason - don't stop taking pictures. You don't want to miss any of this special wedding day.

Reviewing the Photos.

As I stated above - don't review the pictures unless you feel the necessity to do so. Use your best judgment. Make sure to bring backup memory cards so you Don't have to review the pictures to make space for the remainder of the wedding event.

The Wedding Story.

The pictures you take on a wedding day are going to tell a story through the photos that will be looked at over the years.

A photograph can convey the emotions and the moods and the setting so don't miss the details even if it's the cake topper or a place setting.

There is no trial and error on this special of special days and it will be a fast paced day. Be prepared to tell the story of their life.

Be flexible, patient, and committed to doing a seriously professional job.

Create A Wedding Story.

Here are some resources for the Bride and Groom to look into. Creating a wedding scrapbook is an ideal way to show-off some of their most treasured wedding photos.

Scrap booking is a great way to make your Wedding Photos even more memorable with this extra personal touch.

How to Become a Successful Wedding Photographer.

Now that you have a few weddings under your belt and getting better with each one - you either want to start charging for your services or charge more for your services as a wedding photographer.

Well you've learned the basics and ideas to help you through your first few weddings so what do you do to become more successful?