If I were to pick the type of photography that's the most difficult and stressful, it'd be wedding photography.
There's an awful lot on the line when you're responsible for capturing the memories of the most significant day in a person's life.
It's a lot of pressure, to be sure!
That's especially true if you're an amateur photographer.
Here's a few insider tips from the pros that will help you get the job done.
Be Part of the Action Without Getting in the Way
Weddings require an interesting set of qualities of a photographer.
On the one hand, you can't be timid and try to photograph the day's events from the back of the room.
Yet on the other hand, you can't be brazenly bold and constantly be on the bride and groom's hip throughout the day.
That means that you need to develop a sense for when it's appropriate to be part of the action, but do so without causing too much of a ruckus.
For example, during the wedding ceremony, you'll want photos from various vantage points.
The best time to move from one position to the next is during less intimate moments, like during songs, that way your movement isn't quite as noticeable.
Likewise, at the reception, you need to be amongst the crowd to get candid shots of everyone enjoying themselves. Again, do so while dinner is being served or while guests are dancing, not while the father of the bride is making a heartfelt speech.
Remember - the best wedding photographers are those that get the job done without guests remembering that you're there!
Editor's Tip: Bring a zoom lens, like a 24-105mm f/4, so you can get up-close shots without being up-close.
Get Creative With Perspective
One thing that veteran wedding photographers understand better than beginners is the need to find unique perspectives from which to take photos.
That is, don't fill up the wedding album with photos taken only from your eye level or showing the happy couple from the waist up.
Instead, work to find ways to add interest to the collection of photos by shooting from down low, from above, from the side, from behind, and so forth.
There is all sorts of inspiration online for interesting and unique wedding photography ideas, so find that inspiration and put it to good use to create more compelling photos.
Learn More:
- Powerful Ways to Improve Your Photography in 2018
- 3 Beginner Photography Mistakes That are Ruining Your Photos
Take It Easy With Deleting
There can be a temptation sometimes - particularly for amateur photographers - to look at the photos they've taken and start deleting the bad ones.
This is a mistake, though.
For starters, the more time you spend looking at the photos you've already taken, the less time you have to take additional photos.
Additionally, your camera's LCD doesn't exactly give you the ideal view of your images, so waiting until you can view them on your computer screen at full resolution will help you better determine what images need to go.
Lastly, even if a photo isn't the best in its original form, that's not to say that you can't make something of it in post-processing.
So, don't delete any images as you're shooting. Take plenty of memory cards, fill them up, and make determinations about quality later on.
Editor's Tip: Need some photo post-processing tips? Find what you need by clicking here.
Don't Skimp on the Prints
The quality of the photos you take on the wedding day isn't just dependent upon your mastery of lighting, composition, and so forth.
Instead, the success of your wedding photography depends on your ability to process the images as well as on the quality of the prints you provide to the happy couple.
When it comes to prints, it is imperative that you offer the very highest quality, something that not only looks spectacular now, but is crafted to last for a lifetime of enjoyment.
There are all kinds of interesting ways to print photos these days, from metal to wood to acrylic.
But if you ask me, the best option is canvas.
Canvas has been around for a long, long time, so it's a tried-and-true medium for presenting art.
But, like many things in life, not all canvas is made equally.
I've purchased dozens of canvases in recent years, many of which were disappointingly poor quality.
Then I found CanvasHQ...
These guys understand how to craft a gorgeous canvas. That's because they use only the finest materials and the best manufacturing processes to create a drop-dead gorgeous print.
Not only are the canvas prints color calibrated beforehand, but once they're printed, they're closely inspected for quality and color accuracy. If something is amiss, it's printed again until it's perfect.
I was very impressed with the communication and the professionalism shown. My designer contacted me to let me know what they thought was best for my canvas. I will definitely be using CanvasHQ again in the future. - Stephanie T., New Milford, CT
Then the canvas is stretched over a kiln-dried pine frame that's precision cut and assembled using jigs to ensure they are straight and true.
The frames are then finished by hand, and the canvas stretched over the frame using a combination of hand and machine techniques.
The result is a statement piece that any wedding photography client would be proud to display in their home.
Excellent quality printing, superior build quality and A+ customer service. I wish I came to you first before trying others. Thanks Kristy! - Eric S., Haverhill, MA
As if that's not good enough, CanvasHQ is a small, family-based company, so they treat each customer like an old friend.
There's no gimmicks, no sleazy salespeople - just genuine, hardworking folks that aim to give your clients the perfect print.
And on the off-chance that something isn't quite right, CanvasHQ has your back with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. That means you either get a new print or your money back!
I have about a dozen CanvasHQ prints in my home, so I can tell you firsthand that you won't be disappointed with the quality of work.
If you want to make your mark as a wedding photographer, give your clients the best experience. Give them a gorgeous canvas print from CanvasHQ.