Three Sins Every Wedding Photographer Makes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Photos of the couple should focus on them, not on the background. Instead, find a nice, neutral background that will help draw viewers’ eyes to the couple.
- Avoid taking cringe-worthy group shots with everyone heavily posed. Give candid group shots a try and switch things up by changing your perspective and taking the photo from an unexpected angle.
- Resist the urge to rush! Wedding days are often frantic, but your work will suffer if you hurry through things. Have a plan and stick to it, and take those few extra seconds for each shot to ensure they are the best you can create.
There is no doubt about it - wedding photography is a tough gig. Weddings can be a logistical nightmare for everyone involved, from the couple getting married to the caterers and, yes, to the photographer as well.
When so many people are involved in such an emotionally charged atmosphere, mistakes are bound to be made. But one of your responsibilities as a wedding photographer is to minimize the mistakes and ensure the day goes as smoothly as possible.
This week we’re taking a look at three extremely common wedding photography mistakes. From poor time management to bad posing to rushing through things, these mistakes can make or break the product you provide to your clients. Let’s get started!
Looking for a Nice Background
Wedding photography can be a hectic endeavor, especially once the big day arrives. With so many people to photograph and events to cover, your time (and that of your clients) is quite precious.
Yet, many wedding photographers persist in looking around for a “perfect” background. While this may not seem like a mistake at first, it certainly is. First, it can be a waste of time, which, as we’ve discussed, is of the essence for everyone. Second, the nicer the background, the more likely it is going to compete for viewers’ attention.
Remember, this is a photo of the happy couple, not of the environment in which they are getting married. There will be other shots you take of the venue, so for those, find the best views. But, for pictures of the couple, find something that won’t compete with them, something that’s nondescript and neutral, like in the image above.
This doesn’t mean the background should be ugly – just make sure it’s not going to be the star of the photo. Use interesting angles or shallow depth of field to take the attention away from the environment and direct it towards the couple. After all, the day is all about them, and you want their portraits to reflect that.
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Taking Terrible Group Shots
Group shots are difficult no matter the circumstance, but put everyone in fancy, uncomfortable clothing on a very exciting day, and it becomes a much harder task. But better group shots are totally doable. It’s all about your ability to organize the group and direct them effectively.
For starters, staged group shots just look awful (just look at the image above!). There’s always an uncomfortable vibe with people looking like they were forced into position. That’s not to mention that heavily posed group shots are boring and don’t add much – if anything – to the photo album in terms of fun memories.
Instead, take a more candid approach to group photos. Ask group members to be silly. Give them something to do with their hands. Tell a few jokes and snap images of the group laughing. Just be creative in terms of how you engage with and direct the group and the group shots will be the better for it.
Another tip for better group shots is to take them from an unexpected perspective. Everyone has seen the posed group photos from eye level, so try something new. Get up on a balcony and shoot down towards the crowd. Move to the side of the group and take a profile photo. Or you can even elevate the group and place them above you, like on the steps of the entrance to the venue.
Rushing Through the Process
Perhaps the most critical mistake wedding photographers make is getting in a hurry. Sure, you don’t want to hold up the proceedings, but, at the same time, you need adequate time to do your job right. Rushing through the photos of the couple, for example, will do you absolutely no favors. You may well end up with very blah photos, like the one above, or even worse, images that you can’t even use.
The couple may gripe a little bit if you take your time, but ultimately, they will thank you for it once they see your photos. The difference between taking 20 seconds to take an okay shot and taking 2 minutes to take an amazing shot really isn’t that much in the end! Besides, if you plan ahead, do your homework regarding the types of shots you need to take, explore the venue, and do other legwork, you’ll be much more capable of doing your job in a timely fashion when the big day arrives.
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Conclusion
If ever there was a pressure-cooker situation in which to work as a photographer, weddings are it! It’s a high-stakes gig with a lot of stress and pressure, which can lead to photography mistakes big and small. However, slowing down and taking a few extra seconds to ensure each shot is spot on will do you an immeasurable amount of good. Being prepared to work with groups and coming armed with unique ideas of how to compose the shot and direct group members will also benefit you greatly. And, of course, using your time to focus on the couple and not the background will net you better photos as well.