It’s one of the biggest days of one’s life and while most couples will invest in a wedding photographer, there is always room for the odd amateur to sneak into the occasion and grab a few snaps of his own.
Sure, these photos aren’t likely to be a patch on what the professional can deliver – but they at least provide an alternative and something else for the print photo books later down the line.
All of the above is the reason today’s guide has been put together. We will now take a look at some of the best suggestions to take photos for a wedding and ultimately, catch the couple and everyone else in their complete glory.
 

Work out the lighting situation

As any budding photographer will testify, the lighting arrangements are absolutely key to success. Without sufficient light, the already-difficult job of the photographer is made all-but impossible.
This means that you need to take great care in preparing for what sort of light you are going to be given. This might mean wandering around the venue several days before the event, and taking note of all of the different types of lighting. It might also mean studying the weather forecast and calculating at what point of the day the most natural sunlight (and lack of rain) is going to be present at the venue.
Armed with this information you can plan your day so you can quickly get into position and take photos with the optimum light. As well as this: you’ll know if you need any other equipment to aid your plight.

Know when to keep your distance or when to make your move

This is a somewhat difficult art to master and focuses on how much authority you need to show during your shoot. If you are the main photographer for the event, you can push yourself into scenes just to guarantee that you get all of the appropriate shots. However, if you are simply a guest armed with a camera, things become a little trickier and you will have to play second fiddle to the main photographer.
If you do have any authority, know when to put yourself forward and promote a photo opportunity. You want to get those fantastic shots, but at the same time you don’t want to annoy everyone by interrupting at inappropriate opportunities.

Don’t try and direct the shots

One of the biggest mistakes any photographer can make is trying to direct the shots. At a wedding, this can be very tempting, particularly as there are so many guests and alcohol tends to be flowing.
Instead of trying to orchestrate everyone into so-called perfect positions, try and let things flow naturally. You want to see the bride smiling naturally, and not offering a forced pose for the sole reason of the camera.
There will be times when all the guests might need to be on the same page, but don’t underestimate the power of a “random” photograph at a wedding.
 
Are you happy with your wedding photos?
Have you —  or loved ones  —  made print photo books of the wedding?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
 

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