Many factors come into play when photographing a wedding. Having the right skills, knowledge and experience is key to creating beautiful photos that tell a story.

Learn from different photographers, read photography blogs and articles, watch YouTube videos on composition, lighting etc. All these things will help you to develop your own unique style.

Lighting

Ideally, photographers will use both natural and artificial lighting to create the best possible photos. Using both gives the photographer the ability to capture a wider variety of images and create more drama and impact.

Wedding photographers should be familiar with a wide range of flash lighting techniques. For example, they may use a bounced on-camera flash to soften harsh shadows. They might also use a diffuser or other flash modifiers to improve the quality of the light.

Photographers should also understand how to use different angles to add depth and dimension to a photo. For example, they might capture a couple from above to give the impression that they are in a larger space. They might also take a photo from below to show the groom reaching for his bride. This is a great way to highlight his emotion and help tell the couple’s story. Lastly, they should be familiar with the different settings at their venue and scout out potential locations ahead of time.

Aesthetics

There are a number of wedding photography styles that vary from dark and moody to light and airy. These are typically defined by the photographers approach to capturing moments and the overall aesthetic of the photos.

Some photographers may embrace a photojournalistic style that treats the day like a news story and lets events unfold naturally, while others might be more traditional or classic in their approach to capturing family photos and other formal images. Some photographers may even use a hybrid approach, using both film and digital cameras to create a varied collection of wedding photos.

Aesthetics include details, landscapes, and scenery that capture what the day looked and felt like. Whether it’s a majestic drone shot of the venue or a detail shot of your beautiful cake, these photos are often what remind you of the day and help you re-live the experience. The other big element of aesthetics is in a photographer’s ability to capture candid moments and genuine emotions that make for heartfelt photos. This might mean a head being thrown back in laughter or tears rolling down the cheeks on the dance floor.

Guests

Couples spend a lot of time thinking about all the ways they want their guests to have fun on their wedding day. This might include a photo booth, cigar rollers, beer burros, caricature artists, live musicians or food stations. Guests that take advantage of these extras help to create some really fun shots!

On the other hand, some guests can be distracting. They might be the ones who plant themselves in the middle of an important moment (like the first kiss after the ceremony) to snap a picture with their phone. Or, they might keep leaping in front of the camera to grab a picture and nearly trip the bride or groom.

There are also those who try to get their own pictures during moments like the cake cutting, speeches and the first dance. This can be distracting to the hired photographer and ruins the moment for everyone else! A good way to avoid these annoyances is to ask guests to text their photos to your Burner number.

The Bride & Groom

Whether they’re posed or candid, these photos should reflect the couple’s personalities and highlight their true beauty. A photographer should be able to capture real emotions, from heads thrown back in laughter to tears rolling down cheeks.

Photographers who specialize in this style can create a beautiful photo story for the bride and groom to look back on in years to come. They also have a deeper understanding of lighting and can use different angles to capture the moment in its full glory.

When shooting weddings, photographers need to stick to a timeline and stay organized. This helps them avoid missing important moments, ensuring that their clients receive amazing digital photos and a stunning fine art album they can show off to their friends and family. It’s also important to have the right equipment and practice. Take the time to learn the basics, practice, and build up a quality portfolio that attracts your ideal clients.