Will you photograph my wedding?
I have been a semi-pro photographer for several years now and I love taking posed portraits, spontaneous party photos and quirky, arty shots (not to mention food, macro and stock photography) but the reality is that as a wedding photographer you are responsible for creating a record of a momentous occasion in the lives of the bridge and groom and all their friends and family. I have stumbled upon some weddings, mostly in the Wollongong Botanical Gardens or North Wollongong beach, and have snapped a few photos of the bridal party, watching the skill of the photographer (and assistants). There have been a few times when I've asked if I could take the photo of the bride and groom and they have given their permission.
Photos from a wedding in the Wollongong Botanic Gardens
In the first photography workshops I attended a few years ago, the tutor was a working professional photographer who talked about his experiences as a wedding photographer. He had samples of his work and they made me want to aspire to soft, romantic, polished images that would be welcome in any wedding album. It is hard to take a 'fresh' approach to wedding photography but I could see his style and method emerge from the photos and it made me realise that there is a lot of skill and experience required to produce such quality. Anyone can take a photo but it takes more to photograph a wedding and create art.
A lot of thought was given to the background, white balance (wedding dress and whites stays white or true to colour), lighting, composition, exposure and leading lines. They tell a story or ellicit feelings of romance, love, passion and tradition. There are also some time lapse photos and experimental images which shows a diverse range of styles to suit the needs of the client. His work screams quality and it is little wonder that his photography workshops are so popular.
I am sure that after the first few weddings I will laugh at myself for hesitating. I have done Christenings, birthday parties, children's parties, event photography, 'can I take your photo' portraits of people on the street, as well as friends and family. If truth be told I love taking portraits and know that once I get over my (quite rational) concerns I will love it. Until then, I am taking steps towards it by developing a 'to-do' list and creating a portfolio of photos which are typical of Wedding photography which includes:
Action
- walking to the car
- walking into the church/location
- cutting of the cake
- tossing the bouqet
- tossing the garter;
- dancing
Glamour
- photos of the bride and bridesmaids before the wedding;
- showcasing the wedding gown;
- and after wedding when leaving the church
Group shots
- mother of the bride and bride
- bride with bridesmaids
- groom with groomsmen
- posing of the bridal party in front of the church or location;
- friends and family (outside the church or other location) after the wedding
- friends and family during reception
Macro shots (close up)
- close up photos of the rings,
- cake,
- details of bridal gown,
- hair pieces, etc
Miscellaneous
- photos of the bridal cars
- presents table
- place settings
- bonbonnieres and centrepieces
The most important thing as wedding photographer is that you can produce a quality wedding album from a very special day full of fun, romance and magical moments that will be cherished forever.
My suggested tool kit:
- Two or more digital slr cameras; a film dslr (because they are great and you never know when your batteries run out!)
- flash lighting, preferably several flash guns set up as master/slave where one flash triggers one or more others to create more even lighting, especially in a church or large building and at night; a portable studio (background/s, studio lighting, umbrellas, softbox)
- at least 4GB of memory cards (suggested 16GB - especially if shooting RAW)
- portrait lens such as 50mm f1.4 or 24-70mm f2.8 lens for close-ups, these wide angle lenses work well in low light and create a desired blurred background (known as bokeh) effect that helps to highlight the object you want to feature
- telephoto lens for long-shots such as bridal cars arriving, zooming in from the other side of the room
- multiple batteries, both for the cameras and flash lighting. A battery charger is also a good idea when shooting over several hours. You don't want to miss out on photos because your batteries have depleted. If they do, whip out a film dslr if possible and start shooting old style.
- White umbrellas - I never appreciated the value of a white umbrella until I did a photography workshop and saw how quickly and easily they can mute harsh lighting from the sun and create a wonderful diffused light. You can either et the bride and/or groom to hold it in frame, or an assistant to hold it out of frame. The bigger the better!
- Reflectors - especially useful if you are shooting a wedding which includes a location which includes the beach, park or areas where there is little light. You can then bounce any available light where you need it for a natural fill
- refreshments - keep some water and grease-free snacks to last you throughout the day
The most important thing is that whilst remaining professional that there is fun, laughter and true engaging of the people being photographed and that the bridal party and family are not stressed on the special day. If possible try to liven up tense times with some humour and make sure you have plenty of business cards and a website to generate follow-on business. That's my plan, anyway.
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More information:
Alexander Ball Photography
Photography workshops tutor, portraits, weddings and commercial photographer
http://www.alexanderballphotography.com.au/portraiture.php
Digital Photography
School's 21 tips for amateur wedding photographers
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/wedding-photography-21-tips-for-for-amateur-wedding-photographers/
Todo List: Wedding Photography to-do list
http://www.todolistsoft.com/solutions/checklist/wedding-photography-checklist.php
