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How To Photograph A Wedding

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Smartmom
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I did this thread to help out James in his new adventure of Wedding Photography. In turn I hope this helps any other future photographer who should happen to find this. Just a note for anyone who doesn't know me I do hold a degree in Commercial Photography and for about 10 years I made quite a nice living as a Wedding photographer.

When shooting a wedding the key is take tons and tons of pictures. You can't over shoot but you can undershoot. I use to shoot on average around 400- 500 photographs. Granted every wedding and wedding party is different but basically here are some key shots to get:

Pictures you can take pre-wedding (to get them out of the way fast)

  • Bride alone (close up, from behind to get the full dress train, side and front)
  • Bride with brides maids (all, maid of honor and with flower girl)
  • Bride with parents (all then with only mom and only dad)
  • Groom alone (close up and full body)
  • Groom with groomsmen (all, best man and with the ring boy)
  • Groom with parents (all then with only mom and only dad)


Pictures during the wedding:

  • Ushers taking parents/grandparents down the isle to seats
  • each bridesmaid as they come down the isle
  • each groomsman up front and all together
  • groom waiting at the alter for the bride
  • bride coming down the isle
  • full wedding party
  • bride and groom holding hands saying vows and exchanging rings
  • the "kiss"


After the wedding but prior to the reception

  • Bride and groom together - every angle including closeups and with full body
  • Full bridal party (bride and groom with brides maids, grooms men and ring/flower children)
  • Bride and groom with parents (everyone, brides family, grooms family - if grandparents are living with them also)
  • Close up of bride and grooms rings (have them cross their hands over her flowers)
  • Individual shots of family (mom and dad together, grandparents together any other relatives that want shots)


At the reception:

  • introducing the bride and groom
  • first dance
  • dad dancing with daughter
  • mom dancing with son
  • cake alone PRIOR to cutting
  • full view of the reception (all the tables and flowers)
  • tossing of the flower
  • tossing of the garter
  • a shot of the food
  • cutting and feeding each other cake
  • lots and lots of reception shots
  • bride and groom leaving the wedding

Like I said every wedding is different but that will at least give you a good idea of what you should shoot for. Now big thing is PRIOR to the wedding you need to be paid upfront for your time and what its going to cost you. Don't go by that gut feeling that they are good for it because I can tell you that I have been screwed a few times and its really aggravating. I also recommend a contract because you never know what is going to happen. You can google "Wedding Photography Contracts" and see quite a few - pic one or get some ideas and write one up. Here is a example of one studio's contracts: CLICKY

Once the wedding is over:
Now that the wedding is over how do you present your photographs? Well you can print them out and hand them the album to view and order from or you can let them view them online. I really recommend the online way. The reason why is that they will share them with more family and friends who will say ohhhhh I want this and that picture which means more money for you. Now you don't have to do a nice wedding site (unless you want to) you can start off easy and give each bride and groom a photobucket album or a flicker album. HOWEVER I can not stress on how you need to place watermarks on your photos if you don't then plan on them copying and stealing them.

Adding Watermarks to your photo's:
You don't need expensive software to do this. Simply upload your pictures into Microsoft Paint (its free and on just about every PC). Once you have them in paint simply add text to them. It doesn't have to be bold and bright because you don't want to take away from the photo just protect it. Simply add a text box and make sure that the text is set to "Transparent" so that there is no ugly box on them. I would say use a light gray color (you can customize the color if you would like). Once you do the first one copy the text so you do not have to keep re-typing it.

Here is what it will look like when done:

As you can see its not overpowering but it serves its purpose. Now once you upload them to the site you choose simply share with the family the URL to view the album. I did a quick search on photobucket and here is a example of one photographer who did this: CLICKY However they did not watermark the pictures and as you know it takes no time to save them all and print them yourself which cheats the photographer out. I also recommend that you don't load the pictures full size. Simply because they could possibly crop out the watermark and if the photo is still large enough size wise they could print it. If you don't know how to resize then check out this thread: How To Resize A Picture, FREE I would try and save them around the size of 640 x 480.

Oh and as a final note: Wear comfy shoes/clothes and relax and you will do fine. Also eat prior to going, its really hit or miss if the bride and groom sever you food. Smile
Any questions?

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missb's picture
missb
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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

Very nice thread SM, this is extremely helpful to anyone! Even to the average person just attending a wedding.

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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

i agree with missb, there is so much useful information in here that anybody can benefit from and you detailed it so well SM. I never knew you had a degree in commercial photography, how interesting. i always seem to take so little photos at events like this and then i get annoyed with myself after the fact, from now on i am going to overshoot because you never really know when you're going to capture that priceless "moment".

Smartmom's picture
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Smartmom
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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

Yeah I graduated quite some time ago. Now days its really easy to overshoot since there is no cost in viewing images on the computer with digital cameras. Just because you shoot 500 doesn't mean you have to give them 500 proofs.

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missb
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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

So roughly how many proofs would you give them?

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Autumn
Premium Member (Gold)I'm a Code Monkey!I use Google ChromeWindows UserI donated more than $20+ to GeekDrop!I donated to GeekDrop simply because I love it!I spend all day Photobucketing!I took a bite of the AppleIs a FIERCE Competetor! 2nd place contest winner!The Dr. left the stem off the apple!Someone thinks you're udderly delightful!
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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

why wouldn't you want to give them all of the pictures?

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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

Nice thread sm, this should really help James, wait till he sees it. My brother's son is getting married in June. The brides family has taken a second morgage out to pay for it. I should take a bunch of pictures and show this photo clown up and in turn save my brother some money.

"Press any key to continue, where's the any key?"
missb's picture
missb
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Re: How To Photograph A Wedding

I think with the right camera and a little practice you could pull it off Smile

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