Weddings are all about capturing the love, emotion and beauty of that one day in a couple’s life. As the photographer, it’s your job to capture the moments without being intrusive to the proceedings. Find out how to be a silent observer in this article.

10 Tips for Shooting Weddings

1. Be on Time
2. Plan Ahead
3. Stay Focused
4. Have a Backup
5. Dress for the Occasion
6. Be Friendly
7. Be Ready to Take Instructions
8. Don’t Interrupt the Ceremony
9. Enjoy the Experience
10. Keep Calm

1) Preparation is key

Preparation is key to any wedding shoot. Be sure to make a plan ahead of time, and take the time to create an itinerary for the day so that you can anticipate any issues that might arise. Remember that your clients are trusting you to document their day in detail, so it’s important not to miss anything- even if it means breaking a sweat!

2) Have a Plan

You’ll need to be well prepared before you shoot a wedding. Do the necessary research, so that when you show up on the day of the event, you will have an idea of what you are going to do. Bring all of your equipment, and make sure that it is in working order. Make sure that you also have a backup for each piece of equipment just in case something goes wrong.

3) Be creative

One of the best things about weddings is that they can be very unique. You’ll have a lot of opportunities to do something different and stand out in your photography. Be creative with your angles, perspectives, and lighting to make sure you have props and decorations in every shot.

4) Be prompt

The couple needs to have time with the photographer and their guests. Arriving late is rude and can make the whole group uncomfortable.

5) Talk to the Couple and be respectful of their wishes

At the end of the day, it is their wedding and they should be comfortable with what happens.

The couple is likely to have a lot of opinions on how they would like things to go, so be open minded and respectful.

Don’t assume that an action is appropriate just because it worked at your last wedding.

6) Get emotional with your shots, but don’t over do it!

When you’re shooting a delicate subject like a wedding, it’s important to get the perfect shot. In order to be successful, you’ll need to make sure that the bride is in frame and looking good, the groom is happy, and the guests are having a great time. It’s essential not to overdo it with your shots though. If your images look too sentimental or feel fake, it will take away from the naturalness of everything happening on screen.

7) Shoot the Details

This is a difficult assignment, but it’s also one of the most important to your client. Keep in mind that these are the details they will look back on and remember, and their enjoyment of them will make up for any challenge you may have faced. Anticipate what moments the bride wants to remember and do your best not to miss them.

8) Offer Personalization, Work with Couples to make sure they love their photos and can

It’s your job to make sure that if you are shooting a wedding, the couple enjoys their photos. You want them to be excited by all the images and not feel like they were just another client. It’s important to take this into consideration when you’re pricing weddings and make sure that the couple knows that you will customize something for them.