A co-worker has asked you to take pictures at her wedding, and you are worried because you’ve never done it before. They may have decided not to hire a professional photographer and instead are relying on you to document this most important day for them.
You feel the pressure, and want to make sure you don’t mess up. Here are the top guidelines to help you from Jim Whitesell, a wedding photographer in Edmonton:
1. Use the best equipment possible
A small point-and-shoot camera is fine for capturing family memories, but doesn’t do as well as a digital SLR with an external flash. The focus time, shutter delay, and limited reach of the small built-in flash will all cause problems for you. If you do not own or have access to a digital SLR camera and external flash, you can probably rent them from a camera store. Be sure to test and practice with the camera before the wedding day! A professional will likely have multiple lenses as well, but this is often beyond the ability of a casual shooter.
2. Take at least two memory cards
Although it doesn’t happen often, memory cards can fail. Keeping an extra card with you is cheap insurance that will keep you shooting if your card does quit working. Be sure the cards are of ample size so you don’t run out of space half-way through the night. 4GB is the minimum size you should have with you.
3. Batteries, batteries, batteries
Be sure to charge the camera batteries the night before, and preferably have a second battery charged and ready. Most external flash units use AA batteries so have a couple extra sets of these, too.
4. Attend the rehearsal
Taking pictures at the rehearsal is the best way to be prepared for the pictures you’ll take at the actual ceremony. You’ll have a feel for where to position yourself for the best shots. While a professional wedding photographer won’t usually shoot at the rehearsal, they will often show up to not only reassure the bride and groom that they are prepared for the next day but also to scope out the building. Their experience will enable them to know where the best shots are just by seeing the facility.
5. Posing the bridal party
When taking formal pictures of the bridal party, pay attention to the details. Make sure everyone’s face is visible, and note the placement of hands and feet. Pleasing poses are important.
6. Photographing the ceremony
If the wedding will take place inside a church, you’ll need to shoot without flash. Use a tripod to hold the camera steady or camera shake caused by longer exposure times will likely ruin the pictures.
7. Shooting the reception
If possible, try to get a shot or two of the reception hall before everyone arrives. Takes some shots of other details, too – like the head table decorations, cake, etc. Once things are underway, it’s always nice to go table-to-table and get pictures of all the guests.
8. Shoot the details
Take pictures of the little details. The rings, bridal bouquet, ring bearer, flower girl, bride’s shoes, etc. are all great details to capture and the bride will be quite pleased to have these.
9. Capture the fun
There are always fun, unplanned moments that make each wedding unique and memorable. Always have your camera ready to capture the moment!
10. Back up the photos
As soon as possible after the wedding, burn all the original images to a CD or DVD for safekeeping. Do this before you make any changes to them. If you accidentally delete an important picture or have a computer failure you’ll still have the originals to fall back on. Even a professional budget wedding photographer will make backups.
Your friends have entrusted you with a very important task. The pictures are the best way to remember the wedding and all the fun details. Even though a professional wedding photographer will do a better job, brides and grooms on a tight budget may not have the ability to hire one.
If you aren’t up to the task, why not offer to pay for all or part of a professional photographer’s fee as your gift to the bride and groom? And if you just happen to be near Edmonton, Alberta, please check out Jim Whitesell’s site for Edmonton wedding photos.
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