For My Fellow Photographers: Wedding Day Tips and Tricks
Over the years I have put together my list of things that work for me and how I have found success as a wedding photographer. Every wedding day is unique and every photographer has their own style of doing things, so it’s not one size fits all, but there is value in preperation:
SHOOT RAW! Shooting RAW gives you the ability to manipulate and edit your images in Lightroom and have more control over the highlights and shadows. Another benefit is being able to reduce the noise levels when you have to bump up your ISO in low-light situations. If you’re not shooting RAW, you are losing a ton of your control as a photographer.
Know your camera and how to shoot manual. Shooting auto is a big no-no in the photographer world. You need to know the relationship between shutter speed, aperture (depth of field) and ISO. Without this knowledge, you impact your ability to get the shot you are trying to acheive.
Invest in a flash system. When you are shooting a wedding, you are most likely there for 8+ hours, meaning you will be shooting at night. Being able to have full control of your lighting is huge. I will talk more about this in the gear section of my blog post coming up soon!
Work with your couples to establish a timeline for wedding days. Knowing when the important moments are going to happen helps keep you prepared each step of the way. It also establishes expectations between you and your couples of what they want captured.
Ask for a shot list. This is been a huge one for me and I break it down for them by organizing into 3 sections: bride side, grooms side and group photos. I share a Google Doc with the bride about 3 months before the wedding so they can update as they get inspired. The night before the wedding I print off the shot list and timeline and physically check things off as we go. If there is a helpful friend or relative I sometimes ask them if they are willing to help gather the groups. They usually know the guests better than I do.
Dress appropriately. You are the representative of your brand so wearing something that reflects you but is also wedding approproiate. I normally wear black slack and a nice darker button down or in the summer I wear a black dress. I bought a pair of Doc Marten’s and love them for long wedding days.
Work with you videographer. They are going to be your best friend by the end of the day and it’s important to get to know them since there is a lot of ‘dancing’ around each other. Ask them where they plan to put their camera during the ceremony so you aren’t in the middle of their shots. Figure out where you both will be standing to get the wedding party entrances. Just a few examples of what to discuss.
Make sure to drink lots of water and pack snacks! I always bring a protein bar, trail mix and a Hydroflask. Being a wedding photographer in North Carolina, it gets hot. Really hot. Plastic water bottles don’t cut it so do yourself a favor and get an insulated water bottle to keep your drink from getting warm. Snacks are important because being creative takes energy and it’s hard to create when your mind is occupied with being hungry. The wedding hangover is real, so stay hydrated.
Send sneak peeks within 72 hours of the wedding. I usually send about 25 or so edited photos for them to share on social media, so they don’t have to wait 6-8 weeks to announce their marriage using IPhone photos from guests.
