When looking at wedding photography you notice the incredible capturing of these celebrations of commitment and love. With friends and family near, great vibes, and good music – capturing the moment, the people and the scene is essential. With wedding season in full swing, we’ll dive into the essentials when it comes to planning for photographing a perfect wedding!
Keep reading to discover the best shot list for planning a wedding, and creating a beautiful wedding photography display, as well as tips and tricks for photographers to grab the best possible wedding day shots, and essential gear to have on deck!
| Wedding planner? You may have asked… | As a photographer, you may have asked… |
|---|---|
| •How do I choose the right wedding photographer? •What pictures should I have in my wedding photo shot list? •What’s the best way to display my wedding photos? •How can I display my wedding photos? | •What settings should I use for wedding photography? •What cameras, lenses, and other equipment should I have for wedding photography? •What props or accessories should be included in a wedding photography session? •What is the best lighting for wedding photography? |
Planning A Wedding: An Outline For The Best Wedding Photos
Planning a wedding is no joke! It’s hard work and requires meticulous attention to all the fine details including food, guest list, and so much more – the event photography is no exception. To ensure that your wedding photos turn out stunning and are of the best quality, it’s essential to take note of the following…
Choosing The Right Photographer
Selecting the right photographer for the job is essential! Start by researching photographers in your area, look at their portfolios, and set up a consultation in person to make sure your vision, style, and creative vibes align.
Consider any important factors you may have when it comes to selecting your ideal candidate, like job experience and package rates to name a few.
Setting A Budget
After you’ve done your research and met with a few potential wedding photographers, it’s time to sit down and crunch some numbers. (Ugh, not fun, but you gotta do it! 😖) Determine a reasonable wedding photography budget that’s within the party’s means.
Keep in mind other costly factors like venue and floral costs you may also have to budget for!
Preparing For The Big Day
Once you’ve created a budget and selected your photographer, start preparing for the big day by visiting the wedding venue together. Familiarise yourself with the location and pick out potential locations for some picture-perfect shots! Be sure to check outside the venue as well for any outdoor or nature shots you may have in mind.
🔥 Hot Tip: Guests camera shy? Consider scheduling a fun pre-wedding shoot for your party and guests to build rapport and ease any camera shyness! 🙈📸
Creating A Shot List
From the exchanging of vows to the first dance, capturing these emotional moments and other sometimes spontaneous events (bouquet throwing anyone?! 💐) is essential! Discuss with your photographer the style and mood you’re looking for in photos, as well as come up with a shot list of “must-have” moments to capture!
Need help creating The Perfect Wedding Photography Shot List? We’ve listed all the essentials and more!
📸 The Perfect Wedding Photography Shot List! 💒
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Capturing The Perfect Shots
Your client’s big day has finally come! You’ve got your shot list, camera gear, and you’re on location. Now it’s time to wait readily for all the big moments to snap, just make sure you’re aware of the following…
Using Props and Accessories
Incorporate props and accessories like champagne glasses, a cake cutter, and wedding bouquets into your client’s photos. Flowers don’t last forever – but their photos will! These sentimental objects will enhance the storytelling aspect of your images, and your client will appreciate your attention to detail!
Lighting and Composition
The wedding party is counting on you to effectively compose shots that emphasize the beauty and emotion of the moment. No pressure, right? 🫣
As a photographer, you already know that understanding the importance of lighting and composition is crucial for creating captivating images. The same applies to wedding photography – catching your subjects in the right light to create a certain mood or feel is an art in itself. Be aware of any natural or artificial lighting in and outside the venue as you set up shots and group photo locations with the wedding planner.
Wedding Photography Gear
Cameras For Wedding Photographers
When choosing the best cameras for capturing weddings, consider factors like low-light performance and weight as you will find yourself moving to and from different locations with multiple light sources. Ultimately, choose the equipment that best suits your shooting style and preferences whether it’s a full-frame DSLR or a mirrorless camera.
Lenses For Wedding Photography
We recommend having these 2 lenses on hand when shooting a wedding:
- 📸 16-35mm or 24-70mm lenses (Wide-Angle Lens) – Perfect for capturing the environment as well as the people celebrating in it! Wide-angle lenses are perfect for venue and landscape shots, they set the scene for the big day!
- 📸 35mm or 50mm (Prime Lens) – Super versatile and well-rounded, If you’re just starting out, the 50mm lens is essential before anything else! Perfect for portraits, ceremonies, and reception shots. Talk about a lens that can do it all!
Other Equipment and Accessories
- 📷 Macro Filters – Super fun and lightweight! A great addition to a 50mm lens – no need to purchase a macro lens! Perfect for capturing all the wedding details at a fraction of the cost of a macro lens.
- 🎞️ A Trusty Tripod – Great for reception shots while the guests are dancing – heck, it also gives your arms a break!
- 💾 Extra Memory Cards – Don’t get caught snapping away without extra memory cards – especially if you tend to be “snap-happy” It’s better to have too many shots than not enough!
- 🔋 Battery Packs – Essential in any photographer’s kit – make sure all batteries are charged the day before, and bring a charging station for even better backup.
- 📸 Small Flash Units – If the venue is particularly dark, it’s beneficial to keep a small flash unit on hand, or if you have a fun photo booth set up for guests during the reception!
While all of these extra equipment and accessory suggestions can be helpful, remember to prioritize the gear that aligns with your shooting style and grants a seamless workflow – don’t weigh yourself down with extra bells and whistles you won’t necessarily use!
Framed Wedding Photos
Once you’ve returned from your honeymoon, its time to start thinking on how to display your memories from the big day. Now that the “I Do’s” have been said and the photos are ready, the next step is to frame your wedding photos and transform your favorite moments into some gorgeous wall art that compliments your decor. It may be hard to whittle it down to just a few photos but keep in mind you can always swap them out from time to time.
Wedding Frames and Wall Displays
Picking out your favorite shots may be hard but there’s a simple solution! If you have plenty of wall space, opt for smaller 5″x5″ photos and create a grid display or a wedding photo gallery wall. If you only have room for only a few, consider 8″x10″ shots of the essential first kiss, dance, and walking down the aisle.
How you choose to display your wedding picture frames is up to you! If you’re looking for a more classic display we recommend housing your frames wedding photos in our Derby or Ashford style frames, both come in timeless black colors to fit in with any style. Looking for a little more pop? Try framing your photos with our Bristol or Granby style frames, these styles offer a lot of personality and glamour to go along with your photos! We recommend the Granby in the silver options – classy yet fun!
Prints, Albums, and Digital Media
We love the classic photo album but, in this digital age, it’s much safer (and easier!) to store your digital images on a drive or on the cloud. Send your guests a link to a digital folder to access all your wedding photos (we recommend using Google Drive). If you or your guests ever want to print and frame an image, just drag and drop your file into our custom frame builder – and in a few days, your new framed wedding photos will be delivered right to your door ready to hang!
Final Thoughts
Wedding photography and displays are art forms that allow couples to cherish their special day forever! Being prepared by planning a shortlist, creating a budget, and exploring creative display options allow anyone to plan a great wedding (and showcase!) successfully.
As a photographer, understanding the importance of lighting, composition, props, and having the proper gear while understanding the couples’ needs will ensure great photos and happy clients!
Couples and photographers can work together to capture beautiful images that tell a unique love story to frame and display for years to come!
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