How to Shoot Behind the Scenes – Wedding Photography

How to Shoot Behind the Scenes – Wedding Photography

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to photograph a wedding? That is precisely the purpose of this Wedding photography post!

We’re really excited to share this with you, a full overview, behind the scenes, what happens, the fun stuff, the stressful stuff, what needs to be prepared, and basically just a really awesome summary of the entire day, from start to finish.

Being a good photographer is only about 30% of what it takes to be a fantastic wedding photographer!

What Is Wedding Photography?

Wedding photography is the photography of wedding-related activities. Portraits, family and group portraiture, documentary, boudoir, event, and close-up shots are among the genres portrayed.

Make a point of photographing the genuine moments that occur at a wedding. Remember, when it comes to wedding photo albums, you only get one chance, and the photos are the only thing that will stay with your client forever.

It is critical to capture the wide range of emotions present at the wedding. Just by focusing on these feelings, you can capture these emotions relentlessly.

The “getting ready” shots are essential for any bride or groom, from zipping up the gown to peering in the mirror.

But before you begin,

Gear Inside Out

You should be aware that being a fantastic wedding photographer entails more than just taking photographs. Being a good photographer is only about 30% of what it takes to be an excellent photographer. The remaining 70% consists of intangible client-focused soft skills.

It includes:

  • Being cheerful, genuinely interested in other people, and making an effort to learn how to build rapport with anyone. Clients will prefer a candidate they like over one they don’t like, even if the latter is more talented.
  • When something goes wrong, you must be a problem solver.
  • Being courageous and finding like-minded people so that they will want to listen to you.

Do Your Research

Traditions play an essential role in the reception and wedding albums for many couples. Every one in five teams will include cultural elements in their marriages to honor their heritage and background.

Read up on the history of any traditional details or customs you intend to photograph. For example, Indian weddings may last several days; for a Parsi wedding, the stage is set on a baug or agiary.

Some Pointers To Help You Make The Most Of Your Wedding Ceremony Photos

1. Make An Escape Tactic

Gather your photographer team and go over where each person will be during the ceremony.

Take a look at the wedding timeline and go through it step by step:

  • Who will be the first to greet the bride as she walks down?
  • Where is the groom coming from?
  • Who will capture the groom’s first reaction when he sees his bride for the first time?
  • Is the couple doing anything special during the ceremony?

It is not possible to talk to your team during the ceremony, and you will most likely be limited to communicating discreetly via text or quick hand gestures (like the SWAT teams do in all the movies)!

It is always necessary to have one person in front to get the bride and one person in the back to get the bride’s back. This sequence of shots can be challenging because both photographers can easily appear in each other’s shots.

If you’ve never shot a venue before, you’ll mentally mark off where each photograph is or isn’t in each other’s frame by looking through our cameras.

This process is quick, and you’ll be surprised at how much easier the ceremony will be for you and your team if you plan ahead of time. If you don’t have a plan, the worst-case scenario is that you end up stuck somewhere conspicuous in the ceremony site.

2. Shoot Through Stuff

As previously stated, ceremonies are people standing in front of other people for an extended time, so how many different shots can you get?

Shooting through objects at the ceremony site is an easy (and kind of fun) thing to do. To be honest, it’s a fun little game you can play with yourself. Flowers, chandeliers, bushes, and even humans will suffice.

It’s simple to get the safe shots – and, of course, PLEASE call the safe pictures – but then have fun. If you miss one shot, the couple will most likely be standing there for the next 15 minutes. So get the safe shots first, and then see what you can come up with.

You can also get down to the same level as the guests and have them use your lens and shoot from their perspective, looking and shooting through the gaps between the guests in front of them.

People will appreciate how these photos capture the experience and tie the guests in with the couple.

3. Capture The Key Players

Before the wedding begins, you’ve probably figured out who the main players are: parents, grandparents, siblings, the maid of honor, and the best man. Aside from photographing the couple, you should make an effort to photograph each of these people during the wedding.

These are the people who are most likely to show emotion and thus get you those golden-ticket shots.

Parents can be the most difficult to photograph because they tend to sit in the front row, and you don’t want to be that guy/girl who stands in front of a wedding party taking pictures.

Consider that capturing parents from the side is preferable. But, again, think about how you’ll get around before the ceremony begins.

4. The Rituals

Traditions and rituals are part of what distinguishes a wedding. Start understanding the vital cultural moments during the ceremony, such as breaking the glass, jumping the broom, and lighting the unity candle. It will help you get around the wedding.

5. The Group Shots

It’s time to climb that trusty ladder and put your public speaking skills to the test! First, of course, you have to despise doing this, and instead, you’ll be terrified of being the center of attention in front of 50-300 people like anyone who first started! But, as with anything, you get better at it and gain confidence over time, and then you’ll love it!

Again, it’s a fantastic marketing opportunity in which you can put yourself in front of everyone, including potential future wedding clients. So you can tell a few jokes to make everyone laugh, and then you can take different photo combinations.

6. The Family Shots

This is usually when the bride and groom become frustrated and impatient, so it’s your job to step up and take control of the situation.

Set up the bride and groom in a good location, preferably with their backs to greenery or the most beautiful background you can find. Keep an eye on the sun and the shadows it casts on everyone.

If possible, try to get everyone in the shade; if not, turn their backs to the sun to avoid squinting, and just keep an eye out for camera flare! Begin calling out the combinations once the bride and groom are ready.

Another quick tip: Always take 3 or 4 photos of each family to ensure you get one without anyone blinking. You can even count them in, 3, 2, 1, shoot!

Conclusion

Wedding photography is evolving and claiming its rightful place as an art form in its own right.

This article is a starting point, but keep in mind that every couple and family will have different ideas.

Adapt your approach to their unique personalities, and once you’ve checked all the boxes, feel free to get creative. And keep in mind that some of the best wedding photos are taken when you least expect them for wedding photobook album.

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