Digital Camera World » wedding photography

Wedding photo ideas: how to shoot a wedding classically and creatively

jmeyer — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:01:43 +0000

In our latest Professional Photographer to the Rescue post our pro shares some of her best wedding photo ideas for learning how to shoot a wedding that is both creative and appeals to classic tastes.

Meet our professional photographer

Kate Hopewell-Smith’s love of photography started when she gave up her job in marketing to start a family. She turned pro following instruction by the world-renowned Aspire Photography Training. She is now one of the UK’s top wedding and portrait photographers, and is back at Aspire as one of their regular tutors. For her portfolio and for details of her new one-to-one tutoring services see www.katehopewellsmith.com

Meet our apprentice

Viv King got into photography in 2005 while living in the Netherlands – she bought a D70s for her husband, but ended up using it herself. Now based in the Wirral and with a five-year-old son, she has already shot six weddings for friends with her own D300. She turned to us for help with the view of turning her pastime into a part-time profession that she can combine with being a full-time Mum.

Technique Assessment

Is Viv ready to go down the aisle? You don’t get a second chance when shooting weddings, so Kate checked over Viv’s SLR setup before the off to suggest some improvements:

Forget the kit lens
Kate says… You need to create a pro look to your pictures, and get shots that look different to those taken by guests on compacts and phones if you are going to charge for your work. My first step to doing this is to use a fast lens, and preferably a prime, for all shots to restrict depth of field. Rather than using her usual 18-200mm, I got Viv set up with a 50mm f/1.8.

Don’t stay single
Kate says… There are times where you need to take multiple shots quickly, so I advised Viv to switch drive mode from S (single) to its three-frames-per-second CL (continuous low) setting.

Spot the difference
Kate says… I like using dramatic lighting for my shots, so I always use spot metering. With practice this allows me to get exactly the effect that I want just by metering for the right area.

M is for marriage
Kate says… I got Viv to switch from P to M mode. I used to use aperture-priority for my shots, but switching to using manual was the best thing I did, as I no longer need to keep changing the exposure compensation to get the shot I want.

PAGE 1: Meet our professional photographer and apprentice
PAGE 2: Wedding photo ideas from our professional photographer
PAGE 3: FInal wedding photography tips from our professional photographer
PAGE 4: Our professional photographer’s recommended gear
PAGE 5: Shot of the Day

12 wedding shots every bride wants (and how to get them)

jmeyer — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:00:01 +0000

Every wedding has its own unique story to tell; however, certain wedding shots of moments or people will always prove to be popular with brides and grooms. Professional photographer Kelly Weech reveals her top wedding photography tips and expert photo ideas for bagging the best wedding shots and a portfolio that everyone will remember.

Wedding photos provide memories for the bride and groom to reminisce over once the cake has been eaten, dress packed away and the day is over. No matter what your equipment or level of experience, anyone can get beautiful photographs. Check out these 12 winning wedding shots from a recent ceremony and tips on how to get them for the perfect wedding album.

Best wedding shots: the Venue

Setting the scene of the wedding is very important and a great way to start any album.

These wedding shots of the venue were all taken without flash to keep the ambience of the room indoors and not required in such good conditions outside (which is a common mistake many make).

Look around the venue for signature elements that portray the venue to its best potential.

It may be worth asking the couple before the wedding what attracted them to this particular venue and keep this in mind when starting the story.

For more tips on shooting the venue and other key situations, download our free wedding photography cheat sheet

Professional Photographer to the Rescue: wedding photography I do’s and don’ts

jmeyer — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:00:47 +0000

So far in our Professional Photographer to the Rescue series we’ve revealed a pro’s tips for music photography and the secret to shooting wild landscapes. This week we meet a professional photographer from one of the more stressful niches you can shoot: wedding photography. Our pro joins an amateur photographer on his first wedding shoot, offering his expert wedding photography tips and insider knowledge on the best equipment to have, posing tips, photo ideas and more.

Our Professional Photographer

James Howard
James has been a professional photographer for the past 10 years, and has dedicated the last five mostly to weddings. He specialises in documentary, ‘fly-on-the-wall’ style shots. James photographs almost 100 weddings a year!

Our Apprentice

Gbenga Sodeke
Gbenga is a crime scene examiner from Hertfordshire who’s enjoyed taking photos as a hobby for the past three years. He’s agreed to photograph his sister’s wedding, but with no wedding photography experience he needs pro tips – fast!

Technique assessment

Before they got ready for the wedding shoot, our professional photographer watched carefully as Gbenga set up his DSLR, then suggested a few settings.

Check the histogram
“I shoot in Manual mode indoors and only take one shot at a time rather than bracketing photos,” says James. The histogram is very handy indoors and out, as it’s the only way to guarantee that you have your exposure correct.

“On Gbenga’s 400D, he should press the Disp. button (when in Playback mode) until the image thumbnail and histogram appear. If you start to see the built-in clipping warning flash over the bride’s dress, you know you’re in trouble. Look for a nice, even histogram, without any warning highlights.”

Learn how to read a histogram

Set a custom white balance
When shooting indoors under dull or tungsten light, it’s essential that you custom-set your white balance to avoid any ugly colour casts on the bride’s dress.

James explains how: “You’ll nearly always need to use a white balance card in a ceremony room, be it a foldaway disc, a piece of white card, or even the bride’s dress if it is pure white.

“You’ll need to take a photo of the white area, making sure it fills the frame, then go into your menu system and select Custom White Balance from the available options. Then select the photo you want to use and press Set. Press the WB button on the back of the camera and scroll to the far right to select Custom.”

PAGE 1: Meet our professional photographer and apprentice
PAGE 2: During the shoot
PAGE 3: Final tips from our professional photographer
PAGE 4: Our professional photographer’s recommended gear

Bridal photography tips: a surefire way to preserve highlights in the wedding dress

jmeyer — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:46:58 +0000

While there are all sorts of wedding photography tips out there advising on everything from portrait lighting and off-camera flash techniques to the best couple poses, we thought we would offer some very specific advice for which we often get asked: namely, how to preserve the highlights in the wedding dress when shooting bridal photography.

Follow the steps below in our fool-proof exposure guide to shooting bridal photography and you’ll never over-expose a white wedding dress ever again.

Choose the right metering mode
With harsh light falling on a white wedding dress, even the most sophisticated metering systems can struggle to get exposure right. Shoot in Evaluative mode, so that the camera takes a reading from the scene as a whole.

Use your histogram for perfect exposures
Take your shot, view it on your camera’s LCD screen, then call up the histogram. This shows the tonal range of your image. If it’s over-exposed, the body of the histogram will be stacked heavily to the far right of the graph.

Fine-tune the shot with Exposure Compensation
If your shot is over-exposed then re-shoot, bracketing your images with exposures either side of the metering system’s reading. Use the Exposure Compensation button to select how much to under or over-expose a scene.

17 romantic couple poses that will make you say, ‘I do!’

jmeyer — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:00:51 +0000

The best couple poses capture the essence, interaction and emotions between two people in love. It is a great feeling to see sparks fly and even better to catch this chemistry on camera. To make sure you bring out the best when posing couples, wedding and portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her top posing tips to make your subjects shine in front of the camera.

We’ll start on this page by discussing some of the general, but important, photography tips to consider before and during your shoot. And on the following pages we’ll look at some specific couple poses and techniques and discuss why they work.

12 tips for achieving better couple poses in your portrait photography

Hands need to be natural and not look stiff or posed. Let their hands form naturally on their own and refine when necessary.
Catch intimate close-up portraits by asking them to look at each other rather than the camera. It is all about them.
If the couple seem nervous tell them to act the way they did the first time they met.
Couple photography should be about closeness so ask the couple to be very close to each other to convey that they are a couple.
Take action shots and capture fun. Ask them to do or say silly things and you will be sure to get natural laughs and giggles.
Body language is an important factor. Ensure the hips are turned into toward each other and the pose conveys their love.
Even if a pose is not working out do not be negative in front of clients and simply move on.
Play music to create a mood or maybe even ask them if they have a song.
Look at others peoples work. I always go to a shoot with three new poses that I want to recreate. But remember to but your own stamp on it.
Yes we all make mistakes but even if a shot is not technically perfect but you have captured a moment, I am sure the client will love it. Mistakes are made to learn from them.
For curvier couples do not shoot them from low down angles or with them facing straight on towards the camera (for more on shooting curvier subjects, see Kelly’s expert guide 17 posing tips and in-camera slimming tricks for shooting curvy models).
Stylised photo shoots have become very popular. Use props, co ordinate outfits and the location to portray a theme such as nautical beach or Saturday at the local fair-trade market. Try a mixture of posed and natural shots to create a varied set of images.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: Create a romantic mood
PAGE 3: Create a timeless picture with black and white
PAGE 4: Use only natural light
PAGE 5: Go in close for small gestures
PAGE 6: Experiment with backgrounds

18 of the best-ever posing tips for group photos

jmeyer — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:00:56 +0000

The formal and informal group photo is always very popular at any social event including birthday parties, weddings or even on a night out with friends. However, the same mistakes seem to crop up, and often someone is looking away or blinking, only some people are smiling or everyone won’t fit in the frame. Wedding and portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her best posing tips for group photos so you can start to improve your techniques and to get a shot that everyone will love.

Preparation is the key to success. Before you pull a group together, ensure you know where you are going to take the group photos, how you would like to position everyone, what setting your camera will need to be on, if you have good light etc.

Large groups of people do not like to be kept waiting and you have a small window to get the shot you want without people getting bored and frustrated.

On this page we’ll discuss some of the general – but always necessary – photography tips to consider before and during your shoot. And then on the following pages we’ll look at some specific situations when taking group photos and how to deal with them.

Photography tips for before and during your shoot

Ensure the location you pick for a group shot does not have any distractions such as lamp posts, tree branches etc which is going to end up behind someone’s head.
Take multiple shots to avoid blinkers or to give you the option to do some post production work to create the perfect shot.
Get someone to help you organise big group shots, preferable someone with a loud, stern voice.
Do not be afraid to get in close on a smaller number of people and include as much detail as possible.
Remember taller people should go to the back and short people to the front or sides in large group shots.
On special occasions ensure the one or two people most important people i.e. bride and groom are in the centre of the shot.
It can easy to get flustered when working with larger groups of people, keep calm and carry on.
Do not forget that light is the key to every great image. On a bright sunny day do not have a group looking directly into the sun unless you want squinting faces. Look for open shade by a tree or just under cover.
Take control of the situation. People want you to direct them and set up a photograph they will love. There is no time to be shy, just be polite and straight to the point and keep talking to the group.
If you want to look more professional and people to respect you, use a tripod.
Smile. No one wants to work with a stressed out photographer so practise what you preach and be happy even if you do get frustrated.
Always get the more formal images at the beginning of a shoot when everyone looks their best but don’t underestimate how fun the more relaxed and maybe alcohol influenced photographs can be later on in the evening.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: Shoot from a high vantage point
PAGE 3: Alter your camera angle
PAGE 4: Group reportage
PAGE 5: Set subjects a task
PAGE 6: Go closer for details
PAGE 7: Act out a story

9 Creative Photo Ideas for August

jmeyer — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:00:00 +0000

As part of our ongoing series to help you get more creative with your digital camera, each month we publish some fun, seasonal, creative photo ideas to help inspire your imagination.

Along with some amazing images, we’ve also provided some quick photography tips by photographers who are experts in these fields.

In August, unsurprisingly, many of our photo ideas take inspiration from the ongoing Olympics in London.

But we’ll also have you snapping your holidays, weddings, bugs in your back yard and more.

Remember: don’t forget to come back at the end of the month and share what you’ve done on our Facebook wall.

01 Capture a bug’s life

Photograph the world at close proximity and you’ll be amazed at the results,” says retired microbiologist and keen macro photographer Brian Valentine. “99.9% of my macro shots are taken in my back garden.”

Brian took this shot of a 4mm Chironomid midge early one morning when the dew on the ground had yet to dry off. “I found the midge on top of my compost bin,” he explains. “It wasn’t moving anywhere, so I set up my camera with my Canon 65mm f/2.8 macro lens attached, and rested the barrel on the side of the bin.”

To ensure the midge was captured in sharp focus, Brian used so-called focus-stacking. “Softening due to diffraction can be a problem at narrow apertures,” he explains, “so I often shoot in this way.”

To get his finished image, Brian took a sequence of eight different shots at f/7.1, but with each one focused on a slightly different part of the midge.

He then merged the sharp bits from each of the images together using Zerene Stacker software, to produce an image that’s pin-sharp from front to back.

In order to light the midge, Brian used his Canon Speedlite 430EX flashgun set to auto, and to soften the light from the flash he attached a homemade diffuser.

“I also placed a blue milk-bottle top behind it, as I wanted the image to have a blue sheen that enhances the crystal water drops.”

Get started today…

Head to your garden or local park. Early morning is the best time to get out and look for surfaces where bugs like this may be drying out.
A macro lens is best for pro results, but if you haven’t got one, an extension tube attached  to a normal lens is the next best thing.
Stack the focus by turning the focus ring one small step for each frame. Use a tripod or rest the lens on a steady surface to keep the camera in the same position and set the aperture to around f/8 (check out these great tips for how to hold a camera steady when you don’t have a tripod).
To process the image, use Zerene Stacker software. A free 30-day trial can be downloaded from http://goo.gl/oX7oD.

PAGE 1: Capture a bug’s life
PAGE 2: Shoot a summer wedding
PAGE 3: Capture moving action
PAGE 4: Capture action with drama
PAGE 5: Line up a summer beach shoot
PAGE 6: Photograph sea fowl
PAGE 7: Photograph your summer holidays
PAGE 8: Capture the colour of summer flora
PAGE 9: Take advantage of stormy skies

The wedding photographer’s timeline: plan your shoots a year in advance

jmeyer — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:00:56 +0000

In some ways, shooting a wedding is the easiest part of being a wedding photographer. Learning new photography techniques is fun. But learning how to manage the business side of photography is one of the most difficult parts of the job for many working wedding photographers and is rarely mentioned in lists of top wedding photography tips.

In a recent post we looked at how much to charge for wedding photos when wedding photographers are just starting out in the business. In this post we’ll investigate how to plan your wedding photography shoots from the very beginning.

We’ll look at how to make contact with potential clients, how to secure bookings all the way up to tips that will leave you extra prepared on the day.

Image copyright Brett Harkness

12 months

Making initial contact
Most couples plan their wedding up to a year in advance, especially when it comes to booking important things, such as a photographer. It’s out of simple need really, because most people get married in the summer, on a Saturday, so photographers, as well as venues, can get booked up very early.

Plan ahead and maintain your diary with meticulous attention to detail. Think about local advertising or asking hairdressers and other shops in your area if you can put up postcards or leave material to promote your services.

PAGE 1: 12 months
PAGE 2: 6 months
PAGE 3: 2 months
PAGE 4: 1 month
PAGE 5: 2 weeks
PAGE 6: 1 week
PAGE 7: The wedding day

Wedding photography: how much do you charge your first time?

jmeyer — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:49:15 +0000

Image copyright Brett Harkness

Plenty of people in full-time employment do a few odd jobs on the side from time to time but, when it comes to making the most of your camera skills, wedding photography offers much more than just a bit on the side. Indeed, wedding photography is a responsibility that nobody should undertake lightly. No matter how grand the big day is itself, the wedding photos are really the only memento that lasts.

Not only will the newly-weds want to show off top-quality photos to their friends and families over the weeks ahead, but they’ll also want to show them to their children and grandchildren in decades to come.

In short, as a wedding photographer, you need to get it right.

But we all know this – even when photographing your first wedding. Chances are if you are confident enough to undertake an endeavour like shooting a wedding you don’t need too many camera tips from us.

But what about business advice? If you want to break into the wedding photography business and start shooting weddings on the side, how much should you charge for your services when starting out?

We spoke to a number of jobbing wedding photographers to get their opinion (see more photography tips from jobbing pros and famous photographers). Find out below what they suggested.

And for more wedding photography tips, download our free wedding photography cheat sheet.

Image copyright Brett Harkness

Wedding photography fee: £375
This covers your basic attendance fee, travel and photography for up to six hours on the day, as well as time after the event for post-processing of images and the provision of around 150 6×4- or 7×5-inch proof prints.

Additional hours: £45
For pre-wedding shots of the bride getting ready, through to evening shots of the party, a charge of £45 per hour (or part thereof) over and above the standard six-hour booking can be made. Agree this in advance if possible.

Wedding albums : £75 to £750
These can range from simple photo books from a cheap online supplier to bespoke album services. Budget albums often make great thank-you gifts for the couple to give to their parents or bridesmaids.

Enlargements and reprints: £5 to £25
Unlike basic proofs, these are top quality prints made by specialist services, usually ranging from 6×4-inch to 15×12-inch in size. For card mounting, add about £2.50 per print and make additional charges for picture framing if required.

Digital images on CD-ROM: £245
It only costs about 25p to put the images on a CD-ROM. What you’re really charging for is the ‘copyright’, as clients can create their own prints from the high-res files or distribute them to their family.

Online album & slideshow: £45
If the client is buying the copyright to the images, you can save them a chore by creating a Photobox (or similar) account and uploading the images so that friends can order reprints online.

33 myths of the professional photographer

jmeyer — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:00:16 +0000

The professional photographer is often associated with a glamorous lifestyle and lots of money. However, sadly this stereotype is not the reality. Professional female portrait photographer Kelly Weech debunks 33 of the most common myths of the professional photographer and reveals what life is really like for those who get paid to take pictures.

Myth 1 – To be a photographer, you just press a button, right?

Many believe with the clever technology of digital cameras today you simply point and shoot; however, this is simply not the case. You can have the best camera in the world but if you only use it on auto you might as well own a compact (see our 44 essential digital camera tips and tricks).

Myth 2 – Anyone with a nice or expensive camera can be a pro

Being a professional photographer is more than just the gear and equipment we own. It is about running a business and making a living to survive not just taking pretty photographs (hear more professionals sound off: 50 photography tips from famous photographers to jobbing pros).

Myth 3 – When in doubt, 1/125sec @ f8 always works

No it will not always work. Professionals know how to handle lighting situations and the problems you may encounter to still get the shot. Particularly at a wedding, there will be no second chances so you best know how to capture the dark church to the bright midday sun (check out our guide to Common mistakes at every shutter speed – and the best settings to use).

Myth 4 – All pro photographers act in a professional manner

Unfortunately not all professional photographers know or understand that to be a professional you are servicing the needs of a client and not your hobby. A true professional knows how to act and handle people in most situations that may arise.

Myth 5 – A professional produces better quality image than an amateur

I have seen many talented amateurs with a passion for photography who produce better quality images than many ‘pros’, but being a professional is a lifestyle choice as well as a career move. Some people really just do it as a hobby and for the love of technology or photograph (find out How to be a Getty contributor).

Myth 6 – Everything can be fixed in Photoshop

Photoshop is another skill set altogether and you cannot make a bad photograph good in Photoshop. However, you can make a great image exceptional if you know how to use it to the best of its ability (check out our 101 Photoshop tips you have to know).

Myth 7 – Qualifications guarantees a good photographer

Becoming a professional photographer is like driving a car. The more experience you have the better you become. Qualifying is just the beginning.

Myth 8 – A wedding photographer only works on Saturday

Photographing the wedding is the fun part; however, wedding photographers then need to edit the photographs, produce albums, market their business, find new clients, update a website and blog constantly, file accounts, handling enquirers, meet future brides and grooms, network with suppliers and compete against 22,000 other registered wedding photographers (download our free wedding photography cheat sheet).

Myth 9- Nikon is better than Canon – and vice versa

This is a debate which dates back many years but in all honesty, just choose the brand or camera you personally prefer and be happy with your equipment. All digital cameras are very good these days. The megapixel war will always continue, but remember it is what you do with them that counts.

Myth 10 – That we always get paid

Sometimes to get ahead you will have to work for free but what you need to do is evaluate what it is you will actually gain in terms of exposure and publicity (see our 10 tips for preparing and selling photo prints).

Myth 11 – Presets and Photoshop actions make up for a bad photo

No. These should enhance a photograph but will not cover up a critical mistake such as exposure or focus (check out our in-depth guide to Manual Focus: what you need to know to get sharp images).

PAGE 1: Myths 1 through 11
PAGE 2: Myths 12 through 22
PAGE 3: Myths 23 through 33