Wedding photography is probably one of the best engagements you may have as a photographer. The flurry of activity, excitement, and romance, allows you to tell the couple’s story using what you know best – perfect shots.
The trends in wedding photography are always evolving, and better techniques are still coming up. If you don’t keep up, you could end up sticking to the old ineffective habits and kill your brand.
What do Brides Want from Their Wedding Photographer?
Your bride wants you to capture the mood of the event – happiness and romance. Be sure to take photos of the smiles in the audience and the little romantic gestures between the couple.
Don’t just focus on the people. It took a lot of effort and planning to get the right details of everything. Capture the cake decorations, flowers, glasses, wedding ring, wedding band, and every little thing that stands out.
Most importantly, brides want communication. Tell the couple how to pose to get the right shot and cheer them on when they are doing it right. They want to have the perfect photos as much as you do, and collaborating makes it easier.
What Not to Do as a Wedding Photographer?
Here are seven outdated techniques and habits to avoid:
1. Shying Away from Using Effects
Effects do not just apply in video and audio editing. Add some modern effects to the wedding photos. By using Photoshop or any other photo-editing tool, you can add the wow-factor to your images. Excellent examples are retro, moody, or rustic filters. You can also take backlit or sun flare photos of the couple.
2. Using to Little or Too Much Exposure
Gone are the days when photographers overexposed wedding photos. It takes out the fine details of the gown and turns it into an overly white and plain bore. Using too little exposure will have a similar effect. It will take the brightness off your bride’s gown and give it a grayish look. The bride invested a lot in her dress; give it the justice it deserves with the right exposure.
3. Being Self-conscious
Your job in the wedding is to take amazing shots, in whichever way you can. And this will mean striking some odd shooting positions to get the right effect. For instance, you can make a puddle look like a lake when capturing your photos, but this will require getting the camera as close to the puddle as possible.
4. Over-processing Your Photos
Over-processing photos ruins them. For instance, using too much HDR effect will make the image grainy. The same case applies to overusing the clarity slider, especially in pictures of high contrast. It creates some halos on the edges of your dark subjects. It’s necessary to process your photos, but too much of a good thing can turn it bad.
5. Always Centering Your Subjects
Centering can create a great effect, especially in portrait photography. But capturing the background such as the surrounding landscape will add appeal to the image. When you center the subject, viewers get no reason to look at anything else in the image, and it stagnates the photo.
6. Sticking to Standard Angles
Explore your creativity by using different angles to take your shots. Find the perfect inviting angle during toasts such that the viewer feels like part of the audience. Use a drone to take high-angle photographs in outdoor settings. It will capture the entire surroundings in one shot.
7. Ignoring the Fine Quality of Black And White Photos
A wedding is a romantic event, and black-and-white photography creates a classic romantic mood. They also add timelessness to the photos and create a mysterious or moody factor. It makes the images look artistic. You don’t have to get everything in black and white. A few shots will do.
How to Do a Good Job as a Wedding Photographer?
Here are a few tips to ensure your client is impressed with your work
Get an Assistant
There are some important moments that your bride will want you to capture, but this means you could also miss some other vital shots. For instance, when taking a photo of the first kiss, a shot of the audience’s reaction would be a great addition. But you need an assistant to work with you.
Have a Shot List
As a photographer, you need to be organized. There are so many moments that you may feel you need to capture, and you could end up losing track and missing the essential shots. This is why it’s necessary to create a shot list beforehand and work with it.
Be Familiar with Your Equipment
If you are using new equipment, ensure that you have mastered the position of every button and dial that you will need to adjust your settings. If you pull the camera away from your face constantly, you will miss some split-second memorable moments.
Conclusion
The trick to having an amazing and fulfilling wedding photography contract is to collaborate with the couple to get the perfect shot.
In the fast-evolving world of wedding photography, staying updated is crucial. Today's brides seek fresh and creative ideas, not old-fashioned approaches. To stay relevant, here are 7 outdated wedding photography techniques you should avoid.
1. Over-Posing the Couple
What do brides want from their wedding photographer today? Authenticity. Forced and overly posed shots make couples feel unnatural. Focus on capturing genuine moments instead.
2. Over-Editing Photos
Brides appreciate well-edited images, but heavy edits can ruin natural beauty. Avoid using filters that drastically alter the appearance. When thinking about what not to do as a wedding photographer, excessive post-processing should top the list.
3. Stiff Group Photos
Group shots are essential, but having everyone in stiff, formal lines is outdated. Couples prefer more casual, fun group shots that show real interaction and emotion.
4. Relying on Cliché Poses
Couples want unique, fresh memories, not the same old cliché poses like jumping shots or heart-shaped hands. Avoid repeating trends that have lost their appeal.
5. Sticking to a Pre-Set Formula
Today's weddings are diverse, and each one has its unique vibe. Sticking to a rigid formula is outdated and restricts creativity. Let the moments unfold naturally instead.
6. Ignoring the Candid Moments
Candid photography is highly valued by modern couples. Brides no longer want photographers who miss those spontaneous, emotional moments in favor of overly staged ones.
7. Neglecting the Details
Details matter—whether it's a close-up of the rings, the lace on the dress, or the bride’s shoes. Brides expect photographers to capture the little things that contribute to their special day.
By avoiding these outdated wedding photography techniques, you can deliver what modern couples really desire. Keep your approach fresh, creative, and true to the moment!
Combine your creativity with modern wedding photography techniques, and be adequately prepared for the task. Be sure to capture the mood, reactions from the audience, and the little details of the wedding.
Guest Post by: David Freudenberg
