Taking great wedding photographs is not something that will happen by chance. Many couples used to put disposable cameras on the tables of their reception area so that guests could snap candid shots but usually these photos came out in such poor quality that it just isn’t done that often anymore.

Even professional photographers often need some wedding photography tips to help hone their talent! Very often the tastes of brides change and they expect something different from their photographer than brides did a few years ago. So what are some simple wedding photography tips to improve your work and your product?

General Wedding Photography Tips

Remember that quite a bit happens at a wedding’s reception that you’ll need to photograph, and people often aren’t ready to pose at the reception. They’re too busy dancing, eating, and socializing with one another. Some compare wedding photography tips with tips that photographers use to capture action shots at sporting events. You need to anticipate what’s going to happen next.

A little boy is approaching the dessert table – is he going to just stand there with wide eyes or stick his finger in one of the desserts? The bride and groom are ready to make their exit – does it look like the parents are going to cry? Anticipating what’s going to happen next is one of those very important but often overlooked wedding photography tips.

Play up your angles and focus as well. Too often wedding photos look like something you would see in an encyclopedia – everything is in the exact center of the frame and every detail is in that one photo. Some wedding photography tips for these cases are to zoom in on one detail of an item – a single flower on the wedding cake or in the bride’s bouquet, or the flower on the groom’s lapel. This makes the viewer feel that much closer to these items.

Wedding Photography Tips for Portraits

When taking wedding portraits be sure to get a little creative with the poses. Have the couple look at each other rather than at you. They can be running along a sidewalk or even walking away from the camera. Be sure to get in close when doing headshots so that you can capture the expression of the subjects. These wedding photography tips will make the viewer feel up close and personal with the subjects but will also dress up your photographs so that they don’t resemble every other portrait out there.

Add decorative elements to the poses such as pulling the bride’s veil in front of the couple or having them pose in front of a striking landmark or sunset.

It’s always a good idea to consider some unique and original wedding photography ideas if you’re a bride or the photographer. Most brides spend hundreds of hours planning every single detail of her wedding so that it’s original and personal just for her, so what a waste that would be to have wedding photographs that look just like everyone else’s! The bride herself may have some unique and original wedding photography ideas but of course she will rely on the photographer as well to take the lead in this area. So how do you come up with unique and original wedding photography ideas that won’t be too farfetched and that will still reflect the theme and tone of the wedding and the personality of the bride and groom?

For one thing, don’t turn your nose up at the idea of studying the photography of others. You can often get unique and original wedding photography ideas by allowing yourself to be inspired by other photos. You can study photographs you see in other albums but you can also go online. Many places that sell or advertise clip art have photos of weddings that are just clip art but that have some beautiful poses and settings. You can get wedding photography ideas from these simple clip art items by really developing your critical eye and studying the details of those photos. How did they pose the bride and the groom or the flower girls?

How did they use different lighting techniques? Usually these photos have unique poses such as the bride and the groom actually walking away from the camera, looking at each other rather than at the camera, or even just running across the beach. You can also get wedding photography ideas from these types of photos by seeing how they used different decorative elements in the photos. Maybe they moved the flowers in close to the plate on the table or put the champagne glass on its side to signify a party being finished. Different angles of photos for the wedding cake are also a good idea rather than simply a direct focus.

Other creative wedding photography ideas include zooming in on one particular detail. This might be the bride’s bouquet in her hands, the unity candle if the couple uses one, or the wedding favors. Very often a photographer moves back to try to get everything in every photo but this is a mistake. When you’re too far away you don’t feel close to your subject. Many unique wedding photography ideas include focusing or concentrating on a particular subject that others might overlook, such as those flowers, the face of the flower girl, or some beautiful features of the wedding location.

Practice your wedding photography ideas at other times. Take action shots at your child’s soccer game or at the pool of your apartment complex so you’re skilled at candid photos. Stage a table setting in your home or studio and practice different angles and lighting effects.

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