Few photographers can stand up to the relentless stress of wedding photography. Some simple rules will see you safely through this assignment and its many challenges.

The Shooting List

Prior to your worrying about your equipment, you should ascertain exactly what shots are required. The bride may have already done this for you. You may find that others have charming but vague ideas about what should be recorded. Now is the time to start worrying. Ask for a list of the photos.

A shot list is best broken down into three general groupings:

1. Before the Ceremony
2. The Service
3. Following the Ceremony

Before the Service

These photos can include the following:

* The bride dressing
* The bride with her friends
* The bride with her parents
* The groom and friends
* The groom with his parents
* The wedding dress
* Getting into the limo
* Sitting in the limo
* Arriving at the church

Several of these can be candid photos. Some work better if you pose them.

The Service

These shots depend on the location and whether you are permitted to shoot the actual exchange of vows, etc. Ask the bride to find out if you can shoot during the ceremony. If possible, place yourself on the groom’s side so you can frame the bride’s face. The bride deserves most of your attention.

These shots should include:

* Three quarter length of the bride, groom and celebrant.
* Take medium distance shots of the bride and groom.
* Three quarter length to full length of the entire bridal party including the maids and groomsmen.
* Frame the bride and groom medium or three-quarter length.
* The ring (close-up on the hands if you can zoom in fast otherwise go for the semi-close-up)
* The kiss (semi close-up)

Lighting plays a big part in the ceremony photos. Flash will result in stark, clinical looking pictures and destroy the mood for everyone, so use what light is available. Get a clear idea of the lighting conditions by going along to the rehearsal. Make sure you use a tripod.

Turn your camera’s shutter sound off. Do that so you can shoot many frames without disturbing the event. The more the better. Set the camera to multiple frames and hold the shutter down at the important moments. You won’t find out if a blink has ruined the shot until later. The remedy is to shoot lots at the critical moments.

Move fast to capture the newly weds walking back down the aisle. Now this is an important wedding photography tip: Work out your own lines of movement (and escape) at the rehearsal.  The walk down the aisle is straight reportage - so use the flash. You can see more about this under the heading ‘Equipment’.

Following the Service

Again some of these may be candid and some ought to be posed. These should comprise:

* The bride and groom outside the church/venue with well-wishers
* The confetti moment (just hold the shutter down!)
* The bouquet
* Groups of bride and groom and all parents
* Getting into the limo
* Sitting in the limo
* The limo itself if it has been tricked up with cans and graffiti etc.

After-After the Service

These usually need to be planned ahead. Now go ‘on location’ to a nearby park or garden. This is when you can shoot the dress to good effect. The couple can chill out and let their hair down for the camera. Once you have taken some photos that are semi-posed, move back and use the zoom for candid photos.

This phase includes the reception. Some guests may want photos with the happy couple but you may also find these are rarely ordered.

Save yourself for the cutting of the bridal cake - shooting it, not eating it. You may have the bridal table on your list - if not just do a general coverage of the toasts. Pictures of the ceremony will most likely be the most popular and worth the most concentration of effort.

Group photos at the reception can get out of hand so request a helper to organize these.

The Completed Product

It is best to supply a CD or DVD with the unusable edited out. Anything that makes you look bad is a dud. For added effect you can use video editing software to quickly make a slide show of the event in sequence. Images should retain sharpness and clarity when zoomed to A4 size - if not, don’t submit them. Make a CD of the best photos and you’re done.