Knowing how to properly compose your photos is one of the key elements of photography. A lake with a large mountain behind it can pose a compositional challenge in regular photography. In wedding photography we take this one step further because the bride and groom need to be in frame with the mountain and lake as well.
I have written four articles to help you compose your images at weddings. In these articles I will talk about choosing horizontal or vertical format, different techniques of composition, and lastly, two devices to help make your images more complex. In this first article I am going to offer some suggestions to help you choose to shoot an image horizontally or vertically.
One of the first things to think about to compose your image is whether the photo will be horizontal or vertical. These formats are also called landscape and portrait. Don't get to hung up on these names though, I shoot plenty of good landscape shots vertically, and wedding portraits horizontally.
Then how are you going to decide which format to use? I always ask myself one question when deciding to shoot vertical or horizontal. This question is "What is being gained by using this format?" To make use of this question take two practice shots of your subject, one in horizontal, and one in vertical format. Now compare these two images and ask yourself the question what is this image gaining by having in frame these other things that aren't the subject.
Using the example above of a wedding couple with a mountain and lake, if shot horizontal and there is a tree on one side of the couple, is this tree a bonus, or is it distracting? If shooting vertical, if the sky is in the frame, is it an attractive or interesting sky, or is it all blown out? What are you gaining by having the sky in frame? Ask yourself this question critically. Remember that sometimes-empty space in the frame is a bonus.
After practicing this for a little while, you will then be able to do this mentally and not need to actually shoot the two practice photos. You will get to the point where as you see the wedding couple you immediately ask yourself what are you gaining by shooting in a certain format. You can then begin to compose your image with your camera after you have made this decision in your mind.
I appreciate your reading and hope you have a better idea on how to choose a horizontal or vertical format for your composition. In the other articles in this series I will talk about various compositional techniques and some devices that will help make your images more intersting.
I have written four articles to help you compose your images at weddings. In these articles I will talk about choosing horizontal or vertical format, different techniques of composition, and lastly, two devices to help make your images more complex. In this first article I am going to offer some suggestions to help you choose to shoot an image horizontally or vertically.
One of the first things to think about to compose your image is whether the photo will be horizontal or vertical. These formats are also called landscape and portrait. Don't get to hung up on these names though, I shoot plenty of good landscape shots vertically, and wedding portraits horizontally.
Then how are you going to decide which format to use? I always ask myself one question when deciding to shoot vertical or horizontal. This question is "What is being gained by using this format?" To make use of this question take two practice shots of your subject, one in horizontal, and one in vertical format. Now compare these two images and ask yourself the question what is this image gaining by having in frame these other things that aren't the subject.
Using the example above of a wedding couple with a mountain and lake, if shot horizontal and there is a tree on one side of the couple, is this tree a bonus, or is it distracting? If shooting vertical, if the sky is in the frame, is it an attractive or interesting sky, or is it all blown out? What are you gaining by having the sky in frame? Ask yourself this question critically. Remember that sometimes-empty space in the frame is a bonus.
After practicing this for a little while, you will then be able to do this mentally and not need to actually shoot the two practice photos. You will get to the point where as you see the wedding couple you immediately ask yourself what are you gaining by shooting in a certain format. You can then begin to compose your image with your camera after you have made this decision in your mind.
I appreciate your reading and hope you have a better idea on how to choose a horizontal or vertical format for your composition. In the other articles in this series I will talk about various compositional techniques and some devices that will help make your images more intersting.
About the Author:
Kevin Heslin is one of the leading Wedding and Commercial photographers in Costa Rica. To see more of his photography tips click on his blog Costa Rica Wedding Photographer Or to see destination wedding photos from Costa Rica, or travel and cultural portraits from Central America click on his website Photography in Costa Rica. Free reprint available from: Wedding Photography Tips - How to Compose your Photos, Part 1 of 4.
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