12/22/2012

Tips For More Interesting Wedding Photos

By Marley Smith


Wedding photography's challenges are distinctly difficult from those of other photography genres. While landscape photographers await the right light, and sports photographers never take their eyes from the viewfinder lest they fail to capture a winning shot, wedding photographers take pains to combine excellent lighting, timing, and composition all in a matter of eight hours. The biggest challenge of it all? In wedding photography, there second takes are non-existent.

How then do you come up with wedding photographs that are pleasing not just to you as the artist but also to the couple? Follow these vital shooting tips to make more unforgettable and technically improved wedding photos.

Shoot from the hip, through leaves and curtains, and from the outside looking in. Although most photographers are comfortable with shooting straight at the subject, take the road rarely travelled every so often, bending over so that you are at eye-level with that small flower girl sashaying her skirt with the others. Look around for leaves and curtains, and shoot through them. Pictures from this angle provide that kind of mystery to your photos that's unusual and interesting. While the bride is preparing and bridesmaids flock to her to help her with her makeup, shoes, and dress, go out of the room and shoot the scene from the outside.

Make excellent use of your ISO. Numerous photographers turn away from high ISO settings and use flash instead. But a seasoned photographer will tell you that gritty photos from high ISO settings will in fact add a unique appeal. Use this setting to capture people as well as movement..

Aim to take images of movement, especially in the middle of the reception when many activities and crowds wait for your camera to catch them. Dances and performances make a great subject for motion photos, so don't abandon the slow shutter speed yet. Not all blurred photos are bad.

Aim for candid shots with simple compositions. The less cluttered a photo, the more impactful it is. Use a lens with a wide opening to capture these moments, which would most likely turn to some of your best shots yet. An 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 and 24-70mm f/2.8 are ideal lenses for wedding photography. Cheaper alternatives include the 35mm f/1.8 as well as the 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4.




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