Wedding Photography is a very specialized field, as capturing all aspects of a couple's big day can be a demanding task. Photographers who are up to the challenge, however, will be amply rewarded by the looks of joy on the couple's faces when they see the results. For those with an interest in professional photography, becoming a skilled wedding photography can also become quite the lucrative business.
If you're working with a couple that observes all of the traditions of the standard wedding ceremony then you'll have to wait until the service ends to set up photos with all of the members of the wedding party. Many of today's couples, however, do not believe in waiting until the ceremony begins to see each other, and if you're working with one of those couples then it's best to do all of the group photographs before the wedding. Lighting is crucial, and if you're working indoors you'll definitely need to provide additional light sources. Due to the quick nature of wedding photography, however, you need to have a lightweight light kit that is easy to move and runs off of batteries. This type of kit can be easy to find if you keep an eye out for local Camera Deals.
Once you've taken all of the necessary traditional group photos, which are often more about pleasing the couple's parents than the couple themselves, it's time to let your artistic side out. There's a big push in the wedding photography industry towards shooting weddings with a documentary feel, and most clients prefer this approach, even if they don't initially understand what it means. In order to provide the best mixture of wedding photographs, however, you should utilize a mixture of traditional, documentary and artistic approaches.
Don't be afraid to capture the fun side of your clients; some of the most memorable wedding photographs are of those that allowed the couple to truly express their joy at becoming married. A fun example that not many photographers have started to incorporate yet is to have the couple jump in the air while holding hands. This only works, however, if the couple is fun loving enough to really go with it.
For your artistic shots, consider capturing an image that focuses on the couple's shoes as they dance together for the first time, along with images that capture their wedding invitations, rings, the cake and other miscellaneous items from an unusual perspective. Brides will also love receiving a photograph that shows their dress and other wedding day apparel hanging up in a classy way before they put it on. If the groom is wearing non-traditional shoes, such as Converse, make sure that you get a close-up of him tying the laces.
It is important to capture the traditional moments, such as the couple's first dance, but you also want to focus your lens on moments that are unexpected, such as conversations between family members and moments in which people are laughing with great abandon. In order to stay quick on your feet at the reception you may need to leave your lighting kit behind, so make sure that you have a fully charged external flash ready to go. You should also consider working with a second shooter so that none of the big moments slip by.
