A Few Thoughts on the Must Haves & Must Nots of Wedding Photography
We were recently asked by Wedbits wedding blog, for a little advice on planning your wedding photography and this is what we came up with…
“We hesitated a little when compiling a list of ‘must have’ wedding photographs. Tastes are changing, so many couples are turning wedding traditions on their head, following their own vision and making new opportunities for photographs. The candid and arty style that is becoming more popular among many professional wedding photographers means that even shots that are common to many weddings transcend their familiarity. Representing the personalities of the couple makes these photographs unique to them! Here is a short list of photos that couples often look for, which challenge us to not only capture these moments, but do so in a way that is distinctive to each wedding…
Wedding shoes – although not every girl is a shoeaholic, there’s a shoe lover in most of us! Even the grooms are getting in on the act these days, so plenty of opportunity for stunning shots!
Wedding dress – hard to go wrong with the dress, and plenty of potential for stunning bridal images, but please, please, please invest in a gorgeous hanger, which is a small expense but really adds to those hanging dress shots.
Bouquet/Buttonholes – One of those details that is always worth spending time photographing well. Couples spend so much time deliberating over the flowers and produce some incredibly stunning and diverse ideas.
Wedding rings – always, always well protected by the best man – they’re never more than five feet away when we’re given temporary custodianship! No Four Weddings moments allowed (although that brightly coloured resin heart ring was fabulous)!
Groom waiting – a great picture, the anticipation draws a great mixture of anxiety and excitement!
The processional – beaming dad, beaming guests (cameras at the ready), and the beaming bride, taking it all in.
The kiss – the moment when all the nerves go away and the party really begins. A great indicator of the couple’s relationship, whether they’re cutely in love or all-out passionate!
The couple shot – Probably the only real time the couple gets to spend alone all day (with us photographers of course!). Bride and groom pictures are great because it gives couples a break from the intensity of the day, and lets us capture those natural shared moments. It is also the perfect shot for sending out to family.
Speeches – let’s face it, most guys are pretty stoic when it comes to emotions, but the groom’s speech and father of the bride speech are brilliantly acceptable ways to let it all out – and often set the bride off too (we do love to capture happy tears on camera)! On the other hand we have the best man’ speech – the ultimate test for every best man, guaranteed to give him many sleepless nights! Never heard a dud yet, and always great to have the contrast of laughter after the emotional rollercoasters from dads and grooms.
Cutting the cake – ever popular at weddings, and always a pleasure to photograph something that looks amazing and tastes yum, but none of this holding knife and grinning at the camera please! Action shots are always best!
First dance – another shot that some couples seem less interested in –they’ve probably had enough of being in the spotlight at this point and prefer to shake their booties with friends and family!
Obviously on the day there are also plentiful opportunities to find the out of the ordinary shot away from the hustle and bustle, and document the little moments that mean so much to the couple and their families and friends. There are some shots we always avoid, however. We try not to have group shots where everyone is standing stock still with forced smiles – we love to have some natural interaction, which helps everyone feel more comfortable. On the other hand, there seems to be a ‘new tradition’ where people try too hard to make these group shots less formal. Pictures of the bride lying across arms, and the ‘Reservoir Dogs’ shot of the boys in sunglasses for instance. Any shot that could you could give a name to, one that’s become so common it’s almost made its own tradition, is definitely not our thing!”
