A New Take On Wedding Photography

Being a wedding photographer can be one of the most glamorous—and most stressful—jobs in the world. Depends on the day, I suppose. One thing's for sure, when it's all said and done, it's one of the most rewarding things I've done in my life. Think about it: We're responsible for documenting one of the biggest days in the lives of our clients. The images we take will be some of the most important things to remember their day. Talk about pressure.

I love everything about being a wedding photographer. I get to be creative, work outside, challenge myself, meet tons of great people and, most importantly, create artwork for my clients. 

If this sounds like fun to you, and you think you might want to try your hand at being a wedding photographer, here are some tips to getting started.

DEFINE YOUR STYLE

How do you see the world? This is what makes us artists. You can teach someone the technical aspects of being a photographer, but it's very difficult to teach them how to "see." As you start photographing weddings, or any event, for that matter, realize that you can't be everything to everyone. Be you! Embrace your style and the way you see the world, and figure out how to use your camera to tell that story. Clients will hire you because of your unique perspective. 

EQUIPMENT: Phase One IQ250, Schneider-Kreuznach 55mm ƒ/2.8 LS

THINK BIG

All too often, I see beginners get what I call tunnel vision. They see what's right in front of them, and they tend to compress the image and crop in too tight. See the world around you just like you're standing there. Incorporate the landscape and the architecture. I find that my clients love the big dramatic shots. It's more than just a wedding picture—it's a representation of their day. Clients want something beyond just a snapshot. Anyone can do that. They want art for their homes.

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ/2.8L USM 

LOOK FOR THE UNEXPECTED LOCATION

Don't go where everyone else goes for pictures. That's the biggest rookie move you can make. Think about it. If someone were taking your pictures on your wedding day, would you want what everyone else has, or would you want something unique and fresh? The answer should be obvious. 

This doesn't have to be complicated. Over the years, I've had everyone from parents to wedding planners to event coordinators tell me where I should take pictures. I smile, nod, say thank you, and stay as far away from that location as I possibly can.

It's not as hard as you think. Walk around a corner. Look for a cool doorway. Find a tree. Take a few minutes to explore and just "see." Let your inspiration come from your surroundings, and you may be shocked at what you can do with your camera. 

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM 

THE BRIDAL PORTRAIT

First, know that you must take one. This is an area where I see even the most seasoned veterans make mistakes. They forget to isolate the bride. She spent all this money on her dress, hair, makeup, etc. Trust me, she wants a picture of just herself. Spend just a few minutes alone with your bride and create a beauty shot. She doesn't have to be doing something or pretending to put on her shoes. Think magazines, think glamour, think beauty. Show off the natural beauty of your bride, and she will be very happy. The happy bride should be every wedding photographer's goal.

I love doing something different here. My lens of choice is typically an 85mm at ƒ/1.2. This really creates separation and allows your bride to pop off the background. If you've ever been in an ugly hotel while the bride is getting ready, this comes in handy more than you can imagine. You can create gorgeous bridal portraits wherever you are.

EQUIPMENT: Phase One IQ250, Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm ƒ/3.5 LS 

USE LIGHTING TO ADD DRAMA

Photography is easy. Just point and shoot, right? Wrong. If you want your images to look lifeless and f lat, then, sure, that might work. True professionals know how to use light to create drama for their portraits. 

Light can come in many shapes and forms. Of course, there's the "natural light" photographer, but that's every person with a camera. If you really want your images to pop and have that drama, off-camera lighting is where the party's at. This isn't as complicated as you might think.

First, know that it takes practice. I can honestly say that, today, after years of trial and error, I feel comfortable using off-camera f lash. It wasn't always that way, however. Using a f lash would strike fear into my heart and cause almost certain panic. It's all about practice. Get out there and start taking pictures of your kids, friends or even a baseball. Practice, practice, practice. Soon, you'll feel extremely comfortable and wonder what all the fuss was about. However, your wedding clients will be blown away with the results.

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 16-35mm ƒ/2.8L II USM

ADD THE UNEXPECTED TO THE TRADITIONAL PORTRAIT

Sorry, but I find traditional portraits to be just f lat-out boring. Personally, I feel like anyone can do that. In today's wedding market, it has become increasingly saturated and, thus, very competitive. If you want your portraits to pop, do something different.

Looking for unique locations or adding a wide-angle lens can really add that unexpected look and feel to your portraits. The key is to experiment. Shoot through a window. Look for a mirror to photograph the couple's ref lection. Look for architecture you can incorporate into the shot. Look for any element you can shoot through to create something unique. 

Don't overcomplicate this. Sitting in a bland hotel room with your bride and find nothing inspiring there? No worries. Sit your bride on a chair or on the f loor and fire your f lash into the ceiling for a big and soft light source, and shoot through her veil. This will be a unique portrait taken right in the hotel room that will impress your client. Let's see Aunt Debbie take that shot with her iPhone. 

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.2L II USM 

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

We all see the world at eye-level. That's great, but if you want to really create something different, change your perspective. Stand on a chair, lie on the ground, take a knee. You'd be surprised at how that simple adjustment can truly change the way you see the world. 
This is one of the easiest things you can do to change the look and feel of your images. Everyone with a camera is standing up taking pictures. However, the true professional realizes that by merely adjusting your perspective, you can change the look and feel of an image. I can't tell you how many times I've had someone look at the back of my camera and exclaim, "Wait, I was standing right there, and mine doesn't look like that." It's not because I have a better camera or lens, but because I slightly adjusted my perspective.

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.2L II USM 

INCORPORATE THE GROUP

All too often, it's easy to become consumed with your bride and groom on the wedding day, and people tend to forget about the remaining cast of characters—the bridal party. Keep in mind, the bridal party typically encompasses their closest friends and family members—we can't ignore this group. Not to mention, there are typically three to four people in the group who aren't married yet and will be looking for a wedding photographer in the near future. This is your chance to shine. Don't screw it up.

Do something different with the group, but think creatively. Showcase their personalities by letting them have fun.

EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ/2.8L USM 

SHOW CONNECTION

Connection is that thing, if you will, that couples have that brought them together. We need to showcase this as photographers. If you don't see the connection in the image, how will the client? This is no easy task, mostly because the typical bride and groom aren't movie stars. They get a little camera-shy. So, our job is to ensure we get them to feel and look comfortable on-camera.

For me, I do this by talking, talking, talking. Keep them loose and relaxed. Joke with them or do whatever you have to do to keep them preoccupied. I find that once my couples stop thinking about taking pictures, they let their guard down and just start being themselves. That's when the real magic happens for me. And, trust me, your clients will like their imagery that much more. 

EQUIPMENT: Phase One IQ250, Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm ƒ/3.5 LS 

LOOKING FOR STRONG LEADING LINES

This is something that comes with experience. There's so much more to an image than just your client. It's everything that's in your frame. Like a painter, everything should enhance the final image and bring attention to your primary subject. That being said, I realize we're documenting what's in front of us, but we should be thinking about composition and leading lines nonetheless.

This simple concept can make the difference between a snapshot and a professional image. Leading lines and composition make the image more interesting, but most importantly, they should intentionally lead the viewer right to your primary subject in the image.

I hope you've found this useful. Now, get out there, and start shooting and practicing! After all, it's wedding season. 

EQUIPMENT: Phase One IQ250, Schneider-Kreuznach 28mm LS ƒ/4.5 Aspherical 

Original Post from : http://www.dpmag.com/how-to/shooting/a-new-take-on-wedding-photography/page-4 

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