| A wedding can be one of the most challenging | | | | of course, the bride and groom. |
| missions for an amateur photographer because | | | | 5. Connect. Make sure you are fully connected on the |
| there's so much riding on it. A successful shoot | | | | day by ensuring that you have the mobile phone |
| usually brings great recommendations and more | | | | numbers of the wedding coordinator and key |
| business; a failed shoot can mean the end of a | | | | members of the wedding party so that you can |
| career. With wedding photography, there's no second | | | | contact them for help hunting down guests who |
| chance. If you get home and find that the | | | | have gone astray or inform them of schedule |
| photographs are under or overexposed, or just plain | | | | changes. |
| out of focus or badly framed, there's no chance of a | | | | 6. Have an assistant. If you're shooting a wedding for |
| reshoot. You can't exactly ask your clients to restage | | | | the first time, have an assistant who can help you |
| the event. Here are some tips to help you pull off a | | | | carry your professional photography equipment, |
| successful wedding shoot using professional | | | | round up and assemble guests, hold reflectors, and |
| photography equipment: | | | | generally keep track of the schedule. |
| 1. Do your research. Talk to experienced wedding | | | | 7. Make a shot list. Make sure you have a list of all |
| photographers, and head to the library and borrow | | | | the shots that the bridal couple wants. This is |
| books on wedding photography for information about | | | | particularly useful if the couple requires some less |
| what to expect. | | | | expected or out-of-the-box shots. |
| 2. Determine style. Wedding photography is not just | | | | 8. Map your locations. Check out all your shooting |
| about turning up on the day and shooting. All the | | | | locations ahead of time. Make sure you're familiar |
| photographs should be in a consistent style that | | | | with the church and any parks, gardens or other |
| matches the personality of the bride and groom. | | | | shooting locations requested by the couple so you |
| Spend time talking to the couple, go through wedding | | | | have a plan for light and backdrops. |
| magazines with them, and find out if they are | | | | 9. Be brave! Know that on the day, not everything is |
| seeking contemporary, traditional, black and white, or | | | | going to go to plan. Embrace unexpected happenings |
| more off-beat photography. | | | | and use them to your advantage. Make sure you |
| 3. Rent equipment. Rent equipment including | | | | project a calm image at all times to inspire confidence |
| reflectors and lenses from a trusted professional | | | | in your clients and help them relax and be the best |
| photography equipment service; scope out a few to | | | | subjects they can be. |
| get the most competitive weekend or day rate. | | | | When you take your nervous energy and channel it |
| 4. Create a schedule. Meet with the couple to plan | | | | into creative energy, you'll be able to focus on taking |
| out a photography schedule for the day. Determine | | | | great photographs. Tell yourself that you're going to |
| when you will shoot wedding preparations, bride | | | | enjoy and learn from the experience, and it'll make |
| portraits, groom portraits, bridesmaid and groomsmen | | | | you an even better photographer next time. |
| portraits, family portraits, the full wedding party, and, | | | | |