Wedding photography advice for newcomers

2. Memorize or toss the wedding photography shot list out the window.

If you're seeking beginning wedding photography tips, this may contradict a lot of what you're reading right now. Instead, you're most likely reading about must-have vaccinations, and you should be, mainly if you've never attended a wedding before.

If you're going to shoot weddings, you should be well-versed on the subject. You must understand the structure and important events to be prepared and anticipate. You must be aware of the critical occasions. I despise shot lists so much that I'm going to write an entire post on it. I understand the need to have a list of shots in mind. The issue for me is that it interferes with being present or in the moment.

I'm more likely to overlook anything since I'm too preoccupied with glancing at a piece of paper to ensure I've covered everything. A shortlist brings me to worry and generates the impression that my client's expectations are difficult to satisfy, which is never a pleasant way to start the day. I do urge that you get to know your customer and what is essential to them. And I do urge that you photograph everything because, if it's significant enough to be at a wedding, it's probably essential to your client. But, once again, you'll find out when you question them.

I mean that allowing oneself to get sidetracked by a list of photographs you want to capture will make it more challenging to take the pictures. Stay focused, don't get sidetracked, and capture images of what you notice. That being said, make sure you're photographing what's essential to your customer, not just you. We utilize a shot plan for family photographs since it's the most suitable approach to have those shots done while also ensuring the combinations your partner wants. And I'm sure we take a lot for granted since we haven't done it before, so we don't need to be reminded to capture the first kiss.

3. Keep things light and uncomplicated (your wedding photography and your gear).

Keep an eye out for overcomplicating things, especially when it comes to equipment. We experiment with sophisticated lighting and attempt to be creative with our images, but we first kept things as basic as possible. Allowing yourself to get burdened by gear can slow you down and stress you out. Our equipment has grown slightly heavier over time, but we maintained everything as basic and light as possible in the beginning. We never wanted to be unable to keep up with or adjust to the day's events. It's easy to foresee and anticipate now that we've been doing it for so long.

You don't need much. We have a lot of lenses, yet we often find that we shoot the majority of our photos with just two lenses, one for each of us. So when you consider the couple and what they truly desire, it isn't necessary for anything very creative or technically challenging. They want clear photographs of the excitement of the day. You could do it with your iPhone, but I'm not encouraging it.

4. Learn about light (for beginner wedding photography).

This was something I consistently undervalued in the beginning. I didn't perceive the world via a camera lens before I started snapping images every day. Every day, I was surrounded by beauty. As a professional photographer, I now only leave the house during Golden Hour and travel to locations where powerlines, trashcans, and other unattractive items are hidden. Of course, I'm kidding, but it's true that the more you shoot, the more you'll see like a photographer.

Light is one of the things that will rapidly become quite essential to you. Light is difficult to work with, but it also inspires you to be creative.

As you learn more about light, you will be able to handle difficulties such as avoiding the midday sun and preventing people from squinting. Of course, you won't always be able to address these issues; for example, some people genuinely want to take family photos in front of the view, even if it means facing directly into the sun, but you will have suggestions. You'll eventually learn about utilizing flash and adding light, but for now, keep it basic.

5. A newbie begins by focusing on one new objective at a time.

I have a terrible habit of pushing myself too hard and claiming that I will get great at everything all at once. That's never going to work. Instead, choose just one new objective at a time. Sometimes being creative involves attempting something that doesn't work. I enjoy challenging myself to do new things, but you may not want to be taking chances all day at a wedding. It helps me to focus on one aspect of the day or one sort of trick at a time. It's less stressful if I make a mistake, and I have a higher chance of succeeding since I'm focused.

I hope you found this wedding photography advice for beginners worthwhile.