It's gruelling work capturing the magic of a
couple's special day - we bring you the must-have gear to make the job easier.
Resilience is the name of the wedding
photographer’s game. It's no easy task to take responsibility for capturing
every tender moment of a couple’s special day in the knowledge that each second
only happens once and, besides the posed portraits, there's no going back to
redo a shot that’s been missed. Emotional days by nature, weddings have the
added pressure of being one of the rare occasions when extended family gather
at one location. As a photographer your job extends beyond the anonymous face
behind the lens and challenges on the day can include working around divorced
parents, keeping a nervy bride relaxed and happy and hunting down family and
friends for the formal shots. Matched with this comes the photographic
challenges of battling low light or full sun and getting the best angles and
opportunities to shoot as the day progresses. Being fully prepared is just as
important as having all the right equipment. Planning for every possible
scenario is the best way from stopping anything going majorly wrong. It's vital
to have a backup of everything on the day as there won't be a chance to call in
any other equipment in case of a sudden and unexpected failure. Working to a
shot list will give you direction for the day and can focus you if you find
yourself getting into a flap. It's also a good way of visualising your
equipment in action and anticipating the various different camera settings
you'll be using as you shoot throughout the day.
Have a plane
Think about how the location will lend
itself to your couple shots
Couple time
Arrange a time in the day to take the
couple away from the guests for some shots. After the wedding breakfast is
often a good time
Your basic kit
You’ll be at the mercy of your gear
throughout the wedding, so getting the basics right is vital.
you
should think carefully about your choice before you buy
A reliable camera is the cornerstone of the
wedding photography kitbag and you should think carefully about your choice
before you buy. As a rule, wedding photographers have more than one camera body
to hand to increase shooting options and also as a contingency plan if the
unthinkable happens to the first. Of equal importance is the lens and memory
card that you match your camera with. Always assume that lighting conditions
will be tricky, whether it's low indoor light or pesky shadows caused by midday
shooting. Whatever’s in your bag. be sure that you know your equipment inside
out – with the pace and pressure of shooting on the day, there will be no room
for hesitation.
Wedding dos and don’ts
Do
·
Start with a clear idea of what the couple
expects before the day.
·
Check church regulations on photography before
the ceremony,
·
Prepare a list of relatives for formal portraits
beforehand and recruit a bridesmaid/groomsman to help round them up.
·
Use zoom lenses to capture natural interactions
without intruding or breaking up the moment.
·
Be polite and cheerful throughout the wedding
day
Don’t
·
Leave anything to chance - pack a backup to the
backup, just in case,
·
Panic if something goes wrong, approach
potential disasters calmly and resolve it as fast as you can.
·
Accept a drink until your job is done even if
you get the offer to join i n.
·
Miss the small moments. Keep a shot list with
you but also have your eyes open for unexpected scenes that may make lovely
images.
·
Forget to stay hydrated and focused throughout
the day.
