Grandhouse Wedding Photography & Videography<br> Sydney, Australia
As a wedding photographer, the most crucial thing to keep in mind is that weddings are always about the couple. So, no matter how good your photos are, they’re useless if you don't get the best shots that tell their tale.
This implies that you should always be correct in your understanding of the couple before the wedding so that you know what to expect and mentally prepare for the wedding. So get a sense of the venue and the theme ahead of time so that you can be fully prepared.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
The detail shot primarily condenses a shot of the wedding that makes it unique, such as the wedding bands, invitation, bride's or groom's shoes, shots of the veil or gowns on the hanger, bridal flowers, and so on. It also allows you to provide an ice-breaking section for the bride and bridesmaids to become comfortable with you.
Look for a location with a basic background that contrasts with the elements you're capturing. For example, if your details are light coloured, utilise dark backgrounds to make the details stand out.
Also, having them all in the same background helps when shooting details because they'll all be in the same album. By shooting them all in one place, you may have a good, uniform look in terms of lighting, aesthetics, and colours.
After getting the detail shots, you can go straight to where the girls are getting ready, which is both the bride and the bridesmaids. Most of them will have their hair, and makeup done by then. Here, attempt to grab some wide shots without being too intrusive.
You can also give them some space and try to frame a few of these shots after they're finished so that you don't end up with pictures of them wearing half their makeup. When they're finished, take a couple of images of the bride with the bridesmaids in their robes, usually drinking or expressing their excitement for the wedding. You can even ask her to show off her engagement ring if she has one.
When the bride is putting on her gown, keep in mind that not everyone will be happy to have other people around. So you might want to drop by when she's finished.
You can also get candid shots of her family reacting to her in the gown at this stage. Perhaps the friends are amazed, or the parents are crying. You can also take a few pictures of it. While you're at it, shoot a few images of the dress's intricacies, such as the neckline, side profile, and back. You can also opt for slipping up the dress shot.
Don’t miss these shots, as these are items they have picked up for themselves with great effort. You can either lay them and take individual shots or wait for the bride to finish her makeup to do the regular ones.
You can also go for the classic earring shots or the admiring her heels moment. When you’re taking these shots, make sure that you get pictures highlighting the bride’s eye makeup and hairdo, especially if she's planning to leave her hair open.
Get a few portraits of her walking down the stairs or through the door in full wedding attire so that you can shuffle them up in the album giving the complete picture.
How could the veil have slipped our minds? The veil is useful for both solitary images of the bride, which give her a princess look, and pair shots, which give the couple a royal appearance. However, before moving on to the veil, there are a few things you should know about it and tell the brides so that you can get the most out of it.
Ask the bride to always hold her veil in her hands and bend her hands naturally while walking so that it falls neatly on both sides of her head and produces the effect that you want. You can also have the bridesmaid or your assistant lift it and gently let it go for that breezy appearance in your photos.
Now is the moment to grab those images of the bride meandering through the garden. For these, you might want to lay down on the ground and ask the bride to stand with her back to you. As the bride begins to walk, have someone hold your veil and gently let it go. So you can get her veil and the back of her gown both in the picture.
You can also include the groom in the first two shots to make it more of a pair shot rather than simply a bride with her veil shot.
As every bride's wedding bouquet is unique, it is recommended that at least one single photo of the bouquet in the plain background with the bride holding the bouquet be taken. Not only the bridal bouquet, but all flower arrangements are significant. Therefore, invite the bridesmaids and take photos of their bouquets as well.
You can also photograph the bride's party walking with their bouquet or create a humorous moment with them all grinning and conversing in their stunning wedding clothes.
Don't forget to get that wide-angle photograph of the bride throwing the bouquet to the girls and also of the person catching it at the end of the ceremony. Who knows, if the myth comes true and they wind up being the next to marry, this photo will turn out to be a critical moment.
Portraits of the groom in his entire wedding outfit are just as significant as those of the bride. Take pictures of the boy gang, especially if they are a fun-loving group of men. You can even acquire images of the groom and his friends popping the Champagne or jumping on the bed in their robes. In the album, the bride might adore them.
You can also snap images of the groom getting ready to add some emotion. You can have either his mother or father assist him in tightening his tie, and his brother helping him with his shoelace, which would make for an unforgettable picture later.
Also, don't forget about those tossing the groom into the air shot while they're all dressed up. That’s always a fun shot, and everyone might have fun shooting it.
The groom seeing his beloved in bridal dress coming towards him to be his wife forever is one of the most emotional moments in any wedding. I know it makes us all emotional just thinking about it.
You can have them stand in the room with their eyes closed, facing the opposite directions, and then turn back to meet each other, or have one of them wait for the other. Always remember to give the couple their space before starting the shots. Meanwhile, you can opt for some candid photography and capture it without losing the feel.
However, in certain situations, the couple may prefer to wait until the ceremony to see each other, which is absolutely fine. Always do things their way; in this case, go for wide-angle images with them both in the frame; try including at least one of these shots. The groom's reaction is always a factor in these photographs.
The first step in taking these images is to inquire about their usual preferences while posing together. Like if the bride takes a right and the groom takes a left, ask them if they have any preferences. If they don't, feel free to experiment and find their best profiles.
There's a whole blog dedicated to wedding photography poses that you might want to check out.
