Top 5 Wedding Photography Mistakes
By Lisa Price
Top 5 Wedding Photography Mistakes
The Wedding day is the most important day for many couples. Nothing about weddings comes without emotions and yet at the same time they are a logistical challenge which require a considerable amount of technicalities - most weddings happen after at least a year in the making. The wedding photographer is in a very central role. It is the photographer’s task to capture the moments, the emotions and, naturally, the details in such detail that everyone involved will forever be able to cherish the memory and revisit the most important day of their lives. Wedding photography, however, is not always a simple job even for the most seasoned professionals. But what could go wrong?
Planning
Everything begins with a plan and what is needed for that plan to work in reality? Extensive research of location, the event, the guests, the colors, the lights and, of course, the happy couple. Get the details wrong and a beautiful event may, in pictures, turn into a full blown nightmare.
Details
Professional photographers know exactly how many factors have to be taken into account when a wedding shoot is about to happen. However, do the couple? If the bride and groom, for whatever reason, forget to reveal all possible details of, among other things, the event location, theme, guests, colors and lighting, the photographer could be in for trouble. It may be too late to get up to date at location. Weddings can be ruined for a whole variety of reasons; photography does not have to be one of them. If the couple don’t tell - ask. Get closer to the bride and groom. What are their expectations? What is the most important thing for them to remember? Is there anything they would rather not have photographed? What is the general style or theme the bride and groom would like to see in their photographs?
Style
Weddings are beautiful, weddings are positively emotional and they are unforgettable. They can become unforgettable for all the wrong reasons if the photographer is not consistent with the visuals - style is the foundation of wedding photography. The style should be planned immediately after the basics of the event have been discussed. What most affects the style is of course the theme, the color scale and whatever the groom and bride hope to see in their album. Some professional photographers say style can be an issue even with the right details - there are many pros who stick to the same basics year after year. Some, on the other hand, jump on each and every industry trend, often ignoring what the couple’s own desires are. The style basics should always come from the bride and groom. It is the photographer’s task to make it work.
Professionalism
Weddings are not cheap - one day of non-stop celebration with friends and family more often than not costs a small fortune. It is for this reason the stakes are high - the professionals hired for a wedding are truly expected to perform. However, a wedding can easily be ruined even by experienced professionals - the planner, the florist, the baker or perhaps the hair stylist. Weddings have known to be ruined by photographers who have been running late and missed the crucial moments or, alternatively, being on time but not actually catching the moments. Perhaps worst of all is when a photographer is sticking to the playbook except for shooting the wrong targets or - worst of all - shooting only parts of any targets. A disaster may not always be avoidable so it's always a good idea to take precautions - it may be too late to change things on the day. However, photographers can avoid trouble from their part by simply sticking to the plan and what has been agreed with the bride and groom.
Equipment
Main rule: never show up with one camera. Back-up equipment is the wedding photographer's most important partner throughout the day. Extra lenses, flashes, camera bodies - at least one of anything that is vital part in a professional wedding shoot. This way, if something goes wrong, the disaster may still be avoided. Additionally, it is good to have different options for shooting - as long as the style and visuals stay consistent. It is worth nothing that the extra equipment is only useful when the photographer knows how to use them - preparation is the key: testing lighting, flashes and also the distance up to which point each device is still operational.
