Wedding Photography – 15 Tips and Tricks for Stunning Photos

wedding photography tips

Wedding photography remains etched in the minds of people throughout their lives. These specialized snapshots will outlast any marriage, and remain talking points in photo albums, on the Internet, and in the rooms and halls of homes throughout the world.

Bright eyed couples are frozen in time in wheat fields, in front of churches, alongside fountains, trees, and every other setting you can imagine. Whether their smiles look natural or artificial, you can always bet that they look happy.

When it comes to matrimonial photos, there is very little room for error. Everyone wants high-quality pictures, and the pressure is always on photographers to capture a perfect setting that newlyweds will cherish forever.

15 Wedding Photography Tips and Tricks

It is necessary to realize that a compromise for mediocre photos does not exist. You only have one occasion to get it right. So, how do you pull it off? Here are 15 wedding photography tips and tricks to make a photographer’s or bride and groom’s job easier:

Practice a Test Run – A week or two before the ceremony, you should make a test run. You should try to practice taking photos in the same church or another place with a similar lighting to learn what the best settings will be on your camera.

Take a Photography Course – Get a couple of trusted family members to take a quick course on photography in advance of your wedding. Instead of pointing and shooting, they will have the knowledge of how to take a good photo and not rely on pure luck. This can never replace a professional photographer, but it can add some beautiful additions to your wedding album collection.

Create a Shot List – You don’t want to rely on your memory when it is time to shoot your photos. A shot list reminds you of everything you need to shoot during the wedding. You should also get the bride and groom to agree with what is on your list.

Ask the Bride and Groom for Favorite Photos – Ask the bride and groom to give you a list of two or three must-have photos in advance. These could include an entire family portrait, cutting the cake, walking down the aisle, etc. You will naturally probably take these shots anyway, but it is nice when you can focus on them and make sure they are some of your best shots.

Get Enough Lighting – Overexposure can instantly ruin a photo and not having enough light is equally harmful. Anyone can make photos look better by taking shots that have enough natural lighting. So, during any outdoor settings with the bride and groom, take advantage of natural light and your surroundings.

Use Bounce Flash Lighting – Bounce flash lighting happens when you rotate an external flash away from your subject to get enough natural light, but without placing a light spot from the flash on the face. Along with the tip of getting enough light, it is one of the most important tips in good photography.

Implement the Correct White Balance – White balance can quickly distinguish you as a professional or it can scream, AMATEUR. Make sure your photos always have enough white balance without interfering with any other fine details of the photo. So, you can still be an amateur, but you can produce professional looking photos.

Composition Adjustment – When you adjust your camera to get the perfect frame, it could mean slightly moving your camera in a vertical or horizontal motion. Or, you could slightly change your position to frame a better angle of your subjects.

Capture the Smallest Details – There is some extensive planning that goes into a wedding. That includes down to the bouquet of flowers, special gift wrapping, the intricate details of the bride’s gown, and more. You should capture close-ups of these items, too. They are an intricate part of the wedding, too.

Make Digital Edits – You can edit many of the photos that you make with your digital camera. You can make some good photos look great, and turn others you wanted to delete into shots that are worth saving. Of course, there is Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as other commercial editing programs that can accomplish this.

Reduce Wedding Photographer Costs – No one in their right mind is going to have a wedding without a professional photographer. However, some people might not have the money to pay for an all-day event. To reduce costs considerably, hire your photographer for the ceremony and an hour before and after. This should get most of the photos that you need while at the same time cutting costs.

Check Your Photographer’s Portraits – You might have a professional wedding photographer who makes excellent photos of the wedding ceremony, but does not make great portraits. If this is the case, you might want to hire a second photographer for studio portraits only.

Look for Bonuses – Some wedding photographers will also take some engagement photos at no additional costs. These make a nice complimentary addition to your wedding album.

Look for Other Tender Moments – In addition to planned shots, always look for other tender moments that may or may not involve the bride and groom. Emotions will flow during a wedding ceremony and all of that should be captured with photos.

Always Have Backups Ready – You’ve got the biggest event planned, now you should be prepared. Always have backup memory cards, batteries, and even an additional camera, just to be sure.

Wedding Photography – Conclusion

Wedding photography is a fine art. You must practice to get better at it. Also, if you better prepare, you will reduce stress and lower the chances of anything bad happening. Remember about Murphy’s Law, “If something can go wrong, it will.” If you prepare yourself, you will always have better results.

 
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5 Destination Wedding Ideas

destination wedding ideas

When it comes to planning a marriage and deciding on a destination, many couples choose to stay local, this ensures that all of their friend, family, and additional guests make it to the special event; however, many other couples choose to travel to exotic and memorable destinations to make the occasion even more special and unique. Following is a list of ideal locations to hold a wedding:

 

The Caribbean:

This is a large geographical area to cover, but the numerous islands of the Caribbean gives couples a nearly limitless selection of islands on which to host a fantastic wedding. Popular wedding destinations include St. Lucia, The United States Virgin Island, St. Martin, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, and many others. In addition, these locations make the ideal backdrop for wedding photos and the opportunities to capture interesting photos and video here are limitless and one-of-a-kind.

 

The Grand Cayman Marriott Resort:

If you’re looking for a wedding destination that has all of the amenities you can imagine and more, then you should consider having your wedding at The Grand Cayman Marriott Resort, they are no stranger to hosting magnificent wedding occasions unlike any other.

The resort is centrally located in the Cayman Islands, which allows guests the perfect opportunity to simply walk to nearby restaurants, shops, bars, and more.

 

Jamaica:

Couples have been hosting weddings in Jamaica for decades, and it offers an affordable option when compared to other wedding destinations around the world. In addition, the gold sandy beaches, aqua-blue ocean waters, and mountains covered with beautiful lush foliage creates a wide variety of ideal wedding photo opportunities.

 

The Sandals Beach Resort in Jamaica:

The Sandals Resort in Jamaica is one of the top wedding destinations in all of Jamaica, and when you schedule a six day stay or longer at the resort, couples are rewarded with the Sandal’s Beautiful Beginnings Wedding Package at absolutely no charge.

This popular wedding destination is ideal for couples don’t have the time to negotiate and preside over all the wedding details. The resort takes care of everything based on your wishes, and the photos you bring home will be a point of conversation for the rest of your life.

 

Phuket, Thailand:

There are more than a few places to get married on the beautiful island of Thailand, but Phuket tops the list. Following is a short list of places to take a closer look at.

  • Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa
  • Sri Panwa Resort in Phuket
  • The Residence Resort
  • Anantara Phuket Villas
  • SALA Phuket Resort
  • Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary
  • Six Senses Yao Noi

 

The above wedding destination are more than enough to get your creative wheels spinning, and they all offer unique photo opportunities as well. Take the time to research them further, and you will surely find a wedding destination unlike any other.

 

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5 Malibu Wedding Venue Ideas

5 malibu wedding ideas

When a couple is planning a wedding the venue is one of the biggest choices they will have to make. A wedding in Malibu is any couples dream. In this area there are many different venues to host a dream wedding. No matter what venue is chosen be sure to have a photographer ready to capture every moment on this special event.

The Serra Retreat

This wedding venue has a background that is absolutely breathtaking. This venue is located on the top of a knoll that overlooks both the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. The view shows the best of the land and of the sea. This venue has a Spanish theme with mosaic tile patterns in the outdoor reception area. A couple can have their weeding in the outdoor reception area at the historic resort.

Hotel Casa Del Mar

This resort is located right on the ocean. A couple can have their wedding outside on the beach. The ocean makes a great backdrop of the ceremony and will also the couple to have some great pictures. A couple can also have the ceremony inside in this historic and elegant hotel. The inside of this hotel looks like a grand ballroom with high ceilings and chandeliers.

The Vineyards

This outdoor venue will allow the couple to have their wedding ceremony right on the beach. The Vineyards recommend having the wedding at sunset so the couple can watch the sun go down over the ocean. This will make for some great pictures that the couple can look back on for years to come. When a couple books a wedding at this hotel they can expect the staff to cater to their every need. The couple can also pose near the vineyard to make some memories that will last a lifetime. There is also homemade wine to serve the guests.

Scarlett Belle River Boat

This river boat offers the finest in luxury and is a perfect place to have a Malibu wedding. This boat is lit up with many twinkling lights from sunset into the evening making a romantic background for the couple to get married. There is nothing finer then getting married with the sunset over the ocean in the background. This boat has a grand entranceway for some pictures and the best view on the west coast.

La Venta

This resort has a wedding venue that is overlooking the ocean. The venue itself is on the hillside so the couple can get the beach in the background. There are many palm trees and well kept floral gardens for pictures. If a couple is getting married at night they can request to have a firework show for their background.

Malibu is a great place to have a wedding. With the Pacific Ocean in the background and the beautiful and open beaches this location will truly allow a couple to have a wedding to remember. Having a wedding on the beach is romantic. The setting is just as beautiful as the happy couple. Malibu is a truly romantic place to have a wedding to remember.

 
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