5 Photo Tips

Tip 616 (Turn off the sounds): There is nothing more un-interesting in a photo shoot than the amount of noise that your cameras can generate. Try to ensure that you have turned off the click sounds in your camera, as well as get equipment that makes a lower amount of noise. This noise can be very unnerving at the critical occasions, some of which can be quite solemn.

Tip 617 (Coordinate with another photographer): Professional envy can be very high in some professions, but if you see another photographer, do some coordination. This can be in terms of sharing some equipment, or getting extra batteries / memory cards in crunch situations, or even help while scoping out the right equipment to use.

Tip 618 (Practice shooting in closed interiors): When the marriages are held in churches and other such places, you do not have any control over light situations, and you need to practice as much as possible in similar light conditions. This will help you be better prepared for all types of light conditions.

Tip 619 (Keep your equipment safe): May sound a bit strange, but make sure that all your equipment is safe from theft or pilferage. In crowded situations, it is very easy for equipment to get flicked, and you should make sure that you are adequately prepared for keeping your equipment safe.

Tip 620 (Look for the emotion): Everybody shoots the image of the bride and groom, and you should also get those. However, it is always a wise investment to get photos of the relatives, many of them can be far more exuberant in terms of expressing those emotions, and those photos come out pretty good.

Book: Master Posing Guide for Wedding Photographers (by Bill Hurter) –

March 9th, 2010 | Tags: Assistant, Camera, Camera Gear, Collaborate, Lighting, Marriage, Optimize, Photo, Photography, Safety, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Category: Camera, Emotions, Family, Marriage, People, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Leave a comment

Tip 611 (Finalize the contract, if valid): If you a professional photographer, then you need to work through the contract, including the advance payment and the retainer, the various events that need to be captured. And of course, if you are doing this for a friend or relative, then you need not worry about a contract.

Tip 612 (Eat something before the main event): For first timers, this may seem surprising, but in the rush of the main event, you may not even get a chance to eat something, so you be sure that you have had something to eat before going in for the main event.

Tip 613 (Prior work publishing): If you are on the job already, having taken different photos of events before the main ceremony, then get the required prints / posters and put them up well in time (for example, some great photos of the engagement). This is all the more valid now when people even create websites that publish details of the events leading up to the main event.

Tip 614 (Have a backup option ready): How many of you have heard of Murphy’s law ? Well, it is the twist of fate in which something can go wrong; one obviously does not say that you should have 2 copies of the same camera, but consider what you can do if the camera or a critical piece of equipment goes bust, or somebody trips into it.

Tip 615 (Get photos of children early): If you have to take photos of children attending the wedding, get photos done early, since children tend to get more cranky as time proceeds.

Book: Existing Light Techniques for Wedding and Portrait Photography (by Bill Hurter) –

March 5th, 2010 | Tags: Assistant, Camera, Camera Gear, Lighting, Marriage, Optimize, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Category: Children, Marriage, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Leave a comment

Tip 606 (Use burst mode when necessary): For important events such as when the actual exchange of garlands or exchange of rings happen or the kiss happens, use burst mode. This mode allows you to capture multiple photos of the same event within a short period of time, capturing at least one good photo of the event.

Tip 607 (Make sure that you have identified the proper gear): Before going in for the wedding, make sure that you have identified all the required camera equipment. This includes – the camera, filters and lenses, enough memory cards and charged battery packs, portable drives in case you want to do a quick backup, tripod or monopod, equipment to have an overhead camera.

Tip 608 (Identify whether you need an assistant): If you are a professional, then you may already have a crew. However, if you are an amateur or doing this for a friend, then evaluate whether you will need somebody to help you (and may not call that person an assistant if there are sensitive egos involved)

Tip 609 (Get your calibration done early): Typically, at the various locations, you will need to ensure that you have the exposure levels, white balance settings, and other such settings ready. You cannot hope to do this properly at the actual time of the marriage, so plan for doing this some time before the event (making sure that the required light settings will be the same)

Tip 610 (Get shots of the wedding preparation): Wedding photography just does not mean that you take shots of the time when they say ‘I do’. You need to take shots of the time when the bride is preparing, when there is a bridal shower, when the groom may be having a party for his friends (with the assumption that you are expected to take such shots)

Book: Step-by-Step Wedding Photography: Techniques for Professional Photographers (by Damon Tucci) –

March 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Assistant, Camera, Camera Gear, Lighting, Marriage, Optimize, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Category: Equipment, Exposure, Marriage, Metering, People, Photo, Photography, Wedding | Leave a comment

Tip 601 (Take lots of photographs): For occasions such as wedding photography where there are expectations that the final photograph should be excellent, you need to take a huge amount of photos, so keep a number of memory cards and batteries on hand to get the perfect photographs. You still need to be careful about the photos you take, it is just that you take a large number of photos so as to get the correct set of photos.

Tip 602 (Focus on what you want to get): In a wedding, there are a large number of different activities going on, with the primary ones centered on the groom and bride, but there are many other interesting activities that keep on happening, so decide earlier as to which are the ones you want to capture.

Tip 603 (Talk to the groom and bride early on): Don’t just land up at the venue, be prepared before you go there. Spend time with the to-be-married couple before the wedding, learn what is it they are looking for from the wedding photos, show them earlier samples, and so on.

Tip 604 (Get details about the logistics of the wedding): Find out about the actual logistical details of the wedding, such as timings of the church event (or if some other religious location, the location and interior details), including other celebrations. Find out about the actual lighting for the marriage, since the lights will handle your exposure requirements.

Tip 605 (Inform about any special needs): If you have the need to get some equipment of your own, then plan that well in advance, determine where it can be positioned, and get the required permissions (since some religious locations may not easily allow some specialized equipment).

Book: Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories (by Glen Johnson) –

March 1st, 2010 | Tags: Camera, Lighting, Logistics, Marriage, Optimize, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Category: Camera, Exposure, Marriage, Photo, Photography, Techniques, Tips, Wedding | Leave a comment