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I read an article on the knot.com and thought that it was so spot on I had to write about it. The original article is, Top 20 Wedding Photography Mistakes. The Knot asked photographers around the country about the top mistakes made in wedding photography. All of them are on point but I will just go over the ones that I feel strongly about. So here it goes...
Not Sticking to the Finalized Schedule
Every bride should make a schedule of the day. Make a schedule including, the time the bride will start getting ready, when her bridesmaids will get ready, when certain pictures will be taken, etc. You do have some wiggle room with the schedule but if something goes wrong or changes, being an hour late has potential to ruin the photos. Letting Relatives Get in the Way Or anyone for that matter...I've seen it happen...not cool. There is always someone who brings their camera and takes all the pictures that I am taking while I am taking them, which leaves the bridal party left to not be sure who to look at, making it to where not everyone is looking at me, which leaves the photos to where not everyone is looking at the camera, and no it doesn't ruin the picture terribly but it looks much better when everyone is looking. My advice is if we're doing a group shot or you know that I am taking a picture, then to be safe look at me. If I do not have my camera up and/or I have stepped off to allow for others to take pictures then you are fine to not look at me. Or the case where they ask the couple or bridal party to wait so they can get some pictures. Here is my thing, I was hired to take the pictures. Yes, it's fine if you are taking pictures too, but when you have everybody stop for every picture I take then you are causing us to run behind schedule. Not Getting Help Organizing your Guests It's best if you have someone who knows the family and other people who will be in the photos. I more than likely will not know a single person other than the bride and groom. So if you can have someone organizing who is on what side of the family, having them ready, and directing them where to go, it makes for the photos to go a whole lot smoother. Trying to Make Things "Perfect" The day will NOT go perfect and that's okay. This is the day you are marrying the love of your life. I tell every bride and groom, all that matters is that you get to the end of the aisle and you both say "I do". Skipping the "First Look" I know that some couples really want to see each other for the first time at the beginning of the ceremony but doing a first look, which is when it's just the couple and the photographer and the couple is seeing each other for the first time before the ceremony, is so much better for a couple of reasons. First, it really is so much more intimate because you don't have everyone staring at you. Secondly, it gives me so much more of opportunity to get the real first look. There won't be as many nerves because you don't have the entire venue looking at you. It's also gives us more time to get a lot of great shots of the bride and groom. And the last reason is that it will save so much time on trying to rush after the ceremony and get all of the photos needed in. Waiting too Long to Book your Photographer If there is a wedding photographers work that you love and price is good, book them. Wedding photographers typically book fast, years in advance even. Looking at the Camera All the Time Some of the best photos are the candid ones. As long as we aren't doing the portrait photos or the photos where I am directing everyone or just the couple, then just do your thing. If you see the photographer, just act natural. Not Providing a List of "Don't Takes" I try to set up a meeting with each couple if possible, and this is something I ask. Be sure to answer this question honestly. If there is a certain way you don't like being photographed let the photographer know. Something else that goes along with this is please let me know if there are any strained relationships. I don't want to put two people that don't get along in the family next to each other. Asking for too Many Shots I personally have done enough weddings I pretty well know the shots that are the "needed" or "typical" shots. Meaning the bride with her family, the groom with his family, etc. Of course there may be a special picture that you want. But there is really no reason to give me a list of all the shots you want taken. Not choosing a Photographer You Connect with Just like Gillian Reinhardt from Carolina Studios says, "Make sure we get along". If we get along and "click" then everything will go so much smoother. Skipping the Engagement Session If I do your engagement session, that will be time that we get a real feel for each other. You will get to see my shooting style and how I work. That will definitely help work out any of the nerves that you may have with me. It's also a good practice session for the couple. Falling for Photography Trends I've seen it, we've all seen it. All couples want the same thing that everyone else getting married is doing. I did it when I started, but now after further educating myself, I have really tried to back away from what's trending. I want you to still love your photos 20 years down the road.
Those are my thoughts on the article written. Let me know what you think. Do you agree or disagree?
10 Comments
Valerie
1/23/2018 03:12:16 am
A lot of things you mentioned happened to me, specially the fact that i wanted to accomplish this amazing pinterest photographs and i was trying to hard i stopped being natural! Also, another thing is that i hired someone a couple of days before the wedding 🤦🏻♀️
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1/23/2018 04:51:26 am
This post is full of helpful suggestions. My sister is getting married in October, so I'll be sure to share this information with her!
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1/24/2018 02:12:08 am
Wow! I consider this an essential list for all brides and grooms. My daughter is getting married this fall so I'm sending her the link to this post right now! Thanks so much for this wonderful list of things to avoid with photography on your wedding day.
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