Wedding Photography

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! 

I am Wichita Falls, the principle photographer at Wichita Falls Photography, and I have written this complimentary eBook is to help you prepare for your wedding. My intent is to educate you on the basics of wedding photography as I know it so that you have a good, solid understanding of what you should expect from your wedding photographer to get photos you will absolutely love!

         As a professional wedding photographer, I’m here to tell you that the photos I take are among the most important and treasured photos of a couple’s entire life. When you put it that way, it’s a pretty big deal. I am the one couples trust to capture their precious memories—so I always make sure I share their vision and know their expectations.

         My business specialises in wedding photography; more importantly, we focus on helping today’s modern bride achieve her fairytale wedding. We believe in providing the very best service, the very best photography, and the very best products. If you are looking for all-inclusive quality wedding photography with personalised service at affordable prices, Larry

         Campbell Photography should be your first choice.

         Photography is more than a skill, it’s an art form. And though the list of techniques I use when I shoot weddings is virtually endless, I’ve pulled together what I believe are the 10 most important photography tips and methods that any photographer—professional or amateur— should know and use to take the best possible wedding photos. Once you know what you should expect from your wedding photographer, you can practice before the big day and come off looking like a model!

  Know Your Wedding Photography Stuff

         First and foremost, a wedding photographer needs the proper equipment to do his job well. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a budding amateur, a photograph is only as good as the equipment you use to take it. For this reason, make sure your photographer has the right tools for the job and that he doesn’t skimp on his equipment or supplies. Doing so will only result in frustration and disappointment. Here’s the bare minimum of what your photographer must have:

         A single lens reflex (SLR) camera – With the advent of digital photography, many photographers are moving away from tradition SLRs that require 35 mm film, and are instead opting for digital SLR cameras. Either will take terrific photos. No matter what, stay away from photographers who use a “point-and-shoot” camera for a wedding. The quality of these pieces is considerably less than any SLR model—digital or otherwise.

         A wide-angle lens (24-70mm) – A wide-angle lens is particularly important when shooting a wedding because it allows the photographer to capture more of a scene without having to move farther away from it. This is often the case inside churches where the wedding photographer may be confined to a relatively small area while attempting to get full coverage of the wedding ceremony. A wide angle lens is also beneficial when wedding parties are large and many people need to be photographed all at once.

         A zoom lens (70-200mm) – A zoom lens allows a photographer to shoot both at a distance and up close, but it is particularly useful in shooting tight shots, such as capturing the expression on a groom’s face as he sees his bride for the first time. The greatest advantage of a zoom lens is its versatility. This is a must-have for anyone shooting a wedding.

         A flash gun – This handy accessory is triggered either by the hot shoe on the photographer’s camera or via a sync cable or wireless trigger. A flash gun will illuminate a subject or scene much more effectively than just relying on the flash attached to a camera. When choosing a flash gun, it’s ideal to find one that recycles at least every two seconds to best capture moving subjects (such as the bride as she walks down the aisle). Flash guns are available online or at any quality camera shop.

         32GB of memory – Before the introduction of digital cameras, photographers had to rely solely on their skill and experience to be sure they took great pictures—and they often used a technique called “exposure bracketing” in which they would take the same shot at different exposures to be sure at least one would be perfect. Digital cameras, with their LCD screens, changed all that. No longer were photographers required to “bracket”—they could tell immediately if a shot needed to be retaken. And though it’s true you can dump the less-than perfect images from your camera with the click of a button, few photographers have the time to stop and examine their pictures as they work, so they just keep shooting. But digital files can be quite large, depending on their quality, and that means you need plenty of memory to last you throughout the day. Your photographer should have at least 32GB of memory storage available for your wedding to be sure he won’t run out of memory when he needs it the most.

         Knowledge of lighting principles – Lighting is a critical component when it comes to photography—any photography. Failure to understand lighting principles will result in poor quality pictures time and time again. It’s important to note that there is more to lighting than simply making sure there is enough of it to get a clear shot. In fact, knowing how to manipulate light to create deliberate shadows on a subject can create quite dramatic and interesting effects. Similarly, understanding how light reflects and is absorbed will go a long way in creating striking photos. Your photographer needs a solid understanding of lighting principles to do his job effectively.

         An understanding of composition – Composition refers to the elements of a photo: the background, the lighting, the props, and the subjects themselves. Without knowing how to properly compose a photo, you run the risk of imbalanced shots. Every photo—even a candid shot—needs to be deliberate. You will find that for an amateur photographer, composition is something that needs to be consciously pieced together. For seasoned photographers, composition is automatic; they can gauge a shot in a matter of seconds, knowing precisely how everything in it will balance out in the frame. This will save you a lot of time on your wedding day, so choose your photographer wisely.