Keep Shooting

Keep shooting  - Wedding Photography

         There are so many key shots your photographer must absolutely get at your wedding ceremony that I couldn’t possibly list them all here. And many of them are so subtle and quick that it’s easy to miss them. Here is a quick run-down of the shots I think you must have:

         The groom’s first look at his bride – Nothing compares to the look on a groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time as she starts her procession down the aisle. For this shot, your photographer will definitely need a zoom lens because it needs to be captured quickly.

         The bride’s walk down the aisle – Escorted by her father or other person of her choosing, the bride’s entrance is a magical one. This is where your photographer will need a high-powered flash gun—one that can recycle quickly in order to get multiple shots in a fairly short timeframe. The correct zoom lens will help shoot continuously, even as the distance between the photographer and the bride changes as she moved down aisle.

         The first exchange – As the bride reaches her destination at her groom’s side, the opportunity for a magnificent shot presents itself when the pair look at each other for the first time. A skilled photographer will snap this picture easily. He has to be fast or he’ll miss it.

         The guests – Amateur photographers sometimes overlook the guests at a wedding ceremony, focussing only on the bride and groom. You can get some pretty terrific shots of people as they witness the exchange of vows: teary mothers, proud fathers, and smiling friends. Raw emotion makes for great pictures.

         The exchange of vows – If he is able to, your photographer should stand over the shoulders of each of you as you recite your vows to one another. Using the proper zoom lens, he can get some pretty remarkable shots of you as you look deep and meaningfully into one another’s eyes. It’s a critical part in the wedding ceremony; you don’t want to miss it.

         The exchange of rings – Your photographer will need to get a tightly cropped photo of your hands as you exchange wedding rings. This is a classic shot, as is the look on your faces when the exchange takes place, too.

         The first kiss – A photo of your first kiss as husband and wife is one you are sure to treasure. A quick photographer will be able to get both a close-up of this, and also a shot of the kiss with the wedding guests looking on. It’s all about the photographer’s timing and making sure his equipment is up to the task.

         Signing the register – A marriage isn’t official until the newlyweds sign the register. Your photographer should take candid shots of the bride and groom signing, followed by their witnesses signing, and then a few posed shots of this important part of the ceremony as well.

         Leaving the church – A skilled photographer will allow himself enough time to get shots from behind as you prepare to leave the ceremony, and then get shots face-on as you exit the wedding venue. This is where he’ll get some great pictures of your guests smiling as you pass by them.

         If the officiant allows it, ask your photographer to use the alter as a backdrop following the ceremony to get photos of the entire wedding party and/or family. The lighting may be tricky to deal with, so you will most likely notice your photographer has to “bounce” his flash by aiming it at the ceiling above the group or at a white wall next to you in order to maximize the size of the light source. He should pay special attention that there is enough focal distance so that the entire group—front to back—is in focus.