12 Tips for Amazing Wedding Photos

As a Wedding and Portrait Photographer serving the |Brampton|Caledon|Georgetown|Halton Hills|Mississauga|Oakville||Toronto |Orangeville | GTA | Ontario | area. I realize your wedding will be a moment in your life that you will always cherish. Make certain that your wedding memories are captured and preserved for generations to come. Your wedding photographer will be responsible for capturing your friends, family, emotions, and hopes for the future. You can help make that happen by considering these 12 tips for amazing wedding photographs.

1. Choose your wedding photographer with the same care and enthusiasm you put into choosing your wedding gown or ceremony location. Selecting a photographer might seem overwhelming, but finding a photographer with whom you feel comfortable will mean the difference between having pictures of your wedding day and having treasured memories that truly encapsulate the essence of your new life together. Find a photographer with whom you have a rapport and use them for your engagement sessions. Don’t be afraid to search elsewhere if the engagement pictures are just not what you envisioned or if the session was awkward. You will most likely be spending the entire day with your photographer in close, intimate settings, so finding one who feels like a genuine part of the day will help deliver priceless photographs.

2. Consider a package or offering that includes two photographers. There are so many fleeting moments that occur on your special day, from the groomsmen arriving at the venue to the parents of the bride sharing nervous smiles. Two photographers will be better able to collect these many moments throughout the day, and have the ability to split up and be in two different locations should the need arrive.

3. As the wedding day draws near, work with your photographer to plan a schedule of when and where the wedding party and family needs to be for pictures, and give each member a printed itinerary. Make certain you build in extra time, getting everyone off to an early start for the day, including yourself. Start hair, make-up, and dressing schedules a little earlier than you originally thought and all will be ready when the photographer says, “Smile!”

4. Consider taking your formal wedding party pictures before the ceremony. You won’t be distracted by well-intentioned guests who want to give you enveloping hugs (adjusting that perfectly styled hair), your make-up will be fresh, and spending time alone as a wedding party together will give everyone a memorable way to begin the event. The best part is that once the ceremony is over you can move right on to celebrating with your friends and family! One of the most important things in getting great photos is to plan as much time as you can in order to complete your shot list. The BEST PHOTOS can be taken during a 2 to 3 hour photo shoot at multiple locations! It is normally the shots taken during this time that are some of the best during the wedding.

5. Here in Canada many weddings are held outdoors. When you are arranging for your wedding day photography session, plan ahead to avoid having photographs taken outside at noon while the sun is directly overhead. Direct overhead sunlight can cast unflattering shadows and cause those in your bridal party to squint their way through the session.

6. Select a photographer that uses both on and off camera directional lighting. Directional lighting highlights the facial features giving a shadow next to a highlight. This is done though the use of bounce light off of walls and reflectors. When neither of these are present, it is Very Important to have a portable shoot through umbrella with a high powered flash unit that can be quickly setup and aimed to give you and and wedding party the fantastic flattering directional lighting loop lighting. Direct on camera flash gives flat images only. These are not the most flattering images. Once you understand this loop lighting system, you will see it being used in every movie or tv series that you watch. You will be amazed! You won't want to leave home with out it.

7. Check that the photographer has backup equipment, flashes in case something goes wrong. Do they carry enough spare batteries, etc.

8. No matter which photographer you select, make certain that you make arrangements to receive the high-resolution digital negatives, comparable to film negatives of conventional photography. Once you receive these files, make sure you back them up to multiple sources and keep one copy in your safe to protect your pictures. Be sure to discuss with your photographer about storage and printing so that you have a clear understanding of the copyright and release details that accompany digital negatives.

9. Avoid last minute moments of panic by trying ahead of time some of the details that will show up in your photos, such as your hair and make-up. Many hair salons and make-up artists offer a pre-event trial. You might even want to consider having your hair and make-up done in a similar fashion for your engagement pictures.

10. Don’t be afraid to use a little color in your wedding planning through flowers, your accessories (like shoes), or even the altar decorations. Delicately using color can help add highlights to photographs and avoid the backgrounds and people from looking washed out and dull. Just make sure that the colors you use don’t clash with the natural and established backgrounds that are already present at your ceremony location. Plan for some fun shots with props like sparklers, colored umbrellas, dark glasses, cigars, etc.

11. Pay attention to the small details that will make lasting impressions on your wedding photographs. Whenever possible, have the groom and officiant wear lavalier microphones during the ceremony so the uninvited guest in your pictures isn’t a looming black microphone stand between you and your partner. Also, don’t just plan for how pictures will look from the front. Assess your location from all angles, such as balconies, and make sure that anything your photographer might capture is a beautiful contribution to the overall effect. Close attention to details will help ensure that your photos help tell the magical story. Pick a photographer who knows how to position you in the best part of the scene to compose a great photographic.

12. If it all seems like too much for you, leave the details to a professional wedding planner. Your wedding planner can work with your photographer to ensure that every component is accounted for with care. Freeing yourself from the worries of minute details will help you enjoy your day with family and let you focus on the moment at hand – your new commitment for your future.