Previous: (Page 1) Wedding Photography Lighting & Location...

6. How to Work with Your Photographer throughout the Day

During the formal dances like the first dance or the father daughter dance, you should ignore the photographer completely. However, late in the evening when your photographer comes around to shoot the fun dancing shots, it would be wonderful if you and your wedding party would occasionally turn and dance facing a little bit towards the camera. With this in mind, your dancing photos would look more natural.

Did you also know it is customary to feed your photographer? You may not feed some wedding vendors that are only there for a short time, but your photographer won't survive a nine or ten hour day without dinner.

Photographers don't normally shoot constantly during mealtime, but they do have the camera close at hand in case anything interesting happens. If you could seat them about 20 feet from your own table that would be the perfect distance to get candid shot. If the meal is buffet style, your photographer may eat near the end of the line. If you want to run off and shoot portraits while your guests are finishing dinner, make sure to warn your photographer in advance.

7. The Correct Way to Put on the Rings

This is one of the most difficult shots to get for a wedding photographer. Most couples are not aware of the fact that they are blocking it either with their hand positions or with their bodies. To turn this moment into a great photo opportunity, all you need to remember is that as you are putting the ring on, position your fingers on the top and bottom instead of on the sides of the ring.

One more tip is to avoid extending your free hand out to grab your partner's wrist so that you can push that ring on there better. If you feel it is necessary to do this, try putting your hand UNDER your partner's hand and grabbing on from below. This approach prevents your wrist from blocking the shot. Practice this couple of times, and you will see that it is possible to put the rings on while keeping your ring visible from your guests’ view, and photo capture.

8. Throwing Flowers

Don't rush through this part... take a minute to play with your crowd. This gives your photographer time to get a shot of you holding the flowers and looking back over your shoulder at all the gang getting lined up. Before you throw, try chasing off all the little kids because they often beat your bridesmaids and friends to the flowers. Now look up and make sure you don't have anything low like lights and ceiling fans that are going to intercept your flowers before they get to the crowd.

When you throw, be ready to call for a do-over if it doesn't go as planned. I have seen it gone badly many times. One time I was standing beside the groom, he somehow managed to turn far enough around to shoot me in the back of the head with the garter. As soon as it fell to the ground, a little kid snatched it and ran off.

9. Videographers

Videographer and photographers are like cats and dogs; we often don’t play well together, and we fight for our spots. Some inexperienced videographers will occasionally get right up in the middle of the altar area during the ceremony. If you don't want their backside to show up in all your pictures, please tell them to stay at least 15 feet away during the ceremony. I've actually seen these guys standing right between the bride and groom during the whole ceremony with a wide angle lens. They could get the same shot from 15 feet if they used a telephoto lens.

I've also seen videographers that would watch to see what I was shooting. If they liked it, they would step in front of me to get their own shot. Make sure to tell them to watch for where the wedding photographers are so we don't get in each other's way. It's probably also best to specify very clearly as to which one of us has the highest priority for you.

And if you don't want to worry about this at all, ask your photographer to recommend a videographer that he/she has worked well with in the past.

10. Common Sense

There are no extra time to spare on your tight wedding day schedule. Everything unexpected could effect your wedding photography timeframe. Things rushed are things improperly done. Keeping your common sense will ensure your wedding and photography sessions progress smoothly.

Even small details anticipated will benefit you, such as sunburn. You should be extremely aware of staying out of the sun before the big day. Save the sun tanning until after the wedding. All too often I've seen brides that got burned in the week before the wedding and were extremely upset to have peeling skin or bright red tan lines on the wedding day.

Dress properly for location shoots, and check the weather! I've seen grooms that looked like they were going to pass out at any second, and brides that refused to budge from in front of the air conditioner. Dressing light should be foremost in your mind when you plan your wedding for a hot climate.

 Back to Top