Wedding Photography Tips From A Nantucket Photographer

As someone who grew up as a NantucketCamera clicks and beeps during the vows and toasts
photographer, I've been asked numerous times forcan be distracting. Switch off sound before hand and
wedding photography tips, here are a fewkeep it off.
suggestions.Shoot With Two Cameras.
Create A List Of Shots.It's too easy for one camera to go down during a
Request or suggest to the couple to provide youshoot leaving stranded with out anyways to finish
with a list of shots they would like for their wedding.your work and destroying your reputation. Buy,
This makes things easy to remember and you canborrow, or rent an extra camera for the day and set
check them off as you click away. very helpful forit up with a different lens. I try to shoot with one
family and group shots. It would be a real bummer towide angle lens for candid shots and tight spaces and
find out when you get the photos back that youone longer lens (it can be handy to have something
missed Uncle Joe.as large as 200mm if you can get your hands on one
Use An Assistant.- I use a 70-200mm).
Shooting the family portraits can be frustrating whenCapture The Details.
you have people missing and they are not organized.Take pictures of the rings, details in the dress, eyes,
People are just having too much fun and arelips, table settings, interior etc - these help give the
wondering about - not really thinking aboutend album an extra dimension. Pick up a wedding
photography. I recommend to bring an assistantmagazine at your local news stand for a little
(preferably female) to nominate a family member toinspiration.
gather everyone for the portraits. They can roundBring A Second Shooter.
everyone up and make the shoot go so much fasterHaving a second backup photographer can greatly
so everyone can go back to celebrating.facilitate the day and improve your coverage. It
Stay Prepared.means less running around during ceremony and
So much can go wrong on the day - so you need tospeeches, and allows for your or your second to
be well prepared. Have a backup plan (in case of badcapture the formal shots while the other covers
weather), have batteries charged, memory cardssomething else. Most importantly, it takes a little
blank, think about routes and time to get to placespressure off you being 'the one' to have to get
and get an itinerary of the full day so you knowevery shot!
what's happening next. If you can, attend theDon't Be Shy.
rehearsal of the ceremony where you'll gather a lotBeing shy won't get you 'the shot'. Sometimes you
of great information about possible positions to shootneed to step to the front of the line to capture a
from, the lighting, the order of the ceremony etc.moment. However, timing is everything and planning
Discuss Expectations.ahead to get in the right spot for key moments are
With Your Bride. Show them your albums andimportant so you don't disrupt the event. During the
samples of your work. Find out the style they wantceremony I try to move around at least 4-5 times
to achieve, how many pictures, key moments theybut try to time this to coincide with songs, prayers
want photographed, format of the shots ( digital,or longer readings. During the portrait session take
film), and more. Make sure to go over the price socharge, know what you want, and ask for it from
they know exactly what they are paying for.the couple.
Minimize Your Camera Noise.