Wedding Photography - The Ceremony: Part 1

This is it, the most critical and important part of a wedding day. The mantra here is "be prepared". The ceremony is a test of a good photographer, you have to be both technical and creative. You have to work fast but remain calm and focused.

Do your homework

Scout the venue (If you have time you can even scout the area days or months before)

Know what the rules of the church or venue ahead of time, there are some that won't allow flash or even let you near the altar.

Check your equipment

Make sure your memory cards are formatted. If you use dual bodies, check to see that the time and dates are synchronized on both (This would help out a great deal in post processing later). Always have a backup! I have two flashes, Two or three camera bodies a lot of memory cards and dual flashes as well. On one of my camera I have the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS lens, this takes care of my wide to moderate telephoto and on my other camera the Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens for a longer reach and great bokeh to isolate my subject from the background. So with this two, I can cover a good range of photos. I have left in my bag a fisheye lens, if I want to go really wide with a different twist and the Canon 35 1.4 if I want to do natural light without flash.

Check your Setttings

When you are at the venue ahead of time, meter the ambient light inside the church or the venue, so you have a good idea of what settings you need to use on your camera. Measure for exposure and white balance, so you already have a mental note of your settings before the ceremony begins.

Observe the light

If shooting inside a church, observe the light patterns inside. Are there light from windows, doors or mostly incandescent artificial light. This would guide you if you can shoot with or without a flash. If you decide to use a flash, do you have high ceilings or neutral colored walls in order to bounce your flash from? I usually have a flash on my camera at this point, you never know when you'll need it (again be prepared). I usually tone it down a stop or two and just use it as a bit of fill light or catch lights for the eyes.

Wedding shot list

Although I shoot "photojournalistic" style, it's good to have a mental guide of some shots for the wedding, but always put your personal vision into your photos.

- The processional.
- Father giving away the bride.
- Bride and groom exchanging vows.
- Ring ceremony.
- The kiss.
- Bride and groom coming up aisle.

Emotions...emotions...emotions

Let's face it, most of the time ceremonies are solemn formal occasions. There is not a lot of action and you can't interrupt the flow of the ceremony to pose or direct your clients. There is something that you can find a lot of in the ceremony though and that is the abundance of emotions, from the look of the groom when he first saw the bride coming down the aisle, tears from the mother, the dad giving away her daughter or smiles and sniffs from friends. Observe and anticipate these fleeting moments, this is the mark of a photojournalist at work.

Wedding Photography: The Preparation

Tell a story

I like to tell a story when I shoot a wedding. In that way, my photos flow like a romantic novel or a movie as the day goes on. It has a bit of drama, lots of action, laughter, comedy and the occasional horror stories :). It is up to the photographer to tighten up the script.










Details... details

The preparation phase is a good opportunity to take photos of details that you might not have the time to shoot later and will add a supporting role to your story.


Here is a suggested list of what you can shoot:

- Rings
- Coins
- The Wedding Gown
- Shoes
- Invitation
- A Watch and suit for the groom
- Flowers
- Whatever else tickles your fancy and has a special meaning to the person: cuff links, earrings, bracelets, cellphone etc.

A lens with a good macro capability would be excellent for these shots so you can let the viewer see the details of say, a beautiful shiny ring.

Tip: Don't just shoot the details by themselves, shoot them with the person too, like the groom donning his suit. Pictures of the bride with the bouquet. A hand holding an invitation etc. The pictures would appear personal and interesting.

Add creative lighting. Sometimes I use a small flashlight to create dramatic lighting for detail shots.


Be Candid...

This is a good time to shoot candids as well. The preparation can be busy and hectic, especially if the bride has her makeup done in the hotel room with the rest of the entourage. So get out of the way!

Grab your favorite wide to mid-range zoom and be a reporter, just let things happen and keep your eye on the viewfinder. My favorite would be the Canon 17-55 2.8 lens. I like to shoot wide angle for situations like these where the room is cramped and at the same time, a wide angle forces you to get close to your subject, making your pictures feel intimate.


Be Stylish

Portraits and Editorial shots

If you have time and the Bride is all dressed up with makeup on, grab her for a couple of minutes and take pictures. This is the best time to take portraits and editorial (fashion) shots since her makeup is fresh and the mascara is still on :)

Use available light as much as possible. The pictures would appear more natural and dramatic than using a flash. Window light is the best or whatever light is available (an overhead ceiling light, a lamp or a candle). Use a reflector to balance the shadow and if you need to use your flash, use it as a fill light.


Find the light and you will find your picture.

Once you are satisfied with your shots, leave early to get ready for the main event... The Ceremony.

Next topic: The Ceremony