Wedding Photography: Tips, Tricks & Ideas for Amazing Photos

After a short introduction to the getting ready stage, I explain how you can let go of some of the tension and spend a comfortable few minutes on your own with the dress and shoes.

It's a great way to start, and so here's some tips for getting some great images.

Tips for getting some great shots while the bride is having her makeup done

I used to get in close for these types of shots, so for me it was all about using the angles and making the best of the light.

The video explains my approach.

This makes a nice photo for the album, a shot of the back of the dress as it's being done up. The trick is to use turn the flash off and use some nice light, otherwise it just turns into a simple snapshot.

The video explains my thoughts and approach for getting these types of images.

Doing up other things - clothes, jewellery, buttonholes etc...

It's a fun part of the day isn't it? All the clothes, necklaces, other jewellery, cravats etc.. have been carefully chosen by the bridal party. You can get some great shots while all these things are being put on, tied up and admired.

The lecture explains my thoughts and approach for getting photos of 'things being done up'.

The small but important details

In many weddings, a lot of thought goes into the small but important details. Could be some lovely jewellery, or cards from well wishers, or perfume, or gifts to parents. These things play a part in most weddings, so I always made sure to capture them the best I could.

You will have seen this before in TV and cinema thrillers and dramas

This is a little trick used by film makers, especially in tense TV and film thrillers. Use this technique to make it look like you've captured your subject completely unawares.

The lecture explains the idea in more detail.

Sometimes, you may spot someone going over a speech that they'll be making later in the day, or someone may be writing out a card. It's worth keeping an eye out for these type of actions and get a quick shot when you can.

Seeing their daughter looking beautiful can provide a wonderful moment

Here's another little moment to be aware of, the bride now looking (hopefully) resplendent in her beautiful dress, one or both parents seeing her completely ready for the first time.

Watch out for that moment.

Close up of bride by a window

So now the bride is ready and looking gorgeously beautiful, she might be running late, but you'll still want to get a few of these types of images by a window. Get some great shots in a short amount of time.

If there was still time before the bride had to dash off, I'd find a large window and get her to look out. Shooting against the light, I'd try to get a photo that showed off her dress

Get a moody shot of the bride as she walks slowly down the stairs (assuming there are some). It's a really easy shot to get, and can benefit if you're lucky enough to have some nice light coming in through maybe a window.

No video here, please use the 'Resources' link to download the PDF document containing reminders of this chapter's photos.

The bride in her car with dad or whoever is giving her away, groomsmen and the bridal party arriving, guests arriving and milling about. It's all happening, so be prepared! Here's a few ideas that should help

Preferring not to ask the happy couple to remove their rings once married, I used to grab some quick shots before the ceremony.

This lecture shows how I approached the ring shots.

I've always felt that this was one of the truly lovely moments of the wedding day. The last time the father (or whoever is giving away the bride) will have a single daughter / brother / sister etc..., followed in the recessional by the first moments of the bride and groom as husband and wife.

This lecture shows how I approached the bride walking down the aisle with father or husband

Capturing the groom watching his beautiful bride come down the aisle

Although I like to think this idea is sound, sad to report that it rarely worked out quite as well as I'd hoped, I only have myself to blame for not planning it out as well as I should have. If you learn from my mistakes here you can capture a great reportage authentic moment.

This lecture shows how I approached the groom seeing his bride for the first time, walking down the aisle

General tips and ideas for capturing some great photos during the ceremony

You obviously can't stage any photos during the ceremony, but there are always great moments that you can watch out for and capture. The secret is to be prepared for them, and in some cases to know they're coming. This lecture shows:-

• Sneaky looks between the couple
• Capturing laughter during the ceremony
• Including the congregation in your images

More general tips and ideas for capturing some great photos during the ceremony

Following on from the previous video, this one shows some more tips and idea for photos during the ceremony:-

• Capturing the exchange of rings
• Close up of hands
• Dramatic photos from the back of the church or ceremony room
• Capturing the kiss

Of course you have to capture the smiley, formal shot after the signing of the register, the couple expect that. But here's a few ideas and tips for a little more creativity

No video here, please use the 'Resources' link to download the PDF document containing reminders of this chapter's photos.

Here's an idea for something a little more creative as the the bride and groom leave the church or ceremony room. Shoot against the light with their backs towards you for something a little different.

Rather than rush straight into the formal photos, I used to get in close with a wide angle lens and tried to capture some of that great emotion that usually occurred when people hugged and kissed after the ceremony

In this lectuer I'll describe my foolproof way (more or less) of capturing the happy couple while they get bombarded with confetti by the guests.The main thing to remember is to take control of the situation well before it starts, otherwise youi might find the confetti gets thrown while your back is turned. Not what you want!!

These are typically the photos that the bride's parents and grand-parents are expecting so they can be framed and placed on a lounge sideboard. So it's important to get these photos, even they though may not get your creative juices flowing!!

I personally never did take formal photos of the groom, preferring instead to go for a more relaxed, natural look. I just felt this was more suited for men. This lecture shows when and how I approached these photos.

For me it's all about fun when photographing the groom and his best man. Most best men, will have known the groom for many years and would enjoy a laugh and a joke with them, so that's what I'd try and capture. This

lecture shows when and how I approached these photos

Here's a pretty simple idea for something a little creative with the groom. Place him against a good looking wall, put on a fish-eye or very wide angle lens, get in close and low and add a bit of sparkle in post processing.

If the wedding breakfast or reception is in a different location to the church or ceremony room, then the bride and groom will usually hire a car. It's generally a posh one, so you want to get some good shots of the bride and groom in the car and leaving in it. Here's how I approached these photos.

Here's an idea for a quick shot of the drinks all lined up and ready to go, but instead of a straight photo of the drinks, why not shoot wide with one of the bridal party in the background.

I used to keep the family group photos fairly simple, using good light while carefully considering the backgound. Although the posing is important, I liked to try and elicit good expressions from everyone. So I'd keep chatting and made sure I took several photos of the same pose in case anyone blinked or looked away.

There's many different ways of photographing the groomsmen and bridesmaids, they're generally youngstrs so it always works well to capture them laughing and joking. Here's a few of my ideas.

Ok, even I have to admit it, this one's a bit cheesy!! But you know what, it's fun and couples like it, and so do I. So there!

I sometimes used to get the happy couples kissing amongst their friends, it looks good, but there's some special things you need to do to get it right.

The standard photo of the bouquet will have already been taken while the bride was getting ready. Remember though that a lot of thought generally goes into choosing the flowers, so make the most of the bouquet with this unusual idea.

After all the formal photos are done and the rest of the groups photo are in the bag, I would finally get to take the bride and groom out for some informal, relaxed photos. Walking, cuddling, talking, and (almost) kissing, here's my approach to taking these photos.

After I'd taken the safe standard photo of the bride and groom cutting the cake, I'd try to get something unexpected and a little more creative. Cake in focus in the foreground, with the couple canoodling behind!

The speeches generally take place just after or sometimes just before the meal. They can be great fun, and there are usually some lovely moments to capture, and not just the laughter, there's sometimes some very tender moments too.

The bride and groom's first dance tends to be touching and romantic, it's also usually quite dark, so the problem is how to light it whilst retaining the romantic atmosphere. Sure, you could use a very high ISO with no flash, but then the shutter speed would have to be very slow, and consequently there would be subject movement. Also the couple wouldn't be lit very well. So the challenge is to light the dance with flash, but not to 'overlight' it, i.e not to blast it with light from the flash so that the images become simple snapshots.

Watch the lecture to see my apprach to photographing the first dance.

Some final thoughts