Tips from a San Diego Wedding Photographer

Jun 19, 2009

Being asked to be the photographer for a wedding is a big responsibility. If you've been asked to do it as a favor, or have been asked to do it professionally, here are 5 tips to do to get the job done right.

This tips are coming from first hand experience as a San Diego wedding photographer. So whether you are seasoned pro, or a rank amateur, if you follow these tips, you will feel comfortable and not have to second guess yourself. You will be fully prepared for whatever may come.

Our first tip is a simple thing you can do and that is to have the couple and the families go and make a shot list. When the day is hectic and chaotic, this will help immensely when you are trying to get family and group shots later on in the day. You will love it and when you can just go down the list and get everything without leaving anything out by accident.

The second tip on our list is to not delete any shots. In this day and age of digital cameras, most photographers use them.Even though they are great, it is also tempting since it is so easy, to delete a shot. Don't even look at the previews.What you think may be a great photo, can differ widely in what the couple considers a great photo. And who knows, they might appreciate the so called un "professional" shots.

A third tip to consider is making sure you get candid shots.A good wedding photographer doesn't look to just take your typical shots, like group shots, or wedding shots or your standard newly married shots. But they will also try and capture the emotions of the day through the shots of all the people that were there.It may include the things that go wrong also, like a flower girl making a wrong turn or the ring bearer not wanting to walk down the aisle.Every picture counts.

The fourth piece of advice is make sure you have back up equipment.Do you even want to think of a moment like that of not having a working camera halfway through the wedding.Be prepared for anything that can go wrong.Being prepared with more equipment will ensure that you avoid that awkward moment of not being able to finish the rest of the day because of a broken camera.

Finally, practice your lighting as well. Don't get thrown a curveball by the different lighting conditions whether inside the church or outside, practice and you will be prepared. Think about seeing if you can go to the locations of the big day and look for the best spots to take pictures as well as study the lighting needs.

Following these 5 great tips will help you greatly on that special day. It will prepare you for whatever might go wrong, it will prepare you for capturing what goes right, and it will prepare you to help contribute to this wonderful day by being the best photographer you can be. Take it from my years of experience as a San Diego photographer.