How to Plan for Wedding Photography Success
Whether you are an amateur or a pro wedding photographer, you need to prepare yourself for the big day much in advance. Here’s how.
Capture people in their own element as you may find a story in their situation too. Photograph/Anill Patil
Organising your day and thinking beforehand about the wedding will keep you relaxed and calm all through the day. The calmer you are, the more observant you will be about everything around you.
A Day Ahead
Pre-planning is a must for all photographers. But if this is your first wedding as an amateur and you have been hired to do the job, you should be extra careful. To avoid any mishaps, ensure your equipment is ready and in working order. Familiarise yourself with the flow of events and list the things you will require at the venue. This will keep you focussed and less confused.
Visit the venue before the wedding to acquaint yourself with the décor. Photograph/Anupam Agarwal
Bring Extra Lives
Anything can happen at a wedding. The camera’s batteries might die or the memory cards may get corrupt. If the wedding is held during the monsoon, your camera may get drenched in the rain! The important thing is to prepare for the worst. Carry at least five memory cards, an extra lens, a back-up camera, a battery charger and extra batteries and weatherproof covers.
Start your shoot from where the day begins for the bride and the groom. Photograph/Vinayak Das
Acquaint Yourself with the Family
Get to know the immediate family members from both the bride and groom’s family and befriend them. They will be able to help when you have to coordinate group portraits. It will also be easy to ‘instruct’ them on what needs to be done without sounding rude.
Take Permissions
If you are not the official photographer, then take permissions from the family and the guests before photographing them. If you wish to use nearby sites for outdoor shoots, take the required permissions—it will be appreciated.
Do a dress rehearsal with the couple a day in advance. Photograph/C Laldin Puia
List it Out
Research and list down the ceremonies that will be performed. Ask the bride and groom about the kind of shots they want. A list will ensure that you do not forget any important shots.
Instead of only shooting the stage or mandap, go behind the scenes. Photograph/Neelesh Jethwa
Go Scouting
Reach the location ahead of time and make a mental note of what kind of frames and shots you will get and from where. Take some test shots too. Being aware of what settings you may have to use in advance, will make your job simpler. Take some portraits of the family members and the couple before the guests arrive, to save time.
No matter how well you plan, things may change. The key is to be able to adjust to unexpected situations and keep on shooting if you want to see the event through to the end.
