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The season of love is here and here to stay. More and more couples are investing a large chunk of their wedding budget to photographers, and for good reason. The photos captured on these special days tell the story of their love and allow them to reminisce on these memories for years to come.
Photographing weddings is a tremendous honor, though there are lots of things to consider to ensure the day goes off without a hitch. Here are some simple tips to guarantee that you’re ready for whatever the day may bring.
Let’s get started.
1. Pack Your Gear in Advance
Our number one piece of advice is that you must take the time to prepare before the day of the wedding. Weddings are meant to be beautiful and low-stress, but there is usually a lot of angst behind the scenes.
With so many moving parts, the bride and groom have enough on their plate. Your job is to ensure that you do not contribute to any of the happy couple’s nerves before the big day. All you need to do is take the time to prepare and show up the morning of with a smile on your face and all of your gear ready to go.
To avoid one of the more common pitfalls many wedding photographers fall into, here are some ways you can guarantee you will be prepared. Pack any camera batteries you have and invest in the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series or EcoFlow RIVER 2 as backup charging options.
Cameras should be your number one priority, but you also need to make sure you are nourished and hydrated throughout the big day. Don’t just assume there will be a meal provided for you. The EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator is easily portable and makes keeping yourself hydrated a simple task.
2. Test Your Equipment
As the wedding day is inching closer, make sure that you have ample time to test out your gear and fix any issues that may arise. Now is a great time to test the battery life and snap some sample shots to see how things will look on the day of the event.
Faulty equipment is never going to be a good excuse when it comes to someone’s wedding day. You have been hired to capture those important moments, so it is your job to make sure that all of your equipment is up for the important task.
Even if your photography equipment is working perfectly, we encourage you to pack backup options and keep them handy in case of an emergency.
3. Plan Your Shots
Now that you’ve ensured that your equipment is prepped and ready for the big day, you are ready to start planning the shoot. Capturing certain moments throughout the big day will make or break your reputation as a wedding photographer, so it is important that you prioritize those big moments and make the most of the shots you can get.
Wedding days move quickly. The schedules are typically jam-packed from morning til night with lots of special moments that are meant to be photographed. If you have been hired on for the full day, planning your shots ahead of time will help to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Here are some of the shots you should include on your list:
- Getting Ready
- Bride and Mother-of-the-Bride
- Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
- Families
- Ceremony
- The First Kiss
- First Dance
- Cocktail Hour
- Reception
These photo-ops will vary from wedding to wedding, so make a list before you chat with the couple and then be ready to edit as needed.
4. Schedule a Meeting With the Couple
With your list of planned shots at the ready, now is the time to meet with the couple and go over all the important details of the day. It’s the best time to show the couple your list of planned shots and see if they are happy with it or if they have some special requests to add.
You are here to capture the day through their eyes, so come up with some good questions to ask beforehand and dive into their wants and needs.
Some photographers even offer an engagement shoot as part of their package. It’s a bonus for the couple and for you. You can use this opportunity as a trial run and snap some photos for the couple to get a glimpse at your style and editing. This is a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page and that pictures taken on the wedding day are up to the couple’s standards.
5. Tour the Venue
This isn’t always an option, especially if the wedding is in a far-off destination. But if you can, we highly recommend touring the venue before the big day. This added step will help you feel more prepared and get a good sense of the place before the wedding day.
This tour will help you plan your shots and see where you need to stand to get the perfect photo. If you are unable to plan a tour ahead of the wedding day, do your best to get to the venue early on the day of the event. Scout out the area and see the best place to set up your charging station and get your solar generator ready to go.
Most wedding venues are relatively open to the public, so schedule some time ahead to see it and avoid extra stressors when the wedding rolls around.
6. Choose a Partner
Some weddings are larger than others, and taking all the photos you need on a tight schedule can be difficult. If you are concerned about this, you should consider choosing a partner to work with on the big day.
Two photographers are always better than one and will help to guarantee that none of the important shots are missed. It is important to choose someone that you trust and who is skillful in all things photography so that you don’t have to waste any precious time training them on basic skills.
Make a game plan before the wedding day arrives so that each of you knows your role and the photos you will be taking. Overcommunicate and take advantage of being able to cover more ground.
With the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series Solar Generator, you can keep multiple cameras charged for both you and your partner to capture memories all day long.
7. Set a Timeline
The time and order of photos are just as important as the ideas you choose to capture. The day of the wedding is usually very chaotic, but there’s almost always a plan in place. Make an effort to get ahold of this plan and see where you will fit in best.
Work with the bride and groom to see if this schedule is set in stone, and use it as a template for the timeline you create. Missing photos due to bad planning on your part will not go over well, so do your best to avoid any scheduling conflicts and create a strict timeline that you can realistically follow.
8. Work With the Vendors
You’re likely not the only person hired to ensure the wedding runs smoothly. Use that to your advantage and chat with the other vendors when making your plan of action. Wedding planners and coordinators are incredibly knowledgeable and have likely worked very closely with the bride and groom to ensure that their wedding day is everything they dreamed of.
If you have any questions on logistics or scheduling, these vendors should be your first point of contact. Work as a team with these vendors to alleviate the couple’s worries and stress. Working together with these people behind the scenes is always a great way to stay on the same page and ensure that the day runs smoothly from start to finish.
9. Don’t Forget the Detail Shots
All photographers love to capture big moments like the first kiss and first dance as bride and groom. These are incredibly important moments and deserve to be captured, but don’t let that distract you from capturing the little things as well.
The bride and groom likely put a lot of time and effort into putting their personal touch on the big day. Help them to capture these memories and take photos of all the little things that make the day so special.
You can do this however you’d like; just know that no detail is too small and that the couple will love having these moments to cherish forever.
10. Capture the Love
Ultimately, your main priority should always be to capture the feeling of love between the bride and groom. Use your photography skills to help tell the story of the day, and do your best to capture these images through the lens of the couple’s love story.
Make sure to capture every special moment, and you’ll be on your way to being a successful wedding photographer.
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies widely from photographer to photographer. You have the power to decide how many photos you can realistically edit and return to the married couple in a reasonable timeframe. Most photographers offer tiered wedding packages for couples to choose how many photos they want. A standard range is usually anywhere from 200 to 500 images.
You will always get the best photos while keeping your camera in manual mode. While this mode may take a bit longer to master, it allows for better images to be captured, no matter the lighting or movement.
Final Thoughts
Photographing a wedding and being in charge of capturing those important memories is a wonderful role to have. You are playing a key part in the couple’s happy day and will be able to build a portfolio of photos with love at the center.
With the help of this all-encompassing guide, you are on your way to becoming a successful wedding photographer. Are you equipped with all your backup power needs? Check out EcoFlow’s portable power stations to ensure you are prepped and ready to go no matter what the day may bring.