Inside: Today I’m giving over 80 Tips for Shooting your First Wedding – These wedding photography tips for beginners might just save your sanity when shooting your first wedding. This wedding photography tutorial is packed with wisdom and ideas.
Are you about to shoot your first wedding? Everything is going through your head of making sure you do this RIGHT and don’t mess up? I’ve been there, I know. You’ve scanned every article you’ve read everything you can get your hands on before your first wedding. This is Over 80 Tips to read and use as a guide before you shoot your first wedding!
Is there anything you could add to this list? Please comment and tell us so we can add it, this just helps the next person that takes a few minutes to read this!
Tips for Shooting your First Wedding
- Pack your gear the Day/night before (Related Article of 10 Extras You Should Have in your Wedding Day Bag)
- Communicate clearly to your bride/groom a week or two in advance for the ebb and flow of the day
- Charge Camera Batteries
- Have Extra Camera Batteries
- Charge Flash Batteries
- Have Extra Flash Batteries
- Bring Your Camera Battery Charger with You
- Bring Your Flash Battery Charger with You
- Slow down even though it’s a crazy busy day
- Bring a Back Up Camera
- Bring a Back Up Lens
- Bring lots of memory cards
- Shoot your images Raw
- Bring a Bottle of Water
- Bring an energy bar/snack
- Wear good/comfortable shoes
- Space out your memory cards, have two for each set of the day, so if one corrupts you are set
- Don’t be afraid to get in someone else’s shot even if you’re in the way, you are the hired photographer
- If you have to politely tell a guest to move that’s ok too!
- Just roll with the day and whatever happens!
- Keep your lines straight in your shots, angles are not so hip!
- Have fun!
- Bring a shot list
- If you use flash, bounce it
- Act as if you’ve got control of the day! Don’t be scared!
- Get meaningful shots
- During formals shoot for the bride!
- During formals shoot for the mother of the bride
- During formals shoot for the grandmothers
- You are shooting for three generations to purchase prints! (#27-29)
- Don’t fear mistakes, you learn from them!
- You become the coordinator, so don’t be afraid to take charge
- Be prepared to instruct on what to do with their hands and how to stand during the family formals
- Be confident
- Don’t rush through the portraits
- Just know that things often run late, it’s the nature of the day
- Shoot everything!
- Be professional
- Take all of the detail shots (i.e. rings, dress, flowers, shoes, dress, tux, perfume, notes, gifts etc)
- Bring a watch or carry your phone to keep track of time
- Arrive Early
- Scope out your location for portrait spots
- Pull the bride and groom to the side and remind them to hold the first kiss for a second or two longer
- Stay focused on anticipating the “next moment” to happen so you can capture it
- Don’t dwell on what is going “wrong” or not as planned
- Do test shots of where the ceremony will take place
- Do test shots of your second shooter walking down the aisle so you can nail the
- Remember you are offering a service and people will remember you for that
- Even though there is a normally a maid of honor be prepared to hold the brides dress as walking
- Watch for details for the brides veil to be straight
- Watch for details on the grooms suit to be straight
- Tuck bobby pins in your camera case
- Bring a long a small sewing kit for when there is a button falling off or something needs to be attached quickly
- Don’t stop shooting through the entire day!
- Have a step stool in your car incase you need it for portraits (ceremony formals could be on a stage and you are lower)
- Never stop looking around
- If there is a coordinator contact them for the wedding timeline
- Talk to the DJ for his timeline on the dances
- Hire a second shooter
- Have your second shooter keep you on track with time
- Have your second shooter a shot list and help keep track of the shots
- Know how to work your flash ahead of time
- Know how to operate your camera
- Talk to the officiant to ask about moving around and placement
- Take a picture with your phone of the equipment you’ve brought along in your car so you can refer back to it if need be
- Always have a signed contract, even if it’s your blood sister!
- Be confident!
- Instruct the bride/brides maids to hold their bouquet at belly button level!
- Bring some smarties (or the like, something without color in them!) to bribe your ring bearer/flower girl if need be
- Communicate. Be sure to communicate clearly for your poses! This helps everyone be at ease.
- Shoot for the venue
- Shoot for the floral designer
- Shoot for the cake baker
- Shoot for the DJ
- Shoot for the Caterer
- Shoot for the Wedding Coordinator
- Return images to #67- 72 as a thank you for working with them.
- Put the camera down for about 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Give yourself a break
- If doing a first look communicate very strongly how it will go so there are no oops! (Also see: 12 Tips for a First Look)
- Pull the bride/groom aside towards the end of the reception for some shots. (If they are ok with this!)
- Rest before the wedding. Don’t pack your day out.
Currently the most popular Pin on Pinterest: 12 Must Do’s When Shooting Your First Wedding
Kately James – a renown wedding photographer in Virginia also mentions: watching online tutorials! Brilliant!
Hi I’m Erin a Southern girl from South Mississippi, owner and chief editor of Sixth Bloom a blog helping mom-tographers as well as up and coming photographers become successful! You will find me living life to the fullest with my mister (aka husband) and our new little addition Miss Elle in our 500+ sq foot cottage as we build our dream house on our two acres! We are blessed beyond measure, love to travel, involved in ministry at our church and in between all of that I run three successful businesses!
Leave a Reply