Wedding Photography - Taking Digital Photographs During A Wedding

For anyone that is or has been married, the events of the day can be captured in images, forever; digital wedding photography has changed how wedding photographers can carry out their work ensuring the day is captured on disk. There is no reason why a DVD can't be made of the occasion to complement to photos!

Most wedding photographers have assistants so they can create a wedding album that will be memorable but if you want to take pictures of a friend's wedding, who will help you? So, if you need some help for a wedding you are to attend and you are going to use a digital camera, then you may find some useful information in this article.

Unless you know how to compensate or have taken the shot purposely for effect; remember the background is very important. Often the couple is in the thick of a crowd and at this point it may be easier to try and capture just their head and shoulders.

Try to get guests that have spectacles on to either remove them or hold their head at an angle so that there isn't a reflection obscuring their eyes. If there's a couple or a group that you wish to include in the picture, you should use the zoom function in to get the ideal image but do not shoot against the light so that dark images appear.

Candid shots are also dramatic and these portraits often reveal more than the quality of the picture itself; in fact, many professionals use the zoom to capture intimate and memorable moments. You should be alert at all times when shooting digital wedding photography since you can seldom ask people to keep posing for you and the day is also about spontaneity.

The last thing you want to happen is for your digital camera to have half charged batteries and a memory card that is already half full as it will restrict how many shots you can take. As a general rule, if your camera is a 6 mega pixel resolution then you will need a large storage capacity card that will hold a few hundred shots at high resolution so a 1 gigabyte card should be sufficient.

The reason you need to set the cameras resolution to the maximum is because the colors will be richer and if you want to enlarge the photos, it won't be a problem. This is achieved by saving the images to your computer where you can print them out at your leisure on special photographic paper.

If you are used to regular film photography you may find the change to digital wedding photography a little strange at first but persist and you may find you enjoy it more.
Learn more tips regarding Digital Wedding Photography by visiting http://fairytale-weddings.info/, a popular website that provides free Wedding Tips, advice and information for a perfect wedding ceremony.

Find out how to become a wedding photographer by clicking on the link below:

Wedding Photography Checklist

Your wedding pictures are the proof that an event ever took place. They are the recordings of your ceremony. The pictures capture the style, the faces and the mood for your occasion. The best photos are the ones that you took a lot of time to arrange for. We present a checklist for an effective and memorable photograph preparation for your wedding.

Be sure about the credentials of the one going to take your pictures. Try to get as many references as possible. Visit bridal shows talk to the photographers association, get recommendations or look up the internet. After you are able to get one or two people you feel qualified for the job, call on them in person.

The kind of photographers you choose will depend on your budget. A local photographer who works alone will charge lower than a company which has a group of photographers.
At the initial meeting you are going to satisfy yourself that the professional is the right choice and will give you the pictures you need. Before arriving at any particular choice, get to know about his previous experience and the type of events he has covered. You do not want a photographer who has previously only covered sports to take your pictures. He must have specialized experience in wedding or formal occasions.

During the familiarization meeting, let him show the kind of pictures he will be taking. Some couples would only want pictures about themselves; others want you to include the guests as well. Some may have a quota on how many pictures the photographer would take and others would just allow him to take as many as possible.

You should also discuss with him whether you want spontaneous shots or posed one. Each style has it advantages and disadvantages. The spontaneous shots will make the photos look quite exciting, natural and story like. Posed shots would make the guest look their best as they would have been readied for the shots.

Information on wedding planning and wedding vows is readily available.

Find out how to become a wedding photographer below.

Tips For Outdoor Wedding Photography

Outdoor wedding photography creates an eloquent story of your special day. The beautiful scenes, the sunlight, and the fresh air really sets the scene for romance. Unfortunately, light, clouds, wind, and even the elements are never the same from moment to moment. Since the natural elements are quite different from the indoors, there are several things you will need to consider in order to help even the best wedding photographers to get good pictures.

Choose A Good Background

Like with indoor wedding photography, there are things you want to include in a background because they add to the picture and things that are best left out. Standing on the edge of a hill with the mountains in the backdrop, for instance, would make stunning pictures. Having a car in the background is not what you want to see. If it does happen, it isn't the end of the world. For wedding photographers, this might mean they will shoot from a different angle or use a different lens and focus setting to blur out the background.

Small settings work just as well for wedding photography as large backdrops. A small background needs texture in the background to help set up the scene for you. This could include things like a fountain, architecture, shrubs, and even walkways. Many couples actually prefer the smaller settings for the intimate feelings wedding photographers can create with them.
Natural Lighting

Strong natural sunlight can make it very difficult to take good pictures. It creates very distinct shadows on the photographs and very bright areas. While it does create dramatic photographs, it isn't always the best. In this instance, the shade or even a cloudy day creates a nice soft lighting for photographs. About an hour before sunset and sunrise are the times when the lighting is the best, mostly because the light takes on a golden color that adds a nice touch to most locations.

Consider Black And White

Because of the rich textures usually found in outdoor wedding photography, having the photograph make some or all of the portraits black and white can be a nice touch. The added texture from foliage and architecture is highlighted just enough to keep the pictures interesting. As an added benefit, eliminating the color from a photograph also works well with pictures taken in the strong light.

Worse Case Scenarios

Having wedding portraits taken outdoors means you and the wedding photographers will be dealing with nature. Swarms of little flies or dust make small little marks in the pictures. If it is extremely windy, very hot, or cold, it will show up in the faces of the subjects as well. Things such as snow and rain show up as marks in the photographs. If you are having the pictures taken inside of a large gazebo or covered structure, the snow or rain in the background can actually make a nice background for your portraits. However, it is always a good idea to have an alternative plan in place in order to prepare for the unexpected.

Whether you are in an exotic location or downtown Chicago, wedding photography taken outdoors is a great way to get unique backgrounds for your portraits and even the ceremony itself. Along with the beautiful scenery, however, comes the realm of possibilities and unexpected occurrences. Planning, careful selection of the location, and even the time the pictures are taken will have a huge impact on the final story wedding photographers capture.

Christine O'Kelly is an author for Essence, a Chicago wedding photography company. They are leading providers of Chicago wedding photographers and videographers who have received several awards for their photojournalistic abilities.

To learn how to become a wedding photographer, click on the banner below.

How To Become A Successful Wedding Photographer

Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field.

My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc. While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting.

Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

Here I have summarized some points that I believe will guide beginner wedding photographers:

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people's most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don't come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don't try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don't neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association,and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer. For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer

To learn how to become a wedding photographer, click on the banner below.

Wedding Photography Tutorial

The breakdown of this Wedding Photography Tutorial:


DVD 1 - Getting Ready - Home - 1hr 56mins

Introduction
The Importance of Preparation
The Reccie Visit
The Bride Getting Ready
Detail Shots
Camera Settings Throughout the Day (Apertures, Shutter Speeds, ISO's, Manual etc)
Shooting with Flash and Natural Light
Photoshop Tutorials including Recovering Poor Images, Brightening and Colouring Dull Images, Working on RAW Images with and without Flash, Correcting the Pin Cushion Effect from Wide Angle Lenses, Adding a Frame for Presentation
Sample Student Images
Most Images Show Exif Data from the Camera Used
Plays on DVD Player or Computer


DVD 2 - Shooting the Ceremony - 1hr 36mins

Introduction
Reccying the Church
The Bride's Arrival
Shooting the Ceremony
Coping with Low Light
Formal Shots and Groups
To Flash or not to Flash (and the Difference Between the Two)
Mixing Ambient Light with Flash
Camera Settings Throughout the Ceremony and Formals
Photoshop Tutorials Including Correcting Colour Casts and Correcting Underexposed Images
Exif Data Shown on Many Images
Plays on DVD Player or Computer


DVD 3 - Shooting the Reception - 1hr 31mins
Introduction
Bride and Groom Portraits
Coping with Poor Light and No Flash
Mixing Ambient Light with Flash
Shooting and Lighting the Reception Using Simple Techniques and Settings
Dealing with Low Light
Cake Cutting
Camera Settings Throughout the Reception
Photoshop Tutorials Including Using the Clone Tool to Recover Big Mistakes plus How to Pull Amazing Colours from Bland RAW Reception Images Shot at a High End Wedding in London
A Talk About Equipment Needed for the Standard Wedding Photographer
Plays on DVD Player or Computer

DVD 4 - Bonuses

To find out how to become a wedding photographer, click on the link below.

wedding photography blueprint

The Wedding Photography Blueprint is being described as the most in depth and informative wedding photography tutorial system for sale on the web. It comprises of footage taken from a full, 2 day wedding photography course as well as an actual wedding in order to give you a full and comprehensive understanding of what to expect and what to do when shooting weddings.

Also intertwined at various and well timed intervals throughout, are screen recordings of sometimes problematic images being worked on in Photoshop in order to salvage excellent looking wedding photos from somewhat mediocre RAW files (basically, cock-ups). These are placed alongside many other traditional Photoshopping tutorials which includes the use of recommended software and add-ons to make your images really stand out from the crowd.

The author and professional photographer behind the project is Nick Stubbs, a seasoned, full time professional with over 25 years experience using Medium format, SLR’s and DSLR’s to shoot weddings, portraits, stock and commercial work.

Nick understands the fears and reservations people may have about going it alone as a wedding photographer (either part or full time) but also understands the buzz and excitement this career path can take.

"Many people are sometimes put off by what they read online or hear at their local camera club about shooting weddings. What we are trying to do is alleviate that fear and encourage all beginners by producing a highly detailed blueprint that will act as a complete foundation course upon which they can build their own style over time."

For more information you can visit The Wedding Photography Blueprint web site.

How To Become A Wedding Photographer

This blog provides information about wedding photography and how to become a wedding photographer.