6 Digital Wedding Photography Tips for Successful Wedding Photography
Taking digital wedding photos can be very different from taking photos with a standard camera. You will have at your disposal a series of advantages; however, there are also other considerations that must be made. Below are digital wedding photography tips to guide you through the process.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #1: Get the shot without interrupting service
One of the most important digital wedding photography tips to keep in mind is how to make sure you get the shot without disturbing the ceremony. First, you should always make sure that your camera sound is turned off.
Nothing disturbs a ceremony more than the sound of a digital camera. Also, be sure to time your movements with other activity during the ceremony so that you can achieve the audacity you need to get the right shot without being intrusive.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #2: Be Prepared
Being prepared when taking wedding photos is always important, but it’s even more so when using a digital camera. You will absolutely want to make sure you have an adequate number of batteries. Batteries tend to drain quickly and you don’t want to find out that your battery has run out of power before the end of the event.
Memory is also another critical element that must be observed. Be sure to take enough memory cards with you.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #3: Types of Photos
Ideally, you should go over the shot list with the bride and groom beforehand. You can always provide a shot list to the couple and allow them to add or subtract the types of formal group shots they want to take. Candid shots are always popular for weddings. Both photos taken before the ceremony and during the reception can provide an excellent opportunity for natural, candid shots.
When you’re working on the shot list with your partner, it’s a great time to have them review some of your past work. This can help manage expectations and ensure that the couple knows what to expect from their work. Of course, you should always have a signed contract to make sure all contingencies are covered in case something doesn’t go as planned.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #4: Choosing Equipment
A tripod can be very useful when taking digital wedding photography because it allows you to perfectly set up and hold the shot. In addition, you should also make sure that you bring your extra flash with you in case you need it. Try to predict in advance what type of equipment and glasses you will need, if possible by visiting the venue before the wedding.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #5: Editing
Digital wedding photography gives you the unique advantage of being able to correct or enhance photos after the fact. You can crop them to remove distracting elements, or you can fix red-eye. These benefits allow you to focus more on capturing the image knowing that you can always touch it up later in the editing process.
Digital Wedding Photography Tips #6: File Formats
When using a digital camera, several different formats can be used. RAW is one of the best formats because this format allows you to manipulate the photos after they’ve been taken. Requires additional processing time; however, the benefit of being able to manipulate white balance and exposure can be worth it for wedding photography.
JPG allows you to achieve very high image quality along with good compression ratios. This is something GIF cannot do.
Although JPG is a good compromise between file size and quality, I advise you to use the RAW file format for all your digital wedding photography. The reason is the flexibility that the RAW format provides to adjust the exposure and white balance.
You usually won’t get a second chance to take wedding photos and using the RAW file format can help you recover otherwise useless photos.
This can make the difference between a very satisfied or dissatisfied couple.
