As a professional wedding photographer, you are expected to keep up with the trends and advancements in modern wedding photography. Gone are the days when a few snap shots of the bride getting out the car, walking down the aisle and finally kissing her new husband, can be considered decent wedding photography. Creativity and original interpretation of the wedding is a must, professionalism and of course image quality is a necessity.
There are many inspirational photography sites and blogs on the web, which are easily accessed for the latest styles and trends. We recommend that a professional photographer stay informed of what brides are expecting of them. Your photographic style should be constantly evolving and changing with the times.
We have listed the following sites, as they showcase photographers considered as being at the top of the international wedding industry, and you have to admit, you can see why-
By comparison, we have put together a list of common errors, that many photographers are guilty of making. Wedding photos can never be re-done, so getting it right the first time is imperative.
Bad Planning
Unexpected backgrounds - Always be aware of your background. By only focusing on your subject and not giving much attention to the surroundings, could result in disastrous (or in this case hilarious) consequences…
Unflattering Poses - Take extra care when instructing your subjects to pose for you. When the photos are viewed, out of context, certain poses could be misconstrued as something more sinister or rude. The most famous photo caught on camera was that of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s balcony pose, Kate bends down to pick something up and before you can say ‘Pimms and lemonade’, the entire celebrity world was abuzz with rumours of what went on, on that balcony.
The bride below has been incorrectly positioned, the photo suggests that she is either inebriated or sick, not a good wedding look, never mind the fact that you can’t even see her face.
Capturing the moment is one thing, but capturing the exact moment a bride has a wardrobe malfunction or has to take a potty break is another thing and probably something she’ll not need to be reminded of at a later stage. Know when it’s time for discretion.
Not only is the photo below in bad taste, but the quality of the photo needs addressing too, pixilation, blurring, badly cropped photos are all not acceptable in a professional environment
Bad Suggestions
Explicit Behaviour - Nothing says, “I Do” quite like a husband pinching his wife’s bum, right? Wrong. Raunchiness or overtly sexual expression is considered tacky and low class. Keep your photo’s PG rated and unless otherwise requested, refrain from documenting these actions or suggesting these types of poses.
Bad Editing
Over - Editing - Probably the biggest sin in the photographic industry. Remember that Photoshop is a tool to enhance qualities of a good photo, Photoshop is not a miracle worker, it cannot turn a bad photo into something credible. Using special effects like the ones seen in the image below is a crime!
Bad Editing techniques - Black and white photos with an accent colour were cool maybe 10 years ago. Please no more, this technique has been completely overdone. Let the photo speak for itself, unnecessary editing is well……. unnecessary.
If you have to use this technique, keep the editing to a minimum, select a photo that has the composition that will support this technique and will benefit from this accent colour.
Outdated Portfolio
Wedding Rings on the bridal bouquet - Yes you have all photographed this at one point in your careers whether voluntarily or by request. This composition has been overdone and is definitely due for a modern make-over.
Check out my car - Unless it’s a rare vintage model, try keeping the ‘posing next to the car shots’, to a minimum. ‘Wifey’, sitting on the bonnet of a red Golf GTI does not make a great wedding photo. Now although the following picture has captured the flowers and the car accurately, the composition lacks, well, everything and is definitely a forgettable photo, not something that is going to be looked at in years to come.
By capturing a genuine emotion, interaction or event, you will find that there will be little need for special effects and fixed poses. Each photograph needs to tell its own story and have the intended impact the moment deserves.
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