Photography Tips and Tricks

June is the hot time for weddings…and a great time to use your photography skills to create lasting memories of the happy day. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to make your pictures extra special.

Look for the Uncommon

We’ve all seen photos of the bride and groom exchanging vowels, placing rings on fingers, and having their first kiss. Though these moments are important photo moments, it is just as important to capture those unique moments that make the event special.

For example, you can take photos of the father holding back his tears as the daughter puts on her veil. Capture the flower girl trying on her uncle’s tuxedo jacket. Get a few shots of the ring bearer trying to pry the rings off the pillow. These are the stories that everyone will specifically remember, no matter how many weddings they go to afterwards.

Make Sure the Whites Sparkle

Be sure that in every shot the white bridal dress is white and not grey. You can try using the snow mode on your camera for photos of just the bride. Snow mode automatically adjusts camera settings so that whites look brilliant.

If you don’t have snow mode, go to your white settings and adjust them as needed. To do this go to the exposure compensation setting and press the arrow key in the positive direction. Brighten the image just enough to get rid of the gray, but not so bright that you lose color saturation in other parts of the picture. This will give you the pure whites that you need for a bridal gown.

What? Other People Came, too?

Don’t forget that there are other people at the wedding. Don’t focus all of your energies on just the wedding party! A picture of Uncle Jim feeding a baby wedding cake or a picture of Mom clutching Dad’s hand while they watch their son get married can be priceless to the bride and groom. Before the wedding, practice switching subjects quickly. You need to be ready to find those special people and moments, snap the picture, and go back to snapping the main events.

And don’t forget you! If you are a family member or friend to the bride and groom they will want pictures that contain you. Use your tripod and timer to get great photos of yourself enjoying the festivities.

Taking pictures outside can be fun. It can also be a hassle if you aren’t prepared. Here are ten things to make sure you have with you before taking photos in the great outdoors.

1. Combating Rain

You never know when you may get caught in rain when working al fresco. Make sure to keep a plastic baggy handy to use as a raincoat for your camera. Not only will your camera stay dry, but you can also keep taking pictures through the clear plastic.

2. Fighting Shadows

Take a piece of white cardboard with you. You can use it as a makeshift reflector when trying to rid of shadows on small objects. This is very handy when you are taking macro pictures. Simply take the cardboard and angle it so that the natural sunlight is bouncing off of the cardboard and onto your subject.

3. Blocking Sunlight

The piece of white cardboard can also be used as a shade to rid yourself of glare. Tilt the cardboard between your lens and the light.

4. Tripod

Always carry along a tripod when doing outdoor photography. You will need it to take shots in low light to avoid camera shake. You can buy tripods that fold down to a very manageable size that will fit in most backpacks.

5. Cooling Down

If you are using a film camera, you will want to be careful on warm days. Heat can ruin film. To keep your film perfect, even on the hottest days, pack your camera bag with an ice pack. Choose an ice pack that can be frozen a refrigerator freezer to use for your ice pack. Regular ice will melt and create water, which can damage your equipment. Put the ice pack in a waterproof baggie and tuck it into one of the pockets of your camera bag.

6. Hang On

Your camera’s strap isn’t just for draping over your shoulder. It also acts as a security measure. Make sure that your camera’s strap is around your neck when you are photographing around water. If you drop your camera, the strap will save it from a watery grave.