How to always be on top
Photographing a wedding is not an easy task. After all, the photographer is responsible for how one of the most happy days newlyweds
These 50 tips will help you avoid typical mistakes during wedding photography and will make the process easier and calmer.
1. Wear comfortable shoes
You will have to move around a lot while shooting. Of course, stilettos are more appropriate for a wedding ceremony, but trust me, you will howl and be the grumpiest wedding photographer on the planet.
At almost every wedding there is a person who believes that he knows better than you how to place people in the frame, from what angle it is better to shoot, etc. It’s better to immediately refuse any advice. You must be confident in your actions and responsible for the results. Be polite and make it clear that you don't need help. And rest assured, the newlyweds will appreciate how quickly and accurately you do your job.
3. Have an open conversation about the shoot before the wedding.
Many couples take the tradition very seriously that the groom should not see the bride in her dress until the wedding. In such cases, try to explain that you need at least an hour with the bride and groom (and no guests) to make a wedding album with good photos. Quite often, couples simply physically cannot find time for a photo session on their wedding day, so they agree to hold it the day before the ceremony. By the way, this is a great opportunity for the bride to try out her hair and makeup.
4. Make the newlyweds happy with the photos.
Most often, you can hear complaints from the bride and groom that the photographer missed a certain shot (for example, he didn’t take a photo with a school friend or forgot his little sister in a pink dress). The best way To avoid such incidents is to meet with the bride and groom in advance and ask them to make a list of required photographs. You can also bring examples of wedding photographs to the meeting so that the bride can choose the poses she likes. Don't forget to bring a list of photos with you to the wedding and check off the boxes as you go. As a rule, this list is limited to 15 required photographs.
5. Change lenses
If you see that the bride and groom are not relaxed enough and tense in front of the camera, then it is better to change the lens to a longer one (for example, 200mm) and move away from the couple. This will give the young people the opportunity to relax a little. Then their interaction will be more natural, and you will nice pictures. A little later, when they get used to your presence, you can get closer and change the lens.
6. Find out names
During the pre-meeting with the bride and groom, ask for the names and phone numbers of witnesses or the best man and maid of honor. Typically these people take Active participation in organizing a wedding ceremony, and perhaps they will be useful to you.
7. Keep the color of the dress in the photo white.
To do this, you will have to resort to positive exposure compensation. The light meter in your camera, seeing White dress, will decide that this area of the image is simply too bright, and not white. This will cause the camera to make the entire photo darker to compensate for the area that is too bright. By setting positive exposure compensation, you can easily overcome this problem.
8. Have a spare carcass
In the middle of the celebration, your equipment may experience a technical failure. Fortunately, you can rent a spare camera, the cost of this service is not high, and having a second camera gives you peace of mind. Having two cameras is good not only for safety reasons, but also for your own convenience, as it allows you to have different lenses on two cameras. During the celebration, you can quickly switch from a telephoto lens to a standard zoom as needed. Once you try working with two cameras, you will never want to go back to shooting with one body.
9. Don't chase quantity
You can often hear aspiring photographers boast that they took more than 2,000 photos during a wedding. Each photographer has his own style, so don’t chase quantity, but take each shot thoughtfully, seizing the moment.
10. Hire a second photographer
Most beginner photographers do not seek the help of a second photographer. But if you have the opportunity, it's definitely worth doing. Firstly, then not a single good shot will be missed, and secondly, you will have a second set of equipment in case of unforeseen circumstances. Write a message to several photographers from your city offering mutually beneficial cooperation. They will act as a second photographer while photographing your wedding, and you, in turn, will provide them with the same service while photographing their wedding.
11. Take care of extra batteries
Your battery's energy is not infinite. Be sure to purchase a spare battery, or better yet two.
12. Remember about memory cards
It is best to shoot weddings on cameras with two memory card slots (for example, Nikon D7000), because this makes it possible to duplicate each photo, that is, one photo is saved on two flash cards at once. This is another way to play it safe. When going to shoot a wedding, it is best to have at least 30 gigabytes of total memory on the cards. Not for taking too many pictures. It is not quantity that matters, but quality.
13. Don't miss shots of the bride and groom with their siblings
Photos of the bride and groom with their siblings are usually some of the most touching, so don't miss the moment!
14. Don't get in your way
Try to make photography a fun part of the celebration, but don't forget to go into the shadows when possible. This is especially important during the ceremony and making speeches and toasts. Use a telephoto lens for such cases.
Don't forget to capture wedding details, e.g. wedding rings, table setting, a wedding cake and so on. The fact is that the bride spent a lot of time (perhaps even more than one month) preparing for this important day and tracking every little thing, so she will be pleased if you see all these important little things and details.
16. Clearly describe everything that is included in your services.
To avoid various kinds of troubles, contact or personally meet with your clients and very clearly list the full range of services you provide and their costs. Will the photos be in digital format only? How many hours do you shoot? How much does an hour of your work cost? Are you going to film the reception? Are flights paid if the wedding is taking place in another city or country? Do you make a wedding album? Provide answers to all possible questions yourself if you do not want to subsequently face the wrath of dissatisfied customers.
17. Take funny shots
Wedding photos don't have to be serious. Funny moments captured in the photo bring a smile to your face after a while.
18. Divide the time allotted for the photograph of the bride and groom by two
Weddings always start later than planned. Always. If the bride says they'll have an hour to shoot with you, that means you'll only have half an hour. The time you spend alone with the bride and groom is priceless, you should make the most of this half hour.
19. Agree whose family will be photographed first
There's nothing worse than trying to combine two large families in one photo. It is better to plan your shooting in detail. Therefore, discuss in advance with the bride and groom whose family you will photograph first.
20. Ask to find an assistant for you
Ask the couple to assign you an assistant who will know everyone invited so that you can contact him if anything happens. Such a person is especially useful when taking family portraits, as he can spot those who are missing. Another benefit is that you won't bother the couple.
21. Seize unexpected moments
Always try to capture the unexpected moment. Special moments spent by the bride with her parents or groom, their emotions and reactions.
22. Pretend it's your wedding
Imagine that you are on your own wedding! Think about what you definitely want to capture? Constantly ask yourself this question while shooting.
23. Bring a piece of white paper with you
Often photographers ask the bride and groom to stand in some unexpected places (for example, a flower bed). Brides don’t like to do such things because they’re afraid of getting it dirty. Wedding Dress. Be thoughtful and bring a piece of white paper that the bride can stand on to protect her dress. The paper will disappear under the hem, and no one will notice anything.
24. Stay calm
Many things can upset the bride on such a day, including the apparent incompetence of the photographer and the inability to take everything into her own hands. This is a big responsibility, and if you have already taken it upon yourself, then see it through to the end.
An excellent frame can be a crowd of people out of focus, through which the bride and groom will be visible. This method of shooting makes the viewer feel like they are part of what is happening in the photograph. Use windows, architectural structures, plants, people - this will make the photo even more romantic.
26. Get closer during the ceremony
During the ceremony itself, try to take a place closer to the bride and groom so that nothing and no one can disturb you. But don’t forget: you shouldn’t disturb the guests either. Photos of the exchange of rings and the kiss are the most important at a wedding.
27. Learn to work with natural light
When photographing in natural light, be aware of shadows on the face.
28. Draw up a contract
So much can happen on your wedding day and with wedding photography. Draw up a contract to protect yourself from possible lawsuits.
29. Make a schedule of important events
The photographer is also a person and may miss some an important event, such as throwing a bouquet or cutting a cake. Photographers, as a rule, discuss with the bride and groom the time of photographing the newlyweds themselves, but they miss many other important things.
30. Bring a wedding emergency kit with you
In this set, include standard things: pins, ribbons, stain remover, a beautiful wooden hanger for shooting a wedding dress.
31. Three little words
Ask the bride and groom to name three words with which they associate the upcoming wedding ceremony, remember them and try to take a photo. If the client says “fun,” then try to capture as many funny and cheerful moments as possible; if it’s “romance,” take photographs of cooing lovers. You are the photographer, and this is their day, so try to show it in all its glory in the photo.
32. Don't let religious practices affect your photography.
Depending on the religion, the traditions of the wedding ceremony can vary greatly. An unprepared photographer can simply end up in a puddle. Filming inside Catholic Cathedral, don't be surprised if you are banned from using flash. If you find yourself at a Jewish wedding, don’t miss the moment when the bride breaks a glass. Familiarize yourself with the traditions, be prepared.
33. Don't forget about elderly relatives
Even the bride and groom, due to an excess of emotions and energy, can forget about elderly relatives and guests. But don't lose sight of them for long and take pictures from time to time.
34. Visit the venue in advance
If you have the opportunity, visit the wedding venue in advance to inspect the room, understand which places will have the best angles, what kind of light there is, and so on.
35. Remind your bridesmaids to remember to smile.
Before the ceremony begins, ask your bridesmaids to smile as they walk down the aisle. You can’t imagine how often bridesmaids at this important moment not only do not smile, but walk with their heads down and bowed down. They simply forget that they are being photographed.
36. Ask the bride to hold the bouquet lower
Ask the bride and bridesmaids to hold their bouquets a little lower, even if it's not entirely comfortable. Bouquets look best when held at navel level.
37. Be confident in your settings
One of the reasons why wedding photography is quite difficult is the complete lack of time spent fiddling with camera settings. You must have time to shoot everything, everywhere, and this requires experience and skill.
38. Ask the newlyweds to kiss more slowly
The kisses of the bride and groom at a wedding are not very long; the photographer simply does not have time to take a good shot. Ask the couple to kiss a little slower so you can catch a good shot.
39. Quiet shutter release
Many cameras have a silent shutter function. Be sure to use it if you don't want endless clicking sounds when the bride or groom says "I agree."
40. Bring a tripod
Portrait photographers rarely use a tripod for these types of shoots, but a tripod can be very useful if the wedding ceremony is taking place indoors with dim lighting. A tripod will allow you to shoot at slow shutter speeds without having to increase your ISO.
41. Take some black and white photos
With the clients' permission, take a series of black and white photographs from the ceremony; do not miss this opportunity. Black and white wedding photos– this is a real classic.
42. Come up with new ideas
In addition to the fact that a photographer must be organized and prepared, his ability to come up with ideas is also important. different ideas for photos. Make your fantasies come true.
43. Don't be afraid of investing
Buy a bracket for an external flash. This is not a useless purchase; the photos will turn out 10 times better.
44. Take time to rest
Allow yourself a few minutes of rest, for example, when everyone is eating. Nobody wants to be filmed with a mouth full of food. At this time, you can review the footage and delete the worst shots to free up some space on the memory card.
45. Always look for unusual angles
Don't stand still, move! Take photos from a variety of angles. Climb up high to take a photo of your guests from above. During the white dance, circle around the couple, then come a little closer and, taking photographs, make another circle.
46. A question that will save money on advertising
When you see that the bride is delighted with your photos, ask if she knows anyone who needs the services of a photographer?
47. Bring a stepladder or step stool
Bring a 3-step stool or small stepladder. With their help, you can take good group portraits and use them to photograph newlyweds throughout the day.
48. Dress appropriately
Once you find out what format the wedding will take place, think about your outfit. Some photographers wear a tuxedo to every wedding, while others think it’s quite appropriate to wear trousers and a shirt. In any case, think about this in advance.
49. Know how to take everything from natural light
Surely, at some weddings you will be lucky enough to shoot during the so-called “golden hour”. Turn the bride's back to the sun. Her veil and dress will glow with a beautiful golden light. Use a reflective surface to fill deep shadows on your face with light.
50. Don’t delay taking photos.
It is best to give away the photos immediately after the couple returns from their honeymoon. Don’t delay processing and preparing the album, don’t put it off for a long time.
Don’t be afraid that “oh, there’s so much, I won’t remember everything.” Make a checklist and go through it before each shoot. It doesn’t matter if you forget something - every time you remember it more and more, and your shooting will become better and better.
Sometimes you, as a photographer, get lucky and have a family photo shoot where all the models have perfect, radiant smiles. It won't take you long to take a photo that you can hang on your wall. However, more often than not, family portraits are not that simple.
Perhaps you come across someone who doesn't want to be photographed at all, or perhaps there are small children involved in the shoot who don't understand what you're trying to get them to do. And if you had the chance, you would want to get photos that bring out their personality. Everyone looks at the camera and smiles sweetly - this good photo. But we are always more interested in taking photographs that can tell a little more about who is who in the family. We have a few tricks that will help you overcome the challenges of a family photo shoot and enjoy your photos.
1. You are responsible for the children
Often during family photo sessions you will come across parents who will be very concerned whether their children are looking at the camera or whether there is a smile on the little ones' faces. Parents do not understand that because they are focused on the child, they themselves are not ready for a photo when the baby looks at the camera and smiles.
Remind parents to be ready for photos at any time. And you, as a photographer, will take responsibility for the smiles of the kids. When parents ask your baby to look at you, he may become confused and decide that he should look at mom and dad. Whether or not you want your parents to look at the camera in a particular photo, remind them of their responsibilities and leave the rest to you.
2. Let your parents help you sometimes
At first glance, this may seem to contradict point 1, but there are times when parents' help is required to get children's smiles. If there is an unnatural, forced smile on the child’s face, and you want to get real emotions in the photo, ask the parents to make faces or do something funny outside the frame. If you want your child to look directly at the camera, ask the parent to stand behind you and call the child. Parents often know some stupid word that makes their child laugh. Or the baby just needs to see mom and dad to feel more comfortable.
You can also take photos of parents interacting with their children. Often these are the photos that become our favorites. We love capturing the authentic interactions and real emotions that parents see every day. Sit parents and children together and ask them to smile. Often in this situation they feel awkward and start laughing, and you get a great shot.
3. Laugh at a fool
One of the most effective ways get a good shot, ask all family members to laugh at the fool. Sometimes they all look at the same person together and immediately start laughing. And it happens that there is a second hesitation and only after that laughter is heard.
This may lead to unpleasant consequences, so this technique must be used carefully. Some children think that laughing means belittling a fool. And their natural laughter grows into a loud and forced cackle. Other kids feel like they have to point at whoever is being laughed at and it always looks bad in the photo. In such cases, we ask them to giggle quietly and keep their hands down. Usually, this solves the problem. If this does not help, then we are simply distracted by something else and wait for the right moment.
4. Simple hugs
Often at photo shoots, we simply seat everyone in the right poses, ask them to smile, and do great photo. And then we tell them: “Now hug each other.” And when we later look at the photos one by one, we are always surprised at how much more natural the smiles appear in the hugging photos.
When a photo is too formal, people find it difficult to relax and their smiles appear forced. When all participants in a photo shoot are comfortable, their real smiles appear. There is something about hugging those you love that makes you feel safe. Sometimes you need to push them a little towards the hug, but make sure they are still looking at you. Sometimes you may come across someone who really loves hugs. And although such hugs look cute in real life, they won’t look very good in a photo.
5. Let your personality shine
Sometimes you have an image in your head perfect photo, but in reality you have several young children with bright personalities. You can spend the entire shoot trying to force them to be something they're not. Or you can throw your idea aside and betray the individuality of your heroes in all its colors.
Let's be honest, sometimes those facial expressions that just scream a person's personality are the perfect ones to photograph. Families will cherish these photographs and laugh at them throughout their lives. You can try to get the perfect family photo for mom, but don't make everyone suffer by asking them to strike unique poses or make faces every time you release the shutter. Sometimes tomfoolery can get out of hand, so it's best to just take the photo and move on.
6. Big companies are fun too
Photos of large groups can sometimes look very crowded. When you need to take a photo big company people, you are tasked with fitting everyone into one frame, but you may end up with a photo with a bunch of boring faces.
Take a few photos just for fun. Ask the whole group to hug or kiss a neighbor. Give them a choice. Nobody likes to be told that they have to kiss the person standing next to them. If you have a bride and groom, you can capture their kiss and ask everyone around you to react the way they want.
When in your photo big company with funny and happy faces, you can't help yourself but look at the photo and smile. These photos are never perfect, but families love them.
7. Take Live Photos
You don't always need smiles and you don't always need everyone to look into the frame. Shoot a family doing something together and let their facial expressions be natural. These photographs will capture the image of the family as it is now. Photos like these will truly bring back memories when the family looks at them many years later. You don't need to come up with something complicated. It could be a family picnic or just a walk in the park. If family is walking ahead of you, ask them to look at each other so you can get their profiles and emotions.
8. Don't be afraid to take many pictures in a row
When you need to fit many people into one frame, there is a chance that everyone will be in the photo great expressions persons are negligibly small. We take many pictures in a row in the same pose, because this increases the chance that everyone in the photo will have their eyes open and smiles on their faces. If all the frames are unsuccessful, then you have many pictures in one position and you can replace eyes, faces, heads in Photoshop, if necessary.
It's very frustrating when you have an almost perfect family photo, but someone blinked at that moment. Trust us, even three photos in a row may not be enough to get the facial expressions you want. We don't often use substitutions, but sometimes it's a necessary measure to get the perfect photo.
How to capture feelings for centuries? Smile! Your emotions are being photographed.
S57: Julia, tell us about your filming process.
Yulia Tyukova: The filming process itself is easy and relaxed. I love capturing real emotions, real feelings. real people. During the shooting, we talk a lot, laugh, and enjoy communication. I often show good shots on the camera screen. I really like to see how people’s mood improves when they see themselves in photographs, how a spark of excitement lights up in their eyes, a desire to continue filming.
S57: You take good portrait photos. I wonder if you need to know a person to take a good portrait?
I try to tell stories with my photographs. First of all, this is why you need contact with a person or couple. It is important to make friends with your clients, to understand what is important to them, how they live. I love when an atmosphere of happiness surrounds me, so the main direction of my work is wedding photographs in Orel. It’s nice that we communicate with many couples after the wedding or shooting day love story. Some of them are going to be photographed again - this time with their children, for a family portrait. It's great when people understand the value.
S57: What does a good portrait mean to you?
This is very subjective. In my opinion, a portrait should tell about specific person, his mood, emotions, experiences “here and now”. An important criterion for a successful shoot is the client’s response. It's always nice when people are happy looking at their photos.
S57: What is the difficulty of staged shooting?
Honestly, I can’t remember any significant difficulties. I always prepare for shooting in advance, and if there is no force majeure in the spirit of natural disasters, then everything goes well. Difficulties can only arise with people if pre-agreed points are violated. For example, if a person is late by more than an hour. To maintain a positive atmosphere during the filming process, it is very important to work with a proven team: makeup artist, hairdresser, videographer, etc.
S57: If something goes wrong during a photo shoot, do you continue the shoot improvising or reschedule it for another day?
Of course I continue. I work for people, if they count on me, I can’t let anyone down. At weddings, things often don't go according to plan. How can you postpone the wedding? I position myself as a wedding and portrait photographer in Orel, so improvisation is a very important component of my work.
S57: You are a young photographer, does anyone give you advice?
Yes, sure. I am a very sociable person and I have many good friends among photographers in Orel and in other cities. If possible, I attend master classes with successful colleagues who always have something to learn from. I believe that for personal and professional growth you need to constantly learn something new.
S57: The Most helpful advice, which have you ever received?
When I just started taking photographs, Vladimir Adadurov told me in a friendly way: “Don’t take pictures of people, it’s not your thing.” After that, I made significant progress in portrait photography. Probably to prove the opposite. I still remember this advice with a smile.
S57: Were there any exciting or dangerous moments during filming?
In general, at weddings I always climb somewhere to take pictures from a more interesting angle. So far, no dangerous moments have happened to me, but at one of the weddings in Orel, the cameraman broke his leg right before the ransom, but managed to work the whole day in this condition.
S57: Do you encounter technical problems at work?
Now I always take 2 cameras with me when shooting. This is in case one fails. I have spare batteries and memory cards. I often work with an assistant who will illuminate with a reflector or flash. With experience comes the ability to prepare for problems in advance.
S57: What photographic equipment do you use?
It doesn’t matter what you shoot with, the main thing is that the equipment is convenient and allows you to realize your idea. I love my full frame Sony a850 and reportage Sony a77, and I also treat myself to fast lenses. But I can also film my projects or events that are interesting to me on a mobile phone.
S57: If you could travel back in time, where would you go for a photo shoot?
Forward to the future! At least something is known about the past. And I'm curious what will happen next. It would be interesting to photograph the atmosphere of life of our descendants, to look at their way of life, how morals, habits, and fashion have changed.
- Good afternoon! Let's start. What qualities must a wedding photographer have?
Attention to people, philanthropy is a must, maximum communication skills are a must, always good mood- this is very important points. A wedding photographer must be fluent in photographic equipment, optics, understand the nature of light and be full of ideas.
As a successful photographer, you have quite a lot of orders for shooting. How do you know which couples you would like to work with and which ones you wouldn’t?
I believe that the more complex the client, the more useful it is for the photographer. It is a pleasure to work in the usual way with clients who are friendly, attractive, photogenic, and creative. But people have different personalities, and there are complaints and complex wishes. I take them off because I know: this way I will find something new, and new things are born in overcoming. For me this is an axiom, and that is why I photograph everyone.
- Which wedding was the most memorable for you?
The most memorable wedding I photographed was in St. Petersburg. Petersburg is my favorite city, in my opinion, best city on the ground. I still don’t understand why I don’t live there. I come to St. Petersburg several times a year, and every time I experience a trembling feeling, as if before a date.
One day, a girl from St. Petersburg asked to photograph her wedding, but she didn’t want a standard approach, but something unusual. I didn’t know at all what I would do or how to film, but when I began to find out the tastes and interests of the couple, I realized that the girl and the young man loved Balkan music - I myself love it very much. And I realized that St. Petersburg needs to be made into a vibrant Mediterranean city. In my feeling, it is always like this, because when I come to St. Petersburg, to my surprise, I rarely see bad weather, even in winter.
So, I decided to do this wedding in the Balkan style. We took an old pipe, I asked the couple to come up with bright costumes, and the young man chose a red shirt, and the girl chose a light wedding dress, but with a touch of gypsy. We invited a familiar musical group, and traveled through the streets with it: the group walked with large drums, with trumpets, with a violin and played music, and a couple walked next to it. I tried to shoot it from an angle - wide angle lens, how I love.
It was a wedding where I was given absolute freedom, and that is why it turned out to be the most memorable.
- That is, the photographer, to one degree or another, is also an assistant in organizing the wedding?
Not always: if the wedding is from an agency, then the agency has already prepared everything, and the photographer only has to show himself somehow in a given situation. But I like it when they give me freedom, and I make decisions about the organization, the location of the shooting, and so on.
- What photograph, angle or position, in your opinion, is mandatory for wedding photography?
The photo that parents and grandparents will like should be a must. For example, I love experimental photographs: my work is absolutely far from the standards of wedding photography. But I also take standard photos precisely so that parents and grandparents can put them on a shelf in a frame or hang them on the wall. And since grandparents’ tastes are usually conservative, naturally I shoot beautiful couple portraits. Everything else, of course, is no less important, but this is a mandatory program.
- What determines your choice of photographic equipment?
It so happened that my first truly serious camera was Nikon. And then, most journalists in Soviet time Nikons were the ones who worked. This is probably a leading company producing professional photographic equipment. The cameras worked in a wide variety of conditions: from the heat in the desert to the terrible frosts and humidity of the Far North. In my opinion, only photos Nikon cameras could boast of ultra-reliability and quality of the output material, and Nikon optics were famous for their impeccable sharpness. At that time they said that Nikkor lenses “cut to the blood.”
- What lenses are needed at a wedding?
Of course, a portrait lens, because when photographing people it required condition. Although you can shoot the entire wedding with a wide-angle lens or one standard 50mm lens, which is called “fifty kopecks”. But, of course, you need to have several lenses. In my arsenal, I probably have all the optics made by Nikon, except for the long-focal lenses that reporters use to photograph sports events - they are of little use for wedding photography because of their heaviness and the unnecessaryness of such multiple zooms. The most common lenses I use are 85mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4 or 24mm 1.4, that is, moderate wide-angle and moderate portrait lenses. As for zooms, I use a standard zoom 24-70, 70-200 and 16-35.
- What lens do you most often have on your camera when shooting?
It all depends on the wedding: if, say, a wedding with big amount guests, I need to be in different parts of this event at the same time. Since I work alone, I have to move more, so I choose the 70-200 and 24-70 zooms to be able to quickly change focal lengths. I try to cover as much as possible the space and people with whom I work, this is interesting to me. I spin like a spinning top during the photography process, using all my equipment as much as possible to see the reaction of all the guests to the shooting.
If the wedding is intimate, that is, it is just a couple, maybe a few more friends, and we are walking around the city in some interesting places or are generally on a trip, then I take fixed focal length lenses with me. They certainly give a more artistic picture, a more beautiful bokeh - the out-of-focus area. And since I only work with a couple, there is no such rush, there is no need for a quick change focal lengths. Of course, shooting with such lenses is much more pleasant.
- Weather may not always facilitate filming. Do you carry lighting equipment with you?
The principle of my photography is to use exclusively natural light and a minimum of equipment. I carry a flash with me in my backpack, but I almost never use it - only in the most extreme case, when there is no light at all. In addition, the latest Nikon camera models make it possible to shoot in almost any lighting conditions, the most difficult, and in almost complete absence of light.
- Are there cases when a person remains dissatisfied with the result? And what do photographers do in this case?
If I say that absolutely all clients are happy with the photographs I take, I’m probably lying. There were two or three times when the result did not quite correspond to what the newlyweds wanted. I know for sure that most often this happens because the clients are not exactly “mine”, in the sense that they came on the recommendation of their friends. But those friends studied what I do: they liked my style, my shooting, they wanted to get this result, and they got it. They had different tastes, and therefore different expectations, and perhaps that’s why they got a slightly different result than they expected.
This, I repeat, is an extremely rare case, one might say, an exception to the rule. But even if this happens, then I agree with the couple about additional shooting and try to complete the shooting in the style in which they want. It is very important to me that the couple is ultimately satisfied and that their experience is not overshadowed by anything, and I try to do everything, even if I have to sacrifice my time or money.
- Is it necessary to communicate with the newlyweds in advance?
Undoubtedly. When a shoot is done without any preparation and without getting to know the client, it’s hard to count on great result. But in most cases in such situations, I usually conduct a very good, high-quality shoot, although this is the first time I see clients during the shoot. This doesn’t bother me at all, but there is always a chance that people might not like something.
- How to liberate and relax a couple when only the newlyweds are being photographed?
I don't work with actors who could play any feelings and any emotions. And to force them to play means dooming the photographs to falsehood. Since people are not actors, they are uptight and shy; naturally, all this shows up in the photograph. And to get them out of this state, I try to distract them with conversation, to film in those moments when they are not expecting or thinking about filming. Or I ask the couple to move as much as possible, and in the process of these movements they forget about the photo shoot, and I capture moments of their natural, organic state.
Newlyweds do not always know what they want: tender or simply beautiful. How do you choose the style of future photographs?
I try never to work according to the tastes of my clients. I don’t have a single photograph that could be classified as a fashion section, and I wouldn’t want to see clients who choose such photographs among my own. All my photographs are genre - they are rather close to a reportage-staged style. I would say that this is a “Wedding Movie”. Since I love cinema very much, and in terms of photography it has had a very strong influence on me, I try to create a cinematic atmosphere in my photographs.
- What percentage of photographs do you devote to the newlyweds and how much to the guests?
Surprisingly, I devote much more to the guests than to the newlyweds. During the day, approximately 1000 photographs are taken, of which 300 photographs are dedicated to the newlyweds themselves, no more. The remaining 70% are reporting and portrait photographs guests and relatives in a wide variety of situations. They have the whole atmosphere of a wedding.
- What is the secret of good wedding photography?
The secret is in the photographer's vision, in his mastery of his craft, in his understanding of how optics work and how to find a way to find an expressive picture and take not just a cliché photo, but one that stands out. Therefore, the photographer must work as a location station: constantly monitor the surrounding space, and must, of course, be bursting with ideas so as not to give his clients any reason to doubt for a minute. As soon as the photographer slows down, starts to think, or stammers, this is instantly transmitted to the clients, and the entire atmosphere of trust in the photographer collapses, and the result can be disastrous.
Very often, beginning photographers learn by copying the work of those they choose as examples. What do you think of it?
Of course, it is necessary to copy, since the photographer’s style and personal vision are not born instantly. A new generation of artists, in the process of comprehending and repeating the experience of the artists who came before them, acquire their own style. That is, a compilation of the styles of all photographers, plus the introduction of a personal attitude to the world around us, is called style, so, of course, you need to refer yourself to the works of already famous photographers, and I think this is the best move.
- At what point did you realize that your personal style was born?
I don’t think that I have any clearly visible style, because I try to be diverse, not to be isolated, to be free. And a person who strictly follows his style and wants to be recognized must work in a strictly defined manner, follow a certain form. For me, the most important thing is that the photograph is catchy, expressive, memorable, and people like it for its uniqueness. Whether it corresponds to a particular style or not is of less concern to me.
- How did you come up with the idea of master classes?
And then a wave of master classes began. This idea was in the air, and I didn’t exactly strive for it, but I was always ready. They allowed me from Krasnodar and asked me to conduct a master class. I immediately agreed, came to this city, gave a master class, which was very successful. great success: there were a lot of people, and a film was made based on its results.
I was really inspired by how people responded to my presentation. And when I saw the results - those sparkling eyes, the letters that were then sent to me, and the reviews, I realized that I couldn’t stop there. And I myself am energized by this process, and it also gives me a lot: I really love communicating with people, and master classes allow me to do this.
One or two days of master classes is extremely little for a person to change their worldview, but if this happens, it is worth a lot. This is very strong feeling when you see that a person has sharply turned his development vector into in the right direction. I try to make people grow wings, so that after the master classes they feel that they are ready to fly. I do my best to motivate people to take the camera and run faster, to take the magical shots for which I prepare them.
It is important that a person experiences a breakdown, as they say now, a break in the pattern, and that a person understands that he can create, how it is done, and that there is nothing complicated about it. Probably the most important thing is to open a person’s eyes.
- Can everyone attend your master class?
Absolutely. There are master classes where there are both beginners and professionals. I try to present the material in such a way that it would be interesting to everyone. Often people come to me without a camera at all - just to get into the atmosphere and see the process.
- Do you observe changes in the creativity of people who attended the master classes?
Of course: they often send me photos, and I’ve been communicating with some of them for years. Moreover, some come to me more than once for master classes. There is even a category of people who try to get to every master class. This is priceless, and this is a kind of feedback on my work.
- Do you have projects that you do just for fun?
Undoubtedly. First of all, I photograph weddings for the soul. If weddings didn't bring me joy, I wouldn't do it at all. Only the love for wedding photography will not allow me to leave, and no amount of money can compensate me for doing a job I don’t like, because I get pleasure from photographing weddings.
But besides this, I also do own projects. If I go to some place interesting place, I definitely shoot there: I invite a local couple and film them in some situations that are interesting to me. For example, I went to Asia to Lake Issyk-Kul. The place is magical, most picturesque: a blue lake framed by snowy mountains. I rented a car and through friends I found a girl and young man who would like to keep me company and get an interesting shoot as a result. And so I traveled with them along the shore of the lake and photographed landscapes. For me, it is not the landscape itself that is interesting, but rather the people organically embedded in this landscape, the couple - he and she. And for me, trying to find beautiful images in this combination is a pleasure and a favorite pastime.
- Do you study a place before going there?
No, I always rely on spontaneity, on some unexpected turn. The most interesting and enjoyable things in life are what are not planned.
- What does photography mean to you?
Photography is a way of life, a way in which I experience this world. This is the path I want to take. Everything is born of light, and photography is born of light: it seems to me that this is a unique combination - the beginning of life and the beginning of photography. And observing the light, all the diversity of its manifestations and the person illuminated by this light, for me is the meaning of life.
For newlyweds, a wedding celebration is a happy moment in their life and they want it to be cherished in their memory for the rest of their lives. But such an event requires careful planning, as without this, photographs would not be obtained that would reflect the feelings of the young people towards each other. This will help you take truly valuable photographs, both artistically and emotionally. Such pictures should evoke emotions in the newlyweds when they look at them many years later, and for this you need to choose accessories for a wedding photo shoot that would evoke these very emotions. You need to understand in advance that how you spend your wedding is how you will continue to live.
Therefore, you shouldn’t skimp on a wedding photographer; it’s better to choose a specialist who can lift your spirits and evoke these same emotions. A wedding photographer who has experience in this matter will be able to help you take pictures that will be remembered for a lifetime. We have such specialists in our studio; we have been conducting wedding photo sessions for many years and know how to achieve this, contact us.
Accessories for wedding photos
At a wedding celebration, newlyweds often take pictures in parks, on a river or pond, near city attractions. And such photography often becomes an interesting and entertaining activity, a kind of wedding entertainment. But wedding accessories can bring such photos to life. What are they?
Mustaches and lips that are superimposed and held on a stick.
These days, such an accessory has become increasingly popular. If you apply false lips or mustaches to your face, the photo becomes not just beautiful, but with its own character and even very funny. In such a photo shoot you can have some fun and invite not only the newlyweds, but also guests. Probably the strictest and most critical people are not averse to fooling around at a wedding. This accessory creates a cozy atmosphere of fun and helps you relax.
For a wedding photo shoot, not only false mustaches and lips are used; funny masks and crowns are often used.
Beautiful frame
Another good option for a photo shoot is picture frames. This accessory can be decorated interestingly and beautifully. Using it during photography, you can create interesting illusions, and this, in turn, will decorate the wedding celebration. For example, during the shooting, the newlyweds can kiss each other in the frame, and this looks amazing. This attribute brings a special style and charm to a wedding celebration.
Sports equipment can also be used well for a photo shoot. To do this, you can use a bicycle, roller skates or a skateboard. But you need to remember that you need to be able to manage this equipment or the photos will not turn out the way you would like.
Capital letters of the word LOVE
When decorating a wedding banquet hall, it is often used for this purpose. capital letters. One of the popular words that many people use is the word “LOVE”. This attribute can be easily applied in wedding photography. You can make such letters from any material. Such voluminous inscriptions will look good everywhere. They can be used to decorate a table with sweets or banquet tables. Or decorate the place where the newlyweds will sit.
But this attribute can not only decorate the wedding hall, it can be used during wedding photography. In the future life together the word love will remind spouses of their past love, and revive their tender feelings during life's adversities. This word will not only decorate your wedding photos, but will also help you not to forget your love in the future.
In a wedding photo shoot, you can use not only these accessories, but also many others. You can make large paper flowers, which will personify the elegance of the newlyweds and help them in the future, create a life full of flowers.
Our wedding photography experts will help you choose the right accessories. We will help you make an unforgettable photo shoot.