Photography: Creating a unique composition
A wedding can be planned for months or even years, and visualized over a lifetime.
A great way to make sure to capture all of the memories is with quality, creative photography.
Many people choose to use professional wedding photographers to capture their wedding day. One local photographer, Teresa Loper of Precious Moments in Time by Teresa, suggested that people consider all of the many options within their budget before deciding either way.
“Often people will way over-budget one item needed for their event and short photography, which is the one thing that lasts beyond that day,” she noted.
There are many ways to maximize the investment with a professional, and gain the benefit of their skill and experience.
“Some couples will even choose to have two photographers, one covering traditional, posed photos, and another focusing on candid shots and subjects other than the bride and groom,” Loper noted.
If choosing to use a pro, there are several considerations to take into account when choosing the right one.
“While it’s not essential to select a photographer that only does weddings, it is vital to find one that is skilled in portrait photography since that is 99 percent of the job,” Loper suggested. “It’s a great idea to meet with several different photographers well in advance and try to choose one whose personality suits you because you’ll want them to get along well with the people attending the event.”
There are many ways to capture the event without the use of a professional photographer as well. From enlisting the aid of a friend or family member with the use of a digital camera to providing disposable cameras to the guests, any method can be successful with a little planning.
“While traditional photos are essential to a good wedding album, creative and candid pictures will sometimes be cherished even more,” Loper noted.
“It’s a great idea to make a list of the shots you absolutely must have for your album,” she added.
Even a pro can miss some great moments if not prepared to be there for them.
“You’ll want to have a list of subjects for before the wedding, at rehearsals and any special parties held for the bride and groom. You’ll also want a list of people to photograph during the wedding, as well as afterward at the reception or dinner,” Loper noted.
Some of the most cherished wedding photographs are the unique poses or candid shots. Choosing a separate locale for some of the pictures can provide some variety.
“Many couples will have a photo session at a local landmark, favorite spot for the couple, or an especially beautiful outdoor location,” Loper said.
This can also easily be done on your own with the right assistance and the right equipment for the setting.
One thing that is essential to terrific posed photos is the use of composition. Professional photographers recommend the use of lines in the background such as an aisle or hallway as well as capturing subjects off center rather then always on center.
“Try to shoot the bride and groom in the left or right third of the frame with some interesting background setting,” Loper suggested. “If you have an SLR camera, you can also vary the composition by turning the aperture all the way to the lowest setting, which will blur out everything but the subject focused on. This way you can capture a great portrait shot with the busy background of a crowd or city blurred out.”
For candid shots, the most commonly used method is to have as many cameras among the guests as possible. Disposable cameras can be an easy and relatively inexpensive way to accomplish this when passed out at the event.
With the widespread availability of camera phones now, use of them can be encouraged during specific points of the day and can offer a huge variety to choose from for the album. ➣
“The big secret to successful candid shots is just giving people permission to take them; unless you do so guests will often be reluctant to,” Loper noted.
Another fun way to get candid shots and to involve guests is to rent a photo booth for the event. Guests can then take their own posed shots alone or in small groups.
Whatever method used or combination of ideas, having the maximum amount of photos to choose from for the wedding album is the key.
After the big day has come and gone, they can all be gathered and browsed for the perfect shots to save.
When developing the chosen photos there are many convenient methods such as department store photo labs and online digital printers.
“Be sure to get as many of your photos as possible combined onto one format such as a digital CD for safe storage,” Loper said. “This way you can always go back and add or replace pictures in the future.”
Great photography will allow you to remember your cherished event for many years to come.
Up North Bride Home » Spring 2011 Edition » Photography: Creating a unique composition