Does this sound like you?
You’re a photographer who's been asked to take photos at a friends wedding. They asked because they’ve seen some of your nice images, but you’re naturally concerned that you’ll let them down.
You have a few weddings under your belt, and want to gain confidence, improve quickly and develop your own style.
You’ve photographed quite a few weddings but want to learn some new creative ideas or maybe you’re just interested in learning how to become a great wedding photographer
What you’ll learn:
Learn how to capture some of the wonderful emotional moments throughout the day, how to get very natural looking posed photos, how to relax the couple and families for more natural expressions, plus you’ll be amazed at some of the creative ideas that you can easily use yourself.
This course covers the whole wedding in chronological order, from the bride getting ready at home or hotel, through to their first dance. Learn from the huge number of wedding images shown throughout the course (complete with camera settings), while I narrate and explain how I achieved the photos.
Lecture downloads are enabled for this course
Section PDF of image thumbnails, keep them with you and use as reminders
Here are just some of the things you'll learn in this course:
- Learn how to cope and take great images during the (sometimes stressful) getting ready phase
- Discover some creative and unusual ideas for great photos while the bride gets ready
- Ideas for photos while guests and families arrive at the the church or ceremony
- How to take great ‘Ring’ photos before the ceremony
- Learn the secrets of great processional (and recessional) photo, i.e walking the aisle
- Discover the many ideas for photos during the ceremony and how to plan in order to capture some ‘moments’
- Learn some useful techniques to use while the couple are signing the register/ marriage license
- Learn what to do and get some great photos when everyone leaves the church or ceremony and mayhem ensues!!
- Ideas for taking the couple with their posh car or carriage as they leave for the reception
- Learn to capture some fun confetti throwing moments
- Great tips for the formal individual and group photos
- Don’t just stick to the line-ups, but learn some creative ideas for photographing the bride and groom, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids
- Learn to capture the fun atmosphere of the wedding speeches
- Tips for photographing the first dance
Plus much much more, please check out the course lessons below for more info.
What are the requirements?
- You should have a DSLR or ‘Mirrorless’ camera
- You should have a reasonable understanding of your camera
- You should be personable and enjoy meeting and chatting to new people
- You’ll benefit if you’ve attended a wedding or two
- You’ll need to be enthusiastic, and keen to learn and practice
- Enroll now or watch a couple of free lectures to get going!
Who is the target audience?
- Anyone generally interested in wedding photography
- Students who want to take more creative wedding photos
- A DSLR or Mirrless camera and a reasonable understanding of its use
- Not for complete beginners
- This course does not cover post processing of images
- This course does not cover the business side of wedding photography
- Understand the structure of a wedding day
- Start to develop confidence to tackle wedding photography
- Capture natural looking posed and staged photos
- Capture some of the authentic wedding moments
- Take more creative photos during the wedding day
After a short introduction to the getting ready stage, I explain how you can let go of some of the tension and spend a comfortable few minutes on your own with the dress and shoes.
It's a great way to start, and so here's some tips for getting some great images.
Tips for getting some great shots while the bride is having her makeup done
I used to get in close for these types of shots, so for me it was all about using the angles and making the best of the light.
The video explains my approach.
This makes a nice photo for the album, a shot of the back of the dress as it's being done up. The trick is to use turn the flash off and use some nice light, otherwise it just turns into a simple snapshot.
The video explains my thoughts and approach for getting these types of images.
Doing up other things - clothes, jewellery, buttonholes etc...
It's a fun part of the day isn't it? All the clothes, necklaces, other jewellery, cravats etc.. have been carefully chosen by the bridal party. You can get some great shots while all these things are being put on, tied up and admired.
The lecture explains my thoughts and approach for getting photos of 'things being done up'.
The small but important details
In many weddings, a lot of thought goes into the small but important details. Could be some lovely jewellery, or cards from well wishers, or perfume, or gifts to parents. These things play a part in most weddings, so I always made sure to capture them the best I could.
You will have seen this before in TV and cinema thrillers and dramas
This is a little trick used by film makers, especially in tense TV and film thrillers. Use this technique to make it look like you've captured your subject completely unawares.
The lecture explains the idea in more detail.
Sometimes, you may spot someone going over a speech that they'll be making later in the day, or someone may be writing out a card. It's worth keeping an eye out for these type of actions and get a quick shot when you can.
Seeing their daughter looking beautiful can provide a wonderful moment
Here's another little moment to be aware of, the bride now looking (hopefully) resplendent in her beautiful dress, one or both parents seeing her completely ready for the first time.
Watch out for that moment.
Close up of bride by a window
So now the bride is ready and looking gorgeously beautiful, she might be running late, but you'll still want to get a few of these types of images by a window. Get some great shots in a short amount of time.
If there was still time before the bride had to dash off, I'd find a large window and get her to look out. Shooting against the light, I'd try to get a photo that showed off her dress
Here's another idea for a relaxed photo of the bride, this time just spread out on a sofa for a great quiet calm kind of look.
Get a moody shot of the bride as she walks slowly down the stairs (assuming there are some). It's a really easy shot to get, and can benefit if you're lucky enough to have some nice light coming in through maybe a window.
No video here, please use the 'Resources' link to download the PDF document containing reminders of this chapter's photos.
The bride in her car with dad or whoever is giving her away, groomsmen and the bridal party arriving, guests arriving and milling about. It's all happening, so be prepared! Here's a few ideas that should help
Preferring not to ask the happy couple to remove their rings once married, I used to grab some quick shots before the ceremony.
This lecture shows how I approached the ring shots.
I've always felt that this was one of the truly lovely moments of the wedding day. The last time the father (or whoever is giving away the bride) will have a single daughter / brother / sister etc..., followed in the recessional by the first moments of the bride and groom as husband and wife.
This lecture shows how I approached the bride walking down the aisle with father or husband
Capturing the groom watching his beautiful bride come down the aisle
Although I like to think this idea is sound, sad to report that it rarely worked out quite as well as I'd hoped, I only have myself to blame for not planning it out as well as I should have. If you learn from my mistakes here you can capture a great reportage authentic moment.
This lecture shows how I approached the groom seeing his bride for the first time, walking down the aisle
General tips and ideas for capturing some great photos during the ceremony
You obviously can't stage any photos during the ceremony, but there are always great moments that you can watch out for and capture. The secret is to be prepared for them, and in some cases to know they're coming. This lecture shows:-
- Sneaky looks between the couple
- Capturing laughter during the ceremony
- Including the congregation in your images
More general tips and ideas for capturing some great photos during the ceremony
Following on from the previous video, this one shows some more tips and idea for photos during the ceremony:-
- Capturing the exchange of rings
- Close up of hands
- Dramatic photos from the back of the church or ceremony room
- Capturing the kiss
Of course you have to capture the smiley, formal shot after the signing of the register, the couple expect that. But here's a few ideas and tips for a little more creativity
No video here, please use the 'Resources' link to download the PDF document containing reminders of this chapter's photos.
Here's an idea for something a little more creative as the the bride and groom leave the church or ceremony room. Shoot against the light with their backs towards you for something a little different.
Rather than rush straight into the formal photos, I used to get in close with a wide angle lens and tried to capture some of that great emotion that usually occurred when people hugged and kissed after the ceremony
In this lectuer I'll describe my foolproof way (more or less) of capturing the happy couple while they get bombarded with confetti by the guests.The main thing to remember is to take control of the situation well before it starts, otherwise youi might find the confetti gets thrown while your back is turned. Not what you want!!
These are typically the photos that the bride's parents and grand-parents are expecting so they can be framed and placed on a lounge sideboard. So it's important to get these photos, even they though may not get your creative juices flowing!!
I personally never did take formal photos of the groom, preferring instead to go for a more relaxed, natural look. I just felt this was more suited for men. This lecture shows when and how I approached these photos.
For me it's all about fun when photographing the groom and his best man. Most best men, will have known the groom for many years and would enjoy a laugh and a joke with them, so that's what I'd try and capture. This
lecture shows when and how I approached these photos
Here's a pretty simple idea for something a little creative with the groom. Place him against a good looking wall, put on a fish-eye or very wide angle lens, get in close and low and add a bit of sparkle in post processing.
If the wedding breakfast or reception is in a different location to the church or ceremony room, then the bride and groom will usually hire a car. It's generally a posh one, so you want to get some good shots of the bride and groom in the car and leaving in it. Here's how I approached these photos.
No video here, please use the 'Resources' link to download the PDF document containing reminders of this chapter's photos.
Here's an idea for a quick shot of the drinks all lined up and ready to go, but instead of a straight photo of the drinks, why not shoot wide with one of the bridal party in the background.
I used to keep the family group photos fairly simple, using good light while carefully considering the backgound. Although the posing is important, I liked to try and elicit good expressions from everyone. So I'd keep chatting and made sure I took several photos of the same pose in case anyone blinked or looked away.
There's many different ways of photographing the groomsmen and bridesmaids, they're generally youngsters so it always works well to capture them laughing and joking. Here's a few of my ideas.
Ok, even I have to admit it, this one's a bit cheesy!! But you know what, it's fun and couples like it, and so do I. So there!
I sometimes used to get the happy couples kissing amongst their friends, it looks good, but there's some special things you need to do to get it right.
The standard photo of the bouquet will have already been taken while the bride was getting ready. Remember though that a lot of thought generally goes into choosing the flowers, so make the most of the bouquet with this unusual idea.
After all the formal photos are done and the rest of the groups photo are in the bag, I would finally get to take the bride and groom out for some informal, relaxed photos. Walking, cuddling, talking, and (almost) kissing, here's my approach to taking these photos.
After I'd taken the safe standard photo of the bride and groom cutting the cake, I'd try to get something unexpected and a little more creative. Cake in focus in the foreground, with the couple canoodling behind!
The speeches generally take place just after or sometimes just before the meal. They can be great fun, and there are usually some lovely moments to capture, and not just the laughter, there's sometimes some very tender moments too.
The bride and groom's first dance tends to be touching and romantic, it's also usually quite dark, so the problem is how to light it whilst retaining the romantic atmosphere. Sure, you could use a very high ISO with no flash, but then the shutter speed would have to be very slow, and consequently there would be subject movement. Also the couple wouldn't be lit very well. So the challenge is to light the dance with flash, but not to 'overlight' it, i.e not to blast it with light from the flash so that the images become simple snapshots.
Watch the lecture to see my approach to photographing the first dance.
After I'd taken the safe standard photo of the bride and groom cutting the cake, I'd try to get something unexpected and a little more creative. Cake in focus in the foreground, with the couple canoodling behind!