Put simply, 'give it some wonk.' Two of the simplest techniques for creating an image that seems more interesting are very simple. Firstly you can use the rule of thirds. This works like a charm 95% of the time. You place your subject off centre and ensure the face, or the point of interest rests on one of the four intersecting lines. Secondly you can shoot at an angle. You don't HAVE to keep your camera straight, where it works, tilt it to either side and use this to compose at an interesting angle.

It helps make the viewer look for more components in the scene. It puts the viewers visual balance off centre and adds another dimension to the image. As a lot of photos are not composed like this it quite often stands out and I quite often have the bride and groom liking it more as a result. That said, like many techniques don't overuse it!

Labels: Bristol, Techniques, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

When I first moved to Clifton in Bristol (an area I love by the way!) I decided to make myself a gear list. It was a new start, both in location and in full time career and a shiny, new bag full of gear seemed to be in order. It was a wish list of my most wanted gear. My plan was to take as much of my disposable income as possible and buy the gear now, at the beginning. Then in the coming year the profit would be put back in to the business, marketing, hard drives, a new printer and maybe a wedding fair. O... and wages...

I've shot 12 weddings so far this year and I'm turning away clients for 2010 because I'm fairly well booked up. I've also done a fair bit of second shooting and have a pretty good idea what gear I need. So it was a bit of a surprise when I opened my gear 'wish list' and looked through all of my 'must have' items.

It really blew me away that my list had changed considerably in 9 months. Firstly my new list is a lot smaller. A quick estimation shows that I have probably saved around £4,000. Gone are the desires for the 85mm f1.2 L lens, 15mm f/2.8 fisheye and the 50mm f/1.2 L. I don't need a full set of studio lights, nor ETTL compatible triggers for my 4 speed lights.

I'm even considering selling the 16-35mm f2.8 L zoom lens I own, but it does come in useful at times. So how did my needs change? Practically I simply wouldn't want to cart the weight of all this gear around with me. It would have been quite a burden and a bit of a worry to have to leave it around because I couldn't carry it. I also rented a few lenses and borrowed some others to see whether they worked for me before purchasing. Some worked really well and others just didn't suit my style.

My advice to anyone in a similar position would not be to rush out and buy the gear. You might surprise yourself and save yourself some money if you work with what you have and try renting gear.

Labels: Bristol, Equipment, Gear, Guide, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

I know it's easily said that you should work your client to get the best out of them. Serious shots are nice, but grabbing emotion is what weddings are all about. Saying 'smile' doesn't work and just sounds lame. Encouraging people to play, have fun, be silly is okay for models but not so much for the average bride. This can be particularly challenging with just one person, with two they can play off each other.

Anyway, here a few things to do or say to lighten the atmosphere and make them feel comfortable.

• Talk to them, ask her how she met the groom, plans for the honeymoon.
• Ask her what nicknames she has for the groom that no one else knows.
• Tell them a really bad joke. This works well if you build it up to be the best joke ever... they always crack up over it.
• Try grabbing a small kid from nearby and asking him/her to press the shutter - this normally gets some genuine smiles.
• Compliment them and tell them they look good - don't forget to show them the best ones on the LCD.
• Encourage them to move around - they don't have to be stiffs! This can lead to them doing stupid poses which is always good.
• Say - "now the bride and groom kiss and every laugh" *click* then, "now the bride and groom laugh and everyone else kiss!" *click*
• "Okay, look like you like each other." *click*
• "Okay, now bite his ear!" *click*

Labels: Bristol, Techniques, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

Being a photographer is all about being creative. That said there are many 'must have shots' you need to take on the wedding day. One of the photos a groom will like the most is a head and shoulders shot of the bride. This is the photograph that he will put on his desk at work or in his wallet.

It's best if you can photograph her veiled and unveiled. While you need to get close to her and get an intimate shot you might also want to try different kinds of light. Both soft light for a more dreamy look but also harsh light more contrasty punchy photographs. It's quite unnatural to be photographed so make sure you show her the back of your camera so she knows how good she looks!

As I've previously mentioned talk to the bride too - tell her how good she looks, and make sure she likes what she is doing. This will make her look (and feel) more relaxed and natural.

Labels: Bristol, Guide, Techniques, Wedding Photography

So I've finally purchased the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens for use on my full frame Canon 5DMKII. I'm really going to try and make sure that is the last lens I buy this year (with the possible exception of the Canon 50mm f/1.4 as an upgrade.) Why is this the best lens for a wedding photographer? Well there is no 'best lens' per se, however there is an obvious gap in my lens lineup and I KNOW with all my heart that this lens will get a lot of use when it comes to the Wedding formals.

Luckily I managed to have a quick play with one a few days ago in the Bristol flickr meetup. One of the members very kindly lent me theirs and whilst I didn't get the opportunity to fully put it through its paces due to the low light I can see why people like it so much.

It's the optimum wideness for group shots, but also very reasonable for zooming in all the way for a few portraits. Perviously I have had to swap lenses here. With the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II for the wide shots and the 80-200mm f/2.8 L lens for the portraits. This is really going to save me a lot of time at this part of the wedding.

Whilst I've yet to review my copy I got it at an excellent price on eBay of £724 inc P&P. The reviews I have read from both friends and other forums online have been glowing in their praise.

Well hopefully I'll get a good copy and a review will follow.

Labels: Bristol, Equipment, Gear, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

It's really important to find out beforehand what the bride's vision is for her wedding. For instance shoes might be particularly important to her or the bridesmaids as I can assure you they will have been carefully selected for the day.

When taking time to chat to them (before the big day) find out the efforts are going in to the creating the day - they will almost certainly be worth photographing in an artistic and thoughtful way.

Labels: Bristol, Guide, Thoughts, Wedding Photography