Labels: Bristol, Guide, Thoughts, Web, Wedding Photography

I recently stumbled over a great tip from wedding photographer extraordinaire Jasmine Star. I thought I would share it with anyone reading this blog as it's a real scorcher. Granted, not a resident in Bristol, but she writes a great blog and regularly shares her inspiring work. I’m always after tips to improve the efficiency of photographing weddings, especially the formals. Formal shots can be fun to shoot and Bristol has some great traditional wedding locations. When you mix this with my modern style of photography the results are always great to look and make long lasting memories that I am proud of.


That said formal shots aren't traditionally a fun thing for the bride and groom or the guests. Understandably they would rather be spending time together rather than looking at me behind a black box! The one thing that slows the process down is the organisation of people. Up until now I have always started with the Bride and then worked my way up to the whole wedding party. This has worked well and I can get the whole thing done in about 30-40 minutes. My assistant ticks off the shots as we go and lets me know which shot comes next.

Jasmine recommends you do the opposite. Start with a big group. Pose them well and then strip away the guests, friends and then the family with each shot. This saves people hanging around who are not needed until the end. It also saves a lot of reposing with every shot taken. My next wedding has an unusually large number of formal shots. There are about 25 as the bride has a large number of relatives coming from overseas. It’s going to take a long time whatever method I use but I'm hoping this method will shave a few minutes off what will be a long session.

Doing new things is sometimes a bit scary but I'm relatively confident this will work wonders.

Labels: Bristol, Guide, Techniques, Thoughts, Web, Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography Locations

I'm really looking forward to photographing a wedding at the Hotel Du Vin this weekend. I'll be taking a new second photographer along with me this time. It will be really handy to have him to carry my kit around as I plan on using some big lights for the formals. Shooting weddings in winter can be a real pain due to the lack of light. I'll be bouncing flashes off the walls and ceiling rather than counting on high ISO wide apertures. The quality of light can be very natural and lighting is what good photography is all about.

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

An easy way to be creative at a wedding is to change the backdrop and get away from the other people at the wedding. For example when going to the Bristol registry office for a ceremony there are some beautiful parts of Bristol that make a nice backdrop for any wedding photographer. All it takes is for you to get the bride and groom to plan this in to their schedule so that you get 10-15 minutes with just them. This really helps spice up the pictures.

Not only do the shots visually change, but getting the happy couple away from everyone else lets them relax. When they don't have a crowd looking at them they will be a lot more comfortable and relaxed. Then you can encourage them to play, have a kiss or just enjoy a few moments together sitting down talking.

Labels: Bristol, Guide, Techniques, Thoughts, Web, Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography Locations

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

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

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

I was having a bit of a chat with some friends in Bristol over coffee at the Cafe Du Jour on Whiteladies Road (great place, great coffee.) And we got in to sharing thoughts about how we conduct ourselves in a meeting with a prospective couple. I thought it would make an interesting blog post, so let me know what you think.

I can really only say what I do, so on reflection I find that even before the meeting you want the couple to love you, love your work and know you care about their wedding well before the meeting. You can show this from your website, your first e-mail and phone call.

I try and keep the KISS principle in mind because it can be very easy to overcomplicate things when it comes to discussing a wedding.

I try and keep the first 15-20 minutes getting to know the couple. I genuinely love meeting new people and making friends and so these meetings excite me because they are always fun. Getting to know someone and making a connection is crucial if you want to take the best photographs you can of them. Don't mention the wedding or bring out your portfolio until you have got to know them a little.

Don't over pitch especially when they are looking at your photos but don't just sit there either. I guide them through my work and tell them how I created the images and what makes them special. Make them laugh, keep it light and have fun and whatever you do try and make a connection. Show your passion, that's why you are in the wedding photography business. Your passion and people skills will win you clients.

If you sell albums, bring some so the clients can see them, having something tangible is a really nice plus and shows you are interested in quality products.

When you move on to the subject of weddings find out how they met, what mood or feeling they have for their images and the vision they have. Be interested in their wedding, the cake, dress, style and theme. This is the part where you need to listen more and talk less. Bring a nice notepad and pen with you and take notes, it shows you care and helps you not to forget. Tell them of your experience that there is no problem you have not faced. I ask them how their ideal photographer would fit in to their day and other such open ended questions, getting them to speak automatically will help them relax. It is important to let them know how you work and so I talk them through their day from my perspective. "When you are getting ready I will be doing this..."

Being nervous is normal, but if you show your nerves you won't be hired. Speak with confidence, after all you are a professional and you will know what you are talking about. Contrary to popular belief there are enough weddings to go around. I may not be what people are looking for and and likewise I don't have to photograph every wedding that comes across my plate. But couples who love my style and insist that I am exactly what they want are the ones I want to book. I don't take the stance that I'm trying to get them to hire me, rather I'm showing them what I do, how I do it and the results. Hopefully we will make a connection and our visions match we will make a great story and capture it with creativity and passion.

Finally ask them whether they have anymore questions, and if not ask them if they would like to book that date.

Your work speaks for itself, but the meeting is to decide whether they like me or not...

Labels: Bristol, Guide, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

There are few opportunities to practise shots on the wedding day, but one of the few opportunities we get as wedding photographers is the cutting of the cake. This is a great opportunity to get some 'safe shots' in the bag with no interruptions. Another reason is that sometimes the photographer is only booked up to a certain time and so they need the photographs of the cake cutting before they leave. Since my 'second shooter' days I was always taught to do a mock cutting of the cake for these reasons. However, last weekend I decided against doing this. The reason?

These 'fake' shots never make it in to the final portfolio of images I hand to the clients. When they do the real thing the expressions are too priceless to miss capturing! I always stay until the end of the night so there is no chance of me missing this great opportunity. I also find the same thing when throwing the bouquet. It can be photographically challenging, but doing it live and capturing the real thing makes for better, emotionally charged photographs.

This is part of my plan to reduce the amount of photographs I take at a wedding and concentrate on the quality. This is a time consideration meaning less photos to post process and more highly rated photos.

The only other 'fake' part of the day is the signing of the register. Normally the priest doesn't allow this due to the distraction, but it is his house so his rules... Okay maybe it's God's house but I am sure you understand what I mean!

Photography is all about capturing the moment!

Labels: Guide, Techniques, Thoughts, Wedding Photography

Living in Bristol, or the UK for that matter, unpredictable weather or just 'bad' weather is always to be considered. I suspect this is why most people schedule their wedding for the summer months, but all photographers must have a plan when it comes to poor weather. We all know that bright sunlight can be quite hard to work with, but what happens when you can't even step outside?

When you first meet for a couple for a wedding consultation always discuss their contingency plan regarding bad weather. It's not as if it doesn't rain here on earth from time to time. In most cases the contingency will be in the church or the reception under cover. However weddings can be outdoor events - or you may even want to embrace the weather for the feeling it can give to a photograph and the memory of the day.

Contingency
Check the weather forecast up to a week, every day until the day. This will help you plan in advance, including waterproofing to carry your gear in from your car to the wedding venue. Hopefully the venue will be nice enough for indoor photographs by using features such as the church alter, or if you are at the reception then use the buildings best features. This might be an old wooden staircase or a fireplace. If it doesn't have any good features then resort to your two best friends - window light and a plain wall with fresh flowers on either side of the group.

Protection
What happens if it is an outdoor event? The wedding venue is probably the best bet for finding shelter immediately after the ceremony. In honesty I think good local knowledge is essential here and one of the key reasons you should scout the location before the big day. If you have good knowledge of the local area you can find shelter in places such as picnic areas, underneath a porch or building overhang such as the church's entrance.

Gear
Again, this is perhaps another reason why a professional photographer needs professional gear. Basic weather sealing for your body and lenses means you don't have to be too concerned with some light rain or a few drops. Personally I'd be more worried about the bride's dress getting wet or people's hair do's than my gear because I know I am covered. I have seen other photographers use plastic bags with elastic bands around their camera. Whilst this is a legitimate way of protecting your gear I'm not 100% sure what it says for your image as a professional. Individual choice comes in to this but if you're shooting a wedding for £5,000 I'm not sure you can always get away with it. Even if you use a bag from John Lewis! When bad weather strikes I have my assistant hold the umbrella - that's all I'm saying...

If there is light rain and your clients are up for it then suggest shooting outside. I have managed this on one occasion and it worked well. Other times the weather was SO bad it couldn't have been an option but if I thought we could have got away with it I would have suggested it. One technical consideration is using flash in the rain. It can create specular highlights on raindrops in between you and the subject. You might want to do this for a few creative shots - but you probably won't want all of them to look like this.

Use it to your advantage
Now I don't want my clients to get absolutely soaked - unless they are up for it! But shooting in the rain can mean some really memorable, creative, fun photographs.

I would suggest buying some big umbrellas in preparation. Neutral colours work best as they don't distract but really it does come down to your style. Avoid logos at all costs and also be aware of any colour casts that might come from light shining through a coloured umbrella. Plastic see-through umbrellas may be another consideration for your funky brides... Again this is another opportunity to impress your clients with great service and creative thinking. When things don't go to plan I know you can really help make their day special in what might be quite a stressful situation. In some circumstances all you can do is embrace the rain and have fun.

You might be surprised at what you can create in such circumstances as thick clouds can be very atmospheric. Wet or poor weather isn't all that bad from a photographic perspective. Clouds add a lot of drama to a photo and I would prefer to have them in the picture than a plain boring blue sky. Recent rain can sparkle and make colours seem a bit more vibrant and certainly gives a very fresh feel. Bright sunlight just makes things looks washed out and flat.

One last tip is to try and calm the nerves of bride and groom. Having your one special day spoilt by gale force winds and torrential rain is awful, but a smile, joke and a laugh will ease the mood and the knowledge that you can produce good images inside or out should hopefully take some stress away - at least for them! Again, their feelings will probably come across in your photographs so it is very much your concern that they are looked after and treated as they should be!

Labels: Equipment, Gear, Guide, Techniques, Wedding Photography

Some say a wedding is like a big party and for others it is a spiritual occasion. Whatever view the view, the relatives, friends, bride and groom will be showing emotion and pictures showing this will be the best of the day. Pictures of people looking bored at a wedding won't go down well and you won't (I hope) of captured the spirit of the day. Emotion isn't always easy to capture but there are predictable points throughout the day when if you are in the right place it will help your chances of capturing the mother of the bride weeping a bit easier. Other opportunities arise when you get involved at a wedding because don't forget you are as much a part of the event as everyone else so remember this and try and get involved without imposing. Talking to people, telling jokes and generally being fun will help your subjects feel at ease and help make photo opportunities.

There are times when you need to stand at the side and wait for people to do something interesting. However if the 'energy' isn't there then make sure you move on and keep circulating. People always tell me how much effort I put in to my work and I think it energy and happiness catches. If you show people a good time you usually get it back in return. Being at a joyous occasion such as a wedding, people want to have fun and celebrate. This does make your life slightly easier but giving people a gentle nudge in the right direction will improve your chances. What I mean by this is sometimes you need a long lens so you can stand back and capture an event as it unfolds. On other occasions you need to get in close with the wide angle and 'help' the guests have fun.

Labels: Guide, Wedding Photography

It's really important to guide your clients during a photo shoot. Whether it is engagement shoot or shots on the wedding day of the bride and groom a few hints will go a long way. It will make them look better, give them confidence and ultimately make your photos look better. They don't all have to try to be a professional model, it won't look natural - but there are a few things you can do to try and improve the way your subjects look.

Labels: Guide, Wedding Photography

One tip to save time in post processing is to make sure that all of your camera bodies have the same time and date. Not 'about the same', but exactly the same.

Labels: Equipment, Guide, Techniques, Wedding Photography

If you haven't photographed children before you might feel a bit of trepidation even if you're used to portraiture because there is a lot to learn.

First it's helpful to start the shoot at the right time of the day. This means avoiding meal or nap time. It's really hard to get smiles at these times, before a nap they are too tired, and afterwards can be bad too. Often food will help calm a baby down, but you need to be careful because it sometimes has a tendency to come back up! Most parents with a child of a few months know this, but just in case you don't.

Labels: Guide, Techniques

There are two good reasons to prepare, plan and prepare.

Firstly everyone has heard of 'pre wedding nerves.' This applies to the wedding photographer too. It's good to be on edge, you don't want to be too complacent about how good you are. Equally you don't want your nerves to affect your performance. An effective way to control your nerves is to PREPARE yourself as much as you can. You will need to adjust to the events of the day and if something within your control goes wrong you need to have a backup plan. What happens if your camera dies, you run out of memory or batteries for your flash. What happens if it rains outside where you planned to do the formal shots? What happens if the guests keep looking at their friends taking pictures of them rather than you. What happens if your camera can't get the right white balance between daylight coming through the windows and tungsten?

You need to have answers to these kind of questions. Preparing your gear and researching the location will make you feel more confident about the event and rather than being distracted by your nerves you will be able to 'focus' on the job in hand.

The second reason is that if your plans go wrong then you have a physical backup or a backup plan. This is not psychological but very real! Having a backup for everything may seem like overkill but let me assure you it is not. Weddings only happen once and you can't even think about photographing one without serious preparation.

This is why if you drop your main portrait lens you have an alternative. Obviously you don't need to carry two of every lens, but if you crack your 70-200/2.8 then you can whip out your 100/2.8 macro and shoot with that. In short, do your best to be fully prepared so that if something happens you can rest comfortably in the knowledge that you were as prepared as you could possibly be.

As I mentioned previously things rarely go to plan on the day and you have to expect the unexpected and go with the flow. Whilst you need to memorise your list of formal shots keep a note of them and check them at the end of the wedding. If you forgot to take a shot of the groom and bridesmaids then you can check your list before the end of the wedding and organise an impromptu shoot.

The schedule often changes. Don't be surprised if the bride arrives 15 minutes late for the ceremony. This will impact on your 30 minutes of allocated time for a photoshoot and you will only get 15. Get the important emotional shots during and after the ceremony make sure you explain to the organiser or bride what has happened. They will help you to organise people and explain what has happened and ease the pressure on you so you can do the best job in the circumstances.

Don't get irritable if things don't go to plan. This doesn't help anyone and it is so true that the person in front of the camera mirrors the person behind it. Joke and have fun with them. Provide positive GENUINE feedback, chimp and adjust your subjects as necessary so that they feel good about themselves. Remember the more practice you have the less stressed you will be. The less stressed you are the less mistakes you make.

Labels: Gear, Guide, Techniques, Wedding Photography

One thing that I have learned by shadowing wedding photographers and my own experience is to plan your formal shoot sequentially. What I mean by this is plan it beforehand so that each shot naturally runs on to the next shot. Stick to this for every wedding you do and it will become second nature and you will become more efficient.

Most couples want their wedding to be covered candidly but they also want formal shots. When I meet with the couple to discuss what they want and how they want me to cover the wedding the subject of formal shots always comes up. I make sure I take note of what they want then and leave them a copy so there is no confusion later on. Below is my 'set list' that I show to the customer - they can then add or remove any shots that aren't included or aren't applicable. Make sure you WRITE THIS DOWN because you can't afford to forget that special picture of the bride and her best friend.

• Bride alone (full length and portrait)
• Bride with Maid of Honour
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Bride with groomsmen
• Bride with her parents
• Groom with bridesmaids
• Groom with best man
• Groom with groomsmen
• Groom with his parents
• Bride & Groom together
• Bride & Groom with bride’s parents
• Bride & Groom with bride’s parents & immediate family
• Bride & Groom with groom’s parents
• Bride & Groom with groom’s parents & immediate family
• Bride & Groom with both parents
• Bride & Groom with families
• Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
• Bride & Groom with best man and mad of honour
• Bride & Groom with officient

For me this is the best order as one shot runs in to the next. When you discuss the set list with the couple take note of the names and relationships so that when the time comes you can call people in to the scene. I highly recommend you memorise this list. It doesn't look professional to keep looking at a piece of paper in your pocket because you don't know what comes next! Don't forget, you NEED to gain the confidence of your subjects.

I also 'apologise' to the guests that I'll be a noisy and a bit bossy but we need to be quick so that people aren't standing around too long. They also appreciate a firm and authoritative but kindly voice so they don't miss being called. I suggest that if you have a crier, speaker or host at the wedding who is in charge of co-ordinates things - make friends with him and ask him to shout out your list. I have often found that he tends to have the kind of voice people listen to!

Labels: Guide, Wedding Photography

Ensure you get a schedule from the bride and groom at least one month from the wedding date. You need to know what's going on and to check the formal portrait and group shots have been allocated enough time. Normally they haven't.

Sequence of Events (Photo opportunities are in bold.)

Get to the location of the ceremony beforehand to check for locations both inside and outside for formal shots. You need to know what the light will be like and check the weather forecast. Take some test shots and scout out good locations for the formals.

Getting ready with the bride:

1. Makeup application - (before, during and after shots)

2. Get dressed - (after shot)

3. Hair styling and and decoration - (during and after, mother putting on vale)

5. Final Check.

6. Leave for the ceremony - (car/getting in)

7. Arrival at ceremony in transport - (getting out)

8. The ceremony - (rings/tears/people in the front rows and the aisle walk)

9. Leave ceremony venue - (confetti/formal photographs/candid opportunities)

Arrive at the Reception:

1. Arrive - (arriving (if possible))

2. Food - (shots of table decorations, cake, buffet or meal before being eaten)

3. Speeches - (at least one good shot of each speaker, different angles etc)

4. Cutting of the Cake - (full/half and close up shots)

5. First Dance - (lots of angles, crowd as background)

6. The party - (lots of candid shots)

7. The end - (shots of people leaving)

Normally a lot of alcohol is consumed at weddings and it's highly likely that someone will offer you a drink - especially if there is an open bar. You need to be very careful here and I recommend you don't accept if it is early on in the day. If something goes wrong with your gear or memory cards and someone says they saw you drinking at the wedding you will have some serious explaining to do. Just say something like 'sorry but I need to make sure that everything is in focus. Maybe later!" and don't accept the offer. Only when you have had time to make a backup on the laptop or a harddrive do I suggest you accept at the end of the evening.

As far as I can remember that is the general trend at most weddings in the UK. Obviously it depends on the couple so make sure you study that schedule.

Labels: Guide, Techniques