The combination of families for a lifetime of love and happiness is the most important thing about a wedding.  The photography is second, distant but super important.

Photography is such an important part of preserving memories of any special occasion, especially weddings.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked through our wedding album in the last 11 years, but it always brings me joy to do so.  Seeing the love of a newly wedded couple flow through the photos, the laughter and happiness, is  like a warm blanket on a cold night or that perfect glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.

The only problem is that we don’t all have an unlimited supply of funds for our weddings and great photography is not cheap.  Fortunately, it’s totally plausible for us to learn to take great pictures or even just ensure that we get some of our most desired shots through a little research.

It’s difficult to ‘practice’ wedding photography, as one doesn’t typically go to weddings constantly and events such as these are not ones where we want to realize too late that we missed something great or used the wrong camera settings.

One thing I absolutely love is how easily accessible the internet has made sharing pictures and such.  I love that there are all these platforms that make a Wedding Photo Swap so easy.  The candid shots from guests can often be some of the best ones to see!  I’ve gathered some tips to help you make shooting great shots a little easier!

Simple Photography Tips

1. ISO Settings

If you are using a manual camera, ISO settings are  a lot to remember! Here’s a quick and easy list that totally simplifies the setting requirements:

Daytime: 100-200

Darker settings: 800-1600

For Movement Shots: use a higher shutter speed and higher ISO

2. Angles

Different angles bring different feelings within shots.  To make your subject even more compelling, shoot from a lower angle by lying on the ground or crouching when you take the shot.

3. Scan the Full View!

Often after we’ve developed a photo, we realize that there was something unsightly in the background that we didn’t notice. Getting yourself in the habit of looking completely around the view before you take a shot will save you a ton of frustration later!

After you’ve scanned the surroundings, now is the time to make sure the subjects are in good order.  Double check that hair is in place, no double chin is appearing, or a top doesn’t need to be adjusted to keep things in or hidden.  When we look at a photo of ourselves, we naturally look first at our own perceived flaws.  Catch them and modify your shot (or politely help them to do so) before they become a permanent frustration in the photo album!

4. Make Your Subject Comfortable

I find that the best shots have natural, real facial expressions in them.  Everyone has a fake smile that they use, but a genuine smile or shot of laughter jumps out of a photo.  I often pretend that I’m adjusting things and make conversation, this helps my subjects relax and I end up getting genuine smiles as I ‘accidentally’ click at the right times.  It’s an art, but you can do it.  LOL

If you are interested in free wedding and event resources, check out this post!  It’s an ever-growing list so be sure and check back from time to time!

If you practice and incorporate these tips into your photography, they may help you spend less time when processing your photos.  I absolutely hate that part, so I’ve done my best over the years to eliminate the need for it!  I would love for you share your own tips for making photography simple!