Some DIY Wedding Photography Tips

If you've never taken photographs for a wedding before, you should prepare yourself.  It is a daunting task with a great deal depending upon you (the photographer) and your equipment.  It is a huge responsibility that should be taken very seriously and planned in every detail.  You should try to be imaginative without taking too many chances but you should also make sure you get all the 'traditional' shots with all the right people in them.  You only get one shot at it!

I'm certainly not an expert wedding photographer although I have photographed a few weddings in the past for friends and family whose budget didn't stretch to hiring a professional and I offer the following list as a rough guide to obtaining some decent worthwhile shots of which you can be proud.  Hopefully so will the bride, the groom and families.

Make sure you have all the right equipment - lenses, filters, flashguns, batteries, flash memory (or film) and get an idea of the layout of the church or register office and reception venue.  Also get acquainted with other people such as the florist, the car chauffer, the music makers and certainly the parents of the bride and groom.   Not least of all, try to be assertive and look as if you know what you're doing - even when you're a bit perplexed and not sure what's next.  That way you stand a chance of getting all the guests and most of the bridesmaids in the right place at the right time...  Pigs all fed and ready for take-off!

Before the Wedding

•  Wedding dress lying over a chair
•  Zipping up or buttoning the wedding dress
•  Mother of the bride fastening the bride's necklace
•  The bride's garter
•  The bride's veil
•  A close up of the bride's shoes peeking out from under the dress
•  Bride looking into a mirror
•  Bride looking out window
•  Bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
•  Bride pinning corsage/boutonhole on mother/father
•  Bride hugging parents
•  Bride touching up make up
•  Bride and parents leaving for ceremony

At the church or ceremony venue

•  Guests walking into ceremony site
•  Bride and father entering ceremony site
•  Parents being seated
•  Grandparents being seated
•  Maid of honour walking down the aisle
•  Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
•  Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle
•  Groom waiting for bride
•  Ceremony musicians
•  Altar or canopy during ceremony
•  Close up of bride, just before she makes her entrance
•  Bride and father walking down aisle
•  Groom seeing bride for first time
•  The back of bride and father walking down the aisle with the groom waiting in the distance
•  Bride's father and Bride hugging at end of aisle
•  Shot of the congregation from the bride and groom's point of view
•  The unity ceremony
•  Close up of bride and groom saying the vows
•  Wide shot of bride and groom saying the vows
•  Exchanging the rings
•  The kiss
•  Signing the Register
•  Close up of hands
•  Bride & Groom walking down the aisle

Outside the church or ceremony venue

•  Bride & Groom outside on steps (and possibly just inside just before they emerge)
•  Guests throwing confetti / rose petals / rice etc
•  Bride & Groom hugging guests, laughing, getting congratulations
•  Posed Wedding Photography Before the Reception (These can also be taken before the ceremony)
•  Bride alone (full length)
•  Bride with Maid of Honour
•  Bride with bridesmaids
•  Groom with bridesmaids
•  Bride with parents
•  Bride & Groom together
•  Bride & Groom with parents
•  Bride & Groom with families
•  Bride & Groom with entire wedding party
•  Bride & Groom with flower girl and ringbearer
•  Groom with parents
•  Groom with best man
•  Groom with pageboys
•  Bride with pageboys

(Now you have to use your imagination to get some good shots of bride & groom together...)

•  Bride & Groom getting in car
•  Bride & Groom in back seat

During the Reception

•  Outside the reception site
•  Bride & Groom arriving
•  Bride & Groom greeting guests
•  Table center-pieces
•  Table setting
•  Bride & Groom table (head table)
•  Musicians or DJ
•  Guest book
•  Place card table
•  Closeup of bride and groom's place card
•  Wedding cake
•  Gift table
•  Decorations
•  A shot of bride & groom with guests at each table
•  The buffet or, if having table service, a dinner serving
•  Bride & Groom's first dance
•  Bride & Father dancing
•  Groom & Mother dancing
•  Guests dancing
•  Bride & Groom cutting the cake
•  Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
•  The Toasts / Speeches
•  Bride & Groom drinking champagne
•  Signing the marriage license
•  Bride throwing bouquet
•  Groom retrieving garter
•  Groom tossing garter
•  Garter/Bouquet dance
•  The Getaway car
•  Bride & Groom leaving party
•  Bride & Groom driving away