When you are starting out as a professional photographer, weddings are usually going to involve taking some difficult shots, and you have to have the right equipment in order to get the shots right.

Exposure has to be within the right tonal range throughout the shots of the bride and groom to maintain the detail in every shot. If the image is underexposed the darker hints of the image are brought forward and the brides brilliant white dress appears to be a dull white instead, this of course can be edited if a little under exposed, but too much and the image is ruined.

When the image is over exposed the details are completely lost and the brilliant white of the brides dress becomes too bright, and the image also can’t be used; there is no option to edit out over exposure though.

It’s important that the bride and groom and other guests at the wedding have engaged with the camera and where they have maintained direct eye contact, otherwise their eyes are not seen and the image looks unprofessional.

When you’ve just got engaged, you have lots of reasons to celebrate with your friends and family. Many people want to capture these moments with professional photographs and it’s becoming much more common for people to have engagement photoshoots to help remember those special moments.

If you choose to have an engagement party, hiring a photographer to capture it is a very popular idea. You will be able to capture images of yourself, your partner and your friends and family having fun together and celebrating one of the most exciting times of your life. Brief the photographer on the kinds of images you would like so that they can concentrate on the right areas. You might even want to use some of the photos on your wedding invitations or ‘save the date’ cards.

If parties aren’t really your thing, you may also choose to have an engagement photoshoot to get some images of you and your partner as a couple. This is a lovely way to remind you of your engagement and you will be able to decorate your home with the pictures. Think of settings that mean a lot to you as a couple and discuss your options with your photographer.

Many people choose to have an engagement photoshoot so that they can try out a photographer ahead of their wedding. It’s almost like a kind of audition. Wherever you choose to have the photographs taken, they will be an excellent way to assess a photographer’s skill set and they will help you to make the important decision of who to hire for your wedding day.

Disposable cameras certainly won’t take the best pictures in the world. They can be incredibly good fun though, and people will often hand them out at events so that their guests can take their own photographs.

It’s becoming especially popular to use disposable cameras to take photographs at weddings. They’re often left on tables so that guests can use them, then the photographs are all sent off to be developed together. This can be a brilliant way to ensure that you have plenty of memories from your big day and it gives everyone a chance to contribute.

Whilst it can be fun, however, you must bear in mind that the photographs aren’t likely to be of a particularly good quality. Even if some of your friends are keen photographers, disposable cameras aren’t particularly good pieces of equipment and the pictures they produce probably won’t be very clear. It’s likely that you will still want to hire a professional photographer for your wedding so that you have some good quality images to remember your day by.

There are a million different kinds of events where photography is required – but there are very few that require such expert photography as the wedding event. The reasons for this are many, but I only want to focus on one in particular today. Have you ever noticed how, in wedding photos, people (particularly the bride) look gorgeous. That is an art form – not just from the people who spend hours making sure the bride looks incredible, but also from the photography staff.
It is about hitting the right lights, getting a great setting and the right angles and poses. It is extremely difficult to do, but it is of crucial importance on this, one of the most special days of these people’s lives. A couple of naff photos are fine, but you have to make sure these people, the bride in particular, look amazing. A bad review from a wedding will hurt your business going forward.

To become a professional wedding photographer, you have to have a varied set of skills. We’re going to quickly outline 4 of the most important skills when it comes to wedding photography.

1. An eye for a shot – Without a good photo you have nothing, and every photo start with the photographer and his or her eye. If you’re unable to compose a photograph well, then you’re unlikely to pick up clients, and gain recognition for your work.
2. Business skills are also important. You have to be able to handle your clients, manage your schedule, collect payment correctly, work out your tax and keep your business running and making a profit.
3. The next important skill is handling high quality equipment. The best equipment can really help a professional photographer, and it’s important to know how to utilise every element of a professional camera to get a great shot.
4. People skills are also important, and again without them you will have no business. You have to understand your clients’ needs and the needs of their guests, and give everything they require on their special day – in terms of photography of course.