What a First Time Wedding Photographer Needs to Know

The news that you are photographing your first wedding often leads to emotions ranging from excitement to apprehension, and in some cases, fear. Assuming you have experience with your equipment and have developed the necessary skills to take great photographs, the wedding event has a greater likelihood of being a successful one if you follow some key steps.

This article provides an overview of important steps to follow before, during, and after the event. As with any important job, the keys are preparation, focus, and follow-through.

Before the Wedding

Proper preparation before the event is the best way for a photographer to have a successful outcome. I spent several weeks before my first wedding visiting other photographers’ web sites. I read books on wedding photography, and I researched photography blogs and forums. It is amazing how much information is available for little or no charge. These tips and photographs can inspire you and get you thinking about what you want to accomplish and how you are going to make it happen.

It is important that you have a standard written agreement that is signed by the bride- and groom-to-be and the photographer. There is no excuse for not having this document in place. It should describe the deliverables and the fees associated with the service and products. It should also include a model release so you can use the photos for promotional purposes. It is highly recommended that you contact an attorney and draft a standard agreement that protects you.

At the time of signing the agreement, there are two other opportunities to enhance the process. First, get to know the bride and groom. Spend some time chatting so you will know their story and they will know you. When the wedding day comes, they should feel comfortable with you so their true personalities will shine. If possible, include a no cost or low cost engagement shoot so everyone can gain even more of a comfort level. It is a good opportunity to give them some posing tips that they can use on their wedding day.

It is also imperative to know the schedule. When you are meeting with the bride and groom, go over the agenda for the time you are expected to be at the wedding. Get to know their expectations. Let them know when you expect them to devote time to photographs with you in charge. This is a good time to talk about a wedding coordinator. If they will designate a friend or family member that will help the you identify important family members during the wedding day, it can be a tremendous help.

Another important component of preparation is checking your equipment. Check it thoroughly at least four or five days before a shoot. A check prior to my first wedding revealed a faulty auto-focus mechanism on one of my camera bodies, and I had to borrow a second camera for the shoot, but I was ready.

A proper equipment check also requires making sure you have backups of everything. You need two camera bodies and two flash units at a minimum. If you do not have them, you can rent them. On my first senior photo shoot, the wind blew my tripod and camera to the concrete surface. You never know when something will drop or just fail.

Check your batteries and memory card supplies, and bring more than you think you will need. It is not uncommon to take 2,000 to 3,000 images at a wedding. If you are using flash, you will burn through batteries very fast at that rate. For memory cards, it is better to have several smaller cards than just one or two big ones. If a card fails, you minimize your loss by using multiple cards.

Visit the venue(s) prior to the wedding day in order to scope out lighting and shot locations. Do you need to gel your flash for proper white balance? I often find that if I take a few test shots with and without flash, and perform a custom white balance check with my camera, that there are competing colors from the various light sources. For indoor venues, I often have to gel the flash to match the color of the venue’s lighting. This will save you much time and aggravation later in the process.

To prepare yourself physically for a tiring day, have a light meal before you go. It is a good idea to bring granola, energy or candy bars, or other portable snacks. Bring water, too, just in case.

If you are prone to headaches, have a pain reliever with your in your pocket or bag.

Part of blending into the event is dressing appropriately. Talk to the bride and groom about their expectations before the event. In all cases, wear comfortable shoes.

Be insured. If someone trips over your equipment, are you covered?

The Ceremony

When you arrive, begin by taking outdoor venue shots. Here in southeast Michigan, you never know if the weather will turn on you later, and the same is true in many locations. Get some key building and landscape elements without people, just to have them.

Calibrate your camera’s white balance as soon as you walk indoors; do it for all of your cameras. Also, turn camera sounds off; you don’t want your camera to make noise during the ceremony.

Bring a fast lens; the faster the better. Indoor lighting at churches and reception halls is notoriously poor and dim. Be prepared with a fast lens (f /2.8 minimum – f/1.8 preferred). If you don’t have one, rent it.

If you are in a place of worship, have a clear understanding of where you can go and what locations are off-limits. Also, flash is usually not permitted in places of worship, but you can ask.

Consider bringing an assistant. Let them carry equipment, help set up shots, hold off-camera flash, and more. If you are working a 6-8 hour event, be prepared for the physical impact it will have on you. Having an assistant will ease the burden on you and should result in better photographs.

If you have a break from the bride and groom, start shooting the very young and very old early. They can get tired fast, and some may leave early.

If you have a camera bag, lock it down or have your assistant carry it. If you are on your own, consider using a cable lock for your camera bag and hide it out of sight. It serves as a deterrent from theft. You may feel comfortable with the bride and groom, but you never know about their friends and family or the staff at the venue.

Never reformat memory cards at the event. Backup when you can, but do not reformat. Check everything on your computer and complete backups before reformatting.

Take shots of the bride and groom as soon after the ceremony (or before) as possible. After people start drinking and celebrating, it will get harder to assemble people and have them look their best.

Most of the time, the photographer’s role should be to blend in and be discreet. Disappear in the background and try to capture people when they are relaxed, happy, emotional, etc.

If the wedding and reception are indoors, make sure to take shots of the bride and groom outside. Try to get away during the reception and get some outside shots–even if it is nighttime.

Take a group shot of everyone. This is a great way to have everyone in attendance in one photo. It makes for a great enlargement and an opportunity for sales to others in attendance at the wedding.

After the Event

After the event is over, I believe it is important to process the images as fast as possible. There is something to be said capturing taking the energy of the day and carrying forward. Posting images quickly to a web site will make everyone happy.

Keep in contact with the bride and groom and schedule a time to meet with them to go over the images and discuss ordering details. It is as important to provide a high level of customer service after the event and before it. If you establish a relationship with the couple, they will think of you for family portraits and portraits of their children in years to come.

Finally, take notes about what went right and what went wrong. This may help you do an even better job next time around.

Health Benefits of Practicing Photography and stay fit and alive.

Photography is often celebrated for its ability to capture moments, tell stories, and create art. However, beneath the layers of technique and vision, there is an array of health benefits that many practitioners may not be fully aware of. Engaging in photography not only sharpens our visual acuity but also fosters well-being in various dimensions of our lives.

1. Mental Stimulation

Photography is a blend of creativity and technical skill. Every time you frame a shot, decide on settings, or edit a picture, you are making decisions that challenge and stimulate the brain. This mental exercise can help keep the mind sharp, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline as we age.

2. Mindfulness and Presence

The very act of looking through a viewfinder or display screen requires one to be in the moment. It encourages a mindfulness practice, as photographers must focus on the here and now. This state of presence can reduce stress and anxiety, offering a break from the fast-paced chaos of everyday life.

3. Physical Activity

While it might not be the first thing that comes to mind, photography often involves a significant amount of physical activity. Whether you’re walking through a city looking for the perfect shot, hiking up a mountain for a breathtaking landscape, or simply standing and crouching repeatedly to get the right angle, you’re getting your body moving.

4. Social Connection

Photography can be a bridge to meeting new people and forging connections. Whether it’s attending a workshop, joining a photography club, or interacting with subjects, the art creates numerous opportunities for social interaction, which is crucial for emotional health.

5. Boosted Self-Esteem

Mastering a new skill or getting recognition for a great photo can do wonders for one’s self-esteem. As photographers see their skills improve over time, or receive positive feedback, it instills a sense of accomplishment and boosts confidence.

6. Therapeutic Expression

Photography can serve as a therapeutic outlet for expressing and processing emotions. It allows individuals to convey feelings, thoughts, and narratives that might be challenging to articulate verbally. For many, it becomes a form of visual journaling, helping to process complex emotions and experiences.

7. Enhanced Observation Skills

Regularly practicing photography trains the eye to see details that might otherwise go unnoticed. This heightened sense of observation can translate into everyday life, making one more attuned to their surroundings and more appreciative of small wonders.

8. A Sense of Purpose

For some, photography offers a renewed sense of purpose, especially if they’re working on a project or aiming to convey a particular message. This motivation can provide direction and structure, often alleviating feelings of aimlessness or depression.

9. Connection with Nature

Many photographers are drawn to the great outdoors. Nature photography not only provides stunning subject matter but also exposes the photographer to fresh air, sunlight, and the therapeutic sounds of nature, all of which have proven health benefits.

Photography is more than just a hobby or profession—it’s a pathway to better health. As with any activity, the key is to enjoy the process, be patient with oneself, and stay curious. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, the act of capturing the world through a lens offers myriad benefits that enrich both the mind and body. So, pick up that camera, and let the journey to well-being begin!

Artist and the Art of Inclusion

by Samar S Jodha

The most encouraging platform in today’s conflicted world is the art space. It brings together the universal language of self-expression, does not discriminate on gender, income, or any cultural differences, and fosters a dialogue of inclusion.

Artist Probir Gupta believes in taking his art practice beyond his shadow. His work reflects the socio-political conflict of the world around us. As a mentor, he has extended this engagement through art education so that our society’s haves and the have-nots interact in a creative environment. His art initiative, Muktangan, creates and implements strategic art-centric mediation that is transformative and impacts the lives of vulnerable and marginalised children.

Eight years back, project SHAPE was initiated as a Public Art involvement for social action aimed at interventions in community spaces for inclusion and support. It started with 20 children from SPID, Udayan Care and Salaam Baalak Trust. Since then, these young minds have been on a journey of self-discovery, finding their voice, leading to skill development, and empowering their individuality. The engagement under this, SHAPE 3, comprises works by Sanjana, Arti, Muskaan, Priyanka, Sinku and Rani.

Muktangan has always had the good fortune to be supported by the artist community with collaborations and original artwork donations for fundraising. In today’s showcase, we have artists Vivan Sundaram, Vibha Galhotra, Sonia Khurana, Sharmila Samant, Samar Jodha, Ravi Agarwal, Ram Rahman, Qamar Dagar, Probir Gupta, Manisha Baswani, Anita Dube, Alok Som and Aban Raza, who have contributed their work to this collective mission.

So drop by and support art which is about inclusion 

Photography – The Democratic Art Form

by Samar S Jodha

It is said till the arrival of photography, there was minimal space for self-expression. Not everyone was talented or trained to be a painter, be it landscape, portrait or even documenting one’s surroundings. But with the arrival of photography, this started to change. Though one challenge remained, that device, the camera, was a mechanical challenge. You only owned one if you were a professional, an amateur or just had money to buy this expensive toy as part of your show-off. Some data jargon, about two decades+ back, on the arrival of digital cameras, the walls of being technically qualified to take pictures started to melt. And finally, in 2003, more camera phones were sold worldwide than stand-alone digital cameras, largely due to growth in Japan and Korea. In 2005, Nokia became the world’s most sold digital camera brand. In 2006, half of the world’s mobile phones had a built-in camera. According to Statista, the current number of smartphone users in the world today is 6.648 billion, meaning 83.32% of the world’s population owns a smartphone. It’s estimated that the number of pictures taken this year/2022 is about 54,400 every second, 196 million per hour, 4.7 billion per day, 32.9 billion per week, 143 billion per month, and 1.72 trillion before this year ends. Now that we are passed the spread of this device’s outreach let’s look at the actual impact on the photo-making itself. No prizes for guessing; vanity and human nature of projection couldn’t have been in better times, the selfie culture. At times with self+friends+environment and at times the self-obsession, carpet bombing, more like questioning one’s self-esteem or issues of state of mental health. And to add a tool, the sharing on social media. But the bigger picture, because of demystification and affordability of the camera, has created a much larger interest in the space of visual self-expression. No other art form has gained recognition than photography. Yes, this technology disrupted the professional space of photography, hurting countless professional photographers and shutting down businesses and other photo-related collateral damage. But the more significant gain, nearly everyone is a photographer, the interest in picture making, the consumption or sharing is through social media (yes, all part of digital noise) or generally people documenting their lives around their environment (professionally the “documentary photographer”) Like all creative expression, it’s your individuality and your way of expression. There is no good or bad picture; there is always room for bettering your picture. And because there are so many images all around us, it gives an opportunity to see, compare, learn and improve our photo-making. Finally, photography wins, like this gentleman I spotted on the roadside. He decided to stop his auto rickshaw and make a picture of this row of larger than life Ravans, what he thought was his frame of self-expression. Happy Dussehra & Subho Bijoy, everyone, and live your pictures every day

What an engaging evening! Prashant Panjiar

by Samar S Jodha

What an engaging evening!  Prashant Panjiar launched his book with a perfect combo of Shekhar Gupta walking us through not just the images but the times they both were out there making the reporting. 
From hanging out with the Mujahideens while dodging bullets from the Soviets in Afghanistan, frozen on a bridge on top of the Tigris River while the Americans were bombing from above, reporting through the collapsing of the USSR while running through the Eastern block in Sri Lanka on its peak of conflict or closer home in Punjab facing Bhindranwale and his parallel country, to bringing down of the Babri Masjid with Advani, which turned the political climate of this country. One could sit through and hear the contemporary socio/political/cultural history in the making of today’s India.
These were the days at the peak of print media. The editors, writers, and photographers brought the experience to you and not the loudmouth hyper television studios of today.  
The book “The Which Is Unseen” is not your conventional photojournalist’s body of work. It’s beyond just layered photo pages after pages, but the stories and personal experiences of the making of these fabulous imageries. 
As many of us know, any day, Prashant’s work speaks volumes and volumes more than he does. But his crazy nerve wreaking anecdotes and photojournalist career is a documentary film. 
These are the kind of warriors who not only risk themselves in the middle of various conflicts, but they have lived to tell the story. Having dealt with both sides of the opposing parties, they didn’t suffer from cynicism. The pragmatic spirit keeps them passing the storytelling to the next generations of this profession.  
And that is why I believe, on top of the photography pyramid, sits the Nobel profession of photojournalism, and Prashant very much belongs there! 
If you are at the Museo, grab a signed copy! Thanks, Museo camera. Centre for the Photographic Arts for such an engaging evening!