Many people regard their wedding day as the best day of their lives. As a result, it also tends to be one of the most memorable experiences you will ever encounter, meaning you aren’t about to forget the event in a hurry.
However, photographs - whether a friend or professional photographer is behind the lens, are a great way to make the memories last forever, ensuring that you always have something to look back on.
With that in mind, here are some tips for taking the perfect photographs on your wedding day!
Though you may not feel entirely comfortable having your photograph taken, try to find a way to own your confidence on your wedding day. Instead of worrying about how you may look on camera, focus on the happiness and elation you feel. This joy will then begin to radiate from within, meaning that every photograph will turn out great!
Focus on capturing the small details, such as the moment when you put the rings on each other's fingers or make eye contact as one of you walks down the aisle.
Speak to your partner in between shots, sharing jokes, smiles or even kisses. This is a great way to ensure that you both feel comfortable and will help the photographs appear much more natural.
Ensure that you take a mixture of photographs - from posed shots to candid snaps, as this means you will then have plenty of pictures to choose from when putting together an album.
Take photographs inside and outside (weather permitting) - this is a great way to make the most out of your venue and add variation to your pictures. If possible, you should also try to take photographs at sunset - as this is the perfect romantic backdrop to take pictures against.
When visiting your venue before the ceremony, keep an eye out for interesting photo backdrops and locations. That way, you’ll know exactly where you want to take photographs on the day and won’t have to waste time searching for a spot with a good background or good lighting.
While you’ll probably want to encourage your guests to turn off their phones during the ceremony, you should encourage them to take their own photographs throughout the rest of the celebrations. This is a great way to ensure your pictures of everyone enjoying themselves! Then, set up an email address specifically for your wedding photographs and ask your guest to send them to this address after the event.
Remember that your photographs should be a representation of your relationship with your partner - meaning that they don’t all have to be serious, posed photos. Don’t be afraid to pull silly faces, dance, or try out inventive poses. The more fun you are having behind the camera, the better the photos will turn out.
Look into Photo booth hire in your local area. Whether you hire a photo booth or selfie pod, this is a great way to get photographs of your guests enjoying themselves - especially as they often come with a variety of props to make the photos stand out. They also make great keepsakes and wedding favours!
Take photographs of things other than yourself and the guests. For example, you may want to capture some pictures of the wedding venue, decorations, food and cake. This is a great way to capture the small details that made your wedding special and unique.
Plan ahead of time what photographs you would like to take - and put together a list. For example, in addition to photos of brides walking down the aisle, you may want to take pictures of family members seeing the dress for the first time. Putting together a list of each kind of photograph means you won’t forget to capture a special moment.
If you are taking your own photographs, consider hiring a photo editor after the fact, who can make your pictures appear cleaner, polished and more professional. You should also ensure that you take photographs on a quality camera instead of on a mobile phone alone.
Though there are many things to consider when it comes to taking the perfect photographs at your wedding, the easiest way to ensure you receive quality pictures is to simply relax and try to live in the moment. Don’t worry about the small things - such as whether the wind has messed up your hair or if you look good at that angle and try to enjoy yourself. This will make every photograph turn out great - and ensure that you have plenty of material to look back on.