Strobelit

As far as photo subjects go, weddings are probably the most difficult. This is not just because of all of the factors that go into getting the perfect shot, but also the emotional attachment that the couple will have to the photo. After all, if they don’t come out perfect the first time, it’s not like you can exactly get everybody back in position.Some of the most common questions when it comes to wedding photos involve equipment, lighting, and exposure. Photographer Christopher Maxwell’s website features a number of wedding photography tips, from which the information below is taken.Both film and digital cameras have their advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the type, you should have at least two cameras: a primary camera, and a backup that you wouldn’t be upset if you had to use it as a primary. The type of camera will dictate the precautions you have to take when protecting the photos. Film should be developed at two or more professional photo labs. The professional labs help to minimize the risk that film will be lost, and the two different labs mean that you’ll still have something to show even if it is.For digital cameras, it’s important to keep a number of memory cards on hand, and to quickly back up those photos to an external hard drive. As soon as possible after the wedding, Maxwell downloads the photos to his computer system and burns them onto a DVD as well. The DVDs are then stored at another location. All of this work ensures that at least one (and in many cases several) copies of the images will survive.In many cases, the lighting will be less than optimal. Candlelight weddings are the most difficult, and Maxwell’s recommendation to “practice, practice, practice” is some of the best advice. You’ll need to be familiar with reading your camera’s meter to find the best exposure, and a tripod with a lens aperture between 2.8 and 1.4 will be of great assistance. During a candlelit procession, you might have to make adjustments to ensure the photos come out well. If you can’t get any other lights on during the procession, try setting up a sheet of glossy posterboard on one side of the aisle and using flash photography from the other side.Even outdoors in bright sunlight, lighting may wreak havocin particular, by causing harsh shadows. You can deal with this by positioning the subjects in the shade or during sunset. During the brightest time of the day, you can put the sun behind your subjects and illuminate them with a fill flash.An important question for many wedding photographers is whether to shoot in auto or manual exposure mode. Auto mode is useful for when you don’t have as much time to set the exposure, but manual is recommended for occasions when the exposure will be consistent. Ultimately, exposure is only one aspect that goes into the perfect wedding photo, so try experimenting with a combination of both.