Using the right technology for equipment can make or break any photoshoot. Cameras are technologically advanced and many have internal light meters and auto-focusing that help photographers achieve goals. There's even special effects for macro and focus that can really help define lighting and images.
Looking back at your wedding album should be a heartwarming, uplifting experience, one that reminds you how breathtaking that day was and puts you into the same magical mood. It should be a celebration of how you felt that day and immediately pull you in, reawakening your love and rekindling the butterflies in your stomach. Unfortunately, for many couples, wedding photos are a cause of stress, not celebration, and they end up with awkward, unnatural portraits that don’t spark any emotion. If you recognize yourself in this description, you’re probably worried that the camera doesn’t love you, and you don’t know how to pose. But don’t worry, you’re not to blame, and you don’t need hours of practice to look your best in photos. Tom Baskind, a veteran event photographer with photojournalism training, explains how you can make wedding photos a little more fun.
Find a photographer you trust and get to know them
The first step in having a fantastic photo album is finding a photographer you trust and who matches your vision. Once you do that, you’re in good hands, and you don’t have to worry about anything. Having helped hundreds of couples capture their special day, Thomas Baskind always starts every collaboration by getting to know the couple, breaking the ice, and talking about their expectations. Most of the time, the shyness that comes off on camera is due to the fact that you’re not familiar with the person behind the camera, so a casual conversation can do wonders.
Have a test shoot
We all take selfies now and then, but many couples haven’t had a professional photoshoot since college, and they don’t know what to expect. You may not know what angles flatter you, what to do with your hands, how to look at your partner, or how to adjust your body language. You can make all these uncertainties go away and feel more confident by having a small test shoot before the big day, Thomas explains. The session usually takes place in a relaxed environment, like a field in the countryside or even your garden, and you can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. You can practice a few poses, become more mindful of your body language, look at the photos together, and decide what you like and don’t like. The text shoot is also a great occasion to check if the photo ideas you found online are really what you want.
Forget what you think you know about wedding photos
Tom Baskind has been trained as a photojournalist and loves applying the same techniques in wedding photography. He believes that instead of focusing on too many staged shots and portraits, the photographer should take spontaneous shots, which do a better job of capturing a wedding’s magical atmosphere. He also believes that the photographer should work in the background and capture the guests’ raw emotions without interfering. This way, the photos look infinitely more charming, and awkwardness is no longer a problem. Most people grew up looking at their parents’ wedding photos, but the technology was different back in the day, and now wedding photography is much more creative and flexible, Thomas explains.
