Tips for Taking Photos During the Wedding Band
One of the biggest moments of your life is your wedding day and you want it to be perfect. From the first dance, your wedding band, reception, and more, it really is the most precious occasion of your life. So, it is important to get everything right that includes the photographs. Capturing all the special moments of your wedding day can be tricky at times, essentially if you are having a professional wedding photographer all your moments will be captured however if you want to take your own photographs or your family and friends are snapping away you should know the many tips for taking photos even while your wedding band are playing.
Dancing or first dance photos
You must consider your professional photographer and as to whether you want the first dance pictures or dancing in general. It is important to capture the first dance photographs as this will be a once-off moment.
Always have plenty of light
It is recommended to have great lighting in the reception area for taking expert photographs. For sentimental photos like the first dance natural lighting is a must.
Think about the type of music and songs that you are dancing to
While the band is playing, and you want to capture a few photos of the crowd dancing always think about what music is playing is the songs slow or more upbeat. If you and the crowd are enjoying the music more and dancing like there’s no tomorrow, then it is the ideal moment to capture all the funny faces and the special moments.
Do you want the wedding band in the photos?
Many couples would like their wedding band in some photos while rocking it on the dance floor. Your wedding photographer will be snapping some photos, but you and your guests can also take some funky photos also. You could also prepare some flowers, decorations, and a backdrop for this specific photo. It is lovely to have a reminder of your wedding band because after all the band play a major role in keeping your guests entertained for the entire night.
Best photography equipment to use
If you have the ability and skill, you can shoot a wedding with almost any camera equipment. However, having a more reliable, better quality and faster equipment will make your life as a wedding photographer that bit more efficient and easier.
Cameras
Having a good camera is essential to taking the best photographs for any wedding day. It is also advisable to have a backup camera in case something happens to your first one.
Nikon and Canon cameras are the most popular and the most quality cameras to use. Canon cameras have all the top functions and characteristics with the camera lenses.
Professional Canon 5D Mark IV
The Canon 5D is a reliable, high quality, and stable wedding photography camera which is also very popular amongst a lot of photographers. It is designed for professionals and amateurs.
Nikon D850 professional camera
The Nikon D850 has been considered a studio camera up until recently. The functionality of the camera is superb. It is a piece of equipment that will allow you to take unforgettable photographs which is essential to spectacular wedding photos.
Advantages:
- Proven and sophisticated AF system
- 7M image sensor and 45 full frame
- Weather sealed and sturdy design
- Touch screen
- Bluetooth and WI-FI
- 9 fps with battery grip: 7 fps burst mode
- 4K video
Disadvantages:
- No GPS
- No flash built-in
- No dial mode (no U1, U2, U3, instant camera state recall modes either)
- No more CF slot, replaced with an XQD slot
Wedding Lighting and Flashes
Every photographer has their own style and way of taking photos, however, the ideal lighting and flash setting are the 4 units for lighting settings. Here are some of the recommended lighting kit equipment.
- Neewer NW-670 TTL Flash Speedlite
- Canon Speedlite 600 EX II-RT
- Sony HVL-F60 M External Flash
- Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight
Flashes are one of the main elements of photography equipment. The success of your photographs will depend a lot on the flash that you have.
Tripods and Monopods
Tripods and monopods are at the top of the list for many wedding photographers. Many go with just handheld cameras however a tripod really does come in handy for those special moments.
- Tripod
Tripods are used for those evening and larger group shots of the venue, as well as natural light conditions. Tripods are also useful for multiple cameras to canvas and to capture the entire room at different angles and very useful for long exposure shots. If you must travel it is worth investing in something decent and pay that little bit extra for superb quality.
Sunpack 6630 LX Medium-Duty Aluminum Tripod
The sunpack is a medium duty, sturdy, and ideal to support your mirrorless or DSLR system. It has a load capacity of 6.6 pounds, a height of 24 inches, max height 66 inches, and a folded length of 30.5 inches. It also has a quick release plate for fast dismounting and mounting your camera.
Manfrotto Compact Photo Monopod for DLSR
The Manfrotto monopod is lightweight, quick, and ideal for getting a more birds eye view of your subjects. The max height is 57.3 inches, load capacity of 3.3 pounds, and a minimum height 15.4 inches. Features a wrist strap and soft grip for extreme comfort. Quick mount and dismount.
Other photography equipment
- Camera bags
- Holsters and Straps
- Memory Cards
- LEDs and Monolights
- Softboxes
- Drone
- Wireless radio triggers
- Spare Batteries
- Reflector
Like all equipment and accessories, you will need something to carry all this in. An important investment piece is a camera bag. It is always important to maintain a level of presentability and professionalism. A camera bag will hold all your equipment and accessories such as your camera, memory cards, spare batteries, Lens, and much more.
If you are a skilled professional photographer, it is essential that you have all the correct and the highest quality equipment on the market.
Why You Should Hire a Professional Wedding Videographer?
One of the happiest days of your life is coming up and you can’t afford to put a foot wrong anywhere. You have gone through the plans several times and ticked all the boxes, such as venue, catering, decoration, photographer, wedding dress, and everything else. But suddenly, your cousin points out you didn’t hire a videographer. All hell breaks loose and you immediately search for a videographers for weddings. After all, you cannot let your sloppy uncle John, to videotape you walking down the aisle and exchanging your vows. It has to look like a cinematic moment on camera.
Importance of hiring a wedding videographer
Just like singers hitting the right notes in a duet song, a wedding photographer and videographer works tirelessly to capture your wedding day and convert it into an album that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Your wedding is a one-day event but you can relive the memories ten or twenty years down the line if you have a professional videographer videotaping your entry into the venue, the guests standing up to welcome the bride and groom, you and your partner exchanging rings and vows, your first dance, and the best man and bridesmaid’s speech.
Wedding videos are like mini-stories of your wedding, broken down into several segments. The videographer has experience and knowledge of what to videotape and what to avoid. Plus, he/she has excellent editing skills. Nowadays, most videos look as if they are clippings from a Hollywood movie. The edited videos look stunning. From changing the colour tones to adding background music and romantic dialogues, the videographer will make your wedding look dreamy.
Here are a few more reasons why you should hire a wedding videographer:
1. Investing in a wedding videographer means you are securing your wedding for a lifetime. You can upload the wedding video on the cloud and access it from anywhere anytime. Moreover, your memory will gradually fade away and you may not remember all the guests who came to your wedding. The wedding video will act as your memory-booster. It will remind you of everything that happened on that special day. From your makeup session to the guests leaving at night, the wedding videographer will record everything.
2. Reliving your wedding day is one of the most significant reasons to hire a wedding videographer. Apart from that, you can also share the videos with your friends and family. There may be guests who could not come to your wedding due to some emergencies. But they would love to see how everything went. You can share your wedding videos with them as soon as the videographer hands over your edited files.
Many videographers also upload your wedding video on Vimeo or YouTube after taking your permission. It is a win-win both for you and the videographer. You can share your wedding video link to everyone instead of sending them CDs or DVDs, while the videographer can show the video to future clients as a reference.
3. You can photograph everything but pictures don’t capture words and music. For example, you may have tons of photos of your toast or vows, but they may not evoke the emotion. On the other hand, videos can capture the beautiful moment of you and your partner exchanging vows, your first toast, first dance, and everything else. An audio-visual effect is much more effective and lively than photos.
A photographer can freeze a few shots for a lifetime but a videographer can bring life to a series of photos by taking videos during the same time. Moreover, weddings are all about romance, fun, and two families getting along together. A videographer will not only record you and your partner’s activities but also the guests. Videographers know when and what to record. Their years of experience allow them to be in the right place at the right time.
4. Both you and your partner will be super-busy on your wedding day. From dressing up perfectly to attending the guests after your wedding vows, both of you will have to run around from one table to another. Naturally, you will miss out on a few things. But with a wedding videographer around, you can watch what you missed later. In fact, you will watch your wedding from your guest’s eyes.
The anticipation in your mother’s eyes, the beaming face of your bridesmaid, and the guests showering their love and blessings“ all these go unnoticed because of your focus and anxiousness of the big day. However, you can relive all these things from your wedding video. A videographer acts as a common eye of the guests to capture the beautiful moments of your special day.
5. Like your wedding dress, you can also pass down your wedding video to your children. They will be able to see what happened on your wedding day. Since you can upload the wedding video on the cloud, you can preserve the video quality for decades.
Therefore, hiring a wedding videographer should be right up there in your first five to-do list. With wedding videographers, you can make a small-scale wedding look luxurious with appropriate editing. Most importantly, your wedding video will serve as the perfect memory-reviver. You will look back fondly at one of the special days of your life.
Now that you know the reasons to hire a wedding videographer, don’t waste any more time to contact an experienced one in your locality.
When to Hire a Photographer
There is no doubt hiring a photographer is more expensive than asking your friend for help or even doing it yourself. You will definitely save money this way, but you may not get the outcome you desire.
Choosing an amateur photographer means you might get amateur photographs that are lacking in the equipment, knowledge or editing software a professional can provide. Is it worth risking a precious moment with a wasted photo?
A New Baby
When you are gifted with a tiny bundle of life, you are going to want to document that baby every day. Taking photos of new-borns is notoriously difficult and a good picture takes practice.
When you go to a professional, not only will they be patient and calm if your little one doesn’t want to cooperate, they will also have a variety of props to use. Taking an adorable photo of your baby in a shoe will not only be fun but also a cherished memory.
Engagement Photos
While it is unlikely you will have a photographer at the proposal, getting some photos taken after the event will help treasure the moment. The engagement is all too often brushed aside and all focus is on the wedding.
However, this is a major event in a couple’s life and something that can be shared with family for years to come. Hiring a photographer for a quick shoot with the ring will provide a lasting memory for both of you.
Family Portraits
Is there anything harder than getting your whole family together for a photo? Trying to get them to smile all at the same time.
Hiring a professional will allow everyone to be in the photo and provide you with a variety of backdrops, lighting and optimal composition. They will also be able to help with the staging of the photo and offer advice on how to pose.
New Pet
Getting a new puppy is like getting a new child. They will quickly become part of the family and before you know it, they are fully grown.
While everyone is an amateur pet photographer, getting the perfect shot of a smiling dog takes time and practice. When you hire a photographer, they will have all the tips and tricks on how to sit still and pose in front of a background.
What better way to show them off?
Why You Should Hire A Photographer
Hiring a photographer can seem like an unnecessary cost when planning an event. There always seems to be a bunch of your friends who say they are up for the job or even know someone who can do it. Make sure they are competent and experienced at taking eye-catching photos at weddings.
However, this person may be great at taking personal photos when they have time to concentrate and the subject is still, but they may not be great with a hectic environment like a wedding. This is where a well-trained photographer will be the clear winner.
They Are Comfortable In Crowds
A professional photographer will be looking at the crowd objectively and trying to create the perfect shot. They won’t be focussing just on the people in the foreground, but also on the lighting and background details.
They are also great at being anonymous. There is nothing worse than being interrupted from a conversation by someone trying to take a picture.
This is why hiring a professional will allow great photos to be taken seamlessly throughout the event.
They Have Their Own Equipment
A professional photographer makes a living from taking photos so they will have all the right gear needed. If you hire an amateur for the event, they may be limited.
Professional lenses and cameras are incredibly expensive and you’re unlikely to have top of the range gear for a hobby. By hiring a photographer, you are certain to get high-quality shots.
They will also be able to change cameras, lenses, and settings as the circumstances change for example the sun sets. This means your pictures will be flawless throughout the whole day.
Understanding Angles
Angles can be one of the most difficult skills to master when becoming a professional photographer. You can take a technically perfect shot, but one person featured doesn’t like it because it’s unflattering.
By hiring a professional, you are guaranteed to have someone with knowledge of movement patterns and what to expect. It takes experience to identify these factors which is why it is worth paying extra.
Photos Will Be Edited
It is no secret that all professional photos are edited and while the software is easily available, it can be a lengthy process. When you hire a photographer, the editing is included in the fee, which means you don’t have to worry.
A good photo can be made great with the right editing so let the professionals do the work and you can just enjoy the result.
Your Photos Get Backed Up
A professional photographer will always have backup storage for your photos and will be able to send them to you in a multitude of ways. This is great because if you need to have them resent, you know they will be stored somewhere.
