Capturing the beauty and happiness of a bridal party on camera is a daunting task. Not only do you need to capture the love and joy of the bride, groom and their closest friends and family, you also need to be mindful of the technical aspects of photography in order to ensure all photos are of the highest quality. By following a few basic tips, professional photographers can capture beautiful, fun and natural shots of the bridal party.
Essential Equipments
The first thing a photographer needs in order to capture fun and natural shots of a bridal party is the right equipment. All photographers should have a sturdy and reliable DSLR camera, as well as a variety of lenses and memory cards. A good telephoto lens will allow the photographer to capture beautiful and candid shots from a distance while a prime lens will be great for portraits. Additionally, a good lighting set up is essential for getting the right amount of light in a shot. And of course, make sure backup equipment such as an extra camera body, lenses and memory cards are always on hand in case something goes wrong.
Know the Venue
The next step to capturing fun and natural shots of a bridal party is getting to know the venue. Photographers should visit the location at least a few days before the wedding to get a feel for the layout and the best places to capture photos. Knowing where the best light is and the best angles to shoot from will be essential to getting the best shots.
Get to Know the Bridal Party
A good photographer should also get to know the bridal party as much as possible. Photographers should meet with the bride and groom, as well as their families, to discuss the wedding and any specific requests they may have. Getting to know the bridal party will also allow the photographer to capture candid moments and create a fun and natural atmosphere for the best photos.
Relax the Bridal Party
One of the most important factors in capturing fun and natural shots of the bridal party is trying to keep everyone relaxed. A wedding can be a very stressful time and even the best photographer can have a hard time getting genuine smiles and candid poses if everyone is feeling on edge. To help keep the bridal party relaxed, the photographer should come prepared with some jokes or small talk to help lighten the mood. Additionally, giving everyone some time to take a break, talked with one another and having the photographer tell a few jokes can also help to relax everyone.
Capturing the Right Moments
When it comes to capturing fun and natural shots, the right moments are key. Capturing the bride and groom, the bridal party and the guests in candid, un-posed moments is what can really capture the love and joy in the air. To help capture these moments, the photographer should focus on capturing the bride and groom as well as their bridal party while they are laughing, talking and enjoying themselves. Additionally, natural moments such as the bride and groom’s first kiss should be captured on camera to help capture the true essence of the day.
Editing
After the big day comes to an end, the final step in capturing fun and natural shots of the bridal party is done through photo editing. Professional photographers will typically use desktop or online photo editing software to help enhance the colors, adjust the brightness, reduce noise, and crop or rotate the images as needed. Photo editing can help take the photos from good to great and ensure all shots are of the highest quality.
Capturing fun and natural shots of a bridal party is not an easy task. However, by following a few basic tips such as having the right equipment, knowing the venue, getting to know the bridal party and keeping everyone relaxed, photographers can capture beautiful, unique and unforgettable shots of a bridal party.