Reid Warner

March 20, 2017

3 Tips To Taking Great Wedding Photos In A Church

Reid Warner

March 20, 2017

Weddings are such amazing events to photograph. You are documenting one of the most special days of the couples' life and you want to be sure you take the absolute best photos you can. But, the wedding goes by fast and you only get one shot to take those photos while the ceremony and reception are taking place so you have to do it correctly the first time.

If the couple you are photographing are saying 'I do' in a church, you will find that the lighting can be tricky and many times it is darker than normal. This makes getting sharp and colorful images much more difficult. Using a flash during a wedding ceremony in a church is usually frowned upon and even if the couple doesn't seem to mind you using a flash, it can be very distracting and bad form. Remember, you are trying to stay in the background so you are not noticed while still capturing amazing photos.

So, what can you do to make sure the ceremony photos turn out amazing even if there is low-light? Read below for 3 tips to taking great wedding photos in a church.

1. Use A Full Frame Camera

A full frame camera will give you a better low-light performance and more quality images at higher ISOs. A larger camera sensor is able to capture more light in your photos than a crop-sensor camera.

2. Use Settings For Low Light

Make sure that you manually change your camera settings to shoot in lower light. The ISO tells the sensor in your camera to be more sensitive to light so keep in mind the higher the number, the more sensitive to light it is. You want to try and keep your ISO as low as you can to make sure your photos look as clear as they can. You want to also remember to keep your shutter speed around 60 and your aperture at 2.8 or lower - these settings allow the most light in.

3. Keep Your Camera Steady

You want to be sure during a low light wedding ceremony that you keep your camera as still as possible. One great way to do this is with a monopod which makes it easy to use and move around and not be noticed.

Are you a wedding photographer and take many wedding photos indoors throughout the year? The Indoor Wedding & Engagement Posing Guide would be perfect for you! You may be photographing a wedding that is outdoors but need to move photos inside due to bad weather. Or, perhaps you just need some new, fresh posing ideas while taking photos inside a church or ballroom. Get this guide today for only $15.00 (a $149.99 value)!

GET THE INDOOR WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT POSING GUIDE TODAY!

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Reid Warner

November 4, 2016

tips & tutorials

3 Tips To Make The Wedding You Are Shooting Go Smoothly

Reid Warner

November 4, 2016

tips & tutorials

Shooting a wedding can be tough. You are working for many hours in a fast-paced environment and you only have one chance to capture all the wonderful photos that the bride and groom have hired you to photograph. As a professional, you will work as hard as you can to get the job done and take some amazing photos for your clients. Many of you wedding photographers out there know how much goes into shooting a wedding from start to finish and being prepared ahead of time is the key.

No matter what, you want to be ready so the wedding day goes over as smoothly as possible. Every single wedding you photograph is unique in some way. Even though you may work at the same venue often, the couple and their family will be different each time with different personalities. Whether you have been photographing in the wedding industry for years or are thinking about broadening your portfolio to weddings, here are 3 things to remember when shooting a wedding to make sure all goes according to plan:

1. Plan ahead.

It is always important when you are photographing a wedding to pre-plan the day. It is important to meet with the bride and groom to get a feel of how they are as a couple. You want to talk with them about the type of photos they want ahead of time so you know what they are expecting when the time comes for you to give them their photos. Ask for any specific shots they are interested in having taken, and be sure to discuss if they will be doing first look photos and what type of photographs they hope to get - whether it be candid, traditional or even photojournalist.

It is also important to know what the timeline of the day is so you know where you need to be when. You want to be ready for the first dance, the toasts and anything else that the couple has planned for the day. This is also helpful to know when considering whether or not you need an assistant or second shooter to accompany you on the wedding day.

It is also important to know specific details taking place that day. For example, if the bride's grandmother is only able to come to the ceremony, that is something you need to know ahead of time so you can plan to get a photo of the bride and her together while she is there. Knowing all of this information before the wedding day will help keep you on track, feel more organized and ready to capture exactly what the couple hopes for.

2. Think outside the box.

Take photos from every angle so you have variety in your shots and try to think outside the box. Perhaps there is a grand staircase and you can capture the bride and groom from the bottom of the stairs as they kiss at the top. Maybe you can get a great shot of the bride and groom during their first dance while standing on the second floor which would give a beautiful aerial view of them from above.

You also want to think of unique backgrounds for the photos; find some great outdoor spaces, or a photo spot with a background of the city or landscape in the distance. You can even get creative and use colorful objects around you like the this bright red building and yellow taxi in the photo below. Is there a colorful flowerbed nearby or an old building with beautiful features that would be great to shoot in front of?

3. Shoot lots of photos.

Even if you think you have shot enough of one specific shot, you can never take too many. Take one more. You never know, that final photo you snapped could be that special one that stands out from all of the others.

And remember, you will be taking lots and lots of photos over the course of the wedding day. Be sure to plan ahead with extra batteries and memory cards.

Photo credit: Nick Otto Weddings via SnapKnot

If you are a wedding photographer, here are a few more wedding related posts you may enjoy:

Are you a wedding photographer and know that some things just do not go as planned. Sometimes you have to find a plan B when the weather does not agree and you have to stay indoors rather than use the gorgeous outdoor scenery you wanted to utilize in the wedding photos. The Indoor Wedding & Engagement Posing Guide is for you! For $149, you can learn when it is best to reschedule your shoot due to rain, shooting in the rain, using indoor elements and SO MUCH MORE!

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Reid Warner

October 14, 2016

tips & tutorials

6 Tips To Taking Beautiful Bridal Portraits

Reid Warner

October 14, 2016

tips & tutorials

Bridal portraits are such a special time for the bride-to-be. She is so extremely happy and excited for her upcoming wedding and she feels beautiful in her wedding gown. As her wedding photographer, you want to make her feel relaxed so you can capture the most gorgeous photos of the bride ready to say 'I do.'

There are so many things to consider when taking bridal portraits, including the location of the shoot, the lighting, the details and even how you are going to have her pose. So today, we wanted to share these 6 tips with you to taking beautiful bridal portraits.

Photo credit: Golden Vision Photography via SnapKnot

1. Get to know your bride.

It is so important when you are photographing anyone that you really need to know their personality a bit before you capture photos of them. When it comes to bridal portraits, it is good to know what she feels are her best qualities, what she loves about her wedding gown, or maybe she tells you that she is absolutely in LOVE with her bouquet and wants to showcase it in the photos. Getting to know the bride is so important and can even help with tip #2.

2. Help her to relax.

Having your photo taken can always be a little stressful for most people. Unless you are a model and used to having people snap pictures of you, it can feel weird or awkward to smile so long or stand in specific poses. If you are taking these bridal portraits on a separate date then the wedding, keep her excited and her mind off the photos by chatting with her along the way. Perhaps use this time to get to know her and the groom a little bit more so you are more prepared the day of the wedding. Keeping her talking is a great way to stay relaxed and not focused on the photos being taken.

If you are taking the bride's photos on the day of the wedding, you may find that the bride has a bit more on her mind as she awaits the ceremony that day. Remind her to relax her shoulders, take deep breaths and use this time to enjoy the gorgeous wedding gown she is wearing. Just like we mentioned before, try and keep conversation going to keep her mind of the photos, but remember the nerves that she is already feeling.

3. Shoot variations of every pose.

When you have the bride set in a pose you both love, be sure you capture that pose from many different angles. Every angle can make the photo unique and you may find that one angle stands out beautifully from the rest. Along with capturing different angles, make sure you also have the bride focus in different directions, tilt her head a different way, or even change up how she is holding the bouquet.

Photo credit: Made Media Photography via SnapKnot

4. Make sure the lighting is right.

Natural light from outdoors is always wonderful but if you are shooting indoors, you want to make sure you have enough light. It is good practice to scope out the space you will be shooting at before the day of, so you know ahead of time what to expect. Take into consideration if there are windows that allow a large amount of natural light in the room or whether you need to bring extra lighting with you.

5. Shoot from above.

Shooting from a little higher than the bride is always good to remember. This will make sure you get the best angle because if you are lower than the bride you could catch a double chin or get an unpleasant shot of nostrils that is not always the most photogenic part to photograph.

6. Capture all the little details.

Does the bride have a beautiful necklace on that was her grandmothers that she simply adores? Perhaps her wedding gown has a section of intricate lace or maybe the bottom of her shoes have blue rhinestones that spell out 'bride.' Be sure to capture all of these little details as these are the items she will want to remember for years to come.

If you liked these wedding photography tips, here are some other articles you may enjoy:

GET THE INDOOR WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT POSING GUIDE NOW!

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Reid Warner

August 12, 2016

tips & tutorials

Grow Your Wedding Photography Business With These 4 Tips

Reid Warner

August 12, 2016

tips & tutorials

Even if you have been in the wedding photography industry for years, you should never stop growing and continuing to improve your photography and business. You want to make sure that your business is strong so you can grow it more than you ever thought you could and to do that you need to always keep learning and trying new things. Along with taking amazing photos, you also need to make sure you are marketing your company as best as you can.

The Wedding Business & Marketing Course would be the perfect guide for you to make sure you are doing absolutely everything you can to make your business the best it can be. Written by Elizabeth van der Bij of ENV Photography and BP4U, everyone is bound to learn something new from this great guide!

So, what are some items you need to make sure you are utilizing in your company to make sure your doing everything you can to be the best business you can be? Read on to see 4 things that you NEED to be doing for your business that will help it grow and flourish.

1. Have a good website.

You want to make sure you have a place that your customers, and potential customers, can find you easily and see a sampling of your work. With the busy technology driven world we are in, people look online - even when planning their wedding - so you want to be sure you are in that space and look good!

Here is a great article you may enjoy: 4 Things You Must Include On Your Photography Business Website

2. Write a blog.

A blog is so important to help create fresh content and help with SEO. Just having a website is good, but having a blog along with it is awesome! That content can be anything from real weddings and engagements you have photographed, tips for brides and grooms on their wedding photography, or anything else you think is relevant.

3. Make sure you are making a profit.

You have a business, and if you are not making a profit, then what are you doing? There are many factors that come into your profit including what you charge your clients, as well as the cost of your business expenses. This guide will help you to determine whether you are making the profit you want and tips on how to increase it!

Here is a great article you may enjoy: How Much Should You Be Charging For Your Photography?

4. Be active on social media.

Let's face it. Social media is huge and that is how many, many brides out there connect and find their wedding photographer, as well as other wedding vendors. You need to be sure to not only have social media accounts on all of the popular social media sites, but that you are active and interact with your client and potential ones. Share content from you blog, deals you are offering, fun tips for brides and so much more. Remember, social media is a free way to market yourself, so you do not want to miss out!

Here is a great article you may enjoy: 7 Important Facebook Tips For Photographers

If you want more details about how to incorporate these 4 tips into your business and busy schedule easier, then the Wedding Guide & Marketing Course is for you!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE WEDDING GUIDE & MARKETING COURSE NOW!

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Reid Warner

July 27, 2016

tips & tutorials

Awesome Rainy Day Wedding Photos And 4 Tips To Be Prepared For Bad Weather

Reid Warner

July 27, 2016

tips & tutorials

Wedding photographers have to be able to go with the flow, and sometimes that means dealing with bad weather. Rain and storms can happen at anytime, especially over the warmer months when the temperatures are soaring.

As a great wedding photographer, you need to be able to use the bad weather to your advantage and that is what these photographers did in these 9 great photos below. As you are checking out these great photos, we will also give you a few tips to be sure you are always prepared for bad weather no matter what type of wedding you are photographing.

Tip #1 - Be Prepared With Your Equipment

You do not want a sudden downpour or steady rain to ruin your equipment and even though most cameras are weather sealed, you still want to give these expenses pieces extra protection just to make sure they stay dry. Bring plastic ziplock bags or anything else that works best for you along in your bag so you have them handy. These can be great for covering your camera, lens and anything else quickly.

Also, think about yourself as well. If you know it is supposed to rain and it is a mainly outdoor wedding, dress appropriately and even think about bringing yourself a poncho to keep yourself covered and dry. It is much easier to take photos when you are comfortable (even though we know you are all great at taking photos anytime and under any circumstance)!

"Wedding in the rain" by Ivan Zamanuhin via 500px

Tip #2 - Back-Light the Rain

When shooting photos in the rain, you want the raindrops to stand out just like they do in all of these amazing photos and the best way to do this is with a backlight. You can do this with a flash, but also with another light in the distance such as a front porch light or even the sun.

Tip #3 - Look for Puddles

Puddles are a great way to include amazing reflections in your photos so be sure to use the rain and the puddles it creates to your advantage!

"Rockleigh Rain" by Ryan Brenizer via 500px

Tip #4 - Use The Best Camera Settings

Cloudy skies typically come along with rainy weather so you want to be sure you are using the best camera settings you can to get the best possible photos you can for your bride and groom. Be sure to use a higher ISO setting. You most likely shoot outdoors with an ISO around 200... for rainy weather, you may find yourself raising it to 600, 800 or even up to 3,200 depending on what camera you are using. You also want to make sure that you have a shutter speed fast enough to catch the raindrops in your photos which will most likely be 1/500th of a second or faster.

"Let It Rain" by Alexey Tsibin via 500px

"Thailand Destination Wedding" by Adam Johnson via 500px

These photos came from articles we found on SnapKnot and FStoppers. Are you a wedding photographer? Here are a few other articles on Camera Giveaways that you may be interested in:

Are you a wedding photographer and know that some things just do not go as planned? Sometimes you have to find a plan B when the weather does not agree and you have to stay indoors rather than use the gorgeous outdoor scenery you wanted to utilize in the wedding photos. The Indoor Wedding & Engagement Posing Guide is for you! Learn when it is best to reschedule your shoot due to rain, shooting in the rain, using indoor elements and SO MUCH MORE!

GET THE INDOOR WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT POSING GUIDE NOW!

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If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!

Reid Warner

May 13, 2016

tips & tutorials

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Book Your First Wedding

Reid Warner

May 13, 2016

tips & tutorials

Wedding photography can be difficult. If you are about to shoot your very first wedding, or even just starting to consider getting into the huge industry of weddings, remember that is can be a tough job. Your very first shoot that you ever do is important and before you commit to photographing one of the most important days in a couple's life, you want to ask yourself a few questions to make sure you are totally ready.

Are your photography skills ready?

Sometimes this question can be hard for some photographers. You may be able to shoot portraits wonderfully or have always been able to capture a beautiful sunset but capturing all the photos you need to at a wedding requires a few other skills.

You must be organized and good at logistics and staying on schedule. A wedding is a schedule... everything is in order and set to happen at a certain time. Sometimes that schedule gets pushed back for various reasons like weather, or someone who is running late. You also have to be able to work well with other people. You will be coming across many different personalities, some who are nervous, anxious or stressed, and you need to be able to work with each one easily and get the job done no matter what. A wedding is pretty intense and you may feel a lot of pressure to get exactly what the couple is looking for so being relaxed and able to go with the flow is a great skill to have.

Do you need help?

It is hard for one photographer to capture everything you need to at a large wedding. Having a second shooter or an assistant to be another set of eyes is a great idea. While you are off taking photos of the bridal party and the newlyweds, your assistant can be in the reception capturing photos of the little details and guests. Even while people are dancing and having fun, it is good to have someone focused on the bride and groom and still know that other things happening are not being missed.

It is important to find someone who you know you can work well with. Like we said before, a wedding is a stressful and tense event and very fast moving, so working together is imperative. Be sure to read this article on 3 things to think about when you are considering hiring a second shooter.

What should you charge?

If you have never photographed a wedding before, you may not really know what you should charge the couple. You can not price yourself out of the market, but you also do not want to price yourself so low that you do not make any profit.

To decide on your price, try to determine what the entire wedding day will cost you in your time spend, travel to and from the event, any equipment you may need to buy or rent, and even the cost of a second shooter. Also remember insurance you need and meals you bought that day while working. If you still need a little help, this article "How Much You Should Really Be Charging For Your Photography" may help you out!

Also be sure to check out 3 Tips To Pricing Your Wedding Photography Packages To Sell.

Do you have the right gear?

You do not have to have the most expensive camera on the market to take great photos but you do need to make sure you are ready with the equipment and tools you need to shoot and entire wedding day. You need to have a tripod in case it is needed. You also want to make sure you have extras of everything just in case something breaks. Think about extra lenses, memory cards, extra lighting if you think you will need it. It is also good thinking to have an extra camera as backup. We know that sometimes the cost is hard to have a second one... but what if your camera decides to stop working right in the middle of the bride and grooms first dance? What will you do for the entire rest of the wedding if you do not have a backup? It could be disastrous.

Is my insurance in order?

You need to have insurance if you own any business. Something can always go wrong, and sometimes things can go terribly wrong and you want to make sure you have insurance to help if needed. Some of your equipment could get damaged or you or your second shooter could get injured somehow. If this happens, insurance is necessary. Many venues - especially those very high-end ones- will not even let you work on their premises if you can not provide proof of insurance.

Here are a few other wedding photography related articles that you may enjoy:

If you liked these 3 tips, there are SO MANY more offered in this 76-page guide, "The Business of Wedding Photography." You can get it for only $149.99!! What a great value for such valuable business tips.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE "THE BUSINESS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY" NOW!

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Reid Warner

March 30, 2016

tips & tutorials

3 Tips To Pricing Your Wedding Photography Packages To Sell

Reid Warner

March 30, 2016

tips & tutorials

Are you a wedding photographer that is trying hard to compete with the hundreds of photographers that are located in the same city as you? In today's world, where it is very easy to purchase a camera and begin a photography business, you want to make sure you stand out from the crowd.

Pricing your wedding photography packages is one of the most important things for your business because it is how you make your money but it also is one of the toughest things to set up. In the awesome BP4U Guide titled "The Business of Wedding Photography," photographer Brooke Bustillos discusses how to best price your photography packages and market them properly to engaged couples. The guide is so comprehensive; she also talks about and provides awesome tips on how she has created a successful business where she has photographed over 76 weddings in a year!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE "THE BUSINESS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY" NOW!

SAVE $100 NOW WITH CODE WEDBIZ100

Today, we want to share with you 3 tips that Brooke has included in this guide to help you price your wedding photography packages to sell. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Brooke Bustillos — Photo credit: Brooke Bustillos

1. Get A Feel For What Other Photographers Charge In Your Area

The average client will spend roughly $2,000 for their wedding photography in Indianapolis but if you are in Chicago, the average client will spend about $3,000. This shows that it totally depends on what market you are located in for the price you should charge. You have to get a good feel for what people will pay in your area because you do not want to price yourself too low or too high.

2. Learn To Say No

Think about this: you are meeting with a client which you have already booked to discuss the specifics of their engagement photos. While with them, they say to you, "One of your competitors is willing to throw in an extra album for the same price as your first package." You must realize now that this client is most likely going to be a problem. You may not have thought so when you first booked them, but because they are STILL discussing the pricing after they have already agreed and booked with you, they will be the ones that will nit-pick everything during the wedding and even after the images have been delivered. Just tell them NO. Give them your prices and be done with it. Just remember, that is the price you have decided will help you to make the money you need to run your business successfully.

Keep in mind that there may be times when you will want to work around a client and their budget. If someone comes to you right off the bat and tells you exactly what their maximum budget is and that they have no room to extend it, and you feel like these people will be a great client, go for it. They have been upfront from the get-go, have not decided to book yet because they want to see if you would even agree to work with their budget. They understand and those are the clients you want. This is your business and you want to use your judgement for these types of price changes.

3. Keep Your Packages Short and Sweet

Try not to have too many different packages. Brooke says in this guide that she tries to have no more than 3 at a time because more than that tends to confuse people. When you have your packages listed out, be short and sweet and tell them exactly what they will get for the price of that specific package. Your goal is to get them to go for the middle package. Do not include everything in the first package and make your most expensive package include everything you offer. That way, your client will want to go for the middle package that you have priced perfectly that will most benefit you and your business as well as your clients.

Pricing is very important to your business, but you also need to consider how you market to your prospects and actually book the client. You also need to think about how you market yourself online. What does your web presence look like and do you make yourself likable? Are you on social media and do you have a quality website that shows off your work but also gives a prospect the information they are looking for when doing their research? You should also list your business on other websites, such as SnapKnot, to make sure you are reaching as many potential customers as you possibly can.

If you liked these 3 tips, there are SO MANY more offered in this 76-page guide, "The Business of Wedding Photography." If you purchase now, you can get it for only $49.99 (normally $149.99)!! What a great value for such valuable business tips.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE "THE BUSINESS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY" NOW!

SAVE $100 NOW WITH CODE WEDBIZ100

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If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!