Wedding photography is one of the first topics to come up when planning a wedding. Naturally, everyone wants a stunning venue, excellent shots and beautiful photographs, so that they can always look back on the photos of one of the most beautiful and important days of their life with pride and fondness.
However, there are plenty of questions that come up when it comes to wedding photography! For example, should photos be taken not just at the wedding itself, but also after the engagement? Where should the photoshoot take place and who should take the photos? It’s certainly important to work with a good photographer and choose a beautiful venue to ensure the photos turn out absolutely stunning!
Below are some tips and tricks for wedding photography to help you take the best possible photos on the big day. To ensure you’re as well-prepared as possible, here’s what you need to bear in mind!
What should you bear in mind when choosing a photographer and planning the schedule for the photo shoot?
- Don’t choose from among your relatives and friends, unless the person in question does this professionally, you’ve already seen their work, and you’ve actually liked it!
- Take your pick from the photographers! Have a look at the portfolios of all the wedding photographers you’re considering. Take a close look at their recurring compositions and overall style, and choose the one whose work you feel suits you best.
- Once you’ve found the best photographer, sort everything out with them in advance! Discuss how many photos you’ll receive, how much retouching is required, and so on. Go over the wedding schedule with them too – they need to know how long they’ll be needed on the big day! Always ask about the total cost as well; you don’t want any unpleasant surprises later on if it turns out the photographer costs much more than you’d anticipated.
- Make sure you get to know the photographer properly! As well as the engagement photoshoot, it’s a good idea for the three of you – you, your partner and the photographer – to meet up a few times to sort out the details! They’ll need to get a feel for your tastes and ideas too.
- If there’s one time of day when you can take wonderful photos, it’s at sunset. If you can, make sure to include a sunset photo shoot in your wedding schedule! Be sure to discuss this with your photographer in advance!
- Start looking for a photographer a year before the wedding! Don’t wait until a few months before the big day to realise you need one and then start panicking when all the photographers’ diaries are already full!
Tips for outdoor wedding photography
Here are a few tips to help you be better prepared for taking wedding photos outdoors!
- The weather can be your enemy. Make sure you have a rain date lined up, just in case you get caught out by bad weather and things go wrong. There’s no point in taking photos in bad weather, because they won’t turn out the way you’d imagined. What’s more, the beautiful, delicate fabrics of the dresses and the bride’s hair won’t fare well in the rain!
- Changing your perspective and making the most of the lighting are important! Always listen to the photographer. There’s no need to take a twentieth photo in the same spot; if they suggest you move around a bit, then listen to them.
- The when and where are very important. You can take wonderful wedding photos in every season. Of course, it’s a bit trickier in winter than in summer, but if you do your research carefully and follow your photographer’s advice, you’re sure to end up with a brilliant set of photos!
Wedding photography tips and tricks, engagement photos
Engagement photos are also extremely important! Many people set up a website, which, so to speak, makes it easier to gather all the wedding details and share them with the wedding guests; engagement photos are usually posted there too. And, of course, it’s lovely to give family and friends a beautiful photo as a gift.
The engagement photo shoot can be seen as a dress rehearsal ahead of the big day. It’s a chance to find out just how well you can work with your chosen photographer!
Tips for an engagement photoshoot
- Don’t be too tense! Of course, that’s easier said than done, but do try to arrive at the photo shoot feeling relaxed. If you’ve chosen your photographer carefully, there’s no need to worry – you’ll end up with some wonderful photos, and a professional will be in charge of the whole process.
- Always choose your location and time carefully. You can take wonderful photos in both winter and summer, but it’s still worth choosing a location that suits the weather!
- Agree in advance how much time everyone has available for this project! Some people set aside 20 minutes for their engagement photoshoot, but for many couples it’s a half-day event! Make sure to let the photographer know your plans in advance!
- Avoid „clichéd” photos! One of the hallmarks of truly meaningful engagement photos is their personal touch – when your relatives and friends look at the photos, they should recognise you and see your unique personalities reflected in the pictures!
Wedding photography tips and tricks, creative photography
What exactly do you need to look stunning with your partner in the photos taken during a creative photoshoot? Perhaps the most important thing is to be in tune with each other and with the photoshoot!
Creative wedding photography tips
- Don’t skimp on time! A photo shoot can last up to 4–5 hours, so be prepared for that. Don’t make any other plans for that day; set aside plenty of time and give the photographer the chance to get the very best results from the shoot!
- Don’t go out partying the day before! Try to arrive feeling well-rested. Look after your skin the night before and get 7–8 hours’ sleep!
- Finding the perfect venue! There are plenty of places where you can take beautiful wedding photos, but if you’re looking for something special, you’ll have to put in the effort! Do your research, check out loads of venues and choose the one that’s best for you! Lots of wedding photos are taken on Margaret Island, for example; if you’re looking for something even more unique, try finding a special, slightly off-the-beaten-track venue so you can capture truly creative photos!
Wedding photography tips and tricks: taking group photos
Taking group photos at weddings is a tricky business. It’s difficult to get the wedding party to move in unison. Typical scenarios include the grandmother closing her eyes just as the camera clicks, your niece being chased by her mum between two shots, and we could go on and on listing the complications. So how on earth do you go about taking good group photos?
It is important to point out right away that a modern group photograph now serves a different purpose to the older, so to speak, ‘classic’ group photographs, where the aim was to fit the entire wedding party into a single shot, preferably all on the steps of the church or the reception hall, with the risk that someone might even take a tumble!
Of course, many people still prefer these sort of photos, but the main aim of modern wedding group photos is now to show just how much fun the guests and the couple had; it isn’t necessarily essential to cram everyone into a single shot.
A few wedding photography tips for group photos
Try to relax whilst we’re taking the group photos and don’t be afraid to come up with your own ideas! It’s fine – in fact, it’s a real advantage – if you have creative ideas for the poses. The photographer will guide you through the process anyway; if something doesn’t look right, they’ll let you know, but if they like the wedding poses and photo ideas you suggest, they’ll really appreciate them!
Typical ‘new wave’ wedding group photo set-ups:
A group photo from a different angle
Funny photos with friends
Girls and boys separately
Heart shape
+Funny wedding photos
One of the things about wedding photography is that the photographer doesn’t just capture the perfect moments. There are bound to be plenty of funny or odd photos too. These won’t be the sort of photos you’ll be proudly showing your grandchildren 50 years from now, but they’re great fun and really capture the essence of the atmosphere. So don’t worry if you come across a few photos that turned out a bit funny – they happen at every wedding!
Have a look at some really funny wedding photos!
Wedding photography prices
Have you really got into the swing of wedding photography yet? That’s understandable! But before you start looking for a photographer, here are a few figures to give you an idea of exactly how much this project is likely to cost.
The cost of wedding photography can vary, depending on whether you only need the service during the civil or church ceremony, or whether you would like the photographer to be with you from the very first moment of the day until the very last, capturing every moment.
Full-day wedding photography
The price for a full-day wedding photo shoot starts at 100,000–200,000 Ft and can easily go much higher. Any additional extras, such as the creation of an online photo gallery, etc., are charged on top of this price.
What will the photographer capture if you book them for the whole day?
The photo shoot starts in the morning and lasts until late in the evening. It includes capturing the following:
- Photographing make-up
- A photo shoot documenting the bride’s preparations
- Fashion photography
- A photo shoot to mark the engagement
- Photography for civil or church ceremonies
- Taking staged photographs
- Taking group photos
- Outdoor on-location photography
- Photographing dinner
- Photo shoot for a bride’s dress
- Photographing the bridal dance
- Taking photos of the games, the dancing, the funny moments, etc.
You’ll get around 300–400 photos!
Two photographers
If you feel that one photographer isn’t enough, or if you always want every event captured from multiple angles, then you’ll need the two-photographer service. This is obviously more expensive than hiring just one photographer. The fee for two photographers starts at around 300,000 Ft per day.
If there are two photographers, expect to receive 700–800 images!
What might be considered an additional cost?
There may be additional costs on top of the basic price for wedding photography. It’s up to your photographer to decide what’s included in this price, so always ask about specific items if it’s not clear whether they’re covered by the basic price – that way, you won’t be in for any surprises later on!
Additional costs may include:
- Travel expenses
- Arranging accommodation
- Motorway vignette
- Any parking charges
How much does it cost to organise a wedding from start to finish? Read our article on this!
And finally, a frequently asked question: When will I receive the photos?
Many people believe that a wedding photographer’s work ends as soon as they leave the event and stop taking photos. However, this is a big misconception. The work involved in processing the photos taken at the wedding will be at least as much, if not more, than what came before. This is the time-consuming and highly skilled task known as post-production.
How long does the post-production take?
This varies, but you certainly shouldn’t expect to receive the photos within 1–2 days. The main thing is, there’s no need to worry! It’s perfectly fine if you only receive the photos 1–2–3 weeks after the wedding! A photographer who pays attention to every little detail will tell you this right from the start! If they don’t mention it, then ask them! It’s important that you know all the details before you finally decide on a photographer!
