15 Absolutely Amazing
Pre-Wedding Photography Tips for Any Place
Pre
wedding Photoshoot Tips
Pre wedding photoshoot has
gained popularity in recent years and has now become a lucrative business. It
has the potential for making a lot of profit but also has some challenges such
as finding the right locations, choosing the right angles, and breaking the ice
for the nervous couple.
So what can you do to
tackle the challenges? Here are important pre wedding photography tips for
photoshoots to help you smooth over the process and create stunning images that
will make your clients happy.
Let’s get going
with pre wedding photoshoot ideas:
1. Use a longer lens for more heartfelt and flattering shots
A
longer lens is a staple of pre wedding photoshoots, as it produces beautiful
images that not only complements your subject’s best features but also create a
beautiful background blur that helps keep the focus on them.
Mid-range
lenses like a 50mm lens can create distortion that makes the subject look plump
and unflattering, so go for an 85mm or 200mm lens for pre-wedding shots (unless
you want to have a landscape shot with the couple, and in that case, go for the
short lenses).
Using
a longer lens will also make the couple feel more relaxed, as you don’t have to
stand too close to them to get the romantic closeup shots. For the couple, it’s
hard to act naturally when there’s a camera right in front of their faces, so
having it at a distance can help put them at ease.
2.
Shoot in Burst Mode
Shooting in Burst Mode helps
you catch any fleeting moments between the couple, scenes that are unexpected
but can turn out amazingly because they’re natural and real.
The beginning will always
be the trickiest when the couple poses stiffly and awkwardly. But usually,
after the pose, they will loosen up and act naturally, and this is your golden
opportunity to get some really good shots for pre wedding photography.
3.
Set your shutter speed
When
shooting in Burst Mode, be careful with motion blur. You can avoid this by
setting your shutter speed manually, using your lens focal length as your
guide. The longer the lens, the more you need to increase the shutter speed to
avoid blur.
Tip: As
a rule of thumb, your minimum shutter speed should be 1/focal length.
This
works well for many photographers, given proper handheld technique and lens
image stabilizer, but in case you still get a blurry image in this minimum
shutter speed, the safe option is to increase it to 1/focal length*2 for
optimum results.
For
example, if you use a 200mm lens, the minimum shutter speed should be 1/200, or
1/400 to be on the safe side.
Bear
in mind that this works for the effective focal length, so if you use a cropped
camera, you need to multiply the lens focal length by 1.6.
You
can read this article for more details about minimum shutter speed for
handheld shooting.
4.
Talk to the couple beforehand
Different
couples have different ideas for their pre wedding photoshoots.
Some
couples want it to be simple and natural, while others opt for more glamorous,
editorial shots. It’s important to discuss this before doing the session, so
you can deliver exactly what the clients envision.
The
best way is to meet them, but it’s not always possible, and in that case, phone
or Skype call will do. Dig deeper into their stories, personalities, and
important matters. How they met, what themes they have in mind, and if there
are any remarkable moments in their relationship that can be incorporated into
the session.
Couples
have usually formed ideas before they meet the photographer, but it always
helps when the photographer can come with more creative ideas for the
engagement session.
5.
Scout the location(s)
After
meeting the couple and listing of their ideas, start scouting locations
for your pre wedding photoshoot session.
A
park for a casual shoot, an old and ornate building for vintage and dramatic
look, or a rooftop with the city landscape for a modern look are some of
the ideas. The best way is to visit the locations, taking note of the lighting,
the permission or fee if required, the crowd, and all the details.
Keep
in mind your clients’ personalities when looking for locations. Shy clients
would probably be awkward and uncomfortable being photographed in a crowded
place with all eyes on them, so try to find a quieter alternative for them.
Even
if you don’t use all the locations you’ve scouted, keep a list of them for your
future reference.
6.
Know the flattering angles and use them
Most
clients will be critical of how they look. Even with the most beautiful lighting
and killer bokeh, if the clients don’t think they look good, they won’t use the
images.
Know
the angles that complement subjects’ features, and avoid angles that will make
them look unflattering.
Positioning
the camera at eye level is the safest option, however, you can do more with
different angles.
Having
your camera slightly above the subject’s eye level will enhance their facial
features and make them look flattering.
On
the other hand, the lower camera angle will make the subject look bigger and plump.
Tilted
angles generally work better for full-body shots, instead of the straight angle
that puts the subject directly in front of the camera, as it will make the body
parts (like an arm or a leg which) appear shorter.
This
pitfall, called foreshortening, is common to pre wedding photography beginners,
so make sure you don’t fall into this.
7.
It’s not always about the face
This
might sound like a bit of weird advice for a pre wedding photoshoot session,
but after many shots of the couple, your gallery needs variations. You can add
little details like the closeup of the engagement ring, the intertwined
fingers, or their barefoot feet on the sand.
The
body language can say as much as facial expressions do, and having a gallery of
couple images interspersed with these details can really transform it to
another level.
8.
Use backlight for dramatic shots
It
needs a lot of practice to get it right, but once you’ve mastered using
backlight for your shots, it will help a lot in creating a dramatic effect for
your photos, especially for pre wedding photoshoot.
Placing
your subjects in front of the light source will create beautiful rim light that
outlines your subjects, separating it from the background and thus bringing the
focus to them.
Train
your eyes to spot the light source (the sun or light bulbs, for example), but
if you can’t find any, using an off-camera flash is an option that shouldn’t be
overlooked. Which brings us to the next point…
9.
Use the off-camera flash when necessary
Using
natural light is preferable for many photographers, but there are times
when we need a little help, and this is when the off-camera flash comes in
handy for pre wedding photography.
Your
subjects can be underexposed when the natural light behind them is too strong,
and in this case, use off-camera flash to add light to your subjects and also
pre wedding background gives the flame spark too.
On
the other hand, when there’s no natural light when you want to create backlit
photos, position your flash right behind the subjects to create gorgeous rim
light.
The
use of off-camera flash is not limited to creating backlit pre wedding images.
In the afternoon when the light is too bright, using the flash can help add
light to your subject, enough to overpower the sun and underexpose the sky.
The
distance between the flash and the subject depends on the light intensity that
you aim for. Holding the flash closer to the subject will put more light on
them and underexpose the background, creating a more pronounced contrast
between the subject and the background for a more dramatic look.
10.
Tell their story through your photos
One
thing that separates nice imagery and amazing imagery is a story. Many
photographers can create good images, but it usually ends there without a
meaningful story.
What
story can you tell through photographs?
Plenty!
You
can show their journey as a couple, recreating their favorite moments, delving
into their imaginations, or something as simple as capturing their mannerisms
on pre wedding images and little moments when they’re together.
Bring
little props that support the story, or ask the couple to bring something that
has a significance in their relationship.
11.
Break the ice
Many
people are not used to having a camera pointed at them for hours, and this
discomfort could make them nervous and awkward, something that would be obvious
in the pre wedding photos.
Ease
the tension by chatting with them, or if you’re a joker at heart, crack some
jokes to make them relax a bit. This is also why having a meeting beforehand
comes in handy; as you’ve met the couple and chatted with them before, it will
be easier for them to relax, as they will feel that they’ve got to
know you a bit.
12.
Pose the couple
Even
the relaxed couples can feel self-conscious in front of a camera, and suddenly
they don’t know what to do with their body parts during pre wedding photoshoot
poses.
‘What
do I do with my hands?’
‘Where
should I look?’
‘Does
my smile look weird?’
Those
are some of the thoughts clients usually have during a pre wedding photography
session. If your couple is not used to be in front of a camera, make it easy
for them by directing them to pose, keeping in mind the poses that compliment
their features.
Your
clients are not professional models who know the poses that work well for them,
so it’s much easier for you both if you can give clear directions for pre
wedding poses.
If
you’re a beginner, this posing guide is incredibly helpful. Learn the
poses and try that with your clients.
13. Balance the posed and candid shots
Posed
images are necessary and good, but candid shots are gold along with pre wedding
background too.
Usually,
it’s the time when the couple is not aware of the camera that they’re able to
let loose, so be mindful at all times and keep your finger on the shutter
button, as you never know when the right moments come.
The
results, in the end, should have a balance between the elegantly posed images
and natural, candid shots.
READ: A
Beginner’s Guide to Candid Wedding Photography
14.
Let the clients chimp
Chimping
is the funny term in photography that means looking at the images on the camera
LCD.
While
chimping is not recommended in fast-paced events like weddings, the opposite is
true for pre wedding photography sessions.
Show
your clients some of the good shots, as this will boost their confidence and
excitement for the results. Many clients find it hard to wait patiently for the
finished images, so a little peek of some shots will be much appreciated!
15.
Beautiful packaging and prints do wonders
If you plan the edited
images only as digital files, think again. Really look stunning for an indian
pre wedding photoshoot ideas outdoor. Lot’s of beauty lies on the Indian nature
will give the best pre wedding images.
Prints (or
a photobook) is a little addition that will capture your client’s heart
and make the best pre wedding poses.
Seeing the images on a
computer feels so different than holding the prints and flicking through the
memories. For the clients, it feels more personal and intimate, and this can
add to the positive experience they have with you.
That’s the list for pre
wedding shoot ideas and on that note, don’t underestimate the power of good
packaging.
The anticipation and excitement
when opening the package are similar to opening a beautifully wrapped gift, so
make sure you deliver your work in simple, beautiful packaging. Happy clients =
good marketing!
Not only for the clients
but printing your photos is also useful for you. Saturation, white balance, and
contrast can look significantly different in digital and printed
photos. Seeing your work in print can help you improve your editing
skills, as you know what to adjust.
source:https://www.photojaanic.com/blog/15-things-you-should-do-to-ace-pre-wedding-photography#4-Talk-to-the-couple-beforehand