Top Tips for Shooting Editorial-style Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is an essential aspect of any wedding, capturing precious memories that last a lifetime. Editorial photography wedding, or commonly referred to as documentary or photojournalistic style photography, has gained immense popularity over the years, capturing candid moments and emotions. This style is different from traditional portrait and landscape wedding photography, as it focuses on telling the couple’s love story and their personalities naturally. If you’re looking to capture editorial-style wedding photos that reflect your couple’s personalities, keep reading for our top tips.

Shoot in RAW

When it comes to wedding photography, shooting in RAW is an essential tip that cannot be stressed enough. RAW is an uncompressed file format that captures all the data from your camera sensor without any in-camera processing. This means that you’ll have more flexibility and control over your images in post-processing. RAW files contain more information and detail, allowing you to recover blown-out highlights or bring out shadow detail without compromising image quality. Additionally, RAW files provide a broader range of colors that you can adjust during post-processing. Shooting in RAW also means that you won’t be losing any information from your photos. JPEG files compress the images, meaning that some data gets lost in the process. With RAW files, you’ll be able to have more leeway in how you can edit your images later on. Overall, shooting in RAW allows for much more control over the final result of your photos and ensures that you capture the best possible quality for your client’s wedding day.

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Use a tripod

Using a tripod can greatly improve the quality of your wedding photography. A tripod allows you to stabilize your camera and eliminate shaky images. This is especially important when shooting in low light conditions, where a slow shutter speed is necessary to properly expose the image. When selecting a tripod, choose one that is sturdy and able to support the weight of your camera and lens. Make sure it is easy to adjust and that the legs lock securely in place. A ball head is ideal for wedding photography because it allows for quick and easy adjustments of the camera angle. To use a tripod effectively, set it up in the desired position and adjust the height and angle of the camera. Once you have the shot lined up, lock the tripod legs in place and use a remote shutter release or the camera’s self-timer to take the shot. This will minimize camera shake and ensure sharp, well-composed images. Overall, using a tripod is an essential tool for wedding photographers. It allows you to capture crisp and clean images, even in low-light situations. So don’t hesitate to invest in a quality tripod and elevate the quality of your wedding photography.

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Use a reflector

One of the challenges of wedding photography is dealing with harsh or uneven lighting conditions. That’s where a reflector comes in handy. A reflector is a portable device that can bounce light back onto your subjects, softening shadows and creating more flattering lighting. Reflectors come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. The most common type is a circular disc that can fold up for easy transportation. They typically have a silver side, which creates a bright, reflective surface, and a white side, which creates a softer, diffused light. When shooting outdoors, position your reflector to bounce light onto your subject’s face, filling in any harsh shadows or creating a catch light in their eyes.

It’s important to be aware of your angles and adjust your reflector as needed to avoid harsh reflections or unwanted shadows. When shooting indoors, you can use a reflector to redirect window light onto your subject, creating a more even and flattering light. You can also experiment with different colored reflectors, such as gold or rose, to add warmth or a unique tone to your shots. Overall, a reflector is a versatile tool that can make a big difference in the quality of your wedding photos. It’s worth investing in a good one and practicing with different angles and settings to find what works best for your style and lighting conditions.

Get close to your subjects

Wedding photography is all about capturing the emotions and love between the bride, groom, and their families. And, to do that, you need to get close to your subjects. By doing so, you can capture their emotions and expressions that you wouldn’t be able to from a distance. One of the best ways to get closer to your subjects is by using a prime lens with a wide aperture. This will allow you to create a shallow depth of field, which will blur out the background and put all the focus on your subject. Another important tip is to build rapport with your subjects before the big day. Get to know their likes and dislikes, their personalities, and their style. This way, you can tailor your shots to suit their individuality and capture the best of them.

Shoot in natural light

When it comes to wedding photography, natural light is your best friend. Not only is it flattering and soft, but it also creates a beautiful and natural feel to your images. Shooting in natural light will help you to capture the ambiance of the wedding and the natural beauty of the venue and its surroundings. The best time to shoot in natural light is during the golden hour, which is an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. During this time, the light is softer and warmer, which will add a romantic feel to your photos. To get the best out of natural light, try to shoot at a 90-degree angle to the sun. This will help to avoid harsh shadows and give you an even light source.

It’s also important to pay attention to the direction of the light, as this will affect the overall look of your images. Remember, natural light is always changing, so be prepared to adjust your camera settings accordingly. You may need to adjust your aperture or ISO to get the right exposure, so keep an eye on your histogram to ensure that you’re getting the correct exposure. In summary, shooting in natural light is a great way to capture beautiful and natural images at a wedding. By paying attention to the direction of the light and adjusting your camera settings accordingly, you can create stunning images that truly capture the essence of the wedding day.

Use a fast lens

A fast lens has a wide maximum aperture. These types of lenses are essential for capturing editorial-style wedding photos. Why? Well, when you shoot with a wide aperture, you create a shallow depth of field, which makes your subject stand out against a blurred background. This effect is often used in editorial-style photography, where the focus is on the subject and their emotions rather than the surroundings. In addition to creating a shallow depth of field, a fast lens is also useful in low-light situations. Wedding receptions and ceremonies often take place in dimly lit venues, which can make it challenging to capture sharp photos. A fast lens with a wide aperture allows more light to enter the camera, which means you can shoot at a faster shutter speed and lower ISO.

This, in turn, reduces the risk of camera shake and image noise, resulting in sharper, more vibrant photos. When selecting a fast lens for wedding photography, look for something with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or wider. Popular options include the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G, and Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM. While these lenses may be more expensive than a kit lens, they’re worth the investment if you want to take your wedding photography to the next level. Overall, using a fast lens is an effective way to create editorial-style wedding photos that stand out. Whether you’re capturing intimate moments between the bride and groom or taking group shots on the dance floor, a fast lens with a wide aperture will help you achieve the look you’re after.

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Use a wide aperture

When shooting editorial-style wedding photography, it’s important to pay attention to your aperture settings. Choosing a wide aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8, will create a shallow depth of field, allowing you to isolate your subject and create a dreamy, romantic look to your images. Using a wide aperture is especially effective when shooting portraits of the bride and groom, as it blurs the background and draws focus to the couple. It’s also great for capturing details such as the wedding rings, where you want the focus to be sharp on the rings but the background to be softly blurred However, keep in mind that shooting with a wide aperture means that your depth of field will be very shallow, so make sure to focus precisely on your subject’s eyes or the detail you want to emphasize.

In addition, using a wide aperture will also let in more light, making it easier to shoot in low-light situations without having to resort to high ISOs that can result in noisy images. Just be sure to adjust your shutter speed and ISO accordingly to ensure that your exposure is balanced. Overall, using a wide aperture is a powerful technique for creating beautiful, romantic images that stand out in the crowded field of wedding photography. So don’t be afraid to experiment and push the limits of your lenses to create truly stunning results.

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Create depth in your shots

One of the key elements that set editorial-style wedding photography apart is the depth in each shot. To create depth, you want to make sure you’re not just shooting straight-on or in a flat, two-dimensional way. Here are a few ways to add depth to your wedding photography:

1. Look for foreground elements: One way to create depth is to look for objects in the foreground that you can use to add a sense of space to your shot. For example, you might take a photo of the bride and groom standing on a balcony, with the balcony railing in the foreground. This gives the viewer a sense of being in the space with the couple.
2. Play with angles: Shooting from different angles can help add depth to your shots. For example, instead of just shooting straight-on at the couple, you might try getting down low and shooting upwards. This can help create a sense of height and depth.
3. Use framing: Framing is a powerful tool for adding depth to your shots. Look for natural frames within the environment, such as archways or doorways. These frames can help lead the viewer’s eye deeper into the shot.
4. Play with depth of field: Another way to create depth is to play with the depth of field. Use a wide aperture (low f-stop number) to blur the background and make the subject stand out. This will make the subject pop off the background, which will add a sense of depth to the photo.

Overall, creating depth in your shots is about being intentional and thoughtful about your composition. Don’t just snap away haphazardly; take the time to think about how you can use the elements of the environment to add depth and dimension to your wedding photography.

Use leading lines

Leading lines are a great way to draw attention to the main subject of your wedding photos. They can be used to guide the viewer’s eye to the focal point of the image. To use leading lines effectively, look for elements in your surroundings that can lead the eye toward the subject. This can be anything from a winding staircase to a straight row of trees or even a long stretch of road. When composing your shot, try to position the leading lines so that they start from the edge of the frame and lead toward the subject. Additionally, you can use leading lines to create symmetry or balance in your shots. Shooting from a low angle can make the lines more prominent and shooting from a high angle can create a more expansive and dramatic look. Overall, using leading lines in your wedding photography can help create stunning images.

Shoot in burst mode

Burst mode allows you to take a series of shots in rapid succession, giving you a greater chance of capturing that perfect moment. It’s particularly useful during the ceremony and reception when things can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Make sure to test out your camera’s burst mode ahead of time, so you can get a feel for how many shots it can take in one burst and how quickly it can recover. And be sure to review your shots afterward, as burst mode can produce a lot of similar photos that you’ll need to weed through to find the best one. Using burst mode can help you capture those candid, authentic moments that make editorial-style wedding photography so special. Don’t be afraid to use it liberally throughout the day, but remember to use it judiciously during the ceremony so as not to be disruptive.

Conclusion

Shooting editorial-style wedding photography can be a rewarding experience for both the photographer and the happy couple. By following these top tips, you can capture stunning images that tell the story of the wedding day. Remember to shoot in RAW, use a tripod and reflector, get close to your subjects, and use natural light whenever possible. Utilize a fast lens with a wide aperture to create depth and leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye. Don’t be afraid to shoot in burst mode to capture those fleeting moments. Most importantly, have fun and let your creativity shine. Happy shooting!