Sunday, July 26, 2009

Help for guests with cameras...


Photo Tips for your Wedding Guests

"Brides & Grooms please pass this on to all your guests it will help them"

. . .

Now that it is summer, chances are that you will be going to a wedding sometime soon. And, most likely you'll be bringing your camera to the wedding along with a gift for the couple. Well Peter Bruce Photo & team bELLE would like to help you and give you some tips for taking better photos at the wedding. I have always thought it your photos come out better than mine, time for me to hang up the camera and I mean that in the nicest of ways.

Most couples hire a professional wedding photographer to photograph there wedding, there's still plenty of room for you to also capture your perspective of this time occasion on film,notice I said FILM .There are lots of moments that happen among the guests that will never be captured by the pro photographer. Please stay out of the pro's way. He or she has a big job on hand. And, never shoot over the pro's shoulder. That won't be appreciated and could interfere with the job.

Concentrating on recording the fun that you and your family and friends have at the wedding. Not only will you have a record of the wedding for your own pleasure, but imagine the joy of the happy couple to receive prints of events that the professional photographer did not see or wasn't asked to shoot.

Example, many wedding photographers no longer shoot those table shots of the guests because these photos don't usually get purchased by the bride & groom.(see my example of table shots) This is a great time for you to shoot. But shoot these like a pro, Have some of the people at your table stand up and move behind those still seated and make a group shot. Avoid showing the entire table complete with half eaten food and 8 bottles of empty wine, instead concentrate on the guests face.

Another photo opp exists at your table. Many bridal receptions now include disposable cameras at every table. You may need to get the show rolling and coax your table mates to start taking pictures. Remember, the bride & groom can't be at every table to take part in the festivities so candid photos from these cameras can show the guests having fun in a way that professional photographers aren't likely to capture. You may get some funny shoots with these single shot cameras. Also keep them away from young kids.

A couple of hints on wedding photo etiquette. If you want to take photos at a church, synagogue, mosque , take your cues from the professional wedding photographer hired by the couple. If you see that he or she is not taking photos at the ceremony, chances are it is because the prest told the photographer not to. Respect the tradition and don't take pictures at this time. The same thing holds true for flash photography. Some places of worship will allow it at the ceremony, others will not. If you see that the pro is shooting, then take an aisle seat. It's the best place to get nice close shots of the couple that fill the frame as they leave the church.

One other suggestion on wedding photography is to be respectful of the professional wedding photographer. Don't get in that there way. You don't want to ruin the photos that the bride and groom are paying the pro to take the photos, and the pro can do a better job of capturing many parts of the event than you can. As we've indicated, there are plenty of different kinds of shots for you too.

Hope this helps your guests and please pass it on to them.

Peter & team bELLE

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