DIY Wedding Photography Tips

Monday, June 11, 2018

I added some snapshots from local hiking meetups and events because I think these pictures are good examples for dramatic wedding scene backdrops and special event details.

At 7 pm, I went to check out a photography meetup about natural light photography for weddings as well as wedding day gear equipment. The wedding photographer at this workshop was Lucas Rossi. He explained that you don’t need to go to a special school to become a wedding photographer. It is all about interest and passion for photography as well as learning from others.

Do-It-Yourself Photographer Education starts with getting an Assistant or 2nd Photographer job for a wedding. It is best to help other photographers for free as well as do your own internet research. Such education is similar to a Photography Internship with unlimited learning possibilities because learning is really up to you and your personal effort. Meet local people in your area and volunteer to help them at photography projects. YouTube has all kinds of art and photography tips, in which I have used to improve my personal skills. You can start out as a volunteer assistant, before eventually pursuing 2nd Photographer jobs when you are ready for the next step. Look at this experience as a volunteer photography internship.

What Gear is inside your Photography Bag? I usually have the basics, such as camera, flash, batteries, cloth to clean lens, and film. My Minolta 5000 50mm camera does everything I need to do because I am mostly using my unique style when photographing. My mother’s CANON EOS camera with zoom lenses can probably do more, but I need to familiarize myself with the camera. But he has many lenses, which includes 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm MACRO, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm, as well as other equipment, such as 5D Mark IV, 1V, 645 AFD, 600 EX RT, 64 GB Extreme Pro, Holdfast Money Maker and Sightseer, ThinkTank Airport Security 3.0, and Wescott Rapid 26’ OCTA. I noticed that the ThinkTank Airport Security 3.0 is like a luggage carrier, where he puts all his equipment, but it is big. The Holdfast MoneyMaker and Sightseer are similar to wearing a messenger bag in order to put most used as well as important items always with you in order to prevent theft or loss.

Preparation Work: Only take what you need to the wedding. Keep other equipment locked up in your car’s trunk. His important must-have items include 35mm EF 1.4, 50mm EF 1.2 (most used lens), 100mm EF Macro IS, and memory cards case.

If some of your photographs tend to look washed out, then consider using High Tone Priority.

Ceremony: Before going to the wedding ceremony, it is important to get gear insurance and liability insurance, just in case something is stolen or gets lost. Photography equipment are very expensive. In the tropical weather of Southern California, 75% of wedding ceremonies tend to be outside. After using your memory cards, don’t put your memory cards back into your carrier bag. It is better to carry it with you in your messenger bag or crossbody bag. Batteries and/or Power Strip are also important items to have with you. As a photographer, it is important to focus on your personal style and uniqueness because that is what will make you stand out from other photographers in order to help you market yourself and get more jobs.

Portraits include bridal photography, family photos, and wedding party photos. It is best to use 35mm and 50mm, and always shoot manual in order to have full control over your photograph results. For example, when shooting the wedding party, use 35mm lens, shutter speed of 1/650, aperture of 5.0, and ISO 250. Everyone in the wedding party will be focused. When shooting family group photos, use 50mm lens, 1/250 shutter speed, 2.8 aperture, and ISO 400. Again, everyone will come out focused.

For romantic photographs, use 35mm, 50mm, and 80mm lens. But with 35mm lens, you will need to get very close to your subject, which might be uncomfortable for some people. With 50mm lens, you can maintain a comfort zone space and still get good photographs of your subjects.

Reception: Be sure to have 35mm, 50mm, 24-70mm, and 85 mm lens in order to get different details, such as dancing, facial expressions, speeches, capturing the moment, props, chandeliers, centerpieces, and other details for memories. Turn off artificial light and locate the room’s key light source. Is it windows? Always put your subjects in the best light. Navigate different lighting situations. Use Open Shade because it creates golden backlight or golden hour photographs. Open Shades occurs when the sun has set, and it creates beautiful backlighting effects. Harsh Light creates harsh shadows. Off-Camera Lighting involves using a flash.

LiveView allows you to pick a focus point and focus on the subject that is at a distant. It is perfect for focusing at 1.2.

You can also use the Back-Button Focusing.

Canon CPS is a recommended camera.