A recent trend has emerged in the wedding industry. Instead of paying out for a professional photographer, many couples are now inviting their guests to capture all the highlights of the wedding.
However, if you and your partner are considering going down this route, you must remember that by letting your guests capture all your wedding day moments, you are putting your most precious memories in their hands. If the developed films are not of good quality and your day has not been fully caught on camera in the way you want, there is nothing you can really do about it. The records of your wedding day will be kept for the rest of your lives and shown to all future friends and family so you will obviously want them to be of excellent quality!
Now that the average cost of a wedding has increased dramatically, it is hardly surprising that many couples are choosing to take the ‘DIY option’ as far as wedding photography is concerned. At most bridal receptions now, you will find disposable ‘single use’ cameras on tables for guests to take memorable snaps of the reception. This is a good idea but does come with a few disadvantages. For example, instead of genuine personal moments, you could end up with 25 shots of your cousins doing the latest X Factor impressions so just watch out for these!
These are perfect photo opportunities but need to be shot like a professional. For example, to get a good shot of all the people at a table stand some of the guests up and have them move behind those still seated. However, avoid having a full shot of the table with all the half eaten remnants of food and focus the camera on the faces of the people. Professional photographers are unlikely to capture pictures of guests enjoying themselves like the actual guests are.
Moving onto photography etiquette now, there are some things you will need to consider. For example, when taking photographs in a church, mosque, synagogue or chapel, you will need to respect the wishes of the bride and groom and accept that they may have hired a professional photographer to capture particular significant memories. In particular, some places of worship won’t allow flash pictures during the ceremony whereas some may not mind. It is important to consult with the bride and groom on this matter as they are the people who have chosen the venue.
If you particularly want to take a picture of the bride and groom in the church however, the best moment to take a shot is as the bride and groom are making their way down the aisle. There will most certainly be a look of pure happiness on their faces which will make for a great picture.
Should the bride and groom choose to hire a photographer, you should respect their decision and the professional, he will know what he is doing and is there for a reason, so try not to get in the way of his shots!
A few more hints and tips for guests taking photos are not to take shots in smoky atmospheres as they will affect the picture quality. Furthermore, try not to take a picture of a person with bright disco lights behind them as the lights will obscure the people.
If you want to make the most of your photo opportunities, ask a friend or member of your family for advice. They may know quite a lot about it and will be able to pass on some good advice. Any pictures taken should be representative of all the happiness that fills a wedding. Enjoy the special day and your photos will reflect this.
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