A wedding ceremony is a big deal for most couples, and that's why they put so much energy into planning to ensure that the wedding day is unique and memorable.

One of the things that make the wedding day special and always memorable is photography. Photography is a must, as it documents and captures several moments that you were not aware of.

You can look upon your wedding photographs in many years to come and relish the memories; your children would even be delighted to know how your wedding day went.

These and more are the reasons to go above and beyond to have the best wedding pictures. You'll find helpful wedding photography tips for the photographer and the couple in the following:

Tips for the Wedding Photographer 

As a photographer, it is your job to capture every little detail of the event. Here we have helped you in collating some dos and don'ts to help you create a memorable collage that the couple will look back on and feel happy reminiscing about their wedding day.

Dress well and be presentable

You are indeed present at the wedding based on your profession and not as an "invited" guest. Nonetheless, you are still a part of the wedding party and should look presentable.

You do not need to go all out to appear expensive; just dress moderately (not in leisurewear, though) and ensure you feel comfortable in whatever you're wearing for the day's activities.

Before you go to the event, ask for the dress code so you can be dressed appropriately. (You should not be seen wearing ripped jeans to a black-tie party.)

What if you met a couple of your old friends at the event and had to take pictures with them? You probably wouldn't like the outcome of the pictures.

So dress appropriately. You could even get your next photography gig from one of the guests because of the impression that your dress gives.

Pay attention

This point cannot be overemphasized, as that is what you are paid to do. Pay attention to the details! Just like in a sporting event, timing is essential. There are crucial activities and moments that you only get a chance to shoot, and once you miss that shot, it is gone.

You should pay rapt attention to ensure that you are able to capture these moments. A way to make this easier is to get a list of what to look out for from the couple. You may also need to attend the wedding rehearsal if there is one, to know how the event will go in detail. 

Learn to control the aperture

Exposure to photography is another thing you must be able to do. To be a good wedding photographer, you should learn to control your camera's aperture to regulate the amount of light. Although this is generally important in photography, it is more important during wedding ceremonies because of the bride's white gown.

Ensure that you check every shot you take and adjust the apertures accordingly to get the perfect shot without making the groom look like a dark blob.

Don't overlook the little details 

Little details matter, and they add up to make amazing memories. The tiny details make the wedding unique to the couple, so you want to be sure to take advantage of them.

Don't overuse the flash

Do not mistake a wedding event for a press conference or Hollywood event where using your flash every time is okay. As a wedding photographer, you are not a paparazzo, so do not behave like one at a wedding event.

Although the couple is the center of attention, do not make them feel like celebrities being hounded by the paparazzi. 

Instead of using the flash every time, you can use auto bracketing to get the needed exposure.

Don't be a distraction

A lot of times at events, many photographers, because they want to capture the best shots, tend to cause distractions as they move around.

As a wedding photographer, avoid being this type of shutterbug. You must always remember that the wedding event is about the couple and their guests.

A way to avoid causing distractions is to go to the venue of the event prior to the time the event will start so that you can scope out the venue. Another way to go about this is to request that the couple allow you to attend their wedding rehearsal. Make them understand that it's important for you to join the rehearsal to have a hassle-free wedding photo session.

Tips for the Couple

A wedding is mostly a big event with several thousand dollars invested into it; it is something you want to remember for life. As mentioned earlier, a way to keep the memories lingering is to hire a professional photographer to capture all the special moments.

Aside from investing in a professional photographer, you also need to understand some things to make the photographer's work easy and efficient. Here are some tips to help you get the perfect wedding pictures:

Hire a professional photographer

You need to hire a professional photographer to ensure that your wedding photographs come out nice and beautiful enough to hang in your home.

A random photographer may not be able to take stunning wedding photographs, as weddings are one of the special events that require more expertise than regular photography skills. So, you want to be sure that the photographer you're hiring has quality experience in this niche.

Visit the wedding venue for pictures before your big day.

Taking pictures at the venue before the day of the event helps you prepare for unforeseen circumstances, like unexpected weather conditions that may affect your photoshoot on that day.

Aside from that, a practice photoshoot session will help you, your partner, and the photographer understand what the lighting is like at specific times of the day.

Furthermore, going to the venue before D-Day to take some pictures lets you test the professionalism and composure of your wedding photographer firsthand. You may decide to continue or change plans after the trial session.

Make plans for photo sessions.

Your wedding day will be a really busy day for you and your partner, and without being intentional, you may not be able to get some things done.

To get top-notch wedding portraits, you must be intentional by scheduling photo sessions between activities like cocktails, dinner, and even songs.

During these scheduled photo sessions, you can take pictures with specific people like your wedding crew, siblings, parents, extended families, and some important guests.

 However, you need to have informed these people prior to that time so that they will make themselves available and not leave before the scheduled time, especially if they are busy people.

Ensure that you have just enough backdrop.

To ensure that your wedding photographs turn out well, you need to ensure that your event location has the needed backdrops. You may want to work with an event decorator to ensure that this is possible.

 Also, avoid overstacking the venue with too much backdrop, as sometimes less is more.

Be creative 

You need to be creative when taking your wedding photographs. Be creative with your poses. Do not just stand or sit anyway when the photographer is taking your pictures.

Wedding photographs last so long that they may be passed down for generations, so you want to ensure that every shot captures a nice pose.

You can check out some nice wedding portrait poses online.

Trust your photographer.

Once you have hired a trained professional photographer, you should relax on your wedding day and trust them. Do not direct the photographer around, as this may impede their professionalism. You can, however, give them a list of specific things that need to be captured.

Be free

As much as you want everything to be perfect on your wedding day, you should feel free and relaxed once you are sure that you have handed the planning over to capable hands.

Also, do not wear a serious look because you want to get the perfect picture; smile and pose freely. These pictures will come out better than when you're trying to fake a smile and pose.

Final Thought

Your wedding day is an important milestone in your life—a day you will always want to remember throughout your life. Hence, you will need to plan and prepare for adequate and professional documentation of this day via photographs.

With these tips listed, you should be assured that you and your partner will get the best and most stunning shots that you have dreamed of.

Also, as a wedding photographer, these tips should help you get the best shots your clients will be happy about.