Setting Up For Success

In this video and article, I have 5 tips for you to set up and capture perfect journalistic wedding photos. With these simple tips in mind, you’ll be set up to capture beautiful and genuine candid moments in no time.

Watch the 5 Tips for Perfect Journalistic Wedding Photos

5 Tips for Perfect Journalistic Wedding Photos

If you’ve watched our Photography 101 workshop, then you’ll recognize this “PLAN” acronym, but we’ve also added an extra 5th tip.

Tip 1: Prepare

Prepare means to have the right equipment for the day of your shoot, and for the moment you’re shooting. For instance, when I’m shooting bridal prep, I’ll have my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II, Canon 50mm f/1.2 L, and Canon 85mm f/1.2 II L handy with a “just-in-case” flash on my camera. This way, whatever situation occurs during bridal prep, I’ll be prepared to shoot it.

Tip 2: Lock-In

When you’re prepping for a moment, you want to make sure you lock-in your settings beforehand. For this set of images, I had the the Bride and her daughter set up by this window. The scene wasn’t going to change so I locked in my Exposure and Color settings in Manual mode, and fired away. You want to make a habit of locking in your settings beforehand so you don’t have any unhappy surprises when you see the images after the moment has passed.

Tip 3: Anticipate

On a wedding day, sometimes we’ll place our subjects and cue the action; other times we simply anticipate the photogenic moments. This may be when the Groom is opening his gift from his bride, or when the Groom sees his Bride for the first look, or the first kiss! All the moments must be carefully anticipated by the photographer.

Tip 4: Now

This is the moment where you become the observer and shoot. Stay calm, carefully compose your shot, and fire away.

Tip 5: Move

Don’t be afraid to move. When the moment is occurring and you know you’ve got your shot, then move around. Change your composition, do a shoot through, capture another expression, take advantage of the time you have in a moment!

Learn Wedding Photography in the Bahamas

If you enjoyed this article and video then be sure to check out the Ultimate Wedding Workshop in the Bahamas. In this workshop, we’ll be teaching you how to set up shots, how to expand your vision, how to grow your business, and so much more! Be sure to register and send your deposits quickly because class space is filling up fast!

Learn More About Photography

These 5 tips are based off the “PLAN” acronym featured in our Photography 101 Workshop. If you want to learn more about photography and how to master Manual Mode on your camera, then be sure to check out Photography 101!