There are hundreds of different topics to look through when it comes to wedding photography. Whether it’s about how wedding photography transcends time or planning your wedding shoot, there are so many things to cover about how to plan around your shoot. However, one thing I have not covered nearly enough is an article about wedding photographers themselves. There are things about wedding photographers that are not highlighted nearly enough and today I want to take a second and present some of those skills and talents.
Preparedness
Being prepared is one of the key elements of wedding photography. An intensive amount of planning goes into any shoot, but most importantly a wedding shoot. It requires photographers to be able to account for any number of variables; whether it's a dead battery, bad lighting, or a broken lens. Most wedding photographers plan ahead for what would be a day-ending mistake. The ones who don’t learn pretty quick. With that said, it doesn’t hurt to carry a couple extra battery packs, extra memory cards, or even a backup camera in case something happens to it. With that level of preparedness, the goal is to make sure we don’t want our mistake to impact your special day and the memories that will be made.
Multitasking
One thing that many people may not consider when it comes to wedding photographers is their ability to multitask. A successful wedding photographer has the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, such as running and adjusting lighting, taking photographs, and directing the couple in any pre- or post-wedding shoots. During the wedding ceremony and reception, they also have to include the factor of guests moving in and out, perhaps blocking the lens from capturing the moment they had intended. Needless to say, wedding photographers can operate under a great deal of pressure on the big day. This is not something everyone is capable of and takes a special kind of person to do so.
Watchful Eye
A wedding photographer’s job is to have a watchful eye for all the moving parts in a wedding ceremony. Additionally, the wedding photographer should have an eye for unique locations that would benefit any sessions that are pre- or post-wedding shoots. Being able to balance those two is a difficult job, which I suppose assists the ability to multitask, but it simultaneously requires both an artistic vision as well as an analytical approach. That odd pairing typically aligns with the photographs themselves, creating a visual art form that is cherished by the people who commissioned it in the first place.
Storytelling
Storytelling is an additional responsibility that photographers have to account for. Although most people won’t notice, each photograph tells a story of the process of the day. As photographers go through the day, they capture key moments, emotions, and memories as they happen in real time. All of this culminates in the photographer sifting through their thousands of photographs to find the right ones to present in their digital or physical photo albums that goes directly to the newly married couple, and eventually, the public. This skill takes a great deal of time and refining over that time to master.
Continually Updating
The final skill I have chosen to highlight in today’s article is that photographers are continually updating their skills. The best of the best are always searching for a new technique to try out, whether that is purchasing a new piece of equipment to improve their current repertoire or practicing a new editing method. Photographers who are serious about their craft will take what free time they have between jobs and learn anything they can about their practice. Of course, that doesn’t mean they always have the time to implement it into their everyday sessions, but it never hurts to have that additional knowledge on their side.
Thank you for indulging me in this article! I really like writing about how I can help couples be better prepared for their wedding day or why photography is worth the investment for their special event, but today I felt like changing it up just a slight bit. I also hope this list helps others understand the role of being a photographer and what it entails. It’s a hard job, but highly rewarding. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope you have an excellent day and that maybe you learned something today!
Warmest regards,
Logan Clark