Wedding photography is no easy feat. It is one of the most rewarding yet challenging jobs around. Couples do not want to compromise on pictures of their once in a lifetime event, and you only have one day to capture everything perfectly. Since the entire industry runs mostly on word of mouth, you want to make sure you have glowing reviews to get more customers and grow your client base.
For all of this to happen, you have to be more than well prepared to properly do your job when you sign up for it. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about wedding photography, it never hurts to do a little more research and brush up a little on your skills.
For wedding photography, both your skills and the camera you use matter equally. If you have the wrong kind of camera, chances are you will not be able to shoot efficiently even if you’re talented in the field.
We recommend using the Sony a7. Not only is this a great camera in general, but it also has all the features that are specifically needed for wedding photography. So, if you haven’t already, investing in the Sony a7 would definitely help to improve the quality of your pictures.
You have to know your camera in and out to capture large affairs such as weddings perfectly. If you’re using the Sony a7, we can help you a little in this regard. We’ve compiled the 5 most useful tips you will need to become a pro at wedding photography with your Sony a7 camera.
Use The Right Equipment
Regardless of what setting you’re shooting in; it is crucial to have all the right equipment with you to shoot efficiently. Camera equipment can make or break your entire shoot.
Seasoned photographers know the importance of lighting. They also know that you cannot always rely on natural light. Therefore, you must carry your own equipment to ensure you have adequate light regardless of the weather and other conditions.
Luckily, if you have the a7 lighting is not that big of an issue. The a7’s AF illuminator feature provides you with light in dimly lit venues, which allows you to focus better. The White Balance settings also account for all kinds of light situations: daylight, shade, cloudy, incandescent, or fluorescent.
When you’re photographing a wedding, it’s essential to know your equipment well. Be familiar with how your camera works so you don’t struggle on the day of the event. The a7 has a range of features that are really easy to get familiar with, making it an ideal choice for wedding photography.
The a7’s scene selection mode allows you to handle it well on the day of the event. You don’t have to excessively worry about what manual settings to use. If you’re struggling, use the scene selection mode and choose the option closest to the scene you’re shooting. The options available to you are portrait, macro, landscape, sunset, night scene, night portrait, and twilight, among others.
Have Backup Gear
As a wedding photographer, it is your duty to be fully prepared for the wedding day in all regards. This includes carrying back up photography gear! Things go wrong all the time, and most of the time, your client is not concerned with how you capture the moment as long as the end result is exactly to their liking. So “my battery died” will most definitely not cut it as an excuse.
Hence, a wedding photographer must carry an extra camera in their gear. Although your primary camera, the Sony a7, is one of the best cameras for wedding photography, anything can go wrong. If your camera stops working, and you have no backup, there’s no turning back. Even if you can’t keep another Sony a7 with you, something that is at least close to the kind of images it captures is essential.
Next, you must carry extra batteries with you, even if you’ve charged your camera and all your equipment adequately before the big day and are confident that it will run smoothly during the event. You never know when something might run out of charge. Do not take any chances and always carry an extra battery with you.
The Sony a7 comes with a NP-FW50 rechargeable battery. You can use the battery even when it isn’t fully charged. However, as with all cameras, the battery depletes slightly even if you aren’t using the camera. Hence, always charge your battery before the day of the wedding.
Lastly, it is also essential to have extra memory cards. Large 4k videos are the new norm in wedding shoots. You will undoubtedly end up taking numerous such videos. Therefore, you must have extra high speed and high storage memory cards as a backup to store everything you’ve captured.
Luckily, the Sony a7 supports a wide range of memory cards, so you won’t be limited in your choice. You can use Memory Stick Pro Duo cards or normal SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards.
Pick The Right Lighting
Lighting is critical in any shoot, but more so in wedding photoshoots! When you’re doing a professional photoshoot indoors, you have full control of the lighting. You can use it strategically to create bright and sharp shots.
However, when shooting weddings and events, you have to be more versatile and work with what’s given to you. Nothing beats natural light for wedding photoshoots, even if you use additional lights, you must make use of natural light and use it to your advantage during shoots.
For this reason, communicating the importance of starting on time to the couple and the organizers is essential. You have to plan ahead if you want to get that perfect shot.
The good thing about using Sony a7 is that it works brilliantly, even in low light settings. So, you have that added advantage with this camera, and that makes a world of difference, especially when you’re shooting indoors or under low-light circumstances.
However, just to be on the safe side, you should always carry extra lighting equipment with you.
Scout the area you’re shooting in beforehand to truly understand how best to work with the lighting. You can use different kinds of flashes as well to shoot bright, sharp, and beautiful shots.
Frame Photos Correctly
Framing and composition is everything! Even if you use the best camera and top quality expensive photography gear, your photos will be boring without proper framing! Composition and framing is an art that sets apart a great photographer from a good one. There are numerous techniques you can use to frame your photos correctly.
Of course, you can’t follow everything to the T when it comes to shooting at a wedding. But playing with and around the rules and using a variety of techniques is bound to get you a few shots that the couple will absolutely fall in love with. Framing is also where you can let your creative side shine and create a fun shoot that tells a story.
Even amateur photographers are well versed in the rule of thirds. However, when you’re shooting at weddings, you don’t always have that perfect angle or leverage to make sure your subject falls at those intersections. This is where the Sony a7’s Grid Line feature comes in handy. You can easily select the option to make a Rule of Thirds grid appear on screen and help you frame your images.
You should also try your best to follow natural lines. It adds great depth and flows to your picture, and the results are brilliant! Place the couple at the center of those converging lines, and you’ve got yourself an excellent wedding portrait.
If you’re still struggling with framing, the a7 has an Auto Object Framing option. This is a must-use for wedding photography. The feature analyzes the scene and automatically saves an additional copy of the image you’ve taken with better composition.
Keep A Lowkey Presence
The art of taking great pictures goes far beyond using the right techniques to get a good click. No matter what equipment or method you use, at the end of the day, you will be remembered for how well you captured an important moment and immortalized it as a photograph.
The photographers’ presence and ability to capture candid and emotional moments are just as, if not more, important as their camera and equipment. There is ample time assigned to photoshoots. However, there will be numerous behind the scenes moments that are definitely worth capturing as well.
Be as invisible as possible and keep your eyes open for all small but equally important instances that you can capture. The Sony a7’s silent shooting will make it easy for you to remain hidden. The camera’s silent shutter works exceptionally well and will allow you to keep a low presence.
There are numerous lighthearted and some deeply emotional moments during the entire event, especially during the ceremony, and it is your duty as a photographer to capture these in all their glorious details. Whether it’s a tender moment between the bride and her family, the couple, or even their friends, make sure to capture everything.
