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Top Wedding Guest Photo Tips!

On the big day whether you have your shiny new SLR along for the day or a humble disposable camera that has been left by the bride and groom for you to use, the pressure is on. So how do you get the best possible results for the couple to enjoy for years to come.

Avoid showing the entire table, complete with half-eaten food remnants-concentrate instead on the faces of the guests.

Another wedding photo opportunity exists at the head table. The bride and groom can’t be at every table to take part in the festivities, so candid / reportage style shots can be taken capturing the guests having fun.

There are a couple of things to consider regarding wedding photography etiquette. If taking shots in a church, synagogue, mosque or chapel, obviously respect the wishes of the bride and groom. If they have hired a professional for selected key shots, then take your cue from the photographer.

Some places of worship will also allow flash pictures for the ceremony, whilst others frown upon it. Again, this is really a matter of chatting with the bride and groom, because they have chosen the venue.

When the ceremony is over, the best location to get close up, more unique shots of the wedding couple is from one of the aisles. This should make for great photography, as the couple will fill the frame as they leave the church.

If a photographer is hired, you should respect their role on the day and try not get in the way. If a professional is there, it’s for a reason!

Wedding photos should be about capturing all the special moments of the wedding day as they arise in a sensitive manner, and this should be kept in mind when allowing guests to roam with cameras.

Other tips for guests taking the wedding photography plunge are things such as not taking shots of people with bright / disco lights in the background, as this will make them silhouetted.

Also, check with family and friends, you could be surprised at how much they know about photography in general, or the possible mishaps associated with wedding photography.

The most important thing is that the shots should represent the mood, fun and atmosphere of the wedding day, so try to have fun throughout the whole experience, and the rest should look after itself!