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Aim to shoot the Bride and Groom on their own, away from any distraction. When you have satisfied the Bridal party and yourself that every permutation required has been taken, take the Bride and Groom aside for some shots alone and allow the rest of the Bridal party to leave and go to the reception. This will allow you to work with the Bride and Groom alone, an important opportunity, it will help them unwind away from the pressure of onlookers and will achieve more natural and relaxed expressions.
The Bride and Groom are your First Priority
Remember it is the Bride and Groom who matter most, it is them you must please most. Ensure that you have a good repertoire of poses, which you can quickly and effectively arrange. You should shoot at least 8 to 10 of the couple and at least 10 of the Bride alone. When posing the couple it can be advantageous to ask them to turn their heads away for a few seconds, and on request, to turn back to the original position. This technique will often give you a more natural and spontaneous expression. Be sure to use soft focus in some of the close up shots of the Bride.
Backgrounds
When arranging these shots you should be aware of the following points. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, choice of backgrounds, avoid telegraph poles, gravestones, lampposts, etc. and especially cars (their colours can be overpowering in the shot). In all shots check for small distractions which will detract from the overall appearance of the shot.
Avoid too much sky in the background and avoid too many brightly coloured flowers. Always aim to fill the background with as much green foliage as possible; this will focus the attention of the viewer where it should be, on the bride and groom. An exception to having brightly coloured flowers, would be if you are intending to use the flowers as an integral part of the picture.
Show Them What you Want
When posing some shots it is sometimes easier to show the couple exactly how you want them to appear, ask them to relax from the pose, then ask them to return to the former position.
Another tip is to ask the Bride to close her eyes just before the shot is taken, when you are ready to take it ask her to open her eyes and take the shot immediately. This will often result in a more spontaneous and relaxed shot.
Always tell the couple that it is important that they feel comfortable, if they do not feel comfortable it will show. When arranging the pose, it can be helpful if you are allowed to physically position the subjects. It is, however important that you ask before you attempt this, as there are a number of people who will not feel comfortable with this approach.
Always Keep the Bride and Groom to the Front
Remember, the Bride and Groom should be most prominently portrayed in every shot. Even when posing groups you should try to avoid placing anyone directly in front of or behind the Bride and Groom. The only exception to this is when using steps to compose very large groups.
Height Difference
Another potential problem with the Bride and Groom is height difference.
Positioning the smaller of the two nearest the camera can compensate for height difference between the Bride and Groom. This technique, in the Bride's case, will not be required too often; society readily accepts that on average females are smaller than males. However you may encounter, as I once did, a couple where the Bride was taller and had specifically asked to be made to look smaller, even if it meant posing her husband on a step!
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have written a comprehensive guide on wedding and group photography.
Visit my site for more information Wedding and Group Photography Guide
Bobby is a photographer and author. He has been commissioned to shoot thousands of events, including weddings.
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