Photography and DVDs top tips
Capture the beauty of your church wedding through great photos and digital video recordings.
Here are some top tips from professional wedding photographer Richard Shephard, with Vicar and professional videographer the Revd Phil Janvier.
1. Choose carefully
Choose a photographer and videographer with a good reputation. Professional trade associations, such as the Institute of Videography, can be a starting point in your search, but most importantly, see examples of their work and meet them before you book them.
2. Put everyone in touch
Give the details of your photographer and videographer to your Vicar, and vice versa. They will want to contact each other to discuss the wedding.
3. Visit the venue together
Most photographers and videographers will want to see your wedding venue before the day, so try to arrange a visit to the church together. Often the wedding rehearsal can be the best place for talking things through.
Walk around the grounds and show them the lighting indoors if possible. Ask to take some practise shots, or even try out specific poses or photographs you'd like on the day. This will help you to relax in front of the camera and get to know your photographer better.
4. Keep the ceremony special
Your Vicar is skilled in ensuring you and your guests experience a beautiful, meaningful and spiritual service. Talk to the Vicar about what you want to achieve with your images, and they can factor this in to make sure everything goes smoothly.
5 Good logistics
Because your Vicar knows the church layout so well, they can help negotiate movement of photographers and videograpers during the service. For example, if there is no way for the photographer to walk from the back to the front of the church without disturbing everybody, you may be restricted to photographs from the back of the aisle until the photographer is able to come to the front during the signing of the register.
6. A beautiful building and so much more
Getting to know the people in the church, not just the building, can make your wedding, and the recorded images, so much more meaningful. Going to a few of the services before the wedding can be a good way to start meeting people.
7. Plan for changes
Rain needn’t spoil your special day if you talk to your photographer, videographer and Vicar about contingencies, such as taking photos inside the church. Think about the number and size of the group photos you want at the church.
8. Shots before drinks!
You may need to save some of the photographs for the reception venue, but it's always best to get as many as you can done earlier rather than later where possible. If you're done early, it's easy to fill time before the meal with drinks and mingling, but much harder to find time for photos if you spend too long mingling first.
9. Switch on the lights
Good lighting is essential for sharp photos and recordings, so ask for the lights to be switched on in the church, even though it’s daytime. Church buildings are beautiful, so you’ll want your guests to see everything more clearly.
10. Capture the romance
Even if your Vicar doesn't actually say “you may now kiss the bride”, you're still allowed to! It’s natural to want to mingle with guests a lot of the time, but if you stay close to each other, there are more opportunities to capture the romantic moments on camera.
Also, during your photographs after the ceremony, try not to look straight at the camera the whole time. After a few 'safe' portraits, turn to each other, whisper in each other's ears, sit on his lap, smile at each other. Don't be afraid to embrace or touch one another. If you can't look romantic in public today, when can you?
11. Smile and enjoy
It sounds obvious, but it's amazing how many people forget to simply enjoy the happiest day of their lives! Bridesmaids especially can concentrate so hard on walking that they forget to look up and smile. Walk slowly. If the Vicar goes in to church before you, let them walk a good clear 5-10 meters ahead. This is your big moment, so don't let anyone block the shot! By losing yourselves in the moment, the cameras will pick up your natural smiles.
12. After the honeymoon
When you return home and receive your wedding photos and DVD, why not drop a picture in to the Vicar? A photo is a lovely visual aid for prayer, which will help the church continue to pray for your marriage.
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