{"id":361478,"date":"2021-06-23T13:05:25","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T12:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/?post_type=learning-centre&p=361478"},"modified":"2024-04-15T17:39:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T16:39:21","slug":"photographing-your-first-wedding","status":"publish","type":"learning-centre","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-gb\/learning-centre\/photographing-your-first-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographing Your First Wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wedding photography is a great opportunity to get creative as a visual storyteller, but these are also high-pressure jobs. The fast pace of the day might leave you feeling like you need to be in two places at once, and there is always the added pressure of knowing a wedding is unrepeatable \u2013\u00a0you can\u2019t just go back and photograph the vows again if you miss them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A\n
\u00a9 Miles Witt Boyer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The key to managing this pressure is to be meticulous in your planning and preparation, so you know what is happening throughout the day, how you\u2019re going to photograph it, and that you have all the kit you need with you. Let\u2019s break down the day into stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you need to do is meet the couple and ask them what kind of pictures they want. Are they looking for a certain style, specific images, or are they happy to leave things to you? You\u2019ll also be able to gauge their personalities from this meeting\u00a0\u2013\u00a0are they outgoing, confident, shy? And they\u2019ll get to meet you, so you\u2019re not a stranger on the big day. Some photographers even create an engagement portrait, which aids this getting-to-know-you process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Young\n
\u00a9 Phillip Porto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If possible, it\u2019s also good to visit the venue before the big day, and try to do this at roughly the same time of day and time of year as the service is taking place. You could always take the couple along with you so they can show you what\u2019s happening. You could even have your meeting or engagement photo session at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you find out if anything crazy is going to happen (ring-bearing owls, bagpipers playing, or a choreographed first dance) or if the couple would like any specific portraits or group images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipment Preparation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now you can select the equipment you need. Versatility is imperative when documenting weddings, which is why most professional wedding photographers work with a pair of fast aperture zoom lenses: one standard zoom like the FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR and a telezoom like the XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR. If you work with two camera bodies, you can have your standard zoom on one and your telezoom on the other, or just swap over lenses quickly if you\u2019re working with one camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoom lenses like this let you switch focal lengths quickly, so you won\u2019t miss something while you\u2019re trying to swap lenses, but prime lenses also have their place. The FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R is very popular with wedding photographers for its ability in low light and to restrict depth-of-field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also consider a flash. You won\u2019t use it very often \u2013\u00a0and certainly not in the ceremony \u2013\u00a0but it really helps when you\u2019re struggling for good light and can make the difference between creating an image or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A\n
\u00a9 Paul Von Rieter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pack everything you\u2019re going to need the day before the wedding, along with plenty of freshly formatted SD cards, fully charged batteries, and accessories like cleaning cloths, a notebook, and collapsible reflector\/diffuser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your camera has two SD card slots, put identical cards in each one and set the camera to back up by saving images to both at once. Do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n