There is very little left for the official arrival of spring, more specifically nine days. It is in this season that celebrations are held with greater assiduity: Weddings, baptisms, communions ... Therefore, it is a good season for our sector. Photographers and designers see a considerable increase in clients and this can never be bad news. Perhaps the most worrying thing about this season of celebrations is that there is an increase in the labor intrusion. It seems to be more and more common (unfortunately) but the truth is that everyone is responsible for their decisions. For reasons economic (Yes, in italics, because this is very relative) the work of a photographer is placed on a non-professional relative or relative.
You can already guess what I think about it, but hey, each one is responsible for what they do and decides how they want everything to happen during their celebration. Leaving this topic aside, I am going to dedicate this post to offer a series of tips that cannot be ignored to make a good wedding report. Actually, it is a kind of rreminder for all those new professionals who debut this spring in their first jobs:
- Inspiration: As if it were any other project, you need to have a foundation. A richness and visual culture that feeds new concepts. Especially if you are going to face one of your first jobs, look at catalogs, other people's reports, the work of established photographers. This may seem trivial, but if we nurture ourselves we will achieve a basis and our own criteria forged by great works.
- Accuracy: Avoid unforeseen events. Planning is one of the phases that we must address in the pre-production of the project. We need to take it easy and if it is necessary to have a blog or diary that serves as a reminder of what we should leave ready to start working. Create a mind map and establish coordinates to follow when taking snapshots. Will the focus be manual or automatic? Have you set the white balance? The sensibility? The aperture of the diaphragm? Do you know if there will be a predominance of interiors or exteriors? Don't forget all the accessories: Tripod, lenses, spare batteries, flash ...
- Alternatives: This type of reporting requires a long working day. You'll need to tackle the preparations, ceremony, and celebration at a minimum. Therefore, you will need at least an alternative battery or even an alternative camera. What it is about is to cover the event in a complete way and with the maximum detail.
- Attention, we are talking about unrepeatable moments: You have to be clear that these types of reports are totally spontaneous and there will be events that we cannot repeat. A gesture, a look, a few words ... We must try to capture the most representative of the moment, the most exciting and real.
- It flows and allows the portrayed to flow: Avoid forcing the situation, the poses and the guests. What your client is going to look for in you is a totally faithful representation of that moment. Do not be insistent with the couple and try to carefully observe the beauty of each moment. Your task will be to select what is the most beautiful and important at all times but being totally invisible throughout the process. Try to go unnoticed within your possibilities, if you get the guests not to feel uncomfortable or observed you have achieved 50% of your work.
- Stage: Lean on the resources that the scenario offers you. Reflections, flowers, landscapes, colors and textures. Try to bring out as much potential as possible on the stage where the event will take place. Even if you have the opportunity, visit it before the day of the celebration and give it a spin to obtain an interesting and original result.
- What format? Remember that the RAW format offers more flexibility and will help you modify some parameters afterwards if there was some kind of lag in the capture.
- Sincerity and professional ethics: Of course, if you do not see yourself qualified to face a report if you are not a professional, open up and advise your acquaintances to hire an image professional. You will do a favor both to the photography sector and to the wedding couple as they will receive a quality service and just as they expected. In case you are starting professionally, always keep in mind that you learn from mistakes and that you cannot be a monster doing reports if you do not have a lot of experience and a history of errors. Mistakes are the best indication that you are growing and evolving, so if you fall into one, keep calm, Rome was not built in two days!