Wedding Photography

Even those of us who've been shooting weddings for quite some time, can learn something from a fellow photographer. Beginners to wedding photography can do with  a little guidance to build confidence in their ability to take perfect wedding photos.

Wedding Photography - Tools of the Trade

Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, Olympus…. 8, 9, 10, 12 or 22 megapixels? The list goes on and asking for assistance at a retail store might leave you with more questions than answers. Wedding Photography has changed over the years and more people want something different to the traditional “mom and dad” photo style. Traditionalists will still swear by a medium format camera like the Hasselblad or Mamiya, but most wedding photographers have started to use the digital SLR camera more frequently. This format gives the photographer more freedom to shoot at strange and different locations where bulky equipment will be a hassle. The two main contenders in the digital SLR world would be Canon and Nikon, with Fuji and Sony short on their heels.

First thing to consider… What is your wedding photography budget? This will narrow down the selection process, but keep in mind that you will most probably need 2 cameras if you want to make wedding photography a profession. No wedding photographer wants to be stranded with faulty equipment and left to explain it to the bride’s mother.

The second question would be cropping factor. Most digital SLR cameras have a cropping factor of 1.4 – 1.6 because of the type of sensor it uses. This means that you will get a 1.4x or 1.6x magnification on any lens you use. So basically a 50mm lens will become a 70mm lens. So if you already have some lenses keep in mind that a 35mm wide angle lens is no longer wide. Full frame digital SLR cameras are more expensive but generally offers better depth of field and better image quality.

Wedding Photography Lenses

Lenses should also be kept in consideration. Canon makes some of the best lenses known, but they come at a price. Zoom lenses are very handy because you get several lenses in one, ranging from wide to close-up. For wedding photography you want lenses that allows you to work in low light situations, and a good f2.8 or f4 lens is ideal. Having a 24mm – 105mm or 28mm – 70mm lens is excellent for using indoors while the bride is getting ready, and a good 70mm – 200mm is great for shooting at a distance.

Optimal Wedding Photography Resolution

Then there is also the big megapixel question… Don’t be a victim of more is better. Remember that more means large file sizes which in return means more memory cards. With a decent digital SLR camera you can shoot a wedding with a 4 megapixel camera and still get great results. Look at megapixels in the light of print size. 4 Megapixels will allow you to get a decent 8” x 12” print and even slightly larger. But in wedding photography you always need to be prepared for the bride asking for an enlarged canvas print covering her living room wall. 8 Megapixels will give you enough room to crop and enlarge.