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Recent Wedding Articles

How to Photograph the Bridal Party at a Wedding

The group shots at a wedding are some of the most important, but they can also present some of the most difficult challenges for the photographer. If that is something you struggle with, check out this excellent video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer sharing a wealth of practical advice on how to get the best shots.

How to Photograph Large Wedding Parties

Wedding photography is a challenging genre that requires rock-solid technique, the ability to think on your feet, and a ton of people skills. One of the most difficult aspects of the day is large group portraits. If you are a budding wedding photographer and want to learn how to take those big portraits, check out this awesome video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know.

What Can Wedding Photographers Do About the Engagement Gap?

Generally, you can expect relative stability in the amount of couples needing wedding photography services, at least across short to medium periods of time. However, the COVID pandemic was an unprecedented hit to the industry that resulted in less couples getting engaged in subsequent years, meaning that a few years later, we are seeing a drop in those couples getting married, placing strain on wedding photographers. What can wedding shooters do to weather the lull? This helpful video tutorial offers a range of great ideas and advice.

How to Take Family Portraits at a Wedding

Aside from the bride and groom, on the long list of shots a wedding photographer has to get, few rival the family portraits in terms of importance. If you would like to ensure you get all the shots you need, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers a range of practical and actionable advice along with some behind-the-scenes footage of how one wedding photographer approaches the task.

3 Reasons Why One Photographer Uses Prime Lenses for Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is a very challenging genre that requires a lot of versatility both as a photographer and in terms of gear. As such, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses are highly popular options, but they are far from the only choices for wedding work. This great video essay features a seasoned wedding photographer discussing some of the reasons he prefers using prime lenses for his work instead.

Why Wedding Photography Is Harder Than It Seems

Many new photographers will find themselves in or around wedding photography at some point — it is the inevitable call of those who take even a reasonable image. But, don't be fooled, it's harder than it seems.
6 Lighting Setups Any Photographer Can Use

Having a few simple lighting setups available at your disposal is one of the most important tricks any photographer can have up their sleeve. In this post, I'm going to share with you six of my favorite lighting setups for wedding photographers, but really any photographer can use these simple tips.

Should You Photograph a Friend's Wedding?

Photographing a friend's wedding sounds like a blast. Is it really worth it, though? Make sure to consider these things before making a decision.

One Critical Piece of Gear You Probably Don’t Have in Your Wedding Kit

If you’ve been a wedding photographer for any amount of time, you know that you are going to spend a lot of time in loud wedding receptions, and this is my public service announcement to please protect your freaking ears. All wedding photographers and filmmakers need ear protection as part of their kit for the long hours we spend in front of bands and DJ speakers at volume levels unsafe for our hearing, and so, I rounded up a few options for you to consider below.

One Easy Way You Can Film BTS of Your Photo/Video Shoots

Look, I think we've all been there, none of us want to have to bring extra stands, tripods/monopods, or even extra cameras just to get behind-the-scenes images (BTS for short from here on out) or video for our websites or social media, even though we'd all love to have that content. After some trial and error, I think I've landed on a fun and flexible solution by using a 360 action camera but there are some things to know before you get started so let’s get into it.

Is the Fujifilm GFX 100S Too Much for Weddings? 

I’ll admit I was seduced by digital medium format, with its ridiculous resolution and that “medium format look.” It has been two years of full-time use. Do I still think it was worth it? Better yet, should you drop $10K+ for a medium format digital camera kit?

Wedding Photographer Discusses His 1-Star Review Horror Story

If you've ever photographed a wedding — or really any important event or shoot — you know that a client being unhappy is your worst nightmare. Well, it happened to this photographer and he talks candidly about how it unfolded.
How To Take Epic Portraits of the Bride

Bridal portraits are a key part of the wedding day. So let's make them epic. This article is part two of a series where I walk through a series of favorite images from a bridal session.

How To Take Epic Bride Prep Photos at a Wedding

One of the most important parts of any good book is the first few pages which draw in the reader in. That's what getting ready photos are for a wedding day. So let's make them epic.

Essential Golden Hour Photoshoot Tips for Photographers

Golden hour is a magical time of the day for photography, characterized by warm and soft light that can turn even the most mundane scenes into stunning works of art. This period occurs twice a day, during the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, and is highly sought after by photographers for its dreamy and ethereal qualities.

Have Photo Conferences Fully Recovered From COVID?

It’s no secret that COVID put a bit of a damper on anything in person, especially large group gatherings, like conferences and trade shows. But as time has moved on, has the photo conference world fully recovered?

A Look at 10 Effective Wedding Photos and the Camera Settings Behind Them

Wedding photography is a challenging genre that takes rock-solid technique, the ability to think quickly on your feet, and calmness under pressure. If you would like to learn how to become a better wedding photographer, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding professional discussing 10 of her photos and how she chose the camera settings for them.

Tips to Nail Your Candid Wedding Photos

As patronizing as it sounds, wedding photography isn't simply a one size fits all style. Some photographers adopt an editorial style, some pose couples for most of the day, and others will be 100% reportage. That said, we can always be sure that some parts of the wedding must be candid, the events that we cannot control or manipulate.
How a Photographer Shot an Entire Wedding on Film

Wedding photography is one of the most challenging genres out there, and given the pressure and lack of second chances, most photographers opt for high-end digital equipment to ensure the best chances of getting the shots they need. Given today's client expectations, can you still shoot a wedding on film? This neat video features a photographer taking you through his entire film photography kit for a wedding.

Rain Photoshoot Tips for Unique and Captivating Photos

Rain in the forecast can be a disappointment for photographers and their clients, especially if they planned an outdoor photoshoot. Rain can ruin the vision for perfect, directional lighting that was originally planned, making it difficult to capture the desired mood or atmosphere. However, instead of rescheduling or moving the shoot entirely indoors, photographers have an opportunity to capture interesting and creative photos with an outdoor rain photoshoot. In this article, we’ll provide you with some rain photoshoot tips to prepare and inspire your creativity.

The Top 10 Essential Photos You Need to Capture as a Wedding Photographer

Are you starting out as a wedding photographer? Maybe you're looking to improve the quality of what you deliver. Here are my top 10 must-have shots, when they will happen during the day, and key information to consider when setting them up, finessing, and completing them.

5 Tips to Help You Take Better Wedding Photos

Wedding photography is one of the most challenging genres out there, requiring you to be at the top of your game technically and ready to tackle any challenges that come efficiently and smoothly. If you would like to improve the quality of your shots, check out this fantastic video tutorial from an experienced wedding photographer that will give you five tips sure to improve your wedding photos.

How to Handle Harsh Light in Wedding Photography

One of the challenges of wedding photography is that you are on a tight timeline, and if conditions are not flattering or conducive to portraiture, you have no choice but to power through them and still create the best images you can. So, what can you do when the big day presents with harsh, hard light? This excellent video tutorial features an experienced wedding photographer showing you how she handles harsh light to still create flattering, memorable images.

10 Fundamental Facts You Need to Know Before You Turn Pro

Thinking about turning your hobby into a jobby? What are the essential points you will need to consider when taking your hard-earned savings and convincing your better half that this will be the new, next chapter in your life? With over 15 years as a professional photographer and more than 25 years being self-employed, here’s what you need to know to make your dream a reality.

The Five Best and Worst Things About Being a Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography can be a lucrative genre, but it can also be extremely challenging and taxing, and it certainly is not for everyone. If you are newer to photography and wondering if it is the genre for you, check out this great video essay that features an experienced wedding photographer and friend of Fstoppers discussing the five best and worst aspects of the profession.

Tips for Shooting Winter Wedding Photography

The wedding season typically runs in the summer months in most countries. However, winter wedding photos can look magical if done right. I spoke to Finnish photographer Lauri Hytti about his experiences and tips on how to master shooting the perfect snowy scene.

Ultimate Focus Settings For The Canon R6

Katelyn James breaks down the essential (in my opinion) options you need to know and master on Canon's EOS R6 to be able to nail AF and eye-tracking options ensuring a sharp and tracked subject every time. Her style is easygoing and she's great to listen to and I love her videos and explanations which make sense and put everything into perspective.

Looking Back Is the Only Way to Move Forward

I look back at past work to see how I've come as a photographer and wonder: what's changed in the 15 years since I started taking photographs professionally? How can I use my previous body of work to improve and give me confidence for what is to come?

Three Wedding Photography Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner

I've spent years picking up odd tips, completing online courses, researching techniques, and now, I'm confident in sharing some of that knowledge with the world. Of course, I'm still learning and will continue to pick up tips for the rest of my career. For now, though, I'll share some I wish I had known sooner.

How to Add Pets to Engagement and Couples Portraits

Pets are one of the most important presences in the lives of a lot of couples, and it is only natural that they might want to include them in engagement or couples portraits. Of course, adding a rambunctious dog or the like to the mix can make your job substantially more difficult. So, how do you satisfy the desires of your clients without pulling out your hair? This helpful video tutorial will give you some useful advice.

A Fujifilm Camera and Lens Kit for Wedding Photographers

Fujifilm's mirrorless cameras are highly respected for their design, capabilities, and innovative features, and they have become the system of choice for many wedding photographers. This great video essay features a wedding photographer taking you through the Fujifilm cameras, lenses, and accessories he uses for the big day.

Is This the Ultimate Wedding Photography Lens?

In the past few years, Tamron has reinvented themselves as a company that offers both lenses that make smart compromises to be highly affordable and lenses that push the boundaries of design. The 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD falls into the latter category, and it looks like an impressive option, particularly for wedding photographers, and this great video takes you behind the scenes with the lens and shows you just what it can pull off.

Shooting Weddings With the Fujifilm X-T5

I don't hide that I'm a Fujifilm fanboy. My last article described how it's the perfect system for me. I purchased two Fujifilm XT-5 camera bodies the day they were released and used them at weddings just a few days later.

10 Leading Lines Tips and Examples From Pros

In photography, the term leading lines is a compositional technique used to draw a viewer's eye to the subject of the photo. These lines can be created by any object in the scene like a road or path, a fence or railing, a distant object like a mountain, and any other structure that creates a real or imaginary line in your image.

10 Crucial Tips for Photographing Your First Wedding

Wedding photography is one of the most demanding and difficult genres, requiring strong technical and creative capabilities, the ability to quickly and effectively solve problems, and strong interpersonal skills. If you are getting ready to photograph your first wedding and feeling a bit nervous, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer sharing 10 important tips that will help you to better prepare and ease your nerves.

5 Reasons Weddings Might Be Stressing You Out

Wedding photography is notorious for being a demanding, high-stakes genre, and as such, it is natural that with that comes a fair amount of stress. Nonetheless, that does not mean you can't do certain things to reduce that stress. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced wedding shooter discussing five reasons why you might be overly stressed shooting weddings and what you can do to fix that.

Shooting Weddings With the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

Shooting weddings is stressful, mostly because you only have one opportunity to really make your clients happy. That being the case, you need to use gear that you can rely on to get you exactly what you and the client envision. Does the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM lens fit into that category?

Discovering the Secret World of Wedding Albums

For the most part, I have total control over my client's experience with me. I know and understand every aspect because that's my livelihood and passion. I research my equipment, control my backups, work from calibrated monitors and meticulously set up how I deliver images to my clients. However, I've always been in the dark about one aspect of the process, wedding albums.

Long Exposure Portraits: 6 Creative Ideas to Try on Your Next Shoot

Some of my favorite creative photography techniques to use are those that allow us to capture moments in ways we could never see using just our eyes. One technique, in particular, that I turn to for capturing unique portraits involves using long exposure, aka shutter drag. Long exposure portraits open up a number of creative possibilities and often result in “wow” moments with my clients. Putting the technique to use does require some skill and preparation, but it’s easy enough to master once you know the basics.

Why I Used to Hate Making Wedding Albums

Before I created Fstoppers, I was a full-time wedding photographer. Over that time, I designed a handful of wedding albums as both show albums and as client albums. To be honest, I never really enjoyed the album-making process. Now, the tables have turned, and for my wife's first year anniversary gift, I decided to make an album with images from my own wedding. How will my wife respond, and will I enjoy the process? Let's find out!