I don’t need to tell you that photos can say a thousand different stories. Sometimes words aren’t just enough, and you just need a visual aid. Here are my tips on how to capture special moments with photograph.
I’m sure you heard it a million time before, that photos can tell a thousand different stories and sometimes words are just not good enough.
At a particular moment in our lives where that is so true, where words are just not enough, and there does come a time when you just need something a little more visual.
Especially if it a special family moment such as wedding, graduation, or maybe a new birth. A photo not only is visual evidence – but an aid to help bring back memories.
So with that said, when there is a special moment that needs to be captured – you need to know how to take the perfect photos.
I’m here to share with you my tips on how to capture special moment with photograph. And to help me with this, I have nagged Richard along as this is more of his specialty. Richard is more of an event photographer, so he does anything from a wedding – to award shows – to any party that need to photographs.
Make a list
If you are doing a wedding, graduation ceremony, or covering an award shows – you will need a list. Now, this might be so obvious, but you be surprised how many time you forget about making a list – especially if short on time.
Have a list is essential if covering a wedding as you will need a wide range of photos such as:
- A still shot of the dress.
- Bride and bridesmaids are getting ready.
- Arrival
- The exchanging of vows.
- The reception.
- The speech
- Families
Consider your lights options
- We all know a camera works on lights, so always think about your lights options.
- Some venue might be windowless and be really dark while other might be bursting with too much lights.
- Too much lights can add grain to your images.
- So try not to shoot into direct sunlight’s as it will add grain and blurred out the photos.
- Also, do consider using flash, but try to bounce off the flash around the room, to avoid those flash deer’s in the headlights photos.
- If in a dark venue or there not much lights – feel free to add some lights around the frame of the photo – but the trick is to get these lights out of the shoot.
Use Raw Files
Raw files are the natural setting on a camera. This is very much how the camera has shot an image. When shooting on Jpgs, it often compresses the image and adds distortion. Raw files don’t have that, and it let you edit your photos a lot more finely and precisely to your specification. I have explained in the past on editing in raw camera filter in Photoshop.
Be patience
They say you should never work with animals or kids – and if you do have to, then you need to be patient. Often at a wedding, not everyone will be ready for photographing. So do sit back and let everyone be prepared before losing patience.
Auto vs Manual
For some shot, especially if doing an evening shot you might want to look at whether you want to go auto or manual on your camera.
- Auto (AV on most camera) Adjust aperture to blur background (subject stand out) or keep foreground and background in focus.
- Manual (M on most camera) Set shutter speed and aperture manually for greater freedom of expression in shots.
Backdrop
This might be another obvious tip but always think about your backdrop when framing a photo. When doing an outdoor shoot – consider what is going on behind the subject. I.e. is there a bin in the way, or perhaps someone in the background when they should be there.
Those were my tips on how to capture special moments with photograph. Hopefully, this has been some help. Additionally, if you find yourself at any point being the lead photographer at an event – needless to say, it might be a good idea to practice and to research lots of different style and technic.
(Written for Bidvine which helps you meet the right pro for your project.)
