How to: Pro Tips For Wedding Photos

Images and tips by Scott Stockton

Wedding season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to gear up for plenty of romance—as well as the responsibility that comes with documenting one of the most important days in a couple’s journey together.

Gaining an understanding of their personalities, researching the logistics of the wedding venue, and setting up a mental list of “must take” photos is all part of a wedding photographer’s to-do list, as is knowing which lenses to bring to the big day. From the 28-75mm F/2.8 DI III VXD G2 (Model A063) and 35-150mm F/2-2.8 DI III VXD (Model A058) zooms, to the 70-180mm F/2.8 DI III VC VXD (Model A065) telephoto, all designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless camera systems (and the models A063 and A058 also available for Nikon Z mirrorless cameras), Tamron offers a variety of options to ensure you don’t miss a single magical moment.

Here, professional wedding photographer Scott Stockton share his tips on how to use Tamron lenses to capture everything from the “I do’s” to the last dance of the night.

TIP 1: UP YOUR F-STOP GAME

Use slightly higher f-stops when capturing the wedding party walking down the aisle. Photographers often fall so in love with shooting at, say, F/1.4 that they may neglect to take in the details of the overall scene. Using an f-stop at F/2 or F/4 helps ensure more of your subject is in focus.

TIP 2: MAXIMIZE WINDOW LIGHT

Any time I’m taking pictures of the bride getting ready, I always place her by a window to situate her in beautiful natural light. Make sure you turn off all indoor lights if you do this: The light coming in from outside will be a different color than the lighting inside, which can muddy your white balance.

TIP 4: HELP HIM RELAX

Grooms often aren’t that comfortable in front of the camera, so I like to put them more at ease by sitting them down and giving their hands something to do. In this photo here, the guys were sipping on whiskey in the bridal suite, so I had the groom hold his crystal glass and look out the window to place more light on his face.

TIP 4: ADD LAYERS

I did that here by placing the bride’s flowers in the foreground on top of a coffee table, then getting real close with my camera and shooting through them. Incorporating these layers of out-of-focus objects in the fore-ground or background, in contrast with my subjects, adds a little intrigue.

Learn about these lenses and more at an authorized Tamron dealer in your area or visit the TAMRON Store today.

More Photo Tips | Watch Videos | Learn More About Tamron Lenses | Photo Gallery