Plan Ahead

• One of the most important things you can do before shooting any wedding is to plan ahead. Sit down with the bride and groom to discuss expectations and to plan a "shot list." This will be an agreed-upon list of what you can reasonably provide for them in terms of group shots, candids and portraits. If you have a second shooter or an assistant working with you, the shot list may be more extensive. However, if you are working on your own, be reasonable. It is better to agree to a smaller number of shots that you know you can do well than to promise hundreds and hundreds of mediocre ones that you can't necessarily deliver on. This is especially important if you're an amateur or you simply haven't shot a wedding before.
  
  

Notice the Details

• There are standard shots that a photographer must get at every wedding: the ring exchange, the first dance, the cutting of the cake. However, one thing you can do that will set your photographs apart from others is to focus on the finer details. Try a close-up of the bride's hands around her bouquet, or a macro shot of her veil. After the ceremony, get the traditional group shots, but try for some more intimate shots of the couple's hands held with their wedding rings visible. Even the menus and table settings can work for these shots. After all, the same people who are paying you have also paid for these special touches, and they'll be pleased to see them immortalized. These close, detail-oriented shots will also be excellent for the newlyweds to frame and display in their home. They offer a different perspective on a traditional ceremony.
  
  

Be Polite But Firm

• The bride and groom are the most important people at any wedding, but the photographer occasionally needs to come in third, at least when it comes to access. You may not know any of the guests, but you will likely be required to politely ask them to get out of your way. There is no need to be rude, but don't allow pushy attendees to keep you from getting the shots you need. You will not get a second chance, for example, to capture the first dance or the first kiss. People will generally understand that you need to get the picture and be accommodating, but if they're not, well, you may just have to step in front of them to get that perfect shot. In the end, the work you do will be seen by the bride and groom, and you don't want to be telling them that you missed their first dance because you couldn't see over Uncle Bill's head.