Common Wedding Photographer Mistakes We See as Photo Editors

As photo editors, we’ve worked with millions of wedding photos, and trust us - some mistakes keep popping up. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned photographer, here are some common slip-ups we’ve seen and, more importantly, how to avoid them to level up your game!

1. Missed Key Moments

   The problem: Not enough shots during big moments - like the ring exchange or first look. If someone blinks or is out of focus, that moment has gone forever.
   Pro tip: Use continuous shooting mode for key moments. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from and guarantee you capture the magic.

2. Backlighting Gone Wrong

   The problem: Shooting directly into the light can result in washed-out photos or lost details.
   Pro tip: Learn to master backlighting! Proper exposure and tools like reflectors or fill flash can save your shot.

3. Not Preparing for Lighting Changes

   The problem: From bright outdoor ceremonies to dim receptions, wedding lighting is tricky. Poor preparation leads to overexposed or underexposed photos.
   Pro tip: Scout the venue and bring gear for every lighting situation. Adjust settings on the fly to get perfect exposure every time.

4. Dirty Lenses

   The problem: Smudges and dust can mess with focus and sharpness, especially in low-light settings.
   Pro tip: Keep your lenses clean! Check them regularly, especially before important shots.

5. Overusing Wide-Angle Lenses

   The problem: Wide-angle lenses are great for capturing the scene but can distort your subjects and lose intimacy.
   Pro tip: Mix it up! Use medium and close-up shots to capture emotions and details, creating a balanced gallery.

6. Lazy Composition

   The problem: Shooting with tilted horizons or too much clutter, thinking you can fix it later with cropping, often results in lower-quality images.
   Pro tip: Get it right in-camera! Align horizons, avoid clutter, and be mindful of the background. This saves you time in editing and results in cleaner shots.

7. Poor Group Posing

   The problem: Someone’s always looking away or blinking. Group photos can be a nightmare without proper coordination.
   Pro tip: Take multiple shots and direct your groups with clear, concise instructions to keep things moving smoothly.

8. Not Shooting in RAW

   The problem: Shooting in JPEG to save space limits your ability to make serious edits without losing quality.
   Pro tip: Always shoot in RAW for maximum editing flexibility. It makes post-processing so much easier!

9. Ignoring Detail Shots

   The problem: Missing those beautiful close-ups of rings, flowers, or décor means you’re missing a vital part of the wedding story.
   Pro tip: Create a must-have checklist for the detail shots to ensure nothing is overlooked.

10. Not Directing Couples

    The problem: Many couples aren’t naturals in front of the camera and need direction to feel and look comfortable.
    Pro tip: Guide them with prompts to help them relax, ensuring genuine emotion and beautiful moments.

11. No Backup Plan

    The problem: Horror stories of lost photos happen way too often. Equipment fails, memory cards corrupt, and files get deleted.
    Pro tip: Have a solid backup strategy in place. Use dual memory card slots and back everything up as soon as possible.

12. Inconsistent Shooting Style

    The problem: Jumping from one subject to another without consistency creates a jarring viewing experience.
    Pro tip: Plan ahead, keep calm, and stay focused on telling a cohesive story.

By avoiding these mistakes and improving your attention to detail, you’ll take your wedding photography to the next level. Happy shooting!

10 Compelling Reasons to Shoot in RAW Format

As a wedding photographer, capturing the finest details and ensuring the highest quality of your images is crucial. One way to achieve this is by shooting in RAW format. If you're still on the fence about making the switch from JPEG, here are ten compelling reasons to start shooting in RAW today.

1. Unmatched Image Quality

RAW files capture all the data from your camera’s sensor, providing the highest possible quality. This means you'll have richer details and better color accuracy in your images compared to JPEGs, which compress and lose some data during processing.

2. Greater Editing Flexibility

Editing RAW files gives you more control over your photos. Adjusting exposure, white balance, and color correction is much easier and more effective with RAW files because you have all the original data at your disposal. This flexibility is essential for making precise adjustments that maintain the integrity of your images.

3. Enhanced Dynamic Range

RAW files have a higher dynamic range, allowing you to recover details in both highlights and shadows that would be lost in a JPEG. This is particularly beneficial in wedding photography, where lighting conditions can vary dramatically.

4. Non-Destructive Editing

When you edit a RAW file, the changes are stored in a separate file or within the editing software's database, not in the original RAW file. This means you can always revert to the original image without losing any data or quality.

5. Better Color Depth

RAW files record more color information (typically 12 or 14 bits per channel) than JPEGs (8 bits per channel). This extra color depth allows for smoother gradients and more precise color adjustments, essential for capturing the true essence of your subjects.

6. Improved Noise Reduction

RAW files offer better noise reduction capabilities, especially at high ISO settings. With RAW, you can apply noise reduction algorithms more effectively, preserving detail while reducing unwanted grain.

7. Increased Sharpening Control

JPEG files apply in-camera sharpening, which can’t be undone and might not be suitable for all images. RAW files allow you to control the sharpening process during post-production, giving you the flexibility to adjust according to each image's specific needs.

8. Correct Exposure Issues

Shooting in RAW makes it easier to correct exposure problems. Whether you’ve underexposed or overexposed an image, RAW files retain more information, making recovery more effective and preserving image quality.

9. Professional Standard

Most professional photographers prefer RAW for its quality and flexibility. Using RAW files demonstrates a commitment to quality and professionalism, which can enhance your reputation and client trust.

10. Archival Benefits

RAW files are ideal for archiving important photos. They contain all the original data captured by your camera, ensuring you have the highest quality files available for future re-edits or reprints as technology improves.

Switching to RAW may require more storage space and post-processing time, but the benefits far outweigh these drawbacks. By shooting in RAW, you'll ensure that you capture the best possible images, offering superior quality and flexibility that will set your work apart.

Ready to make the switch? Start shooting in RAW and see the difference in your photography quality and workflow.

Five Things To Do If You Feel Stuck

Feeling stuck feels like no matter how much effort you spend, you're not moving in any direction, not budging even an inch. It can happen to all of us, and its duration varies, but it makes us ask ourselves, "What should I do to move forward?"

Today, we have five actionable steps to take whenever you're feeling stuck and don't know what to do next. Bookmark this one for later because you never know when you might need it!

1. Discover why you feel stuck. Knowing the root cause of the dilemma will help you resolve it. You can't fix an issue before identifying it. Are you unsatisfied with your work? Perhaps you're not booking your dream jobs? Do you want to raise your prices, but you're scared of losing bookings? Reveal what the pain point is.

2. Invest in education. A proven course, group mastermind, or 1:1 coaching are great options to propel your business forward. Directly learning from someone who is where you dream about being can help you reach your goals faster. An outsider's perspective could pinpoint problems sooner and provide innovative solutions you wouldn't have thought of on your own.

3. Learn a new technique. Challenge yourself to master a new skill like learning film, off-camera flash, long exposures, or even building frames. Whatever photo conditions make you nervous on wedding days or photoshoots means those are areas where you can improve. Having a solid skillset gives confidence by knowing you can produce incredible images no matter what.

4. Create personal work. If you have an idea for an extraordinary photoshoot concept that would attract your ideal clients, it's time to bring that vision to life. Devote the time and resources necessary to build a portfolio you love and are excited to share while elevating your brand. There's no reason not to be in love with your portfolio!

5. Expand your niche or market. Branching into motherhood or product photography is a great way to increase income without taking up weekend days if you're a wedding photographer. If you feel your ideal clients aren't in your local area, expand your market reach to other cities and focus on being a destination photographer. 

Wait for the breakthrough. This period of feeling stuck could be the catalyst that brings you into your greatest growth. Consistently put in the work, and don't get discouraged. Ambition isn't stagnant and propels us ahead, so we don't stay in the same place forever.