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Tips for Shooting Wedding Images with Style and Drama
Images & Text by Mark Teng
When I approach a wedding shoot, a lot of things go through my head. There are a number of factors that I must simultaneously consider, but by far the most important thing is the look and end-result that the clients are going for. A wedding photograph can be an artistic and amazing image in its own right without necessarily being a true memento of the wedding day itself for the couple. No matter our circumstance in life, we all have a deep understanding of the importance of our memories, and I try to deliver an album to my clients that will be timeless and bring back those memories of one of the most important days of their lives.
46mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec., ISO 100
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In the case of Henry and Shirley, the couple was very fun-loving and laid-back, which inspired me to do a series of shots that reflected the light-hearted mood of the day. When we found out that our original location was closed for an event, we quickly did some last-minute scouting and came across a field of tall plants with white flowers in full California bloom (yes, in early December). As I walked through the field, a sudden gust of wind picked up and swooshed all those fragile white blooms into the sky. I thought that these blossoms looked very much like snowflakes when they fell which gave me the idea to incorporate the blooms into the shot. I asked my wife Toni (my business partner and co-photographer) and the groomsman who happened to be with us to each grab a handful of flower stalks and wave them in front of the couple. I told jokes to break the tension of the mood, while Toni held a light stand in one hand and waved a bunch of flowers with the other. After a few attempts and lots of sneezing, I was able to create the dreamy effect you see in the featured photo.
65mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec., ISO 100
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I like to include some element of drama in my photos. After all, a wedding shoot is basically a storytelling shoot, and drama helps to move a story forward and to convey emotion. Drama can be created by shooting at unusual angles, using perspective and distance to convey a sense of space (or the lack of it), using the contrast of light and dark (and the strategic use of shadows), and by incorporating a sense of movement into the image.
46mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec., ISO 100
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For this reason, I tend to avoid images that are overly static, preferring dynamic shots. A shot can be made more dynamic by as simple a thing as slightly modifying a pose or asking the bride or groom to move during the shot instead of standing still. For storytelling, I try to get shots of the couple doing something, showing some emotion, or participating in an activity (even if that activity is silent meditation or reflection).
42mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec., ISO 200
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One of the most powerful tools we have in creating drama and focusing the viewer’s attention in photographs is the use of light and contrast. I try to look for situations where the light is flattering for beauty shots, or where it is dynamic and strong for candids and establishing shots. In my shots, both natural light and flash are used, and they each deliver different results.
40mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec., ISO 100
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It also really helps to have the right tools on hand. For my style of shooting, I find that lenses with a normal zoom range and strong autofocus really help because they allow you to focus on the creativity and communication while letting the equipment do the heavy lifting on the technical side. The Tamron 28-75 G2 lens that I used for the shoot paired with the Sony A7RIV exceeded all expectations. Even though at times I was literally shooting with one hand while using the other to hold a flash video camera, almost every single shot came out sharp and in focus. The focal range of 28-75 is quite ideal for wedding photography as it allows you to take wide shots that incorporate the environment at one moment and instantly switch to a short telephoto to shoot close-up portraits and details the next. I actually owned the previous version of this lens, which was my go-to portrait lens, but the G2 is even that much sharper and has become my new favorite lens for wedding photography.
31mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec., ISO 100
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At the end of the day though, it all comes back to getting the shots that will bring back the memories – the laughter, the tears – when the couple goes through their album 1, 5, 10, 50 years from now. It’s what I always remind myself when I introduce myself to the couple. “Hi, my name is Mark, and this is my wife, Toni. We are going to be your storytellers, your historians. We want to tell your story of your special day. How can we be of service?”
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