Identifying Key Scenes and How to Photograph Them

You may have to figure out what story to tell at each wedding you photograph, but fortunately you can rely on the same scenes being important almost every time. In the following sections, I discuss the three key scenes: the preparation, the ceremony, and the reception. I also go over some of the logistics of shooting each scene effectively.

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Top: 50mm, 1/40 sec, f/2.8, 800

Bottom: 50mm, 1/40 sec, f/2.8, 800

Figure 7-3: Though details can help bring a story to life, seeing how all the pieces fit together is also crucial to telling a story.

The preparation

remember.eps The photos of the bride and groom getting ready are the introduction to the wedding story. In this scene, the different characters are revealed and the plot begins. Following are a few reasons why this scene is so important and what your photos should accomplish:

check.png Advancing the plot: This scene lays the groundwork for the rest of the wedding story. The preparation starts to build some of the tension as the bride and groom get ready in their separate quarters.

check.png Creating a mood: During the ...

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