How to Photograph Weddings

Stewart Powers uses the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 VC lens to capture the big day.

Article by Jenn Gidman

Images by Stewart & Susan Powers (Master Photographer, Craftsman)

Stewart Powers has been using the Tamron SP 24-70mm VC lens for their wedding sessions, which offers him the range and low-light capability they need for these momentous occasions. "I use it for every moment of the wedding," he says. "I go to the 24mm wide end for large groups, romantic illustrations, and venue interiors, while the 70mm end is a short tele I can use for tighter groups of two to five people for half-length portraits."

Stewart also appreciates the 24-70's fast focusing abilities. "The AF on the 24-70 is spot-on and fast," he says. "I'm a fan of back-button focus, a technique that also helps ensure sharp images with subjects that are not in motion. I use it at F/2.8 for creative portraits in low light, but with the Vibration Compensation feature, I can select F/4 and a slower shutter speed and get great images. I tend to use the camera in a three-frame burst when I handhold at 1/20th of a second and slower, and often all of the frames come out super-sharp."

Read on for Stewart's tips on how he helps the newlyweds enjoy their day while taking perfect photos.

The bride is the focus of the day, so put her at ease.
To make sure the bride is relaxed, I joke around and say a lot of silly things - maybe something like, "The hardest job I would have today is to make a bad picture of you!" I also make sure she's got an appropriate beverage and has eaten. I compliment her while I'm photographing her, and I try to show a select image to the bride, her mom, and the bridesmaids. That way, they exclaim how great it is, the bride is thrilled, and we build on that positivity.

Make your subjects the center of attention, not the background.
I tend to use out-of-focus trees and foliage for most of our posed photos. I blur the background by using minimum F-stops like F/4 or F/5, even for groups. With one subject I might use F/2.8; I only use F/6.3 or F/8 for a large group. When we're shooting indoors, we try to find a background that features a diagonal receding feature or a secondary subject, like a gazebo or the church altar. That makes the photo more visually interesting.

Find the right light.
"Natural-looking lighting" means different things to people. Honestly, brides just want to look good. Natural smiles and expressions happen when they're having fun, and if I need to add lighting to see that expression and keep the ugly shadows from their eyes, then I add what's necessary. I use whatever lighting gear I need - or none at all - to improve the odds that my clients look their best.

If the sun is out, we select a location where we're in the shade. I use a Profoto Acute 600 with a Westcott softbox for portraits and groups. The sun is typically behind my subject, and the Profoto light is soft and beautiful. I never have harsh shadows in portraits. I might have bad vertical light during an outdoor ceremony because I don't use flash then.

I bounce several Quantum strobes off the ceiling in reception halls if I need it to open the background. We have flashes on our reception cameras. We also do some reception photos by available light to offer our clients more options.

Keep everything sharp.
I have the VC on the 24-70 turned off when my camera is on a tripod, but when I'm handholding, I can use shutter speeds below 1/45th of a second for sharp results. I use a video light at events for dramatic illustrative photos at dusk (I usually steal the bride and groom out of the reception for just three or four minutes). A typical exposure for this type of shot is 1/10th of a second at F/4.5 at ISO 1600. Before I had the Tamron 24-70 lens, I was shooting too many frames because it was hard to hold the camera still at slow speeds. The VC feature solves that.

The Vibration Compensation is also great for "drag the shutter" photos in the church or event location when you need a slow shutter speed to pick up the available light and the f-stop is set for an off-camera flash. The flash lights the subject, and the slow shutter speed picks up the warm glow of any surrounding candles or incandescent lighting.

Look for the best ways to shoot the happy couple.
Low angles looking up at the groom and groomsmen make them look manly and impressive. Pictures taken while looking down on the bride and bridesmaids with a wide-angle perspective have a fashion-like look that they really love. It can also do wonders for a bride to shoot from above - it really enhances the way her body looks, especially if she's looking to "add" a little extra cleavage.

If there are stairs we can use, those are useful posing aids. But the best way to get a couple to pose is to simply show them what you want. Ask them to mirror you. If they're active and like to walk around, I just give them a theme (maybe I'll say, "OK, show me how much you are in love!"), and then I move to get the best angle so I can capture them in that moment. The rest of the time, I just follow the flow and don't worry too much. There's a time to pose, and a time to just observe.

To see more of Stewart and Susan Powers' work, go to http://www.powersphotography.com. The Powers will be teaching a Tamron-sponsored class at the Florida School in June 2013 (go to https://fpponline.org/instructor01.php for more info).