Wedding photography is an exciting and challenging job. You need to take excellent images while thinking about other factors such as time and pressure. That does not mean that you should forget about photography composition techniques though.
There are several ways to combine photography composition techniques with wedding photography. By doing so, you are arranging elements that makes your subject (in this case, the couple) look better.
Unlike other photography genres, you have very little control over what is happening in a wedding. What if an audience blocks your view? What should you do next?
That is what we are going to talk about today. Here are some of the wedding photography composition tips and techniques you should know.
What are the different photography composition techniques?
There are several photography composition techniques that photographers use to make their image more interesting.
These are:
- Balanced elements
- Negative space
- Golden triangles
- Rule of thirds
- Perspective play
- Patterns
- Depth
- Scale
- Rule of odds
- Leading lines
- Framing
We go in-depth about these photography composition techniques here. Do not forget to take a look at it and get back to this article so you won't get lost.
Leading Lines in Wedding Photography
Leading lines in wedding photography is one of the easiest to apply. Most wedding venues have aisles and lines that you can use to highlight your subject.
It does not mean you need to find literal lines. All you have to do is look for imaginary lines that may lead to your subject.
For instance, you may use the red carpet as a guide for your viewer towards the couple. There's no couple in the image below but you do get the point.
Fill the frame
Do not be shy and get up close and personal with your subject. Capture emotions and details that the audience may miss out while in the event.
Moreover, filling the frame reduces visual clutter. It allows the audience to be mroe intimate with your subject.
Take this image as an example. The attendees might miss the ring and bouquet details but since there is a photo of it, they are now able to take a closer look.
Use Negative Space
This is the complete opposite of filling the frame. This time you are going to take advantage of a clean background to highlight your subject.
Using negative space gives your subject enough breathing room to an otherwise cluttered event.
Moreover, you may also use negative space to isolate your subject.
This technique does not only work with the couple. It also looks great with the ring, bouquet, and other inanimate objects.
Do not forget the rule of thirds
This is the most common photography composition technique and it is applicable in all genres of photography. Of course, it also applies to wedding photography.
Basically, the rule of thirds means you need to put your subject in the lines of an imaginary 3x3 grid instead of dead center.
The rule of thirds is a great starting point if you are still warming up on a shoot. Some of the best wedding images taken also use this technique.
Depth of Field
Depth of field is a fantastic technique in wedding photography as it allows you to focus on the subject while blurring everything else.
Doing so removes any distraction and visual clutter in the image.
The only thing you need to use this technique is a lens with a shallow aperture. It is very easy to do, and the final image is impressive.
You may also use this technique alongside other techniques such as negative space and filling the frame.
Play around Contrast
Wedding photos are often light, moody, and bright. However, there are times when adding contrast and drama to an image makes for a better result.
Contrast in wedding photography is used to highlight the subject by making it pop against a darker or light background.
This technique is a little bit more advanced since you have to play around light. It is also better if you have flash or lights that you can control so you can dictate the final image.
Final Thoughts
We can't wait to see how you'll use these cool photography composition techniques in your wedding photos! Sometimes, when we give ourselves some rules and actively try to achieve a specific goal, it can lead to a burst of creativity.
And hey, if you find that these rules and techniques are cramping your style, just give them a shot anyway and you can always go back to doing your thing.
But you know what? If you practice remembering how to really see things and apply that to your photos, it could totally change the game for you on the wedding day.
Taking a photo and composing a photo are two different beasts. So why not challenge yourself to try out some of these techniques in your wedding photography? Who knows, it might just blow your mind and transform your work!
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