Being adventurous with your wedding photography can lead to some of the most unique and beautiful shots that people will stare at in awe. Rather than relying on the tried-and-true locations, you can take advantage of your surroundings and try something new—or at least different. Being adventurous with your wedding photography can mean that your photos will capture your true emotion and personality so much better than ‘playing safe’ and relying on tired cliches.
Your wedding will be a day filled with joy and happiness, and your photos should reflect that. But how can you go about making these decisions? What are you getting yourself into? And what does being adventurous even mean in the context of wedding photography? If you’re completely lost, don’t worry—we’re here to help.
Below I’ll go over what adventurous wedding photography can entail as both a photographer and the couples, as well as some tips and tricks to make sure you have the best experience possible. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Be Adventurous with your Wedding Photography for best results!
1) Think Outside the Box
If you’re looking to take your wedding photography up a notch, think outside of the box. Rather than cliche poses and plain backgrounds, experiment with various settings and find something interesting in your surroundings. You’ll want to be careful not to get too avant-garde or abstract; after all, you don’t want your photos to look like they were taken by M.C. Escher (though some may argue that would be pretty cool).
Keep it real and go with something authentic, but new and exciting at that. If you need inspiration, get out there are search for artistic landscape photographs from your wedding venue and surrounds that you like and simply put yourself in those scenes after discussing with your photographer.
2) A Necessary Conversation Between Bride and Groom
Expectations can often get in the way of enjoying yourself on your wedding day, and that’s completely normal. You’re expected to look a certain way, act a certain way, etc., and these pressures can take their toll over time. One good thing you can do is make sure to have a clear conversation about expectations with your partner before you head out for your big day.
Make sure you’re on board with each other’s ideas before anything else—this will ensure everyone gets what they want out of their photographs, which will ultimately result in more enjoyable pictures!
3) Spend Time in Your Location
While you’re getting used to being adventurous, try heading out of your comfort zone and spending some time in your potential wedding location before you take any photos. Doing so will make you feel more at ease during that special day—you’ll know where everything is and have a good idea of how to get around. You might even stumble upon a few photo opportunities along the way.
So don’t be afraid to head into uncharted territory—the worst thing that can happen is you won’t end up using it for anything. Be brave and find something new that works with your story!
4) Keep An Open Mind to Suggestions
A big part of being adventurous with your wedding photography is keeping an open mind to suggestions from others as well as coming up with ideas on your own. If you don’t feel like you’re in a position to make decisions about how you want your wedding photography taken, that’s perfectly fine—your photographer has experience and can point you in a direction that will work best for both of you.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or try something new! And just like before, if it turns out you don’t like it, it was all a learning experience. In fact, most photographers suggest trying many different looks during your session; what works for one shot might not work so well for another and vice versa.
5) Stay Light on Your Feet
While you’re doing everything else on your list, don’t forget to have fun. Most photographers will tell you that good pictures come from having fun and feeling comfortable with one another (which is why it’s so important to have that conversation about expectations beforehand). So go ahead and dance a little, jump around if you want—it’s your wedding day, after all. And as long as you stay light on your feet, everything should work out just fine!
Remember, most of these suggestions are based on experience, but there are no strict rules when it comes to taking great photographs. Your best bet is going with what feels right for you and being excited about it; if nothing else, being adventurous will make your big day much more memorable.
6) Think About Storytelling Through Composition
When it comes to composition, there are so many different factors you have to think about. The first and most obvious one is framing—where do you want to place your subject within that photograph? Do you want them in front of a beautiful landscape or a famous landmark? What if they’re doing something interesting with their hands or body? How close should you be as a photographer when capturing an image?
In addition, consider depth of field (the way everything looks sharp and in focus or blurry), color schemes (everything from clothing to flowers), light exposure (for example, bright outdoor lighting versus more dim indoor lighting), shutter speed (how long your camera’s shutter will stay open), etc. All of these things can add up over time—so once again, be adventurous!
Have Fun, It’s Your Wedding Day!
And last but not least, don’t forget to have fun. Remember that whatever you decide to do, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re both happy with it. If your photographer suggests an idea that seems silly or uncomfortable at first—but gets you excited—give it a shot. Go ahead and plan something new and exciting—the best thing that can happen is you get great photos and memories from your special day; worst case scenario is nothing comes of it. Just try to be adventurous with your wedding photography and I promise it will all pay off!
