How To Capture Creative Wedding Photographs As A Guest

It's not an uncommon sight to see guests at weddings with cameras nowadays but perfecting your wedding photography skills so you capture shots you're happy to show the newly weds can be a little daunting. So, to help you out, personalised photo gift manufacturers and experts from uk.photo.gifts have put a list of tips together that'll help you capture everything from the subtle beginnings and vow exchanging to the last glasses of champagne and a full-blown tuxedo swim. 

Stay seated until you are told otherwise

No matter how good of an angle you've spotted, you need to stay in your seat during the ceremonial part of the event. Whilst it’s commonly accepted that the wedding photographers and videographers (the hired ones) are entitled to manoeuvre around as they wish, it comes off as a rather annoying affair if somebody from the guest seat section uses the occasion to showcase his/her photography skills off.

This doesn't mean you can't be creative

As you're sat in one spot, your means of expression might be a little limited for the better part of the ceremony but this doesn't mean you can't try and get creative. Experiment with focal points, angles and camera settings. This might lead you to capturing a shot that says a lot more than staged and glossy stills do. 

You don't need loads of kit

Taking a full blown photographer’s set (numerous lenses and other photo equipment) with you is just impractical so stick to just one camera and a lens or two. Alternatively, why not use a smaller compact or even a smartphone as they have really great cameras on them now. Plus, if you do use your smartphone there are loads of apps you can use to give your images a creative twist. Do make sure the sound is switched off, though, as you don't want a sudden ringtone spoiling the wedding ceremony. 

Don't think polished and posed is always best 

Even though shots that look like they've been pulled from a double-page spread in Vogue are very lovely to look at, it's not something that, in reality, we can all capture. However, this isn't something you really need to worry about (leave that to the professional) as the reportage style is something that's becoming more popular these days. Try shooting from the hip or how about setting up a camera on a tripod and using its time-lapse function to record so many shots every few minutes. That way, you'll still be able to document the wedding while still having fun yourself, too. 

Get more guests involved

Everyone and his aunt is on some sort of social media platform so why not use it? Encourage people to post shots with linked hashtags so the bride and groom can easily find them. Silly selfies, detail shots and captures of friends and family can all be collected together then for people to enjoy after the day's ended. 

Disposable cameras can be fun to play around with, too so perhaps suggest everyone takes one with them to capture spontaneous moments throughout the day. You could even organise a simultaneous photo shoot where everyone pulls out their camera at the same time to capture a shot of the bride and groom. 

What to do with your photos

Why not turn the photos you've captured, and those taken by others, into a photo themed gift? A sea of unintentional selfies, quirky, off-the-cuff masterpieces and pretty portraits will work great together in a photobook that will be a source of laughs for the newly weds until their diamond wedding anniversary and beyond.