How to Handle Wedding Day Chaos as a Photographer or Videographer

A wedding day can quickly descend into utter chaos – something that the best wedding photographer who’s in high demand knows all too well. So what does it take to stay in charge and make the most of the situation?

Wedding photographers and videographers often face challenging and unexpected circumstances. A large gathering can quickly become chaotic, especially when people get a bit too excited about the whole experience.

There are things wedding professionals can do to maintain order and get their job done in the best way possible. Here are some very effective strategies that will yield excellent results in terms of overcoming common challenges.

 

The Best Wedding Photographer Would Get to Know Key Players

 

Experienced wedding photographers and videographers understand the importance of breaking the ice.

It’s a good idea to arrive early and dedicate a bit of time to communicating and getting to know key members of the wedding party.

At the very least, make an effort to have a quick chat with the best man, the maid of honor and the parents of both the bride and the groom.

These are the individuals who know everyone else. They’re also familiar with the ceremony and how it’s intended to go. In the event of an emergency, you can count on them for some assistance.

The social aspect of being a wedding professional is very important. Even if you’re introverted, you can still strike an easy conversation with people. Asking a few questions about the bride and the groom will always get people talking.

Showing some interest in the event also paints you in a positive light and makes individual more likely to help out and make your job easier.

 

Understand Some of the Most Common Challenges

 

Being prepared is the key to handling chaos. Some accidents can’t be anticipated but there are other situations you can easily prepare for.

Photographing children and older family members, for example, is never easy. You should be strategic about these shots. Make them quick and make them fun for the people involved.

If you can stay organized and you keep things moving along, chances are that you’ll face very few challenges. Some issues could also arise from the venue and the way in which space is organized.

Visit the place in advance. Where will the ceremony be held? Is there enough space for the placement of equipment (like lights, for example) and will you be able to move around easily? If you need to, ask for some adjustments.

The bride and groom will probably cooperate, especially if they’re keen on getting high quality pictures and video.

Having a plan B is the best way to prevent disaster from occurring. Prepare for bad weather, make sure you have enough equipment to address malfunctions. You can improvise in most other scenarios and the quality of the outcome wouldn’t be affected.

Something like a broken lens, on the other hand, can easily ruin the entire shoot. That is why you need to think in advance and make sure that the most horrendous scenarios aren’t going to take place.

 

Enlist the Help of Other Professionals

 

The best wedding photographer knows that all professionals involved in the event are responsible for making it outstanding.

That’s why asking for help and cooperating with others is never a bad thing.

As a wedding photographer, you can partner up with the videographer, the wedding planner and even the DJ to make the event fun and easy to work.

You can always ask the couple for contact information before the big day arrives. The wedding planner is one of your biggest allies and the person who will have a solution for most emergencies.

Get in touch with them early on and let them know how you intend to handle the shoot.

The planner may have some great suggestions when it comes to venue specifics or handling the most challenging members of the wedding party.

Establishing professional chemistry with such people can have long-term positive effects. Many client referrals come from other wedding pros. Networking is always a must-do, even when you’re trying to work on the big day.

 

Defuse Ticking Bombs

 

Some people are simply not naturals in front of a camera.

They can easily get angry or flustered with a wedding shoot.

Wedding photographers and videographers need to be a bit of psychologists in order to get such people feeling good and acting naturally.

Dedicate a few minutes to preparing people for the upcoming shoot. Let them know what you intend to do. Be humorous and lighthearted about it. Humor is the strongest weapon in your arsenal.

If you start using it right off the bat, you’ll probably get those amazing shots pretty fast.

Even the bride and groom may feel uneasy or awkward when you start doing your job. Give them some time to adjust and get comfortable with you. If you guide people through the process, they’ll stop noticing your presence pretty quickly.

That is what needs to happen for you to capture those precious, intimate moments.

 

The Best Wedding Photographer Will Turn Challenges into Opportunities

 

Unexpected situations are nerve racking because you’ll worry about getting the job done and delivering an outcome that clients will be happy with.

Sometimes, however, emergencies are going to be inevitable. Instead of panicking about those, embrace unexpected scenarios and turn them into opportunities. Playing the cards right will yield some outstanding results that brag unparalleled originality.

Is there an issue with the bride’s dress?

Photograph relatives rushing to the rescue. Such little moments can result in intimate pictures or footage that will immortalize every single facet of the wedding day.

Having those candid shots will actually give the couple a comprehensive view of their special day with its ups and downs.

It’s your job to assess situations and use your professional judgment to determine what’s worth capturing and what isn’t. If you believe that abandoning the original scenario is a good call, do that.

Having some unexpected footage is a much better idea than having nothing at all and attempting to make up for the missed opportunities in other ways.

 

Prioritize the Bride and Groom Photos and Videos

 

Depending on the situation, you may have to scrap some of the intended shots/footage and prioritize others.

Always prioritize the bride and groom portions of the shoot.

These are the photos and the kinds of footage that married couples will go back to time and time again.

Make sure you have captured all of the special and tender moments between two people who are making promises to each other.

If there is a list of shots that the bride and groom want, you should be ticking those off before moving on to anything else.

Typically, family photos and footage have to be completed before a bride and groom shoot because these may take a lot of time. If you are pressed, however, it’s ok to switch things around.

Take into account the time of the day, the weather and the lighting. An opportunity that presents itself shouldn’t be missed for the sake of sticking to a preliminary scenario.

 

Bring a Second Photographer or a Videographer to the Venue

 

Even the best wedding photographer or videographer will struggle to get all of the work done for clients who have more intricate demands.

If that’s the case, things can easily become chaotic.

You will have a good idea about the amount of work that needs to be done in advance. Based on that preliminary assessment, you can decide whether bringing a second photographer or videographer to the venue will be necessary.

Having a second person as a part of the team will reduce the pressure and give you a chance to focus on those most precious moments. Also, two people are much more capable of handling emergencies than one individual.

With a second shooter, you can give your clients more comprehensive results. Again – this is a long-term investment in your career. If you have a feeling that the job is simply too complex to deal with on your own, have some back up.

 

It Will All Come Together in the End for the Best Wedding Photographer

 

Finally, remember to breathe and slow down every once in a while.

A wedding day can be very stressful for everyone involved, including vendors.

With time and experience, you’ll become much better at handling chaos and emergencies.

At the time being, use every opportunity as a learning one. Try to improvise and remember to have fun. Most often, everything will come out great in the end.

Stressing about unexpected situations isn’t going to resolve them. Being flexible and open to challenges is the way to go.

A positive mindset will give you the opportunity to surprise your clients with a plethora of unique photos or video moments. And that’s what it’s about.

Seeing happy faces and receiving praise for the work you’ve done will make all of the effort worth it in the end.