Wedding Photo or Video Mistakes That Can Cost You a Lot

Even the most experienced professional wedding photographers and videographers can make mistakes under pressure. Unfortunately, such errors can have devastating consequences.

While it’s easy to recover in some challenging situations, others are much more difficult to tackle.

If you’re wondering about some of the emergencies and the disastrous scenarios photographers and videographers often face, here’s a brief overview.

 

The Biggest Professional Wedding Photography and Videography Mistake

 

The number one mistake is not capturing the moments that you’ve agreed upon with the bride and the groom.

Chances are that you have a list of shots that you need to create (or types of footage you have to capture before calling it a day).

A failure to do so for whatever reason will mean that you haven’t done your job.

It’s important to stay during the entire day or for however long you’ve agreed on with your clients.

Nobody wants an incomplete shoot. Not only are people paying money, you are also capturing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Lacking wedding photos and videos is one of the most disastrous things for couples.

People will want to relive these special memories time and time again. It’s your job to bring the right gear and plan ahead of time in order to capture every special moment.

In order to do a good job, you have to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. The weather can change. Some of your gear may malfunction.

These scenarios aren’t too difficult to address if you’ve prepared for them.

Always have a plan B. In the best scenario you wouldn’t have to turn to it.

In the event of disaster striking, however, you’ll remain cool and collected while continually capturing the moments that a married couple would want to indulge in after the wedding is over.

 

Disrupting the Ceremony to Get That Shot

 

As professional wedding photography and videography practitioners, it’s our job to be invisible.

Obviously, that’s an overstatement and an inconspicuous status will be difficult to achieve while trying to capture those spectacular shots.

Still, it’s very important to do the job in a stealth mode and be as unobtrusive as possible.

Disturbing guests in order to get that perfect angle, having them tripping over your equipment and interrupting special intimate moments are big no-nos.

Such a mistake will affect the quality of the shots – people don’t want to feel like they are being photographed or captured on film.

What’s even worse, you could leave a lasting negative impression on the wedding party. Having a disgruntled customer is never a good thing.

A negative review and public criticism can easily impact your ability to score new gigs in the future.

 

A Failure to Connect Emotionally

 

Wedding photographers and videographers often turn into a bit of psychologists.

The job involves working with people who are very emotional and going through a life-changing day.

You can’t be neutral and distanced when trying to immortalize such a special occasion.

It’s very important for photographers and videographers to attempt establishing some degree of emotional connection and trust.

If you put a bit of effort into breaking the ice, you’ll get better shots.

A bride and groom who trust you and enjoy your presence will take direction better and they’ll feel less awkward in front of the camera.

Striking a conversation during a wedding is far from difficult. Asking about the love story of the lucky couple is an instant ice breaker.

Most people will be eager to share memories and personal anecdotes.

The fact that you appear interested and emotionally invested will score you points, ease the completion of the project and help you establish some potentially productive long-term relationships.

 

Not Giving Directions

 

Professional wedding photography and videography are different from amateur shots in a number of ways.

The biggest difference stems from the experience of the cameraman who knows their equipment and the things required to create the most stunning shot.

Trying to improvise is a big no-no when you’re working with people who aren’t professional models.

That’s why photographers and videographers need to give some directions.

The bride and groom are already familiar with the creative vision but you should still give them a reminder.

It’s also imperative to work with family members and everyone else on the execution of the original vision.

If you don’t give directions and you try to please everyone, you’ll end up with mediocre shots at best.

Over-directing isn’t a good thing – you’ll get stiff footage and people who are trying to pose way too much.

A few corrective remarks every now and then, however, can deliver exceptionally good results.

They will keep the shoot tight and focused, allowing you to do the job without interruptions and serious disturbances.

 

Being a Cliché

 

Clichés are familiar and comfortable. Sometimes, you’ll be too tired or probably uninspired by the project ahead of you.

In such instances, you’ll probably want to count on clichés in order to get the job done.

A photography or videography cliché will look good enough because it has managed to stand the test of time.

Such a strategy, however, isn’t going to produce something distinctive that will wow your clients.

Counting on clichés will make your work forgettable – something that no creator wants.

So, even if you are very tired, you should still put some originality in the shoot.

That extra effort will get you noticed and help you establish outstanding relationships with numerous satisfied clients.

 

Accepting a Last-Minute Appointment

 

Sure, things can get slow every once in a while. This is especially true when it comes to off-season shoots.

Still, accepting a last-minute appointment is a very tricky thing to do.

Professional wedding photography and videography necessitate preparation.

It’s important to get to know your clients. You also need to build some trust and inquire about the end result they envision.

Having some time to practice, visit the venue and ask for adjustments will help you produce the kind of photo album or video clip that will wow your clients.

A last-minute appointment is very challenging because you wouldn’t have a chance to connect and understand the client’s vision clearly.

That creates opportunities for disappointment and nobody wants a displeased client.

It’s up to you to decide whether the payment is good enough and whether you’ve been given enough information to base the shoot upon.

Eventually, you will become experienced and demanded enough to afford turning clients down.

Doing so will be more challenging in the beginning of your career but in some instances, that’s going to be the best approach.

 

Relying on an Inexperienced Second Shooter

 

Having a second shooter at the venue makes your job so much easier. Not only will you split the work, you’ll also have a lot more footage/shots to choose among.

Sometimes, however, the second shooter will be a burden rather than an asset.

Having an inexperienced second shooter is not a good idea, especially if you’re not familiar with their work ethics or know-how.

Many people work as second shooters in order to gain experience and discover professional opportunities.

That’s ok but the lack of experience can turn into a serious problem under pressure.

Make sure your second shooter is someone you can count on, someone that you have chemistry with.

Good communication and a clear understanding of the concept will also be vital.

If you choose a second shooter who is a newbie, dedicate enough time to getting ready for the big day together.

The more information and assistance they have, the higher the chances of success.

 

Poor Post-Production

 

Some photographers and videographers forget the fact that the project doesn’t end once the shoot itself is done.

Underestimating the importance of post-production results in mediocre results quite often.

Even if you’re going to be doing minimal editing and the client’s looking for natural shots, post-production should still be given enough time.

Follow the creative vision to deliver some consistency and stylistic choices in line with the concept of the shoot.

If you are not that skilled, outsource post-production but make sure the service provider is properly introduced to the concept.

Even if clients are pushy, don’t rush through the editing and the final stages. These are the ones that can make or break an otherwise good shoot.

Post-production takes some time. Acquaint clients with a timeline in advance and stick to it, even if you’re being pressured into delivering early.

Professional wedding photography and videography require a lot. You have to be strategic, well-organized, meticulous and creative.

That’s just the nature of the job and delivering your best every single time is a guarantee for professional longevity.

Everyone makes mistakes once in a while. What matters is responding adequately and doing your best to correct the issue.

Dedicating some time to compensating clients and learning from the error will affect both your know-how and your reputation in a positive way.