WEDPIX MAGAZINE ARTICLES
The wedding planning articles featured in WedPix, the online photography magazine, cover a vast array of topics, including general wedding photography advice for the couple, technical
discussions for the photographer, feature articles on WPJA award-winning members and much more.
feeds are also available.
FEATURED ARTICLE:
TRASH THE DRESS
Brides and grooms want awesome imagery from their wedding, period. They want the unscripted moments captured, but they also want a photographer that can get very creative during a portrait session. That’s why couples everywhere are donning their wedding finery and not only descending into caves, but plunging into breakers, walking through abandoned amusement parks, wandering through cornfields, wading into forest streams and chasing other wild pursuits in an increasingly popular ritual and edgy extension of Wedding Photojournalism called Trash the Dress (TTD).
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Capturing Wedding Toasts
A celebratory toast to the bride and groom is deeply ingrained in wedding tradition, but do you know how the venerable custom came about?
Read More...
Planning Destination Weddings
Destination weddings offer stunning scenery and exotic atmosphere, providing the conditions needed to enhance those fabulous memories. However, since these types of weddings are often at resort locations in foreign countries, they’re subject to the unusual and the unexpected. Read More...
Telling A Story Through Humor
Every newly betrothed couple assumes that their event will go off without a hitch. But there’s one big mitigating factor in this lofty assumption. Namely, your day’s success is entirely dependent on other humans. And, unfortunately, that species is still a few sardines short of a bucket of chum. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Using Warm Tones (Sepia) Sparingly
Weddings, wrapped in tradition, are an appropriate subject matter to color in tidings of yesteryear. When sepia tone is added to a wedding photo, instantly it has that romantic, old time feel. Read More...
Pre-Visualizing Before The Shoot
Do you ever catch yourself dreaming about the perfect shot? Of course, the elements never fall into place as perfectly in real life as we would like them to but it never hurts to dream. Some WPJA members pre-visualize a few of the shots they’d like to get when documenting a wedding. Read More...
Who Are You Shooting For?
Couples hire wedding photojournalists for their narrative approach to photography, but they're also expected to get the more formal portraits shots. Balancing those competing expectations is an ongoing challenge and a somewhat tricky proposition. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MATT KIM
Capturing real moments and fleeting, intense emotions is almost always what wedding photographer Matt Kim has been driven to do. And while he has not always been welcome among his subjects on the streets, he is embraced and respected among wedding-day celebrants as he captures those authentic slices of life in churches and reception venues. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Capturing Romance At The Wedding
When the wedding day is over, your memories will be enhanced through photographs of the two of you looking at one another or simply being together, thus narrating the story of
your love.
Read More...
Wedding Reception Dancing
Ever since early man learned to beat a stick on a rock, some guy has embarrassed his family by dancing to it. The primordial urge to shake your booty can be traced back
thousands of years.
Read More...
Photo Tips For Wedding Guests
Top ten professional tips and techniques that your wedding guests can use to kick their personal photos up a few notches, while ensuring that their efforts will not detract from
the “official” photos produced by the hired photographer.
Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Patterns In Wedding Photojournalism
Scenes of patterns from the otherwise chaotic wedding day tend to highlight the order, organization, and planning of the day, and in their own way, they help portray a sense of
calm.
Read More...
Shooting Wide vs. Long
Shooting wide vs. long runs to the heart of how you approach wedding photojournalism—in the storytelling, composition, visceral message, emotion conveyed, and even in how your
subjects relate to one another.
Read More...
Trumping Image Manipulation
Today’s digital post-processing tools can be a force for good in the right hands, but can create visual mayhem when used without the proper judgment, and in lieu of an
essentially good image.
Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHELLE FRANKFURTER
It wasn't until wedding photographer Michelle Frankfurter was in college that she found her voice in photojournalism, and ultimately, a taste for adventure and discovery. That has since led her down an exciting road of documenting humanity where, along the way, her work has been greatly appreciated by thousands. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Being King And Queen For A Day
For one day, the two of you are the focus of attention. The concerns of the world slip away as your sweetheart and you take center stage for the moment you’ve long anticipated. Read More...
Group Reaction Shots
Reaction shots, which record the reactions of guests observing the wedding’s activities as they occur, add an invaluable dimension to the visual record of the festivities. Read More...
Hurricane Dean: Evacuation Wedding
Instead of exchanging vows, the bride and groom, along with their 33 guests, waded through roiling surf, holding their luggage overhead, to get to a boat moored just off shore. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Capturing Quiet Moments
Weddings can be chaotic, noisy affairs where emotions are displayed publicly, so one of your biggest challenges can be capturing their quiet, intimate side.
Read More...
Machine Gun Shooting
WPJA members cite the ease and economy of digital photography as a factor that support their creativity—one that includes a license to take large numbers of shots. Read More...
Keeping Your Hand in News Photojournalism
While news photojournalism provides a practice ground to hone trigger-quick reflexes, weddings let the photojournalist bring out creative tricks. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: BEN CHRISMAN
Growing up, wedding photographer Ben Chrisman was surrounded by creativity, his mother immensely artistic and his aunt a wedding photographer. He knew from an early age that he, too, wanted to pursue a career in the visual arts. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Partying Down At The Wedding
Weddings are a time to honor tradition, commitment and family. But as any wedding photojournalist knows, they’re also a great time for people to come together and cut loose. Read More...
Long Wedding Ceremonies
A wedding is the happiest moment of most people’s lives. It just doesn’t have to last a lifetime. If your ceremony includes a souvenir program and an intermission, it might be time to make some edits. Read More...
Everyone Is A Photojournalist
These days untold numbers of wedding photographers state in their bios that they have a background in photojournalism. Yet many do not really have any actual professional experience as photojournalists. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Dragging The Camera Shutter
Dragging the shutter is a basic photographic technique that is often put to highly creative use, producing images that contain a sense of motion and bring an added dose of festivity. Read More...
Receiving Thanks
WPJA professionals are spurred on by the heartfelt thanks they consistently receive from their clients after the big day, in the form of emails, phone calls and tears. Read More...
The Value Of A Solid Bio
A superior biography will give your clientele a compelling perspective on what has defined and molded your career, communicating your education, major accomplishments and unique skills that have made you the photographer you are. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: ANNA KUPERBERG
Wedding photographer Anna Kuperberg has been an artist since childhood. But for a long time she didn’t know that she was destined to be a professional photographer, let alone an award-winning wedding photojournalist. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Rainy Wedding Day Parade
Rainy conditions can present unexpected, extraordinary opportunities for your wedding photojournalist to capture lovely, funny and sometimes dramatic photographs. Read More...
It's Not Easy Being Beautiful
Getting ready can be a monumental task for the bride and her entourage, and an event in itself. The outflow of elation, anxiety, nostalgia and hope that accompany these activities create an ideal time for your wedding photojournalist to capture those timeless moments. Read More...
The Ideal Wedding Photojournalist
How you conduct your search for a wedding photojournalist can make a big difference in ensuring that you’re more than pleased with your photographic experience on the big day, as well as with the moments and memories captured in pictures. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Wedding Images With Depth
Deep photos, like any good wedding cake, are made up of multiple layers of people, objects and emotions that make for compelling photographs and, for those
involved, memories that will last.
Read More...
Getting Creative With Wedding Portraits
As with the stricter side of wedding photojournalism, creative portraiture requires the practiced ability to anticipate and to be in the right place at the right time, a skill that becomes intuitive with more experience and the right chops. Read More...
Fleeting Wedding Details
At any given wedding, there are an infinite number of these moments that pass into time. Some hold in place for longer than others; some come and go in the blink of an eye. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: EVRIM ICOZ
Like many wedding photojournalists, wedding photographer Evrim Icoz entered the field looking for a change. After graduating from Duke University with a Master’s in Computer Engineering, Icoz spent seven years working for Intel before he realized he needed a different kind of challenge. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Multiple Generations on Wedding Day
The emotional aspect of a wedding isn’t just about the love between the bride and groom. Family plays an important part in many weddings, and older relatives bring a deeper meaning to the ceremony and festivities. Read More...
Reception Tents: A Creative Palette
There’s nothing quite like a wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements outdoors. Read More...
Kids Dressing Up For The Wedding
Many brides put significant consideration and energy into determining the outfit scheme for their wedding party. The children who are participating in the
ceremony are usually no different.
Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Away From The Main Story:
Wedding Sideline Shots
Sideline shots broaden and deepen the story of the day, and are in fact an essential part of the record. Grab some good sideline shots, and your clients will thank you. Read More...
Creative Engagement Portraits
A creative portrait session can also develop into a great way to learn about the couple's personality, which can give further insight about just what sort of wedding to expect. Read More...
Wedding Scene Setters:
Telling A Story Through Use Of Space
Scene setters are an important component of any picture story, providing a sense of place to help convey the tone and mood of the wedding day.
Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: BRIAN TSAI
Throughout most of his life, wedding photographer Brian Tsai never kept a camera too far off hand. As a result, new friends would quickly pick up on the fact that he was the shutterbug of the group. “I have always been the guy with the camera,” Tsai admits. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Couples Seeing Each Other Before The Wedding Ceremony
One decision that you may agonize over is whether to see your partner before the ceremony, or to wait for your eyes to meet on the aisle. It can put you in a conundrum. Read More...
Weddings Can Be Chaos
A wedding is not just the culmination of a couple’s commitment. It’s also the final product of much planning and preparation. Yet despite the best-laid plans, some chaos is almost inevitable at some point along the way. Read More...
Letting Go: Photographing Intimate Moments With Parents
Throughout the wedding day, parents and their children walk a delicate line between past and future. Letting go is never easy, but it can make for dramatic photographs full of heart. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Using Music On Your Site
Many wedding photographers use music to some degree on their Web sites. Proponents say that music helps create and enhance the emotional experience, and also serves to brand the wedding photographer’s approach to the craft. Read More...
Color, Meaning And Moments: Photographing Ethnic Weddings
Ethnic weddings, in addition to providing a change of pace from the more typical ceremonies that wedding photojournalists know well, also offer a rich visual palette and deep cultural rituals that can offer range to your portfolio. Read More...
Creating Timeless Images
Weddings provide timeless memories, and everyone would agree that the best wedding photojournalism should do the same. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: STACEY KANE
With very little planning and the encouragement of admirers, wedding photographer Stacey Kane's transformation from photo hobbyist to full-fledged wedding photojournalist was not part of a pre-planned career path. In fact, she says that she is “forever grateful” to her friends, family and the complete strangers who offered everything from suggestions to forthright pleas that she become a professional photographer. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Other Cameras At The Wedding
Thanks to the digital revolution, many cameras now are lighter, smaller, relatively inexpensive, and they’re showing up everywhere, especially at weddings. Read More...
To Smash Or Not To Smash: Cake
No other tradition during the wedding day relies as heavily on improvisation as the cake cutting. Not following the “rules” is frequently what makes the cake cutting unforgettable. Read More...
Male Bonding On Wedding Day
Many photographers have found that the groom, the best man, the groomsmen and numerous other dudes contributing to the big day often serve as provocateurs and especially interesting subjects for wedding photojournalism. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Working The Camera Angles
One of the most defining tools in shaping unique perspective at a wedding is angles. Working the angles lets you express the way you see the story unfolding. Read More...
Working With Second Shooters
Having a second shooter at a wedding introduces issues related to qualifications, shooting responsibilities, usage rights and more. Here’s a look at second shooter experiences and best practices, aided by input from a few of the WPJA’s accomplished members. Read More...
Deeply Layered Images Using Glass
Layers aren't just for wedding cakes. As most wedding photojournalists will tell you, each layer of a photo adds yet another dimension to the shot, further enhancing the visual story. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CHRISTOBAL PEREZ
Wedding photographer Christobal Perez understands the power of photojournalism and the rewards of helping others. And, he believes that everything happens for a reason. Those basic tenants, along with a strong work ethic and an unwavering drive to be true to himself, have effectively steered his life from migrant worker’s son to award-winning photographer. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Wedding Photojournalism Myths
With the number of wedding photojournalists perpetually on the rise, confusion over what they will-and won't-do seems to be increasing at a parallel rate. Read More...
Taking The Photographer For A Ride
One of the often overlooked, and maybe under-appreciated settings for photos during your wedding day occurs while the bride, groom and other members of the wedding party are in a car, limo, party bus or other form of transportation. Read More...
Including Pets In The Wedding
Animals create excellent photographic opportunities. Pets can add a measure of spontaneity, whimsy and fun to the photographs. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
WPJA Contests: A Membership Perk
WPJA’s competitions call for the very best in world-class wedding photojournalism. Talent is rewarded with unparalleled peer review, cash awards, trophies, titles and professional recognition. Read More...
Directional Lighting With Luck
Quick thinking and a constant awareness of light—helped along by anticipation, some serendipity and a little luck—can result in direct, dramatic illumination that helps capture the full beauty and drama of the wedding day’s once-in-a-lifetime moments. Read More...
Crafting A Good Wedding Contract
As a wedding photojournalist, the client contract is central to your business. However, a good contract is critical to your business. How good is yours?
Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: HEATHER MABRY
At first glance, wedding photographer Heather Mabry’s photography career looks direct, even planned. In fact, her path was a burst of creative combustion that propelled her from fine art photography and a financial career to wedding photojournalism. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Wedding Party Roles
While wedding party stereotypes still exist, most people realize there’s more to being a bridesmaid than looking beautiful, more to being a groomsman than adding life and excitement to the reception party. Read More...
Photographing The Rehearsal Dinner
Next to the pomp and fanfare of the wedding day, the rehearsal dinner has historically gone undocumented by the wedding photographer. Read More...
Destination Weddings:
The Photographer's Perspective
This is the first installment of a quarterly WedPix feature in which we will profile some of the world’s top destination wedding locales, as evaluated by
the WPJA’s most accomplished members.
Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
WPJA: The Team
The WPJA was founded to further define and develop wedding photojournalism, and to encourage and reward photographers who excel at capturing found moments. Read More...
Wedding Photojournalism Purism
So what is pure wedding photojournalism, and how does it impact the pursuit of good shots, as well as “giving the clients what they want”? Read More...
Wedding Photographer Tax Tips
As one of three certainties in life, taxes cannot come as a surprise to any wedding photographer, although you can certainly be forgiven if you push the thought of them into the back of your brain. As a creative professional, you'd likely want to devote most of your energy toward honing your craft. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: ERIC CABLE
Everyone who's ever had a boring, unfulfilling job that they've always wanted to quit in order to pursue their true passion, but maybe never had the guts to do it, have wedding photographer Eric Cable to look up to. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Kids At The Wedding
A wedding is a special event for all involved, and children are no exception. In the thick of wedding planning, many brides and grooms often forget the little ones. Read More...
Planning A Summer Wedding
Picture this: It's mid-summer, with temps in the low-80s, a cloudless sky, and oh-so-light gusts keeping everyone just cool enough. Read More...
Wedding Table Shots
Before you ask your wedding photojournalist to visit each and every table during the reception, consider this... Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Negotiating For The Photograph
Solid negotiating skills weigh greatly in elevating and furthering a wedding photojournalist’s work, making those unique moments more accessible. Read More...
What's In Your Gig Bag?
What combination of equipment is the most useful for the successful wedding photojournalist, balancing results against weight, bulk and convenience? Read More...
Getting Your Affairs In Order
What if through illness, accident, family crisis or other situation you are unexpectedly unable to address your commitments? Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: KARIN VON VOIGTLANDER
Wedding photographer Karin von Voigtlander enjoys a steady diet of editorial and wedding photography, and her contentment is evident in her work. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Church Photography Restrictions
Wedding photojournalists regularly have the most trouble shooting their best work in churches, where the very wedding ceremonies take place. Read More...
Wedding Day Portraits With Just The Bride, Groom And The Photographer
With all the attention heaped upon the bride and groom, a portrait session away from the crowds can help capture private moments between them. It gets the couple away from the pressure that comes with their wedding... Read More...
Optimizing Your Wedding PJ
A little advanced communication and planning with your photographer can go a long way, smoothing the way for everyone involved—from the wedding party and guests, to the creative pros assisting with the festivities. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Wedding Photographer Etiquette: When, And When Not, To Shoot
Spontaneous moments are what every wedding photojournalist works to capture, but not all uninhibited moments are humorous or touching. Some can be downright embarrassing. Read More...
Shooting Non-Wedding Assignments
For many wedding photojournalists, documenting weddings is not a full-time job. In fact, they often turn their cameras elsewhere as part of other gigs, which can range from landscape and nature photography, to shooting images for newspapers, ad agencies and magazines. Read More...
Digital Camera Investment
We checked in with a few WPJA members to get their views on evaluating and managing their digital camera investments, as well as what they’d like to see in their next “must have” purchase. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MATT MCGRAW
Wedding photographer Matt McGraw went to college to become a weatherman, not a photojournalist. But kind of like a perfect storm, the conditions were exactly right for turning a boyhood pursuit into a thriving career, almost spontaneously. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Hiring A Creative Professional
Your wedding could be the first-time you’ll be hiring a creative pro. You might think the ins and outs of working with a wedding photographer are as simple as writing a check. Read More...
Wedding PJ In The Great Outdoors
A sunny wedding day is a dream come true, supercharging the color and the scenery around your event. However, direct sunlight actually creates issues for those capturing the festivities. Read More...
Budgeting Wedding Memories
For brides and grooms watching their costs, planning a wedding usually involves making a few well-considered tradeoffs in selecting the venue, the number of guests, the food, the type of entertainment and, of course, the photography. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Deprogramming Wedding Subjects
"The default move I make when I encounter someone who won’t stop mugging for the camera is to smile, drop my camera and move on to the next person." Read More...
From Newsrooms To Weddings
What do the White House, Super Bowls and crime scenes have in common? All prove to be fertile training grounds for news photographers who have made the switch to wedding photojournalism. Read More...
Wedding Photographer Blogs
Many wedding photojournalists have carved their own space in the so-called blogosphere, finding that setting up a blog creates a tool with many uses. These blogs are part portfolio, part calling card. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: SUSAN STRIPLING
Wedding photographer Susan Stripling's debut aspirations were not the most ambitious: “I didn’t want to do anything fancy. I just wanted to learn how not to suck,” she says. “I was thinking, ‘Just don’t ruin it.’” Read More...
MICHELLE McKAY OTTO (1977-2006)
Born July 8, 1977 in Houston, Texas, USA, Michelle Otto was a talented wedding photojournalist who joined WPJA in early 2006 and earned a Gold Medallion in the Reception category of the Spring, 2006 wedding photography contest. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Beyond The Wedding Album
You hired a wedding photojournalist, but when it comes to deciding on the best way to share your story, the choices might overwhelm. Read More...
Surviving Wedding Day Portraits
Our award-winning WPJA members offer their hard-won perspectives and tips for how they stay creative and 'real' with portraits. Read More...
How To Starve Your Wedding Photographer: A Field Guide
It's a sad truth about receptions: Photographers are low on the food chain. Some banquet halls have turned food denial into an art form. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
First Impressions: The Web Site
A lot can be said for a successful site. But as with much of the content on the Internet, there are countless shades of gray for the wedding photographer Read More...
Capturing The Moment
There are foreseeable moments during a wedding that every wedding photographer should learn to look for... Read More...
Pro Lab Printing Options For Weddings
Many labs are offering simple and efficient drag-and-drop file transfer, online sizing and specification options, reliable quality, and speedy print delivery... Read More...
FEATURED ARTICLE: PORTRAIT OF A WEDDING PORTRAIT
What is a wedding portrait? It seems like an easy enough question. Though in the world of wedding photojournalism, in which long held traditions and an artistic sensibility intersect, the lines between a portrait and a moment can become blurry. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
Is Wedding Photojournalism a Fad?
Brides and grooms need to understand the difference between real wedding photojournalism and the trends some photographers are buying into. Read More...
Reception Sites: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
You can get the photos you want, in the setting you love, with a little bit of input from some of our award-winning WPJA members. Read More...
The Artistic Guild of the WPJA: Enhancing Great Images
Wedding photojournalists are artists. That's the idea behind the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Hard-Earned Techniques for Documenting the Ceremony
From correcting poor lighting to looking beyond the typical ring and ceremony kiss pictures, our experts have bestowed some of their most valued advice upon us. Read More...
Refining your Style
Defining style can be difficult because it lies at the nebulous intersection of intelligence, heart and instinct. Read More...
The Art of Working with On-Camera Flash
The judicious use of on-camera flash plays a central role in assuring great shots and happy clients. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MINDY MYERS
Instilled with an affinity for seeing and then capturing those rare, split-second moments that are shared between people, wedding photographer Mindy Myers has spent the last 20 years honing her craft. Read More...
FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM
All-Access Photographer Pass
These days brides and grooms are far more likely to break tradition when it comes to their weddings -- and their photography. Read More...
The Evolution of Wedding Photography
Five generations of Americans have revisited special moments in their lives by looking through photographs, most especially of their wedding day. Read More...
Focusing On Images
Regardless of what type of wedding you have, it goes without saying that a wedding photographer is an absolute necessity. Read More...
FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Digital Post-Production Shortcuts and Timesavers
Digital makes shooting large numbers of wedding photos easier than ever before, but managing thousands of images after the event is quite another matter. Read More...
Destination Wedding Vacations
The story of professional photographers often starts with their fascination with what the camera can do and then with what they can do. Read More...
To Meet or Not To Meet
When Tim Zielenbach is planning to photograph a wedding, there's a step-often considered somewhat discretionary-that he prefers. Read More...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: BILL MCCULLOUGH
It takes a true artist to turn fleeting images into indelible ones that can last the test of time. Wedding photographer Bill McCullough captures those moments that cannot be recreated or replaced. Read More...
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