Top 8 Wedding Photography Tips from Lindsay Goddard

Lindsay Goddard describes herself as a documentary wedding photographer. There doesn’t seem to be any fundamental differences from the usual wedding photographers, but Lindsay uses fresh ideas and an honest approach. Sensual and natural shots by a photographer from London, as if taken by an invisible observer, perfectly capture the atmosphere of a wedding reception. “I try to capture the very essence of a wedding,” says Lindsay, “and tell the story of the day honestly, not only by taking pictures of the important events, but also by photographing all the less noticeable moments that happen on the day.”.

Full review of the Canon EOS R mirrorless camera

When you find your style of wedding photography, show it to your potential clients. Taken with a camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

With a Lens

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

. &copy Lindsay Goddard

Lindsay’s career as a wedding photographer began in 2003, when family friends gave her carte blanche to cover their big event. She shot in analog and then did cross-processing intentionally using a chemical solution designed for a different type of film , and even though the super bright blue sky and the bride’s yellow-green dress were not a masterpiece in terms of processing, they were motivation for her to keep lighting weddings in a whole new, creative way. In this article, Lindsay gives her top eight tips for creating a non-trivial documentary wedding photo.

Paying attention to fun, “lively” moments that newlyweds may have overlooked is, according to Lindsay Goddard, exactly what makes a wedding photographer a true professional. Taken on camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

With a lens

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

. &copy Lindsay Goddard

1. Find your style

“At first, even though I knew what kind of wedding photographer I wanted to be one that didn’t interfere or influence the events of the wedding day , I didn’t work with clients who wanted photos of exactly that style. I once worked a wedding where I wasn’t the right photographer and the people weren’t the right clients for me. I guess they hired me because of the low cost of shooting and then sent me images from the internet asking me to “take a picture like this sometime”. Now I stick to my style and can meet the expectations of certain clients – it screens out people who want to make me into someone else.”.

Lindsay makes sure the newlyweds, their families and friends don’t feel uncomfortable in her presence at the most important moments. This was shot with a camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

With lens

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

. &copy Lindsay Goddard

2. Take stock of the situation and never say no to a cup of tea

“Often I see the newlyweds for the first time right on their wedding day. I arrive in the morning, say hello to everyone, pull out my camera bag, and always agree to have a cup of tea offered. I think during this time, the people who are in the room usually the bridesmaids, the bride herself, and sometimes the parents get a little used to my presence. Finish my tea and get to work. At this point, I take on the role of the “photographer” directly, trying not to overstep my bounds, not taking on more than I need ahead of time. I think it helps that I’m a woman – I often have to walk into a room full of girls and it doesn’t break the mood.

“When it comes to getting the bride ready for her wedding, I usually feel whether she’s ready to change in my presence or not. If I have a large space with good natural light, I can capture the beautiful silhouette of the girl as she puts on her dress, or use the negative space from the white wall, for example. If the room is a mess, or it just looks unaesthetic, I emphasize the lights and photograph, for example, the bride’s shoulder and the element of the dress on it. And other times I can focus on a certain moment: sometimes it’s that moment when the bride takes a step to put her dress on.”.

Instead of shooting from afar, Lindsay interacts with guests and builds rapport with them. Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2 lens.8L II USM. &copy Lindsay Goddard

3. Be inconspicuous without hiding

“You may be thinking completely differently. For me, it’s not about having a lens with a distance of 85mm or more, but being right next to the people I’m photographing. If you shoot from behind the bushes, you will be noticed and people will feel like you are trying to catch them at something. At the buffet, I chat with the guests, listen to their jokes, and then pick up the camera at the climax. I generally interact a lot with people on the day – it helps break down barriers and make my presence much more comfortable for people at the wedding. People almost always ask me how I know the newlyweds because they think I’m a friend of the family, not a guest photographer. That’s great, because it means I get to stay unobtrusive.”.

Lindsay likes to compose, not rely on templates. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. &copy Lindsay Goddard

4. Leave it to chance

“Some of my most any shots were taken completely spontaneously. Many of the standard wedding shots require a lot of input from the photographer – telling people how to stand and what to do, and then reshooting the composition several times to get a really good shot. What was originally a unique idea of the photographer, then becomes in a sense the Achilles heel of such professionals, as a similar image is then asked to be repeated by subsequent clients. If you base your photography on relationships and interactions between people, you won’t repeat yourself and create clichés, because you can’t predict what people will do.

After capturing an important moment at one wedding the newlyweds signing the certificate , Lindsay decided to take a photo of the guests and took this shot of a girl completely immersed in her thoughts. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2 lens.8L II USM. &copy Lindsay Goddard

5. Expect less visible, but striking moments

“I make sure I get a good shot of the ‘big moment,’ and then I move to another location and start shooting from a different angle or take pictures of what’s happening next. An example of such a shot is the photo of the girl scrutinizing the bride’s bouquet above . I took this shot during the official registration, right after capturing the bride and groom from their position on the other side of the table. When I had the obligatory shot ready, I went back to the table to capture the parents and bridesmaids that’s when I managed to get this shot.”.

While most of Lindsay’s shots are improvisation and capture celebrations in the most unexpected ways, some important moments, such as group photos, require preparation. Taken with a camera

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

With the lens

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

. &copy Lindsay Goddard

6. Plan key shots in advance

“I always talk to the newlyweds on the phone a week before the wedding to discuss the details. One theme is group photos. It’s important to get them done as soon as possible after the ceremony. If you can’t take group photos before the buffet, it’s hard to focus on reportage shots because you have to keep track of time. If it’s time for dinner and the group photos still haven’t been taken, you’re in big trouble! I try to find an open space, preferably with a darkish background without too much detail. I ask people to stand at a reasonable distance from the subjects in the background and I walk away and use the 85mm lens.

“In some cases that’s not possible. At Islington town hall, where I often work, there’s a big staircase in front of the main entrance, and it’s a good place for group photos, where people gather before going in. But there are usually so many people out there that with an 85mm lens, there will always be people walking between you and the group. You have to use a wide angle lens. I don’t really like it, but in this case this approach is the most acceptable.”.

Toward the end of the gala, Lindsay gets so well involved that she manages to create photos like this one. Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2 lens.8L II USM. &copy Lindsay Goddard

7. Work with available light

“The photo above was taken in the car at one of the weddings held in February. The light was very uneven: it was generally dark enough, but the sunlight hit the salon from time to time. I set the exposure for the highlights with the sunlight hitting the bride from the side, and then just waited for the moment when the bride would look out the window and the sun would light up her face. This approach gives you better control than constantly changing camera settings according to changing light, which usually causes you to miss an important point by making technical adjustments.”.

Lindsay always carries two Canon EOS 5D Mark IV cameras and sets one up to shoot indoors with low light and the other to work outdoors. Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2 lens.8L II USM. &copy Lindsay Goddard

8. Use a second camera to shoot faster

“I use manual mode, not shutter speed priority mode or aperture. For example, when the newlyweds leave the church, I photograph the way they walk down the aisle using the 85mm lens and the following settings: 1/160 second or faster shutter speed, f/2.8 or a narrower aperture, ISO to match the light. On the other camera, I mount the 24-70mm lens and adjust the settings to suit the lighting conditions outdoors. “I choose the shutter speed and f-number, and then when the newlyweds and guests go outside, I adjust the ISO if necessary.