1 - This isn't done often, but can be a big help - invite your photographers to the rehearsal! I'll admit there are times when ceremony events catch one of us off guard. The reason is that no matter how thorough your programs are, there is no substitute for actually seeing the flow of events and knowing when and where things will happen.
2 - Oh, did I say "Photographers (plural)?" Yes, I did! Multiple photographers are almost a necessity at most modern weddings. If you have a small venue, like the Elvis Presley chapel, one photographer will capture most of everything. But for larger areas with more people, the simple fact is that your photographer can't be in two places at once. This is where many photographers earn a +1 for having remote-triggered cameras up!
3 - Every venue has different rules about this one simple thing: Make sure your photographers have access to the front of the area where the party is, looking down the aisle, staircase or area where the bride makes her entrance. These photos can't be recreated and are emotionally charged!
4 - Please, for the love of my black Labrador retriever, Java, don't use any spotlights! If you must have them, please don't use any that are directly overhead shining down on the wedding party. There will be deep black shadows under every person's eyes, nose and chin and it's extremely difficult to make those photos look even moderately acceptable.
5 - Perhaps the most important of all, ensure that the room lighting is even and consistent across the room, without pronounced dark or bright areas. In addition, try to keep the lights all one type - turning on florescent lights, regular light bulbs and opening the blinds to let in sunlight will give you three very different colors in the photo: Nasty green from the fluorescents, deep orange or yellow from the light bulbs, and blue from the sun.
These are made from some notes I put together spanning many weddings this past year. If you have any questions about these tips, send me an email to robert@scrivenercameraworks.com - we'd love to hear from you!
I'm out,
Robert
