Congratulations! If you’ve found this blog post, I’m sure it means that you’ve booked your first wedding. It’s exciting and nerve wrecking but you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to give you 3 Technical Tips before Photographing your First Wedding. You may or may not already know a few of these tips from second shooting with wedding photographers.
If you’re thinking, what does that even mean? Let me explain. In your camera, you have a slot for your memory cards. With most newer cameras, there is a space for 2 memory cards. Sometimes it’s an SD and CF card and other times it’s just two SD cards. Either way, make sure you have both inserted into your camera body and most importably remember to change your camera settings so that your camera is recording to both memory cards. Often times, your camera will not automatically do this until you’ve changed this setting.
When you’re photographing and utilizing both memory cards, you’re already recording and backing up your images as you take them. I always use both memory cards and use one card as my primary card and the other as a back up. I do this just in case a card is corrupt, damaged, whatever the case my be. When I get home after the wedding, I immediately download all the images to several locations and I do not format my cards until the wedding has been edited and delivered. This way I have multiple sources of the images backed up in several places.
When I first began digital photography, I remember taking a few photos and my camera would say “busy.” The message popped up for a few seconds and then I could continue but it was super frustrating. It wasn’t until I purchased new memory cards I realized that the type of memory cards you buy matter! Why? You need a memory card with a quick read/write speeds so you’re not waiting on your camera. I love these types of memory card and this is exactly what I use for all weddings and sessions. If you’re super techie and want to know more about memory cards click here.
Not sure what to put your memory cards in once you have them? I use water resistant cases to store and organize all my cards. I also label each memory card with a numbered sticker so I know which I used for which session or wedding. This keeps me organized and prohibits me from accidentally using the card until that session or wedding have been delivered. See a list of all my “photography must haves” here.
If you are working with a second shooter or you’re photographing a wedding using two digital cameras, make sure you time sync your camera. This ensures that the images you take across multiple cameras are recording at the same exact time so when you download and edit your images they are in sequential order. If you don’t time sync your cameras, the images will be completely out of order just making it a bit more confusing and super unorganized. Sometimes even through a wedding day the timing gets slightly off track even with time syncing. A way to fix this is to take an image of your phone’s time including the hour, minute, and second on each camera you’re using. From there when you’re culling through your images in PhotoMechanic, you can adjust time timing to the exact timing using this method. Here is a video on YouTube explaining how to do this.
If you are ready to transform your business, I have a gift for you!
Click this link to receive 50% off Honeybook your entire first year!
Hope you found these reasons 3 Technical Tips before Photographing your First Wedding helpful!
Want to see more education blogs? Click here.
Prepping for a Family Session // How to Have a Stress-free Experience Family photo sessions are such a beautiful way to document this season of life—but let’s be real, getting everyone ready and out the door can feel like a lot. With a little planning and the right mindset, your session can be both smooth […]
Whether you’re planning your family photos or just refreshing your wardrobe, finding a dress that makes you feel confident and comfortable is key. Below, you’ll find a curated list of beautiful, mom-friendly dresses perfect for Spring and Summer 2025 sessions—many of which are bump- and nursing-friendly, too! One of the biggest stressors when planning a […]
A few days before Christmas, Joe planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend, Catie. With thoughtful preparation, we mapped out every detail, and when the moment came, Catie was completely surprised—and, of course, she said yes! Despite the freezing temperatures (so cold I could barely feel my body after just 10 minutes!), their joy and […]
Spending the morning with Julianna was such a joy! She’s launching her financial planning business and needed branding images to bring her vision to life. We carefully planned her session and chose three distinct locations to capture a variety of looks that reflect her brand. If you’re looking for guidance on your path to financial […]
The charm of Rust Manor House set the stage for a wedding that was classic, elegant, and modern. Nestled in the peaceful embrace of a park, this venue provided a secluded, nature-inspired backdrop that perfectly matched the bride’s vision. She fell in love with the calmness of the surroundings, the sounds of birds chirping, and […]
When Scott first reached out about elopement portraits, he was open to any time or place that would capture the most gorgeous images to look back on. Scott and Pilar privately exchanged their vows in a courthouse wedding in Alexandria, creating an intimate start to their journey together. A few weeks later, we met on […]
The Sarah Botta Experience is rooted in timeless & refined images so couples feel their imagery.