A person’s wedding is one of the happiest moments of their life. Capturing this event for your client can be a lot of pressure, and missing crucial moments can be devastating. We sat down with International Award Winning Wedding Photographer, Scott Goh, to find out his top tips that you can apply to make sure your images keep a smile on the happy couple’s face.
After being a wedding photographer for over a decade, Scott Goh and his team have cemented a name for themselves in the wedding industry, starting from Adelaide and extending beyond to international acclaim.
“I’ve had a passion for photography since I was very young, taking images of people as a hobby,” says Scott.
“However my interest in wedding photography didn’t come about until my own marriage to my wife Sarah, and I knew capturing these once in a lifetime events was something I wanted to pursue professionally.”
Founding his business ‘Scott Goh Photography’ in 2011, Scott has since been able to expand his team, working with a crew consisting of a stylist consultant, photoshop guru and of course, additional wedding photographers.
He gives us his top tips in capturing these memorable moments and how he brings the best out of his subjects to portray the emotion of the day.
GET TO KNOW THE COUPLE
Like any photography job, different clients envision different outcomes and weddings are no different. Whether it’s candid, natural photography they are after, or more formal, traditional shots, it’s essential to find this out before the day.
“We always discuss important shots with the couple beforehand so we are on the same page about what look they are after,” says Scott. “These photos are going to tell a story and we want to make sure to portray a story that reflects the couple.”
Scott also recommends discussing with the couple when key moments will be taking place during the wedding ceremony and reception.
“We want to be as prepared as possible with no surprises. These moments can’t be redone, so as much as you can find out about the timeline of the wedding, the better,” he says.
In saying that, for the more candid moments, Scott avoids bringing a list of shots he wants to capture so he’s not hindering his creative freedom.
“It’s a matter of being attentive to the surroundings and the people. It always helps to have an extra photographer from the team with me to make sure we aren’t missing any candid gems!”
EMOTIVE SHOTS ARE THE WINNER
No matter what style of photos the couple are after, emotive shots are a must for all wedding photography jobs to successfully portray the emotions from the day.
“After years of experience I can now anticipate when certain emotions will arise at certain sections of the wedding ceremony – these are photography gold!”
“It goes without saying the speeches, exchange of vows and guest reactions to the ceremony are money shots. It’s important to be super focused during these moments.”
For moments that are more staged, Scott does his best to make the environment as relaxed as possible so the subjects feel comfortable enough to show emotion in front of him.
“During bridal party portraits, we don’t want the couple to be stiff and awkward. My tip for this is to build a rapport with the couple from the day they book your service. From the pre wedding meetings to the ‘getting ready’ shots in the morning of the wedding day.”
BE PREPARED
For those starting out in wedding photography, one of Scott’s greatest tips is to visit the venue before the big day, particularly when you are visiting locations you have not been to before.
“By doing so you can assess the lighting, the angle and discover the uniqueness of the venue.”
“I still visit certain venues if I’m unfamiliar with them and at the very least, thoroughly check locations before the day to ensure I don’t rock up to the wrong place! It’s a good idea to check parking too, the last thing you need is to miss crucial moments because you’re running late.”
It may go without saying, but the little things such as taking care of yourself are just as important to ensure you are performing your best.
“The night before I always make sure to get a good rest. On the day I bring my own light snacks and water bottles to keep hydrated as it can be a long and tiring day depending on the weather.”
BACKUP OF EQUIPMENT, BACKUP OF DATA
It can be said that out of any photography genre, weddings are one of the most important to have a fool-proof backup process.
“This is one of the most significant life events of someone’s life,” says Scott. “This day cannot be repeated so having a secure backup workflow is a very important element to put your client at ease.”
Scott uses the Canon 1DX and Canon R6 cameras which record onto dual memory cards. He always brings a spare camera, spare set of lenses with a similar focal length and duplicate flashes in case one is to fail.
“Avoid using a camera with a single memory slot, I’ve heard so many stories of photo loss due to a corrupted memory card and then you’ve lost all your shots.”
“I only use reputable memory cards from SanDisk’s Extreme and Extreme Pro Series and I’m yet to have any issues. They work like a charm and are super quick.”
After returning from the wedding, Scott backs up the images in two places to a portable SSD and desktop solution, providing the ultimate piece of mind in that if one fails, there’s another copy.
“As a final safeguard, I also keep a copy of the images on one of the memory cards and don’t wipe it until the final edited photos are successfully delivered to the client.”
Scott Goh
Wedding Photographer
Scott is one of the best professional wedding photographers in Adelaide. He was named the Top 50 Wedding Photographers in the world by the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalistic Association as he captures emotions, actions and details of your very special day with your loved ones.
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