Must-have shots from the wedding ceremony

Wedding ceremony photography can be challenging because of light. Photographers are not allowed to set up strobe lights during the ceremony. Flash photography in houses of worship is almost always forbidden.

This article is part of a series on the various categories of wedding photography.

Ceremony photography can be challenging

So how do photographers get those ceremony photos? That’s an important part of the wedding day photography sections. Ceremony photography is important but challenging.

Here’s what I do in terms of lighting. I generally will use an on-camera flash during the procession and sometimes the recessional, but I do not use flash during the ceremony because it’s both forbidden and a distraction.

Because of this, photographers usually will have to change the settings on their camera so their camera sensor is more sensitive to low-light situations. This means that photos can be taken in more dimly lit areas and still be well-exposed.

There is a tradeoff for this, however. Changing the sensitivity of the sensor likely will result in photos that look grainier than those from a well-lit outdoor setting. Taking photos in lower light will add to what photographers call “noise” or grain in photos. Sometimes, though, that is no problem at all and can actually look nice if it’s not too much.

Knowing how to take low-light ceremony photos

It’s important for your photographer to know how to take photos in lower light situations. The photographer also must know if there are any specific church rules on from where photographs can be taken.

I have been to weddings where the photographer sits in the pews as a guest and hardly take any photos. That is not what I do. My choice is to move around in an non-distracting way to get photos from various angles.

Here are the must-have wedding ceremony photos:

• The processional
• Photos of the couple at the alter
• The ring exchange, including closeups of the hands
• The kiss
• The recessional

There is lots more to take photos of, including capturing any emotional scenes that take place during the ceremony. It is important for your photographer to be on the lookout for this so that the ceremony photography is perfect.

Other articles in this series are on the first look, pre-wedding prep, reception, and in-between time.