How to Instantly Improve Your Wedding Photography

[@si.everett]

This video is so underrated. Light is everything. Thanks so much for the reminder!

[@KatelynJames]

You're so welcome!

[@burnhard.]

I love you! Thanks for all the tips!

[@KatelynJames]

Happy to help!

[@jacquelinejackson5191]

I agree 100% - When my camera is taking great shots.......that's where I stay! When its magic, this is the best advice and a lot less work. Bad light I'm gone.......my thing is "Why does that happen"? Only thing I love shooting off camera flash.........I really don't like natural light........LOL

[@kristyadams5633]

WOW!!!! I just paused the video to comment! When you said that when you get to a spot and the light is NOT working then it’s time to subtly move along it dawned on me that I did exactly that and didn’t realize what I did. I was shooting with the couple in front of a lake for individual portraits and I realize I HATE shooting in front of lanes because I NEVER get the right colors and light. And so I had them pivot on the spot and I shot with the lake to my back and it bounced light back ONTO their faces and I had luscious green trees back behind them a ways and it just was lovely. That small change brought life into the photos.

[@KatelynJames]

Love this Kristy!!

[@chipcurry]

Great to hear you say these things. They need to be underlined. Great video.

[@brookemurray]

Kaitlyn your educational resources are absolute gold! I know you do couples but is there any chance you’d do some videos on family photography? Tips and tricks you’ve used for taking photos of your kids etc? 😍 thanks so much for another great video!

[@KatelynJames]

Maybe one day!

[@devacollins2559]

Thank you Katelyn! I always learn so much from you and I LOVE KJ All Access!!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@yannisstath]

good light over good location always!!!

[@KatelynJames]

Amen!

[@Antwort2und40]

This applies to all photography, not just weddings! Find the light... Great tip!

[@KatelynJames]

Absolutely!

[@EyangGuruChannel]

Thank you Katelyn and I hope you're fine.👍👍

[@KatelynJames]

I am!

[@atom7nine]

Kaitlyn you're absolutely fabulous 🤩

[@thomasgrahamdavies1962]

Hi Katelyn, thanks for the video. Over the years I've been an average sports shooter (strictly amateur of course). I've been pushed into doing "favours" and covered two weddings and a few baptisms etc. I've now subscribed to you so that I'll be a lot more confident by having this new information to guide me. Many thanks.

[@JaredTremper]

Great reminder. We have a wedding shoot Oct 30 and light will be the biggest challenge (including reception in a tent in Wisconsin where it will be chilly and likely dark by then). I like the point about during the ceremony to find that ideal light and stay there. Liked and subscribed! Nice channel here.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@strawberry.sunshine]

05:38 I got 120 guests in place for a group shot, stood up on a bench and then announced that actually it wasn't gonna work and we all have to move hahaha... been doing this a year now and I think I'm confident enough now to be able to admit I'm wrong in the moment instead of looking through the photos in Lightroom later on and cursing myself!

[@KatelynJames]

Great perspective!!

[@gapcreekonline948]

Great great great tip thank you 🌸

[@traceysdiynetwork]

Thank you so much! Great information!!!

[@noonsound4894]

Hi Katelyn, I've just started looking at your videos and I find them very interesting and informative. As this one is about finding great light I can't help but notice how bright you like your finished images. To my eye and taste, I'd say bordering on blown out. I know it's subjective, but I was wondering if you expose in camera this way or do you ramp up exposure in editing?

[@FastPawz]

I have been binging kJ all access and agreed to photograph an old friend’s nighttime wedding this weekend. Terrified! Lol

[@KatelynJames]

That is awesome!

[@tressashaw8157]

100% dead on...one of the most frustrating parts of our job.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@slydon75]

You are amazing thank you

[@gabb387]

Thanks!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrJeffinLodi]

This is a great video. The missing element may be the assumption that photographers actually know what 'pretty light' really is. Do you have a 'reading light' video? That is huge. thanks.

[@KatelynJames]

haha makes sense! Thanks for watching!

[@Neanderthal_yardy]

Love it! Love it! Love it 🙏✅👍🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@PettyGirl008]

I’m doing my first wedding and will try this advice. I found it helpful. Thank you.

[@KatelynJames]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rekartphotography7620]

Thanks Katelyn. See you in Waco!

[@KatelynJames]

So excited!!

[@LevlledUpOfficial]

Awesome thank you

[@mireyacastillo9102]

Thank you for all the information. What if your doing a outdoor wedding? the dinner is underneath a white tent with warm lights and the dance floor is outdoors. What should my camera setting be set as and the client want to add sparklers as her exit! This will be in the evening California time from 7:30-10:30pm this is my first big wedding I’m so nervous 😬

[@ilenerodriguez1115]

Yesss, couldn’t agree more

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@4sabrinan]

Another great video… thank you 😊

[@KatelynJames]

Glad you liked it!

[@רוזיאפריאט]

U R GRATE I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! IM FROME ISRAEL

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@Theroundtable125]

This is so helpful!! I have a shoot on Tuesday in a not so great location, so thank you for this!! Definitely using these tips🤩🤩

[@KatelynJames]

Awesome! You are gonna do great!

[@bridgetfabrizio9703]

Hi Katelyn! What did you mean by have them face their shadows? Trying to picture that right! Thanks!

[@andrewelder2739]

Thanks for this!! Do you use only natural/ambient light for indoor or night time receptions too? Any tips for how that can work? Those can be DARK!!

[@KatelynJames]

We do use flash at receptions!

[@gamingwithstand6886]

I know other photographers talked about having trouble seeing good light. One tip I heard is to shoot in black and white with mirrorless it makes it a lot easier to see the good light. Just make sure your shooting raw. If you like to use jpegs from your camera your only have black and white. Fuji is the only system that I know of that let's you shoot up to three jpeg profiles. So if I did shoot jpeg I would shoot one jpeg in black and white so the view finder is black and white and then a color jpeg and then raw. I don't have a problem seeing good light because I've been doing this for a while. But it's kind of fun shoot in black and white with mirrorless seeing the world in black and white.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for sharing!

[@richardthompson5590]

well said...

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@kaitlynmackey9827]

Do you have any recourses on if you must shoot inside? No windows and very bad lighting, super warm areas and lots of florescent lighting? I have a wedding in a few weeks. I'm a natrual light photographer. I am trying to build my business. I have a canon rebel T3i - will be renting I guess a 24 - 70 mm and an external flash. I have no idea where to start or what's best. I Know my camera body is old and not best for low light. Should I rent a camera body? I of course want to provide them great shots.

[@ekevanderzee9538]

Normally, I'd say "no". however, a decent Full Frame will perform much better in low light. Especially as ith will "gain" a stop due to not having a crop factor. Be sure to make it something relatively straightforward though. A wedding is not the time to get aquainted with a new camera. BE SURE to think about lenses as well. 24-70? Probably a 2.8 then? That's two stops difference with a 1.4.... Huge when it counts. Furthermore: shoot in RAW. Don't rent an external flash. Buy one. Yongnuo makes excellent stuff for a very reasonable price. That way you can practice with boucing etc. If you want to 'build your business" a you say, this invetment is crucial. Test shoot the camera you will be using. Get a 30 day trial on Topax Denoise and decide what's the highest iso you can get away with (when using the denoise in post) and set that one (or better yet: the one below that) as your maximum value. Use anti-flicker if you have it.

[@kaitlynmackey9827]

@@ekevanderzee9538 Thank you so much!

[@kaitlynmackey9827]

I really appreciate your response and information! Thank you for helping me!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@youknowwho9247]

This is not meant as criticism of you or this video specifically, but by God I hate the KZbin algorithm and their policies that force creators to stretch very simple advice like "Find and shoot in good light to produce a consistent look and prioritise this above all else" into unecessarily long videos and slap a clickbait title on them. Again, not criticising you in particular - this is an important tip and well explained - but KZbin should reward efficiency in education, not force to overexplain in order to pad the runtime.

[@KatelynJames]

If you're experienced and don't need to reinforcement that's awesome! Maybe watch another video that's geared towards your level and definitely don't watch something like this all the way through if you don't need it. Some people need it and that's who we created it for.

[@youknowwho9247]

@@KatelynJames As I said, it's not meant as criticism of you as the creator. It's entirely about KZbin and the rather stupid way their recommender system works.

[@bahaatamer1245]

@@youknowwho9247 the algorithm works based on greed. I coded a deep learning algorithm similar to this once, and the whole point is to trash out what doesn't grab your attention as quickly as possible. That's why creators need to be creative with their titles and thumbnails (if viewers don't click, you're gonna get trashed out!) Simply put, the algorithm wants to keep you hooked onto KZbin forever, no matter the cost. This increases your chance of clicking/watching ads, forcing advertisers to pay, and that's how they make money by keeping their service free. Fundamentally speaking, whatever you do in life always (ALWAYS!) has a trade-off!

[@aracelig354]

I love her videos but I have the hardest time paying attention past 4 minutes. I need get to the point stuff. Which I hate that her videos aren't that way because she has so much wisdom to share 😫

[@anoddviewcreative505]

Her videos do get to the point very quickly compared to so many others who waffle on so much and we have to fast forward through 5 mins to get to any information. I don’t complain even then as it’s FREE info. Grateful for the informative content and watching a well spoken experienced photographer with consistent quality. I know you said you are not criticising, but the comment was.

[@MachineGunLaney]

I think what scares me about denying locations is for the client to say or think "a better photographer could make it work"

[@kevintoews5656]

I understand your concern, but it's important to remember that you're not simply denying a location, but rather providing expert advice. As a professional photographer, your clients value not only your skill in capturing their special moments, but also your expertise in choosing the best environments for these shots. If a location doesn't seem suitable, it's your responsibility to share this with your client, and here's where your communication skills come into play. Instead of flatly refusing, explain your reasoning and suggest alternatives that you think would better suit their needs. However, should they still insist on their original choice, respect their decision. After all, the customer's desires are paramount. In the event that the final results are not as impressive as they had hoped, you would have already communicated the potential drawbacks beforehand. This approach allows you to maintain a professional rapport with your client while delivering your best work.

[@markwillride]

Amen!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@randomnetizen7980]

how would you respond to people who when you say "im a natural light photographer" they hit you with "you just dont know how to use a flash"

[@KatelynJames]

I could use flash, I just don’t like the way it looks!

[@jlawr4427]

It's a little scary to me to shoot without a clear filter on my $3k lens. Is it necessary to leave the filter off to get the best images?

[@KatelynJames]

No most of our lenses have clear filters!

[@ekevanderzee9538]

"Stay there" and then shows "examples" from different locations. 😃

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@kphoria1009]

@@KatelynJamesthis wasn’t a compliment lol