Are you attending a wedding where you want to capture some of the special moments without lugging around a bulky DSLR? Wondering if it’s possible to take great wedding photos with only an iPhone? iPhone cameras have come a long way in recent years, and you really can’t beat the convenience of a pocket camera. This article will cover the best settings for iPhone wedding photography, as well as some fun ideas for taking wedding photos with your iPhone.
While iPhone photos can’t take the place of wedding photos shot with a DSLR by professional photographers, there is certainly a place for iPhone wedding photography. One of the best aspects of the iPhone for wedding photos is that it enables you to capture candid moments with little fanfare. Hefty cameras have a tendency to put people on edge and/or inspire them to strike elaborate, unnatural poses. But the wedding party and guests will hardly notice someone snapping photos with an iPhone.
Most iPhone models include a variety of settings to make wedding photography easier. But before we dig into the camera settings, we recommend changing a few general device settings before heading out to the wedding with your iPhone camera.
iPhones excel at certain types of photography — images in bright light, portraits, and flat lays, for example. They sometimes struggle, however, to capture a shallow depth of field, especially if there are no people in the scene for the camera to focus on. Low-light photography can also be a challenge if people in the scene are moving around or dancing. Fortunately, these drawbacks can be overcome with the tips we’ve collected below.
Before heading to the wedding, make sure you can switch back and forth between different camera modes quickly so that you are ready for all the cool shots that come your way. And keep the following tips in mind for some stunning wedding photos.
The better the lighting, the better your iPhone camera will perform. Shooting an outdoor wedding in soft light is ideal. But since you didn’t plan the wedding and can’t predict the weather, look for photo opportunities with decent natural light, even if you are indoors. If that great light eludes you, do not under any circumstances use your flash. Not only will using the flash annoy the guests, but the resulting wedding photos won’t be worth sharing.
If you have a camera with a telephoto lens, that should be your first choice when trying to zoom in on details or special moments at the wedding. The second-best solution is to simply move closer to your subject. We don’t recommend using your digital zoom because the quality of your photo will suffer dramatically.
The highlights in your wedding photos are the objects that are brightest. If you are capturing photos of the bride wearing a white dress, it will likely be the brightest spot in your image. To ensure that the dress isn’t overexposed, hold your finger down on your screen at the brightest spot in the scene. This will lock the exposure and the focus on that area. If you’re shooting wedding images of the guests, lock the focus on a guest’s face, which will ensure that the important details are retained and in focus.
Now that you’ve got some technical tips for capturing great wedding images with your iPhone, here are some additional ideas for more creative compositions.
While all eyes (and cameras) will be on the bride and groom, seek out small details that might be overlooked. Whether it’s an interesting bit of architecture at the wedding venue, table place settings, or a candid shot of kids playing on the dance floor, these are moments that you and the wedding party will want to remember long after the toasts are over.
You’re obviously a guest at this wedding and not the hired photographer, so take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy yourself. Now, you can focus on capturing your own personal wedding experience from the perspective of a guest. What you see will be entirely different than what the professional photographers are experiencing. While they likely have a detailed shot list, mega cameras, and a contract, you have your iPhone… and maybe a glass of champagne.
Instead of following around the bride and groom with your camera, capture the scene as you see it from where you are. Get photos of the guests at your table, the view from your seat, and your own personal perspective.
You don’t want to be intrusive with your picture taking, but it’s totally fine to get a little creative with your camera angle and perspective. If the wedding venue has stairs, a balcony, or another vantage point, take advantage! Capture the scene from on high. Here are some other wedding photography ideas using unique camera angles and perspectives:
When it comes to photographing a wedding as a guest, the good news is that you’re capturing your own memories. Plus, your photos will be a nice supplement to the professional photos. With a little planning, you can take fantastic photos of a memorable day, and your favorites can even be given as appreciation gifts to the bride and groom.