Pendin' nuptials of sYJc

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We recently came back from a road trip to Hokkaido, Japan.  Before we went, we made sure to bring along a DSLR and a camera stand, which I borrowed from my sister.  We are not experts at using the Canon DSLR, but I am quite pleased with how the photos we took came out, and received compliments about them.  So I am excited to share these tips here, which could double/triple up as a second/third pre-wedding photoshoot which you can try out as well.  The experience will be a rewarding one, not because of the WHAT (beautiful photos captured), but more than that, because of the HOW, the whole process of interpreting your private times together as a couple.  This will be a very fulfilling time I promise, so let it all go and have some fun!

HOW TO HAVE SOME FUN TOGETHER

Here is how we did it.

Step 1: Be colour-coordinated and matchy in a subtle way in your attire and accessories.  You could consider having matching boots and leather jackets.  You could also work out a theme according to the places you would be going.  Add in some flowery or lacy prints for the lady so that the picture pops when being edited, and bright colours for the guy such as PINK so that he looks different and yet the same.  The idea is to create a casual and effortless style that still looks good.

Step 2: Groom yourself.  For the ladies, this means well blown hair and some natural make up.  If you are not big on make up, put on an eye-popping lip colour such as bright red or pink.  Refrain from bright orange or coral unless you are sure you have a perfect set of extremely white teeth.  For the guys, this means your hairdo and the way you wear your clothes, be stylish about it, have a balance between looking neat and yet messy enough to show that you are comfortable in your own skin.

Step 3: Look up the photos taken by professionals for inspiration on the poses to take. Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest have made available tonnes of portfolios online.  There are many wedding online sites available as well.

Step 4: Have an eye for picturesque landscape or scene that you are able to work with, be it mountains, or a quaint little cafe. You could also consider going to an ULU place; this means going to a secluded place to take all the crazy shots you want.  It was great in Hokkaido because of the vast stretches of land and sights to take it and we already had an itinerary planned out.  Do a little research on the places which would be great backdrops to your photos before you set out.  But have a bit of an adventure streak in you; be sure to check out all the available spots at a location before moving on.  Ours paid off after we wandered into a little church off the grounds of our hotel in Nidom.

Step 5: Get the creative juices flowing.  Look out for items you could add on, such as ice cream or an umbrella, or even in the middle of a meal, to make your interaction in the photo more lively.  You could keep it as a lifestyle shot, or if you prefer, you could also set up a more elaborate set up with pre-prepared props.  We got our items at the places of our shoots, whether ice cream at a shop, umbrella from the hotel, dandelions on the grass, and a random rainbow in the sky.  There was even a time when we witnessed an intimate moment between two deer, and if not for the fact that there were other people in the vicinity, would have created a double intimate set of photos with the deer, haha!

Step 6: Set up the camera and stand.  Select the 10 shots timer for your camera, or whatever number of shots your camera allows you.  I would recommend selecting the highest number of shots available because you will only be able to select one or two, or if you are lucky, a handful of, worthy photos to look at.  Experiment with the height and the resultant different shots that you can obtain.  Experiment with the distance between you and the camera.  Through many tries.  I repeat.  Many many tries.  It will be tiring, but very fun.

Step 7: Be natural. Forget about the camera save for two points.  First, make sure one of you runs to the camera to ensure that you are in the desired area of the picture frame and then click to start the timer.  Second, if you want to take a distance shot, always make sure no one at the back steals your camera.  Once you have addressed these two points, go on and have some fun.  Do what you want to, as a couple having some private fun.  The way you usually show your cheeky or loving ways.  Just be yourself.  Do it in fast or slow motion, depending on your camera settings.  If you are lucky, you may even capture a series of shots capturing a little love story line (see below for an example).

Step 8:  Check the shots taken on the spot.  If you are not happy with the shots, take another round of shots.  Repeat Step 8 until you are satisfied with your shots.

Step 9: When you get home, select a limited set of photos from each “theme”. This will make viewing your photos a refreshing rather than a boring one. This means selecting different photos capturing different interactions, different moods, different lighting, different angles/frames, etc.
The exception is when you have captured a series of photos capturing a story line, as mentioned in Step 7.

Step 10: After selecting the photos you want, it is time to edit the photos.  This is a step that cannot be missed out.  I used Photoscape.  As I am not an expert in photo editing, I shall leave you to explore your own photo editing tools.  The general direction of my editing style was to follow my own instincts.  Depending on how you edit your photos, the mood in the photo may change, and it could be for the better as well.

After completing the 10 steps above, we obtained a set of photos we were proud to call our own.

And to end it off, here is the little love story we captured before the cross in the little church we chanced upon.