5 Tips on Becoming a Better Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography is a tough business, but it’s also full of opportunity. If you’re looking to make a name for yourself as a wedding photographer, you’ll need to learn from the best and practice constantly. That said, here are some tips that will help you make it in this competitive industry:

New York City Wedding Photo Shoot

1. Build your technical skills:

As a wedding photographer, you need to have a solid understanding of camera settings, lighting, composition, and post-processing. Take the time to learn and practice these skills regularly to improve your craft.Practice is the key to improvement. If you want to be a better wedding photographer, then practice shooting in low light and at night. Practice shooting in different environments and at different times of day. Practice shooting at different locations as well!

It’s easy for us all to get stuck in our own comfort zones when it comes to photography (and life), but if we want our work or abilities as photographers or people who love photography and are passionate about it all around us in general–not just weddings–to grow and improve then we need to step out of those comfort zones every once in awhile.

2. Develop your people skills:

Wedding photography involves working with clients, wedding party members, and vendors. You need to be able to communicate effectively, put people at ease, and build rapport quickly. Practicing your interpersonal skills will help you build a good reputation and ensure that your clients are happy with your work.

Attitude is everything. If you’re the type of person who gets down on themselves, or if your attitude is negative, it will show in your photos. Keep an optimistic outlook at all times!

Don’t let a bad experience get you down; learn from it and move on.

Ask for help when need be; don’t be afraid to ask other photographers for advice or critique (and don’t take their advice personally). Also, it’s okay for friends/family members not being photographers themselves to do test shots with their phones–they’ll still give valuable feedback on things like lighting, composition etc., which can be just as useful as having an actual photographer there helping out!

Don’t be afraid of taking risks either: try different things with composition or lighting styles until something clicks!

 

3. Invest in quality gear and learn from other pros:

Having good quality camera gear can make a huge difference in the quality of your photos. While you don’t need to go out and buy the most expensive equipment, investing in good lenses, a sturdy tripod, and a reliable camera body will help you produce high-quality images.

There are a lot of great ways to network with other wedding photographers and get feedback on your work. One of the best ways is to join a community of like-minded people who share their knowledge and experience in order to help each other improve. You can find many such groups on social media, but you’ll also find them at conferences and workshops, or even just by asking around at local events where photographers might be present (you never know who might know someone!).

If you want to learn more about how wedding photography works from someone who has been doing it for years, seek out mentors who are willing to share their knowledge with others–and don’t forget that there are plenty of online resources too!

4. Build a strong portfolio:

Your portfolio is the key to attracting new clients and establishing yourself as a professional photographer. Make sure your portfolio showcases your best work, and includes a variety of shots that demonstrate your range and style.

When you’re first starting out as a photographer, it can be hard to know where to begin. There are so many skills that you need to develop in order to become better at your craft–but where do you start?

The best thing that you can do for yourself is to learn from others and practice as much as possible. Study other photographers’ work, see what they do well and how they do it differently from other photographers. Then try incorporating these techniques into your own style of shooting weddings (or whatever else).

You also need practice shooting weddings yourself! It sounds obvious, but the more time spent behind the camera at real events will help build confidence and improve technique over time–and make sure that when we get into editing later on this list of five tips for improving wedding photography skillset becomes easier for everyone involved!

Same sex wedding at Robert restaurant in New York City

5. Keep learning and evolving:

Photography is an ever-evolving field, and it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. Attend workshops and conferences, follow other photographers on social media, and continue to learn and grow in your craft.

In conclusion, if you want to become a better wedding photographer, there are a few things you can do. First off, practice! The more you shoot weddings and portraits, the more experience you will have under your belt. Second, study the work of other photographers–both professionals and amateurs alike. You never know what tips or tricks could help make your photos even better than before. Finally, network with other photographers so that they can give advice on how best practices would work in their own lives as well ?”

 

Manhattan wedding flatiron building wedding photo black ebony couple

Starting your wedding photography career? Hey, I’m Tatiana, a wedding photographer based in New York City capturing love since 2004 and I’m here to help you start your journey! Leave me a comment below or shoot me an email at artvestastudio (at) gmail.com

Speak soon!


Awards & Press

press features

Over the years, Tatiana’s work has been featured in The New York Times, New York Post, Time Out New York, New York Weddings, AM New York, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Sophisticated Weddings, InStyle, and other online and print publications.

Tatiana has won multiple industry awards, including Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the US 2021 by OneEyeland, Yelp All Star Business in 2018 and Best Photography Studio in New York City in 2013 by the Wedding Industry Experts.


Tatiana Valerie on Fox 5 News’ family segment

On December 18th, 2019 Tatiana Valerie was featured on Fox 5 News’ Family segment where she was sharing her tips and tricks on creating the best family photos for the holiday season. Sometimes it is tricky to get kids to look into a camera but the task is not impossible. It requires a bit of creativity and… a cartoon playing on a screen placed directly above the lens. The main trick is to keep the kids full, well-rested and entertained! Watch the segment to learn more!


ArtVesta Studio is a Yelp All Star!

I am so honored to receive this prestigious Yelp.com award. ArtVesta Studio is one of the 17 hand-picked businesses in NYC that have received this recognition in 2018. Thank you, Yelp!!!

Yelp All Star NYC - ArtVesta Studio Yelp All Star NYC - ArtVesta Studio


Tatiana Valerie and Olga Kvitko are featured in Harper’s Bazaar April 2014 issue

A classical silk organza and re-embroidered French lace corset with lace up back dress by Olga Kvitko is featured in April’s issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

Photo by  Tatiana Valerie | Makeup by Anastasia Durasova | Model Julia Melnikova 

 

Tatiana Valerie's photography is featured in Harper's Bazaar Tatiana Valerie's photography is featured in Harper's Bazaar


Our Process

Artvesta Studio – is an award-winning photography and videography production company based out of Manhattan. In this video we are explaining our process by breaking it into seven key touch points.

To ensure our team has everything covered, we break our typical photo project into 7 key touchpoints:

1) Initial consultation, concept design
2) Contract signing. A deposit is required to book your date.
3) Family photo combinations planning
4) Location scouting and the day-of logistics planning
5) Optional Pre-wedding photoshoot
6) Wedding photoshoot
7) Post production, album design and printing

Artvesta Studio’s Process

Meet Tatiana Valerie at ArtVesta Studio

Tatiana Valerie at Panache Bridal NYC

Behind the scenes — posing the bride & groom

Behind the scenes — fashion shoot for Panache Bridal and Sophisticated Weddings magazine

 

 

Give us a call or email us if you have any questions or to schedule your free consultation!
[email protected] | 212.300.3897


Menagerie Presents: Tatiana Valerie

Meet founder of Artvesta Studio, Tatiana Valerie. Tatiana has over 10 years of experience in photography and has been featured in a number of fashion and wedding outlets, including Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, InStyle, Style Me Pretty, and more. She’s a women on a mission to break outdated stereotypes about wedding photographers.

Tatiana Valerie headshot 2020

Meet: Tatiana Valerie

Photography is a passion that has brought so much inspiration into my life. I had the fortune to capture some breathtaking sights: from the majestic blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the grandness of the Great Wall of China to the elegance of Eiffel Tower.

I have also had the opportunity to share a few precious moments with a whole range of diverse people: from farmers to politicians, from fashion models to famous figure skaters, from Wall Street bankers to non-profit lawyers.

What brought you to the wedding industry?

During my journey, I discovered that nothing was more emotionally rewarding than photographing people’s most joyous moments. That’s why I love weddings. It is where I capture the moments that represent true beauty in our lives: the loving glimpse of a father as he gives his daughter away or the tears in the eyes of the bride and groom when they take their first kiss as a married couple. Preserving the fairy-tale magic of a wedding day is what I enjoy most.

What is your favorite moment at a wedding?

I really love the first glimpse between a couple and the overwhelming joy experienced in that moment. To capture such a raw moment is extremely emotional and rewarding for me.

Catherine_David_Wedding Midtown Loft and Terrace

 

What is the best part about your job?

Meeting amazing people, witnessing some of the most beautiful moments in their lives, and telling their stories. When the wedding and the celebrations are all over, I get to provide them with something they get to relive together over and over again in the photos. Those emotions and the stories I capture for them in their photos are never-ending.

Where do you draw inspiration from when preparing for each wedding?

I draw inspiration from the couple themselves. I really like to get to know my clients and get in sync with them. What are they like? Are their personalities bubbly or more reserved? I watch them interact and notice those sweet tiny moments of when they really connect. This is what inspires me the most and that is what I want to capture! No couple and no wedding are ever alike.

Share something that is unique to you and/or your business.

I care about natural beauty, realism and I am extremely detail-oriented. I like carefully observing people and noticing what unique traits make them attractive. I believe that everyone is beautiful and it is up to a photographer to notice, bring out, and capture those characteristics. I always ask myself, “What angle, lighting, and emotions will make the most impact and tell the right story?” I think every artist is unique in their ability to sense, conceptualize, and capture emotions and beauty.

I also host a semi-annual Artvesta wine and cake tasting social each year to bring together friends in the industry and meet newly engaged couples. We just had our most recent event this November.

Read this interview with Tatiana Valerie on Menagerie.me
Contact Tatiana Valerie

 


Artvesta Studio Won “The Most Popular Photo Studio in New York” Award – 2014!

Hello everyone! I’m incredibly excited to announce that we have won “The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York” award by the Wedding Industry Experts. The Wedding Industry Board announced the winners on June 15th, 2014.

I am so proud and thankful to everyone who nominated me to this award, supported and voted for me in this competitive endeavor.

We are also among Top 5 Most Popular Photography Studio in the United States and Top 10 Most Popular Photography Studio – Worldwide.

It has been a great privilege to serve you, our dear clients. Thank you for your loyalty and your appreciation. We love you!

Sincerely,
Tatiana Valerie and the entire Artvesta Studio team.

Wedding_Industry_Experts_2014_212

 


What makes a wedding photograph stand the test of time?

vintage vs modern photo colorization

We all can remember looking through an old wedding album and snickering at the outdated dresses, hair styles and poses.  Every album has the bridal party standing in the church in the same configuration: everyone lined up, bridesmaids on the left and groomsmen on the right, with the newly married couple in the middle.  Every album has pictures of the bride and groom posed with various members of the family.  When you think of modern day photography versus these old photographs, do you picture something different?  Are these traditional photographs passé?  What makes a wedding photograph stand the test of time?

With the development of digital photography, that almost completely replaced film, there are many trends that, over the years, have been popping up in wedding photography. Some deal with the coloring of a picture. Perhaps the person or subject in the photography is in black and white with one particular item still vibrant in color (a somewhat tacky trend of 2003-2006).  Maybe the pictures have been airbrushed to the point of erasing all details in the bride’s wedding dress or worse, her face. The washed-out look in photography has become popular in recent years.

Unfortunately, modern and trendy practices in photography run the risk of going out of style. They can make the picture seem dated and not natural.  Modern and trendy may work for some couples whose personalities mirror a modern, trendy vibe.  The majority of these trendy looks and effects are added after the original photos were taken and this is the part that, eventually, goes out of style. Therefore, it is a great idea to request your wedding photographer provide you with pre-post production versions of your photos.

A wedding photographer should capture the essence of the couple and record the joy of the day.  A couple hiring a wedding photographer can ensure timeless wedding pictures by sharing their vision and personalities with the photographer. The pictures won’t ring true if the photographer is trying for an image or effect that is not comfortable for the couple.

Some people think many trendy, modern pictures indicate a good photographer. While creativity is nice, having a few clean, magazine quality pictures is a must even for an ultra modern couple. The timeless look of your photos will ensure that they will be well received by future generations. A truly classic, timeless photograph will always look classy and hold its own among the trendier ones.