Wedding Photography Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Wedding Photography distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/wedding-photography/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Exposure Triangle

The relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that determines how much light reaches the camera sensor. Mastering this triangle allows photographers to achieve proper exposure in any lighting condition while controlling depth of field and motion blur.

Off-Camera Flash (OCF)

A technique where external flash units are positioned away from the camera to create directional, dramatic, or natural-looking lighting. OCF gives photographers control over light quality, direction, and intensity in challenging environments.

Golden Hour

The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when sunlight is warm, soft, and directional. This window provides the most flattering and romantic natural lighting for portraits and is highly sought after for couple sessions.

Second Shooting

The practice of hiring a secondary photographer to cover additional angles, moments, and locations simultaneously. Second shooters provide alternate perspectives during the ceremony and help ensure comprehensive coverage of the day.

Shot List

A pre-planned checklist of must-have photographs agreed upon between the photographer and the couple before the wedding day. It ensures that important group combinations, detail shots, and key moments are not missed during the fast-paced event.

Culling

The post-wedding process of reviewing and selecting the best images from thousands of raw files captured during the day. Efficient culling workflows save significant editing time and ensure only the strongest images are delivered.

Bokeh

The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph, created by shooting with a wide aperture. Pleasing bokeh isolates subjects from busy backgrounds and creates a dreamy, romantic feel popular in wedding portraits.

Posing and Direction

The skill of guiding couples and groups into flattering positions while maintaining a natural, relaxed appearance. Effective posing combines technical knowledge of angles and light with the ability to put subjects at ease.

Wedding Day Timeline

A structured schedule coordinating photography coverage with the flow of wedding events, including preparation, ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, and reception. A well-planned timeline ensures adequate time for each segment without rushing.

Backup and Redundancy

The practice of using dual memory card slots, multiple camera bodies, and immediate file backup systems to protect against equipment failure or data loss. Because wedding moments cannot be recreated, redundancy is a professional necessity.

Key Terms at a Glance

Aperture:The adjustable opening in a lens that controls how much light passes through to the sensor, measured in f-stops.

Back-Button Focus:A camera configuration that separates the autofocus activation from the shutter release, assigning focus to a rear button.

Bokeh:The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, influenced by lens design and aperture settings.

Bounce Flash:A technique of angling a flash unit toward a ceiling or wall so light reflects and softens before reaching the subject.

Color Temperature:A measurement in Kelvin that describes the warmth or coolness of a light source, from warm tungsten to cool daylight.

Continuous Focus (AF-C):An autofocus mode where the camera continuously adjusts focus to track a moving subject.

Culling:The process of reviewing and selecting the best images from a large set of captures for further editing.

Depth of Field:The range of distance within a photograph that appears acceptably sharp, controlled by aperture, focal length, and subject distance.

Diffuser:An accessory placed over a flash or light source to soften and spread the light, reducing harsh shadows.

Engagement Session:A pre-wedding portrait session that helps the photographer build rapport with the couple and creates images for wedding stationery.

Exposure Compensation:A camera control that allows the photographer to override the metered exposure to make images brighter or darker.

First Look:A privately arranged moment before the ceremony where the couple sees each other in wedding attire for the first time.

Flat Lay:A styled overhead photograph of items arranged on a flat surface, commonly used for wedding detail shots.

Focal Length:The distance in millimeters between the lens and the sensor when focused at infinity, determining the angle of view and magnification.

Golden Hour:The period of warm, soft sunlight occurring shortly after sunrise or before sunset, ideal for romantic portraits.

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