Wedding Photography Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Wedding Photography.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
The adjustable opening in a lens that controls how much light passes through to the sensor, measured in f-stops.
The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, influenced by lens design and aperture settings.
A technique of angling a flash unit toward a ceiling or wall so light reflects and softens before reaching the subject.
A measurement in Kelvin that describes the warmth or coolness of a light source, from warm tungsten to cool daylight.
An autofocus mode where the camera continuously adjusts focus to track a moving subject.
The process of reviewing and selecting the best images from a large set of captures for further editing.
The range of distance within a photograph that appears acceptably sharp, controlled by aperture, focal length, and subject distance.
An accessory placed over a flash or light source to soften and spread the light, reducing harsh shadows.
A pre-wedding portrait session that helps the photographer build rapport with the couple and creates images for wedding stationery.
A camera control that allows the photographer to override the metered exposure to make images brighter or darker.
A privately arranged moment before the ceremony where the couple sees each other in wedding attire for the first time.
A styled overhead photograph of items arranged on a flat surface, commonly used for wedding detail shots.
The distance in millimeters between the lens and the sensor when focused at infinity, determining the angle of view and magnification.
The period of warm, soft sunlight occurring shortly after sunrise or before sunset, ideal for romantic portraits.
A graphical representation of the tonal distribution in an image, used to evaluate exposure accuracy.
A compressed image file format that is smaller but loses data during compression, limiting post-processing flexibility.
Adobe's photo editing and catalog management software widely used by wedding photographers for batch processing and color grading.
External flash units placed away from the camera to create directional, controlled lighting in challenging environments.
A fast image browsing and culling software used by wedding photographers to efficiently sort through large volumes of images.
The practice of directing subjects into flattering positions and angles while maintaining a natural, relaxed appearance.
An uncompressed image file that retains all sensor data, allowing extensive non-destructive adjustments in post-processing.
An additional photographer who assists the lead photographer by covering alternate angles and simultaneous moments.
A pre-agreed checklist of must-capture photos, including specific group combinations, details, and key moments.
A portable, shoe-mount flash unit that can be used on-camera or off-camera to add controlled light to a scene.