How Do You approach the Procession ?

Well it depends on:

1. the local rules

2. the length of the aisle

3. the number of people in the Procession

4. the pace (speed) : (Flower Girls and Page boys can be notoriously fleet of foot).

All being perfect, and if working alone, I like to be about 10 ft from the Vestibule / Entrance and walk backwards capturing a Full Length and Half Shot of each member.

Then being halfway down the aisle for the Dad and Bride, and being able to turn and capture the reverse shot, and the presentation to the Groom, or off to the side to capture that half profile, if I am allowed to move to a Choir Stall or similar.

WW

At a recent wedding I shot they were also videotaping and I was really self conscience about where I went because I felt like I'd be in the way a lot. I got some pretty good shots hiding down in front of the front pews though, so it turned out.

Ask the person in charge, often called the church wedding planner.

I don't move around much at all. When the clients see all of the photos they are surprised how many I got because they never saw me. So the best plan is try to be like a mouse. Stay back use long lenses for the rings, wide angles for the entire church or temple.

I'm typically up front positioned somewhere within the first three pews but church rules and the physical layout can vary. Often the video guy is directly across the ilse from me and most of the time I'm on the left side of the church (bride's side) for two reasons: I like the bride closest to me with her father on the outside for composition reasons, and: I've generally got a better relationship with the bride's family from the time I've spent at the bride's house doing the pre-ceremony shots.

Most religious institutions have their specific "rules of engagement", and each officiant often has variations on those rules. Usually, the "Sanctuary" area is off limits at all times ... including the processional.

For the procession itself, I usually stand right up front and center and try to capture not only the processional subjects, but the guest's reactions and the backdrop of the church itself ... printed @ 8"X10" for an album, that amount of stuff in the image works quite well as opposed to tiny web reductions.

Stunning image, Marc! Where did you move to after that? Obviously, the church rules allowed you to be there down front, but many won't. I often have to shoot from the back only. Or at one Anglican church where I was not allowed to shoot anything but processional and recessional.

That really is a great shot, Marc. Today, I have to cover a whole slew of wedding party members (biggest yet - 20 in total, and I don't generally do large weddings), and then the bride and groom are going to present roses to their soon-to-be mothers in law. I'll be in the middle to catch both, then off to the side for the presentation of the bride. Phew.

What William said, the most important being item 1. You can't even get a shot like Marc posted if you have to stay at the back of the church. Usually all you get there is the lovely exit sign above the entry way. If I have to stay there, I try to add an off camera flash to add some lighting drama. Sometimes you can be halfway up the aisle, but you still don't get any guests in the image. The best is if you are allowed at the top of the aisle until the ceremony starts.

I generally stand on the bride's side so I can swivel around and get the guys walking in and the groom on the opposite side of the aisle without moving around. I can also grab shots of the parents and family in the pews while I can. I generally just get each processional participant full length, maybe several of the flower girl(s) or ring bearer if they do anything cute. However, I shoot several of the bride and dad, from the time they first make an appearance in the doorway til they are at the top of the aisle for the hand off. I rim light the processional if I can, like Marc's image above. The long shot of them in the doorway I sometimes get available light.

If there is enough room, as they near the top of the aisle, I switch to half lengths and depending upon where they stop, I try to be at a 45 degree angle to them, as David described above, to photograph the hand off, which usually consists of a hand shake or hug, the Dad kissing the Bride, and the Dad placing the Bride's hand in the groom's. This spot is not behind the minister, but to one side--usually I'm in front of the bridesmaids. If there isn't enough room, I try to let the Bride and Dad past me and then step behind them, to at least get the kiss between them from behind. Usually, I've determined this beforehand, so I place myself to begin with, so that all I have to do is swivel around without refocusing. The Dad's departure from the front usually signals the time for me to disappear to the back of the church, unless there are no restrictions. I may re-create the hand off later. If there are no restrictions I just continue on, but usually as discreetly as possible.

Usually try to get the bride and father coming down the aisle, then move quickly further down the aisle once they pass to get a shot of the flowing gown. Then remain in position for the father to give the bride away with a longer lens.