When photographing a wedding you will cover the arrival, the ceremony and then proceed to capture groups, guests and the bridal party.

After the ceremony in the church is over you should now progress to photograph the groups. Weather permitting you should now leave the church and go outside, test exposure and stop the Bride and Groom in the doorway, take at least two shots, one full length and one three-quarter length. You often find they will choose to buy the three-quarter length.

When posing the Bride and Groom twist their bodies inward toward each other and request them to tilt their heads toward each other too. This is about showing and capturing the closeness and intimacy of the couple; to do this successfully you need to overstress a few of the poses.

With the groom standing on the right of the bride, ask them to hold each other's right hand. This procedure will draw their bodies physically closer. The bride should then hold the posy in her left hand using it to cover up the clasped right hands. The groom should have his left hand lightly on the brides back, ensuring the fingers are not obtruding from her side.

When photographing the groups, work downward from the biggest groups, this way you are more likely to be able to stop the guests wandering away just when you need them. This procedure also allows the Bride and Groom to relax in preparation for their own turn to spend time with you nearer the end of the shoot.

After finishing the group shots group you should now concentrate on the Bridal party, anyone who has been overlooked can be shot later at the reception (if you excuse the expression!).

The Bridal party should now be taken somewhere away from the other guests. This allows you to work without interruption by guests all wanting to congratulate and photograph the Bride and Groom. It will also permit the Bridal party to relax into the photo shoot.

On arrival at your preferred place your initial series of shots should be those, which include the parents of the Bride and Groom. Next you should capture the Bride and Groom together with both sets of parents and then with each of their parents in turn.

If you did not call at the Bride's house in advance then you should take a shot of both sets of parents on their own. It is almost certainly a long time since the parents had a photograph of themselves together and looking so elegant, this shot is generally an excellent seller.