Being asked to be the photographer for a wedding is a big responsibility.  If you've been asked to do it as a favor, or have been asked to do it professionally, here are 5 tips to do to get the job done right.

This tips are coming from first hand experience as a San Diego wedding photographer.You could be a seasoned pro, or you could be an amateur, but by following these tips, you will do the job smoothly without second guessing yourself.You will be ready for whatever may happen.

Our first tip is a simple thing you can do and that is to have the couple and the families go and make a shot list.When you know the day will be hectic and chaotic, doing this will help you get the family and group shots later on in the day more smoothly.  You will love it and when you can just go down the list and get everything without leaving anything out by accident.

The second tip on our list is to not delete any shots.  In this day and age of digital cameras, most photographers use them.Great as they are, they might tempt you to delete a shot they may like that you don't since it is so easy to do.Don't bother even peeking at the previews.What you think may be a great photo, can differ widely in what the couple considers a great photo.You know what, they might like all those un "professional" shots you take.

A third tip to consider is making sure you get candid shots.A good wedding photographer doesn't look to just take your typical shots, like group shots, or wedding shots or your standard newly married shots.  But they will also try and capture the emotions of the day through the shots of all the people that were there.It could include things that don't go perfectly, like a flower girl not wanting to walk down the aisle or the ring bearer making a wrong turn.  Every shot counts.

The fourth tip is which is often overlooked is to make sure you have several cameras and other equipment as backup.  Do you even want to imagine having a camera stop working halfway through the day.Plan for the worst that could go wrong.  Being prepared will help you avoid that uncomfortable moment of not having a working camera to capture the rest of the day.

Finally, you have to be prepared for the lighting and you do that by practicing. Don't get thrown a curveball by the different lighting conditions whether inside the church or outside, practice and you will be prepared. Go see the locations and scout it out for the big day, by finding the best places to shoot as well as studying the lighting needs.

Taking these 5 tips into account will help you immensely.  It will prepare you for whatever might go wrong, it will prepare you for capturing what goes right, and it will prepare you to help contribute to this wonderful day by being the best photographer you can be.  Take it from my years of experience as a San Diego photographer.