Hello! I'm a photographer based in Glasgow who love love loves anything and everything to do with joy, love, celebrations and little ones, so naturally I love a christening!
Whether you're looking for a photographer for your wee ones christening, you're a fellow photographer, or you're just curious what I do to prep for a busy day, this is my checklist for a big event.
Research
The first thing I do when I'm contacted is ask questions! I need to know alllll of the important information. My top questions for clients are,
What are the names of all key people e.g. baby, parents, siblings, grandparents, godparents etc.
Where is the christening taking place and where will the celebration be held?
What are the most important moments for you to be captured?
The answers to these questions, and others, are key to ensuring I refer to everyone by name, I know who is to be included in group photographs, I know what lighting to anticipate, and I know exactly what to focus on to ensure I capture the day exactly as my client would like.
Next, I view the location online, or visit it if I have the opportunity. During this time, I also speak to the priest or minister and ensure I ask these key questions,
Can I photograph within the church and can I use flash?
Is there anywhere I cannot stand, anywhere I cannot photograph or any moment I cannot photograph?
Can you tell me the order of service?
Where will every member of the group be standing when the christening and blessing are taking place?
These are some of the most important. This ensures I am respecting the minister/priest and the religion at all times during the christening, and that I do not disrupt the service. These questions also ensure I'm in the right place at the right time - the last thing I want is to be caught without a clear view!
Preparation
In the days leading up to the event, I make sure all my gear is in clean, clear and in full working order. I clean my camera and my lenses, format my cards and charge my batteries.
I write out my plan for the full day because there's no way I'll be able to remember it all in the moment! I also write out my plan for the group photo session to make sure I include everyone. They might look something like this,
I pack my bag the night before and I double (and triple!) check that I've got everything on this list
Main camera body and back up body
50mm, 35mm, and 70-200mm lenses
6 SD cards
4 batteries for each camera body
Tripod ( I don't usually use it but better safe than sorry!)
Lastly, water and protein bars!
I also lay out some smart and comfortable clothing that will allow me to move and get all the perfect shots. Almost all of the time this is black jeans, a black t-shirt and a black blazer - this also means I don't stand out and can be as inconspicuous as possible when snapping those candid shots!
On the Day
I get to the venue about 30 minutes early to meet with the priest or minister, scope out shot locations, and set up my camera. I take a few test shots inside the church to ensure all of my settings are correct.
Major tip for any fellow photographers - make sure your white balance is correct! It's soooo much easier to spend a moment getting this right in camera than spending hours trying to correct when editing. Church lighting can be quite dim and very yellow, so I spend a few minutes setting specific white balance in camera.
Then, it's just about time for the guests to start arriving! My style of photography leans heavily towards natural, candid shots, so I love getting sneak photos of guests arriving, meeting with the family and chatting to one another.
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