Choose shutter speed first, based on what is moving.
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Use auto ISO with a sensible maximum so you can focus on moments.
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Set autofocus for the subject: eye detection for people, continuous for movement.
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These are starting points: check the histogram and adjust for each venue.
A wedding changes light and pace constantly: a bright haldi in the courtyard, a dim getting-ready room, a sangeet under coloured stage lights, a fast baraat at dusk, a dark reception hall. Photographers who fumble with settings miss moments. Photographers who know where to start, and how to adjust, can keep their eyes on the people.
This cheat sheet gives starting settings for each part of an Indian wedding. Treat them as a starting point, check your histogram, and adjust for each venue.
The basics in one minute
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Shutter speed controls motion. Choose it first, based on what is moving.
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Aperture controls light and depth of field. Wide apertures (f/1.4 to f/2) give soft backgrounds and more light; narrower apertures (f/4 to f/8) keep more in focus.
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ISO controls brightness from the sensor. Raise it when you need more light; modern cameras handle high ISO well.
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White balance controls colour. Set it for the main light rather than leaving it on auto, so sequences stay consistent.
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Shoot raw for the most room to correct exposure and colour later.
Shutter speed guide
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Still people, posed portraits: 1/125s or faster (slower with stabilisation if nothing moves).
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People talking, gesturing, walking: 1/250s.
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Dancing, children, fast rituals: 1/500s or faster.
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Jumping, running, spins: 1/1000s.
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Dragging the shutter with flash: 1/15s to 1/60s for atmosphere.
Autofocus and drive modes
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Eye or face detection: on for almost all people photography.
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Continuous autofocus: for movement: walking, dancing, the baraat, the jaimala.
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Single autofocus: for still details and posed portraits, if you prefer to lock focus.
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Drive mode: a moderate burst for fast moments; single shot for quiet rituals to reduce noise.
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Silent shutter: for ceremonies where the sound of the shutter is unwelcome; watch for banding under some artificial lights.
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Set your shutter speed and aperture in manual mode, and let auto ISO handle brightness, with a maximum you trust for your camera. Use exposure compensation to brighten or darken as needed. This keeps motion and depth of field under your control while the camera adjusts to changing light.
Set up custom buttons before the wedding so key settings are one press away.
Most cameras let you save groups of settings to custom modes or buttons. Set them up before the wedding:
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Custom 1: portraits: f/2, 1/250s, auto ISO, eye detection.
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Custom 2: action: f/2.8, 1/500s, auto ISO, continuous autofocus, burst.
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Custom 3: flash drag: f/4, 1/30s, ISO 1000, flash on.
Switching one dial is much faster than changing four settings during the jaimala.
Two bodies, two setups
With two bodies, set each for a different job, such as a wide lens with action settings and a portrait lens with portrait settings, and check them at the start of each event. Our lens guide helps pair lenses with bodies.
Metering modes
Your camera's metering mode decides which part of the scene it uses to judge exposure.
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Evaluative or matrix metering reads the whole frame and suits most scenes.
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Spot or centre-weighted metering reads a small area and helps when a bright background fools the camera, such as a bride against a window.
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Highlight-weighted metering, on cameras that offer it, protects bright areas such as white outfits and stage lights.
In manual mode with auto ISO, the metering mode still affects the ISO the camera chooses, so pick one you understand and use exposure compensation to correct it.
Video settings in brief
If you also record video, the rules change: keep the shutter at about double the frame rate (for example 1/50s at 25 frames per second), control brightness with aperture, ISO and ND filters rather than shutter speed, and lock white balance so colour does not shift during a clip. Our guide to cinematic wedding films covers the rest.
Common mistakes
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Shutter too slow for moving people.
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Aperture too wide for groups, leaving back rows soft.
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Auto white balance under mixed light, giving inconsistent colour.
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Trusting the screen instead of the histogram in dark venues.
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Changing settings mid-moment instead of preparing custom modes.
Keep a card in your bag
Write your own version of this cheat sheet, adjusted for your camera and your style, on a small card in your camera bag. Update it after each wedding with what worked. Within a season, you will rarely need to look at it.
When the light changes suddenly
Wedding light can change in seconds: the sun goes behind a cloud, the stage lights switch colour, or the hall lights dim for a special entry. A few habits help you keep up:
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Keep auto ISO on during unpredictable events, so exposure follows the light automatically.
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Watch the scene, not only the viewfinder: notice when the planner signals the lights or the DJ builds up to an entry.
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Take one test frame as soon as the light changes, check the histogram, and adjust exposure compensation.
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Prepare for dark entries: before the lights go down, switch to your flash-drag custom mode or open your aperture.
Being ready for the change is what separates a clean frame from a missed one.
QuickPhotos Editorial writes practical guides for photographers, filmmakers and editors, with input from working professionals across India and the UAE.
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