Written by: Dana Suggs
This article will be a little different from my typical ones. This particular subject is so near and dear to my heart, and shows a bigger part of who I really am, not the silly girl I put out most of the time. I love to be funny and to make people laugh, but I love this subject so much more.
I am a worship photographer.
No, most people have never heard of this. There are not tutorials on this or really very many people that I have found that do this. When I first started doing this, I couldn’t even find anything on the SUBJECT…no hints, no words of wisdom, and no YouTube tutorials. So, I just had to wing it and jump in on my own.
Why do I do this? I have people ask me all the time, “Why do you take pictures during the service?” Here is the simple answer: I have a very deep faith in Jesus Christ and a close relationship with Him. It was my desire to let people have a little glimpse of what I experience when I worship. And it’s one of our most vulnerable times; I’m showing people in an intimate moment with their Creator.
Now, I’ll be honest here, not everyone agrees with what I do. People just don’t understand why I would take pictures of people during worship. They don’t see the value or the beauty in this. I see it like photographing a birth of a baby. That is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. So, this is why I decided to write this tutorial.
This is something I feel very passionate about. It was something I enjoyed doing, even if no one else understood it or liked it. It brings me joy.
We all have that one thing, that one subject we are passionate about. Something we enjoy doing or shooting more than anything else. I am here to give you permission to do it. I’m encouraging you to step out and get started, even if no one else does it, or understands it, or likes it. And, even if you aren’t ever paid to do it. To date, I have never received money of any kind to do these pictures, and yet, I don’t care. It’s something I love.
Find what you love to do, and do it.
Worship Photography Tips
Here are a few tips that I have learned along the way:
1| Know your camera. Learn everything you can about ISO, white balance, exposure, shutter speed, etc. Most churches I shoot in are indoors with strange lighting. I have to check my white balance each time I come to shoot worship services. I have to know what to set my ISO at in order to get a good, clear, properly exposed photo.
2| Equipment. I started worship photography with a Nikon D80. It isn’t great with high ISO’s. Trust me. The Nikon D90 did better, but what I truly needed was my Nikon D700. Whatever camera you use, investigate and see how it does in high ISO’s. You will need a CRAZY high ISO to shoot in such low light. Which means, you will need a camera that has amazing ISO capabilities. You will also need a very fast lens. I started with my 50mm 1.8 and it did very well. Now I shoot with my 85mm lens and it’s EVEN better! Because most of the venues I shoot in are large church buildings, I am able to stay pretty far back and not interfere with what is going on.
3| Watch your angles. Stay low, and try to stay on the same plane as your subject. But, also, shooting from a balcony down onto your subjects makes for some beautiful photos as well! Just, HOLD ONTO YOUR CAMERA EXTRA TIGHT. 
I have been hanging from a balcony in some pretty precarious positions. I’m just sayin’.
4| NO FLASHES! This one is a BIG one. You do not want to interrupt the flow of the service, and having a flash go off in your face is the worst thing that could happen. NO FLASH! Bump up the ISO and make sure your shutter speed is LIGHTNING fast! Embrace the noise the high ISO creates, but do not EVER use your flash!
5| Position. Stay BEHIND the action, or discreetly beside if you can do so without interrupting anyone. It’s so important to keep your distance. You don’t want to distract what is going on in the service.
6| Clothing. I know this sounds odd, but it does help stay hidden and discreet. I always try to wear dark clothing. Shoes are also very important. I do a LOT of running around the back of the church from one side to the other, up to the balcony and back down again, so I always try to wear comfortable, quiet shoes. You don’t want to be running up and down the aisles wearing flip flops. UGH! Think of it like shooting a wedding: you want to stay hidden and discreet.
7| Monopod or tripod. These are helpful, especially the monopod. I’ve used a tripod but found it too bulky and hard to move around with, so I probably won’t do that one again. I don’t have a monopod, but I really think it would be helpful. But, in the meantime, I use what is available: a chair, the back of a pew, a column, a wall, or I’ll just brace my arms to help keep the camera as still as possible. The above photo of the lady sitting down was shot with the camera sitting on top of the pew in front of me. I use what is available to me.
I know I probably seem like a total odd-ball, but I have found something I love doing just for the sake of doing it. Not for the money, and definitely not for any fame, I just love shooting worship. So, find what you enjoy shooting just for the sake of shooting it…..and GO FOR IT! Have a good time!
And, as always, be kind to others!
Dana Suggs is an I Heart Faces Contributor and the owner of Dana Suggs Photography. She loves to blog about her beautiful family and welcomes everyone to follow her on her Facebook Fan Page as well.
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Thank you so much for sharing these! I’m the official event photographer for my church’s denominational assembly this week, and it will be my first time photographing a worship service (I normally shoot weddings). Seeing these and reading your tips has helped me so very much. Your photos are beautiful, and I am amazed by the emotion in them.
Loved your article. I have done some worship photography and found it very rewarding. Your pointers are spot on. Some of us friends are planning to shoot at a Sufi Dargah next weekend and are using your tips as a guide. Thanks so much
And of course, love your pictures.
Oh my goodness! I know you wrote this almost a year ago, but I am so happy that I found it!!! I have been the unofficial “official” photographer for our annual church conferences and other special services for a few years now. I probably shoot 3-4 special services a year that are held across the country. These churches are all part of a Pentecostal/Apostolic Fellowship. Have you ever attended a service like this?? There is quiet worship like what is shown in your pictures above, then there is dancing, clapping, and a lot of movement. Pentecostal people DO NOT stay still in during praise and worship time! I have had a horrible time getting clear pictures and have yet to find anyone else who takes photos during services like this. I love doing it! I love capturing that reverent moment. It speaks to me! I just have such a hard time getting clear shots!
Thanks for posting this! I’m bookmarking it to read again before our next conference!
Amy recently posted..Secret Date
This is so awesome. Everyone worships differently & I encourage you, If it makes God smile when you do this…keep doing it!
Thank you for posting this! My Pastor recently apporached me about doing photography during church and outings but I’m pretty timid about it. I’m lucky, he really embraces it and gives me total freedom with it. I can use flash which is helpful, but I feel that it is a distraction. If you hav any other tips I would be really appreciative!!!
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Thank you SO much for this post!!! I read it back in May, and have wanted to take pictures of the worship service at my church ever since!!! I took the plunge and tried it today, and just almost cried when looking through them this afternoon to edit them!! I was amazed at how I could feel the presence of the Lord through the pictures!!! I could sing the exact song and feel the Lord’s anointing through the pictures!! Thank you SO much for the inspiration!!
Your photos are amazing. I just love to see genuine worship and the way you’ve captured it, well done. Love it.
This is beautiful
Thank You Thank You Thank You a million times for this article!!!!!
I was reading your article and started to cry because worship photography is my heart and how I began photography in the first place. I love to catch the glory of God interacting with people. It’s so amazing to see an article about it because you don’t see that type of photography often. I looked at your pictures and it felt like home. Praise & Worship, prayer groups and mission is my foundation and home. I recently went on a trip to India for missions and it was like a two week long worship photography experience. I share alot of that on my blog and some of the images are on my main website.
a few images of my worship photography
http://www.flickr.com/photos/la-luce/page2/
my blog that contains alot information about the india missions trip
http://laluceimagery.blogspot.com/
photography website
http://www.laluceimagery.com
I’m so thankful that you shared this and I pray blessings over your life. You are anointed.
Ashley Marie Wilson
These pictures are amazing! I come from a Christian family and I recently photographed my uncle’s funeral. My favorite shot of the entire event was the one of my aunts hand raised in worship during one of the songs. I can see why you love to capture these precious moments.
http://kjbehavior.blogspot.com/2011/02/scenes-from-funeral.html
Kimberly recently posted..Day 1
THANK YOU for a wonderful article. I am new at photography—well the part about learning all the settings anyway. I was never able to get good worship shots because of the lighting. Now you have given me something to work with.
Our pastors change about every 5 years and at every “goodbye” party, we always present them with an album of his life at our church—-LOTS of worship photos. So I really want to get better at the worship photography!!
This was a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing your heart for worship photography. My husband and I are the worship leaders at our church, so photographing the service hasn’t been anything I’ve been able to do, but I’ve so wanted to! With some upcoming changes, I won’t be singing with him every Sunday, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to photograph our people worshiping. I agree that it is beautiful, and when you use your gift of photography it is ultimately worship to Him. Thank you again for your encouragement!!!
Oh Amen, I love Worship Photography soo much! I totally agree with what you say about Flashes, although I have used em’ and my Pastors don’t really care, but I’ve been the person in Worship as well; when that flash pops, I go from praying to God to thinking “Hey was that a 7D?” I’m glad to hear another person talk about it, cause quite frankly sometimes I feel like everybody must think i’m a flake, but in all reality I’m a photographer; capturing a moment is what photographers do, and if I can make someone want to feel “that” moment when they see my photograph, I can help a worshiper want more, and ultimately win souls for Christ. + I totally agree with the fact that a flash often kills the light and environment, it eliminates the light that’s there, the light that matters, and leaves you with just a bunch of bright white backs heads, hands, and pews.
Worship Photography-
Winter Camp-
http://jon-marchatton.blogspot.com/2011/02/winter-camp-2011.html
Oh my Gosh!!!! Dana, I LOVE your photos and I don’t think you’re weird at all (hahaha), I love to take photos during worship as well. The depth of emotion, the connectedness to God, all of it! I don’t do it often, just when I’m asked (and I’m a novice as well), but, yeah, love what you do…
Maryanne,
My daddy died Feb. 28th. He was a retired Marine and he had full military honors at his graveside service. I knew that I would want pictures of that, so I asked a dear friend from church, who is also a photographer, to please photograph it for me. She was very discreet and you would have not known she was there but for the click of the shutter. I did just google “funeral photography” and there are articles on it.
Hope this helps…
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