When it comes to wedding photography, the entire reason you choose a photographer is because of the work they do, right?
Did you know that learning about certain tips ahead of time can really help with getting your dream photos and ensuring your photography experience on your wedding day run smoother and as easy as possible.
Listed below are some tips that may help both you and photographer on your wedding day 👇🏼
Get ready in the largest room
Choosing the largest room should be key when picking somewhere to get ready in on your wedding day. This will provide enough space for both bride & groom and their wedding party plus the vendors who will be in the room with you.. aka makeup artist, hair stylist, and photographer
Sit next to the nearest window for hair and makeup
In addition to choosing the largest room, you also want to choose an area in the room preferably next to a window so when getting hair and makeup done, your photographer will have natural light to work with if your photographer prefers using natural lighting.
Clear any clutter in your "getting ready" space
Another thing you want to keep in mind is to declutter your getting ready space. Not only will it be cleaner for you but it will help make for a pretty background for photos.
Have a list of names handy for your photographer for family portraits
This is a great thing to have handy for your photographer. More than likely they will require you to have this list submitted beforehand but it's always best to be ahead of the game and have one ready. This makes things much easier come family portrait time. Usually, photographers are restricted to a certain amount of time to get these portraits done. By having a list of names, it cuts the time in half and allows for a much easier smoother process for you, your guests, and your photographer.
Do an engagement shoot
Doing an engagement shoot with your photographer is a great way for you both to get to know one another. Not only do you get to see how the photographer works but you also get to socialize and have more time to create a personal relationship with one another. This is a great thing since they will be the ones with you throughout the entire day.
And.. it's bonus for the photographer because they are able to learn more about you and how you are in front of the camera.
Invite your photographer to your next venue meeting
This is something I always recommend. Inviting your photographer to your next venue meeting will always score some points. Whether your photographer has shot at your venue before or not, this is a great way for them to see how things will be set up for your wedding and BONUS.. another way for socializing and getting to know one another!
Bouquet & Garter Toss
If you plan on doing a bouquet and garter toss, it's really important that you communicate with the photographer on your plans for when you will be throwing. You know when people like to fake throw? Totally fine but if that's something you have planned, discuss it with your photographer so they know exactly when to take their shot.
Example to tell your photographer: "I plan on throwing it on the third try."
This will help the photographer in a tremendous way.
First look
What is a first look? A first look is a chance for the bride and groom to see one another before their ceremony and share an intimate, private moment before they are consumed by all of the craziness of wedding events. Whether you choose to keep things traditional or you want to make your wedding your own, that is completely up to you but this is something I always recommend doing for the sake of having a little one-on-one time with your spouse and saving time. This also allows you and your photographer to knock out family & couple portraits giving you more time to mingle with your guests come cocktail hour.
Sunset weddings
Sunset weddings are absolutely gorgeous and can really tie into the mood of a wedding, however, there are some things to consider when it comes to sunset weddings. You have to remember that sunset does not last very long which means it will probably be dark or almost there by the end of your ceremony. Now while professional photographers are well equipped to handle night portraits, you have to ask yourself, "are you okay with night portraits? Are you okay with a dark background?" Think about your photos. Think about your family portraits, think about your couples portraits. Remember, because it will be dark, you probably won't see that gorgeous scenery that you planned to have your ceremony at. My advice is speak with your photographer and ask for their thoughts when it comes to sunset weddings and the pros and cons of it. Knowing these things ahead of time are beneficial to fulfilling your wants, needs and expectations.
Prepare items for detail shots
If your photographer is anything like me, you will see how we LOVE photographing details! Gathering your items together that you want photographed and putting them in a safe place is necessary. Storing them in an overnight bag will help keep you organized and less likely to forget something. If you don't know what to include in your detail shots, ask your photographer for ideas and direction. Also, it's probably best that you keep both rings (Bride's and Groom's) handy so your photographer can include them with your details. Have a plan in order for the grooms ring to make sure it is kept safe and delivered back to him after those photos have been taken.
Try sticking to your timeline
I know, I know.. wedding days are crazy and hardly ever run on time but to help with the flow of your wedding and making sure your photographer has enough time to get those beautiful shot, it's best that you try your best to stick to your itinerary. Don't get me wrong, your photographer will do their best to work around any timing issues but when you help out, it makes things a lot easier for everyone.
Allow the photographer to have full direction for photos
Now, this is a very important part of getting those beautiful portraits that you love and have seen in your photographers work. We understand we have relatives and friends who believe it's necessary to help with directing people for photographs but in reality, it just makes things more complicated for your photographer and you probably won't get what you are expecting in your photographs. So, have a chat with family and friends and explain to them that your photographer has full direction when it comes to your photos. Also, allow your photographer to politely inform guests about his/her job description if necessary.
Unplugged Ceremony
So, you're walking down the aisle gazing into the eyes of your spouse in admiration and so in love because you're about to marry the love of your life then BAM! There are tons of cell phone and iPad cameras in your face. We get it, family and friends want to share in this moment with you and capture their own memories, I understand. From a photographer though, this is a huge deal. Most of the time, guests tend to get in our way while trying to get their own cell phone pictures which causes issues with us being able to get our job done correctly especially if the venue/church have strict rules on where we are allowed to be throughout your ceremony. Not only does it create issues with us but you will end up with a bunch of ugly electronic devices in your photos.
By having a sign or letting your guests know ahead of time to put all electronic devices away and allow your photographer to capture the moments will help ensure you are helping your photographer get the best photos for you.
Leave enough time for couples portraits
As I have said many times before, YOUR WEDDING DAY IS ALL ABOUT YOU! Don't leave a little bit of time for your couples portraits as husband and wife! Make sure you are planning enough time to have this happen because these are the first portraits you will get with one another after saying "I DO". Whether you have photos of you both during a "first look" or you plan for time after your ceremony, you don't want to get your wedding photos back and see that you barely have any together.
Let's Chat, y'all!
Let's get to talking about you, get to know one another, and discuss the details surrounding your wedding day! Click on the button below to contact me about your wedding!
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