First off course is choosing a great photographer!!! But there is a lot of things that you can do to insure that you get stunning images or at least help your photographer to achieve it.
The average time I normally spend on a wedding is between 10 to 12 hours. ( a lot more than other photographers but I prefer to have enough time to capture all those details and moments)
First and most important:
You want to plan your day so that your romantic shoot is done in the best light possible. Best light for photography is either early morning or late afternoon. I will, when discussing the timeline with the couple, check what time sunset will be on their special day and then we will work backwards and forwards from the romantic shoot to work out the best possible timeline for their wedding.
Photographing the Groom and Groomsmen:
My assistant will normally take the getting ready photos of the men on the day. He/she will take photos of all the details, so make sure that the men have their cuff-links, ties, belts, shoes etc ready for the shoot to save some time.
A good idea is to have all the groomsmen ready before the groom so that they can “assist him in getting ready.We also try to do all the groom and groomsmen shots during this time so that we don’t need to do it during the romantic session.
Photographing the venue and Chapel:
Every bride spend hours and hours on planning and choosing her decor so photographing it is a definite MUST . BUT to capture it we need to have to get into the venue before the guests have sat down, as the tables get cluttered with cans/handbags/cameras and other personal items.
In my experience the best time to photograph the tables is in between photographing the groomsmen and the bridal preparation. This means that you need to ensure that your florist, wedding planner, and venue are completely set up a good few hours before your actual wedding service. If this cannot be done ask the venue to at least have one table ready for the photographer.
Bride Getting ready:
The getting ready location is very important… The bigger and lighter the room the better!! Plastic bags, extension cords, cellphone charging and suitcases makes for really unflattering background…..
If you can afford it…get yourself a stunning hotel room.It is your big day after all.
Definitely have a light lunch it’s a long day of not eating otherwise. Make sure your photographer and their assistant gets lunch and cool drinks too (I am sure you don’t want them passing out during your service!)
Also ensure that you don’t have a facial or try any new moisturizers or facial products a few days before to prevent any surprise break outs.
Stay off the orange spray tan and watch out for huge false lashes as they can actually make your eyes look smaller in photographs.
Don’t go mad with Rescue or similar products as it can render some undesirable side effects.
Have a music system set up with all your favorite vibey tunes to get you in the mood and ease the nerves!
Drink lots of water and get a good nights rest before the wedding so that you are looking radiant.
I would advise having a trial run with your hair and make up people so that they know exactly what you want. Go with a professional who will give you a style which will bring out your best features.
Hang your dress and the bridesmaid’s dressers on nice hangers. Those cheap plastic ones really look crap on photos!
PLEASE be strict with the hair and make-up people!!!! They always seem to run over time and that just causes unnecessary stress. I would advice that all your make-up and hair is done at least 1 and a half hours before you have to leave for the service.
All the Brides maids must be dressed and hair and make-up done before you get dressed…. It just looks better if they also look hot when they help you into that stunning dress!!!!
Ceremony:
I have already said this but I will say it again.
When choosing the time for your ceremony you really (I implore you) must look at what time the sun goes down at that time of year. There is nothing worse than having to rush your whole day to chase the last of the sun rays for your creative shoot.
Some of the best or most real pics are during all the congratulations after the ceremony and this isn’t something that should be rushed. Make sure you factor in time for this.
Family Shots:
The family pics are always the bane of every photographer’s life when it comes to wedding photography. I know I know ….. that sounds terrible but lets be real here ……… trying to get together a whole load of people who would rather be drinking beer or chatting to relatives they haven’t seen in ages is like herding cats!!! And if you do the family shots after the service, which is the norm, then you are losing valuable light for your special creative shoot.
At the same time … wedding family pics are super important as weddings are a time when everyone comes together.
In my experience ….. you need to sit down and make a list of which pics you would like with which people you would like ……… the best idea is to only photograph immediate family after the service. 8-10 pics should be ample.
Scout out a place for family pics before your big day with your photographer, a shady area is best for this. If I photograph families in the sun I generally back light them and fill in with flash.
You really need to appoint an EXTREMELY bossy person in charge of the family list to ensure it all gets done. Your photographer is not going to know who everyone is and needs to concentrate on other things. Ensure that everyone knows what is happening and where to go before the wedding day.
You need to think what is important to you and plan your day accordingly. What are the photos you would really like in your album? Remember you can always take pics of second cousins etc at the reception. Also consider how long you want to be away from your guests for and what you can realistically get done in that time.
One nice idea for family shots is to get everyone sitting on a couch outside or an old log or rocks with a nice background or somewhere interesting so that they don’t land up looking like those stiff school pics we all have hiding somewhere.
Romantic Shoot:
to follow soon!!!
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