How I Work + Tips & Tricks
Hello, my dear bride and groom! Below I have outlined several tips for every aspect of your wedding day, from getting ready to the reception. Please read this informative article and ask me any questions you might have. I made it as short but thorough as possible so you can print it out and quickly review it whenever needed. Your day is very important to me and I want to make sure your wedding album will be as real and beautiful as it can be.
First, let's look at few crucial components of beautiful and authentic wedding photography.
Respect and trust. You don't know me and I don't know you, but I will never disrespect or judge you. I will respect your privacy. I am an understanding and kind person who has seen a lot in life and you can believe me, as much as you will allow yourself, that you can trust me with allowing yourself to be yourself and show me who you are and who you want to be. Let my photographs document the beauty within you.
Embrace the emotions. Let the joyful, tearful, sad, exciting, and happy moments happen. Embrace what is happening and let me capture it the best I can, with understanding and respect. Laugh, enjoy yourself, be authentic. I am here for you!
Quality and transparency. I will guide you throughout the day giving you tips and letting you know what works the best and what doesn't. Some things will need to be left the way they are, we will need to expect to blend in fine art with candid moments. But what you will get is the highest quality and authentic wedding album heirloom that is not only beautiful but also truthful as to how your day really went.
Absorbing the moments over rushing them. I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to take your time in the most crucial moments. Let them last. Are you putting on a dress? Let the process be slow and thorough. Walking down the aisle? Take a deep breath, exhale and walk slowly absorbing every single moment. First kiss? Well, kiss as if it was not only your first but also the last! While you cut the cake, be patient as well. Don’t rush in any of the most crucial moments. Not only will you experience them fully, but it will also let the moments be captured fully. Simply put, take time to enjoy yourself, your beloved, and your wedding day!
Location and natural light. Natural light is stunning and simple. Photographs that come from bright naturally lit rooms come out beautiful and soft looking. They also allow me to avoid being the center of attention by using flash. For this reason, I try to minimize the amount of artificial light that I have to use. On your wedding day try to focus all the main aspects of the wedding around big bright windows and indirect light if your ceremony is outside. Think about this ahead of time when you consider getting ready locations, the placement of the cake, and your main wedding table.
**The most important tip: IF POSSIBLE make sure that the sun is behind you, not in front of you to avoid harsh shadows.**
Before the Coverage. I encourage you to allow me 30 minutes of time before the start of photography coverage to walk around the venue and look for photogenic locations that we might use during the day. It might seem benign but it actually helps me get the most out of the venue you rented for your wedding day. It lets me scout the prettiest locations that will look the best in your wedding album. Something I won't have much time for once I start the wedding photography coverage.
Hired a videographer?
Let us know! Both photographers and videographers need their own set apart personal time with your party to ensure unique footage. Make sure your timeline includes time for both the photographer and videographer!
My Typical Workflow
Below is a rough example of how I typically work. We will adjust this timeline to fit your specific needs.
Bridal Getting Ready (up to 90 minutes)
- 30 minutes: Detail Photographs of shoes, invitations, rings
- 30-60 minutes: Candids of everyone preparing
Groom’s Getting Ready (up to 1h)
- If desired, the second photographer can attend groom’s prep.
- The second photographer will leave earlier to photograph ceremony venue before the guests arrive.
First Look (about 15-60 minutes)
Ceremony (15-60 minutes)
If I am the only photographer I will come few minutes before the ceremony to take details of the decorations
Portraits (about 1 hour)
- 30 minutes: The whole bridal party & family portraits
- 30 minutes: Bride & groom Wedding Portraits
- 10-20 minutes: If the weather allows, we can plan to take some intimate sunset portraits right before the sunset for that beautiful golden hour glow! **
- If traveling to a separate reception and the second photographer is present, they will leave the session to arrive at the reception and photograph it before the arrival of guests.
Reception (1 to 3 hours)
**(If you are interested in the sunset portraits make sure you check sunset times for your wedding day and how that will effect the timeline above)
In-depth Guide to Wedding Photography
Getting Ready (60-90 minutes)
Ideal Location: Room with the biggest natural light source; the prettiest, most photogenic corner of the place you are getting ready at.
1. Once I arrive I like to spend 30 minutes on detailed shots of your accessories (jewelry, perfume, invitations, shoes, veil, etc.), bouquets, and other meaningful details that you will be using during your wedding day. Some of them may seem cliche or unimportant but as years pass you will enjoy looking at these photos are remembering how these things looked. As I take these detail shots everyone is getting accustomed to the idea of a photographer being around them for the remainder of the day.
2. I spend another 30 shifting my focus on the getting ready of the bridesmaids and the bride. I pay the most attention to the bride and the little interactions that are happening in the meantime.
3. After that, it is time for the bride to put her dress on. I either step aside to give her some privacy until she is ready to have her dress buttoned up on the back by the mother or the maid of honor. Then I start taking pictures. I like doing that in front of a big bright window or a big mirror.
4. If you would like to, we could have a first look with the bridesmaids at this time.
**By following this pattern, I give everyone in your party time to warm up to the idea of a photographer following them for the rest of the day.
Tips:
-About a week before your wedding gather all of the most important details (jewelry, shoes, invitations, vows books, your perfume bottle, etc.) into a box so that I can start photographing them as soon as I arrive.
-Gather all the clutter into one corner of the room. This way we will avoid unnecessary photobombs in the photographs.
-Instead of having your drinks from generic bottles and cans, use stylish glassware, or if you are on a budget plasticware that disguises as glassware.
-BRIDE: Try to have everyone have their makeup and hair done before I arrive. We can stage some last touchup photos to get a nice getting ready gallery. By doing this we make sure everybody looks camera ready and looks consistently the same in the pictures.
-GROOM: It would be good for the groom to be almost fully dressed for the getting ready pictures. I can arrive and take some photographs of him putting on his jacket, fastening his watch, putting on a tie and shoes, etc.
First Look (5-45 minutes)
Ideal location: Secluded from people and passerby, preferably lightly shaded but well lit, outside or inside.
Time of the day: Right before the ceremony
What is the first look? It is when the bride and groom step away from everyone else, the bride reveals herself to the groom, and both have a very unique and personal moment to share with each other. It is an intimate and personal experience that lets the couple relax and slow down for a moment. Wedding day can be very stressful and fast-paced, but the first look gives the couple an opportunity to unwind and have the only one on one moment together during the day.
It is also the time that the photographer documents without interruption. It is often followed by the bride and groom session.
Why have a first look? Weddings can be stressful and although the day is about the couple getting married they don't get any time to themselves throughout the whole day. The first look gives them that opportunity, it often helps the couple get rid of the nerves and relax before the next step. Additionally, it provides them with beautiful and unique photography.
**After the first look, we usually do a bride and groom portrait session, as it will just naturally follow the First Look.
**If you don't want to have a first look please make sure your ceremony is scheduled early enough to still have natural light for portraits after it.
Ceremony (15-60 minutes)
Please allow me to photograph your ceremony area without vendors or guests around to ensure I get all the little and big details without any interruption. The same thing applies to the venue location. Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity I have to capture the beauty of the reception room prior to guest arrival.
Tips:
CHURCH CEREMONIES: Before you book your church, please be sure to ask whether photography is allowed and if there are any restrictions. We are happy to work with anything, but it’s important for your own peace of mind to have realistic expectations in advance.
OUTDOOR CEREMONIES: Generally, the best time for an outdoor ceremony is 1-2 hours before sunset. The later time ensures the sunlight falls more evenly on you (no harsh shadows) and is consistent for both the bride and groom (so you don’t have one person in the light, and the other in shadow).
-THIS IS IMPORTANT! Remind your Bridal party to smile during the processional, they are being photographed!
-When you and your bridesmaids walk down the aisle, keep the bouquet around your belly button. I know it can be nerve-wracking to have all eyes on you, but don’t block your pretty faces with your bouquet
-GROOM: Hold the bride with both hands during the first kiss so that the hand facing the guests doesn't awkwardly dangle ;)
Family Formals (15-60 minutes depending on family size)
Ideal location: Somewhere outside in shaded natural light or inside in a well-lit big room.
An ideal time of the day: Right after the First Look/before the ceremony | Right after the ceremony
Tips:
-If you have a big family and plan on making a variety of group big and small combinations, consider splitting your family formals into two. Immediate family formals should be taken right after the ceremony whereas the big family formal portraits could be taken after the ceremony/at the reception.
-If you are doing family photos at the altar of the church know that it will take longer because of the necessity of flash photography and that there is often discoloration of skin tones that we can not control.
***For organizing your thoughts ahead of time and making sure all those important to you end up in a family portrait, a shot list is NECESSARY.
The following shot-list includes everyone in the immediate family and streamlines the portrait process. Make this list your own.
• Bride with mom
• Bride with dad
• Bride with mom and dad
• Bride with siblings
• Bride and groom and her parents
• Bride and groom with her mother, father, sisters, and brothers
• Bride and groom with her mother, father, sisters, brothers, and Grandparents
• Bride and groom with her grandparents
• Bride and groom and The bride’s immediate family: mother, father, brothers, sisters, spouses, and children
This same list of shots would be applicable for the groom’s side as well.
Bride’s and Groom’s Party Portraits (30-60 minutes)
Ideal location: Outside in soft natural light or inside in the biggest, brightest, and most spacious room.
An ideal time of the day: Right after the getting ready | Right after the First Look/before the ceremony | Right after the ceremony
Tips:
We focus on classic portraits in a variety of poses and beautiful candids during this time. Below is a list of the traditional portraits we typically take. If you want additional photographs please specify them in the photography list questionnaire.
• Bride with each bridesmaid ( individuals )
• Bride with all bridesmaids
• Groom with each Groomsman ( individuals )
• Groom with all Groomsmen
• Bride & Groom with Full Bridal Party if the photographs are taken after the First Look
**If your wedding occurs on a late fall or winter day let your party know to wear some low-profile thermal undergarments if you want your portraits taken outside!
**In case of rain or snow I have 10 cute and stylish see-through umbrellas in my car to ensure we can take photographs outdoors! They can easily fit two people underneath, so we can photograph up to 20 people at a time.
**Let your party know to bring some stylish and comfortable shoes if you want your group portraits taken outside on the uneven pavement.
Bride and Groom Portraits (30-90 minutes)
Ideal Time of the Day: Right after the First Look, after the ceremony, or late afternoon (Sunset/Golden Hour). We have a lot of flexibility with these portraits as they can be taken anytime during the day, whenever you are comfortable and ready.
Tips:
**If your wedding occurs on a cold day consider wearing some low-profile thermal undergarments if you want your photographs taken outside. ;)
-Have one of your bridesmaids help assist me during your bridal portraits.
-If your photographs will be taken outside on uneven pavement make sure to bring some comfortable and stylish shoes that you are not worried about getting dirty!
Reception (60 minutes- the end of the night)
Tips:
**Some people are camera shy and will purposefully hide from me or simply arrive late or leave early during your wedding day. This makes it nearly impossible to take a candid shot of every single person who attended your wedding. If you would like to ensure you will have a photograph of every single person who attended your wedding consider taking table formals during your reception.
If you’re planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3-5 minutes per table. For example, 20 tables would require 60-100 minutes of time. Please plan your day accordingly and let important people know ahead of time that you will be spending a significant amount of time doing these shots so we won't get interrupted.
**Make sure your DJ/MC will NOT use any distracting colorful lights and lasers during your first dances. Bright colorful lights discolor the skin and make the pictures look very inconsistent. It is something I cannot control.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or would like my help organizing your wedding timeline as it relates to photography, please reach out to me and we will set a time to go over it!
