I dont want you to be away from your guests for hours!
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Below are answers to questions you may have. Such as what time is the most flattering to take getting ready photos, what is the best light for our ceremony, how do we organise family photos, and how long do we need for bridal party photos. And other tips to help you achieve the best photos throughout your day without your wedding becoming one long photoshoot! |
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Golden Hour
Golden hour is that magical soft light an hour before sunrise or sunset. It is the most flattering light. If I had to choose, I would rather you cut photo time to spend more time with your guests after the ceremony (when it is often around 2 pm and very bright) and we sneak out for 20 min from the reception to use this light.
While you guests are having desert works well. It is also lovely to have some alone time with your husband away from the hustle and bustle of the day.
The same location above taken 5 hours apart.
While you guests are having desert works well. It is also lovely to have some alone time with your husband away from the hustle and bustle of the day.
The same location above taken 5 hours apart.
Getting ready photos are about those moments between you and those special people you have chosen to be there while you prepare for your day. Photos of hair in curlers or one false eyelash on are not ones you will ever frame!
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Plan for things to take a bit longer than expected build in some "buffer time" I am sure you wouldn't mind having a few spare minutes to relax and have a wine!
Getting Ready
Please ensure all important details, a necklace from your gran, rings, vows, invitations etc are available.
To really capture emotions and tell the story of the day, pop some champagne, read a letter from your husband to be, have a first look with Dad. If you have gifts for your girls please wait till I am there so I can document their reactions.
I want you to feel relaxed and beautiful during your photos, so I have found that lots of photos of the bride and girls with make up and hair half done is not often the most flattering. I would rather start documenting from when your make up is at its final stages.
Having robes or matching outfits adds so much prettiness to the photos.
A clean well lit room with lots of natural light is ideal, your make up artist will also appreciate it. Somewhere with pale neutral colours. Indoor lighting in a dark environment is often very orange and warm and not the easiest for your make up artist to get the colours perfect. This is why they will often place a subject right next to a window.
I usually have the bridesmaids and Mum get dressed first so they can help the bride into her dress.
Please ensure all important details, a necklace from your gran, rings, vows, invitations etc are available.
To really capture emotions and tell the story of the day, pop some champagne, read a letter from your husband to be, have a first look with Dad. If you have gifts for your girls please wait till I am there so I can document their reactions.
I want you to feel relaxed and beautiful during your photos, so I have found that lots of photos of the bride and girls with make up and hair half done is not often the most flattering. I would rather start documenting from when your make up is at its final stages.
Having robes or matching outfits adds so much prettiness to the photos.
A clean well lit room with lots of natural light is ideal, your make up artist will also appreciate it. Somewhere with pale neutral colours. Indoor lighting in a dark environment is often very orange and warm and not the easiest for your make up artist to get the colours perfect. This is why they will often place a subject right next to a window.
I usually have the bridesmaids and Mum get dressed first so they can help the bride into her dress.
Please try to allow 15 minutes before we head to the ceremony, so I can get some portraits of you and your bridesmaids and family. And you can have a few minutes to relax and let it all sink in.
If the groom and the boys are interested in photos to, and near by, I stop in for their final touches.
I don't need long with the boys they are generally ready in about 20 min! I find these are often the best photos of the groom and his friends, figuring out how to do ties and boutineers. When I arrive they can have their dress pants and shirts already on to save time.
I keep this as fun and relaxed as possible.
This is where a second shooter may be required if you are getting ready far apart.
Your Dress
Choosing your dream dress is one of the most exciting decisions of your wedding! You will try it on when you buy it and maybe put it on a few more times before your wedding. On the actual day you will be in that dress for up to 12 hours! You want to feel beautiful and be comfortable.
When you try on your dress make sure you can move you arms to hug guests, walk easily, sit down, not scare Granny that you are going to have a wardrobe malfunction and most importantly have room to eat cake!
A well fitting suit
No doubt time has been spent on choosing your colour palette, wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses etc to get your perfect look.
So often I see the boys in suits that don't fit quite right. This really can ruin the photos having an ill fitting looking suit. You don't have to spend a lot off money its just a case of finding a good fit. This website has some great tips on looking your most dapper!
If the groom and the boys are interested in photos to, and near by, I stop in for their final touches.
I don't need long with the boys they are generally ready in about 20 min! I find these are often the best photos of the groom and his friends, figuring out how to do ties and boutineers. When I arrive they can have their dress pants and shirts already on to save time.
I keep this as fun and relaxed as possible.
This is where a second shooter may be required if you are getting ready far apart.
Your Dress
Choosing your dream dress is one of the most exciting decisions of your wedding! You will try it on when you buy it and maybe put it on a few more times before your wedding. On the actual day you will be in that dress for up to 12 hours! You want to feel beautiful and be comfortable.
When you try on your dress make sure you can move you arms to hug guests, walk easily, sit down, not scare Granny that you are going to have a wardrobe malfunction and most importantly have room to eat cake!
A well fitting suit
No doubt time has been spent on choosing your colour palette, wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses etc to get your perfect look.
So often I see the boys in suits that don't fit quite right. This really can ruin the photos having an ill fitting looking suit. You don't have to spend a lot off money its just a case of finding a good fit. This website has some great tips on looking your most dapper!
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Ceremony
Try and place your self so that neither of you are going to have to squint into the sun. You also don't want a spot where you have one person in bright light and the other in shade.
To make the experience better for your guests and your photos, print out your vows and hold them in your own hands while reading them to your intended.
Often a celebrant may have your vows printed in a large folder, holding them for you to read.
Instead of looking in your partners eyes and saying your carefully thought out words - you are saying them to the celebrant!
It also turns your face away for your guests and myself so we miss out on those emotions as you speak your vows.
The same applies if there is a microphone, try to hold it your self while saying your vows.
If you are thinking of having an asymmetrical hair style just be aware you don't want your face to be hidden from your guests and me.
Having your guests throw petals etc as you work down the isle is one of my favourite photos to take. Everyone looks so joy full and engaged.
Try and place your self so that neither of you are going to have to squint into the sun. You also don't want a spot where you have one person in bright light and the other in shade.
To make the experience better for your guests and your photos, print out your vows and hold them in your own hands while reading them to your intended.
Often a celebrant may have your vows printed in a large folder, holding them for you to read.
Instead of looking in your partners eyes and saying your carefully thought out words - you are saying them to the celebrant!
It also turns your face away for your guests and myself so we miss out on those emotions as you speak your vows.
The same applies if there is a microphone, try to hold it your self while saying your vows.
If you are thinking of having an asymmetrical hair style just be aware you don't want your face to be hidden from your guests and me.
Having your guests throw petals etc as you work down the isle is one of my favourite photos to take. Everyone looks so joy full and engaged.
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Family Photos
Top tip- give a list of photos to your family members prior to the wedding so they know they will be required for photos.
Having a list of must have family photos, means that after the ceremony, we can get those done nice and fast before family escape!! I have found that this is often where things get slowed down.
Give your MC or someone who knows your friends and family a copy of the photo list, and one of their duties is to help me out and find the required people for photos. Having a microphone to use is a must.
This will make the process a lot faster and as well as insuring all the photos you are after get done.
Also try and allow 30 min just to relax hug and greet your guests!
Top tip- give a list of photos to your family members prior to the wedding so they know they will be required for photos.
Having a list of must have family photos, means that after the ceremony, we can get those done nice and fast before family escape!! I have found that this is often where things get slowed down.
Give your MC or someone who knows your friends and family a copy of the photo list, and one of their duties is to help me out and find the required people for photos. Having a microphone to use is a must.
This will make the process a lot faster and as well as insuring all the photos you are after get done.
Also try and allow 30 min just to relax hug and greet your guests!
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Creative photos
Photography is all about light, with beautiful light winning over a beautiful location with terrible light.
Soft backlight makes for flattering and romantic portraits- think of the light as being behind you .
These are some of my favorite photos, I often start with the bride and groom alone for them to have some quiet time together, and I really strive to catch those little gestures and looks that make every relationship special and unique.
Once you have a " basic run time" , ie what time you are having dinner, what time you would like to re join your guests. We can work out how long we spend on our fun creative photos.
I generally recommend we spend about an 1-1.5 hours max on these photos.
This can also depends on if our locations are near by or we need to drive to our chosen photo spots. I recommend trying to avoid long drives.
This amount of time gives us some wiggle room if things run a bit late during family photos or ceremony, and gives us plenty of time to get great photos.
Most importantly, you are also not away for hours from your guests. Because how often do you really get to see most of them.
I will make sure you and bridal party has a fun relaxed day, while getting beautiful, natural shots! I encourage the bridal party to bring some drinks and nibbles with us on location it is a busy day and by this time you may be rather hungry!
Photography is all about light, with beautiful light winning over a beautiful location with terrible light.
Soft backlight makes for flattering and romantic portraits- think of the light as being behind you .
These are some of my favorite photos, I often start with the bride and groom alone for them to have some quiet time together, and I really strive to catch those little gestures and looks that make every relationship special and unique.
Once you have a " basic run time" , ie what time you are having dinner, what time you would like to re join your guests. We can work out how long we spend on our fun creative photos.
I generally recommend we spend about an 1-1.5 hours max on these photos.
This can also depends on if our locations are near by or we need to drive to our chosen photo spots. I recommend trying to avoid long drives.
This amount of time gives us some wiggle room if things run a bit late during family photos or ceremony, and gives us plenty of time to get great photos.
Most importantly, you are also not away for hours from your guests. Because how often do you really get to see most of them.
I will make sure you and bridal party has a fun relaxed day, while getting beautiful, natural shots! I encourage the bridal party to bring some drinks and nibbles with us on location it is a busy day and by this time you may be rather hungry!
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Reception
After the creative photos, I will capture your arrival and entrance into to your reception, speeches and first dance.
The more lighting you have, the better for photos! Candles, chandeliers and fairy lights.
Sneaking out of the reception for 20 min of sunset photos is always beautiful and often makes for the best photos of the day.
After the creative photos, I will capture your arrival and entrance into to your reception, speeches and first dance.
The more lighting you have, the better for photos! Candles, chandeliers and fairy lights.
Sneaking out of the reception for 20 min of sunset photos is always beautiful and often makes for the best photos of the day.
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First look photos
"First Look " Photos are a great way to get the photos done before your ceremony. Its a wonderful moment to share with you partner and a great way to have some time alone to focus on just you two.
Also after the ceremony you can relax and spend more time with your guests.
Often this is very early in the day and can be rather bright and hot, so I will find locations that will still work beautifully at that time of day. Its a great idea to allow 20 min later in the evening to capture a few more couple photos in the softer golden light.
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