How to get the best from your wedding photography
How To Get The Best From Your Wedding Photography
Heaps Of Tips For Preparing For Your Wedding Day Photography
I imagine you are deep in the midst of wedding planning at the moment. Don't get too worked up about it. Decide what is most important and roll with it. The most beautiful photos come from the day being filled with your loved ones, who are excited, emotional and full of laughter. Not the "perfect" day! It’s all about living in the moment.
Here are my top planning tips for getting the most out of your photography. These are not set in stone, they are just a few gems I have learnt throughout the years that help everything run smoothly.
Bridal Preparations
Bridal preparations are not something to worry about. They make a fab addition to your albums and galleries, helping to complete the story of your day.
I will arrive nice and early, but please don't panic! You don't have to have all of your hair and makeup done before I get there.
Lighting
As with most of the day, lighting is one of the most important factors for beautiful photos. Try and ensure you are getting ready in a nice bright space with lots of natural window light.
Top Bridal Prep Tips
Get lots of rest in the days leading up to your wedding.
Drink LOTS of water: not only will this make your skin and hair beautiful, but you will also feel more energised.
Keep the room nice and tidy: clutter-free.
If you would like little details photographed, please have them out ready for me.
Little People At Weddings
Flower girls and Page boys can get rather too excited and can then, in turn, get very grumpy. Whilst I would love to take lots of lovely, dreamy images of the little people in your life, please be aware that sometimes they just don't want to play ball. The best thing to do is, leave them be when they are in this mood. Forcing them to stand for photos or in group shots can be rather stressful.... You don't need the stress!
I will always do my best to get some smiley pics of them when they don't even know I am there.
Getting Into Your Dream Dress
Eeeeeeek..... It’s putting on the dress time!
Try to ensure you have allowed enough time for putting the dress on. You don't want to be stressing about time and throwing it on as quickly as you can.
Decide who you would like to help you with your dress. Let them know that this is one of their jobs... They will feel very privileged you asked... I promise!
Choose a nice bright room filled with lots of natural light.
The Big Dress Reveal
If you would like images of your bridesmaid's and/or father’s reactions to your big dress reveal. Then please do remember a couple of things...... light and timing! I will let you know where and when would be best.
Then you can get on with sipping champagne!
Bridal Portraits
It is always a great idea to allow time for a few bridal photos before you leave for the ceremony. This will be a nice quiet time to prepare yourself.
Groom Preparations
Groom preparations follow the same guidelines as Bridal Prep. The most important things are:-
Light
Keeping the room as clutter-free as possible
Relax
Second Photographers
Second Photographers add the groom's preparations to your albums/gallery. They also provide more images of your guests arriving for the ceremony, during the reception drinks, speeches, and PARTY! Which completes the full story of your wedding day.
You can add a second photographer to your package for £350. The earlier you decide this the better. I have a lovely long list of high-quality photographers that I love to work with.
The Ceremony
Before your wedding day,
it is always an idea to check with the Church/Registrar if photography is permitted.
Take It Nice And Slow
Walk nice and slowly up and down the aisle.
First Kiss
Take it nice and slow and even go for a second!
Extra Tip:- If you get a choice of where to stand for your ceremony. In front of a window is always FAR better than light behind you.
Confetti Top Tips
Always check you are allowed confetti at your venue and whereabouts you can use it.
Supplying confetti is a great way of ensuring there is enough and that it matches with your colour scheme. You can NEVER have too much confetti!
Biodegradable is always best. Not just for the environment but also because petals fall far too quickly.
If you intend on having a confetti tunnel: walk slowly, enjoy your guests excitement.
Group Photographs
When it comes to group photos, It is ALWAYS best to send a list of the ones that you would like. I would recommend no more than 12. We need to allow for 5 minutes per small group shot and 10 mins for a large group. This is partly due to people avoiding them, nipping to the toilet or to the bar! It doesn't take a mathematician to work out that this would be 1 whole hour of your day. Believe me.... you will be sick and tired of standing in the middle and smiling constantly. You will be itching to move, grab a glass of champagne and join in with all of the fun of your reception drinks.
Obviously, there are a couple of ways to speed these up but it is always best to allow too much time than too little. If we are finished nice and early then that is a bonus! You'll get more time to sip champagne with family and friends which in turn means you will have more documentary style images of your guests enjoying themselves.
My style of group shots is very relaxed. I keep the posing to an absolute minimum. Which helps to save time but also prevents anyone from feeling too awkward.
Location is dependant on the light (Yeap, its that word again!). Whilst you may see the perfect location for these, sometimes (depending on the weather and time) these can be lit so harshly. When an area is too bright it creates harsh shadows across faces or worse, squinting. Which is not nice to look at and really isn't very flattering for anyone! I will advise you of where I believe would be ideal but if you are adamant you want them somewhere.... then I will roll with whatever you choose. It is your day after all.
Photo Helpers - This is a very important job for a few of your trusted friends or family. These people will be given your photo list, by me. It is ideal to have a couple of friends or family form both sides. This way, they will know everyone they are gathering. Their job is to round the guests up and have them ready for their allotted photo. Hopefully, if they are dedicated to their job this will help the groups move quickly and efficiently.
Couples Session
It’s not scary…..I promise!
These sessions are not something to worry about. If you have your pre-wedding session booked in, this will help you to understand the couple's session. It’s not about standing there and staring into the camera, it’s about your interaction and what makes you laugh. I want to capture YOU. Your love for each other, your personalities not a couple stood staring at the camera with the biggest fake smiles ever.
It is best to allow around 20 mins for these photos. Sometime between-group photographs and your meal. Think of it as time away from the mayhem. Time for just you two (and me)!
Couple Session Top Tips
Your bouquet doesn't need to be in every photo.
Have someone on hand to take it for you when we are finished with it.
Minimal Posing
I will direct you with a few tips but in general just be yourselves.
Relax…
It REALLY isn't as scary as it sounds... I promise!
Extra Photos
Sometimes, weather dependant, I may ask to grab you for a few extra pics, maybe between courses or the evening reception. This is normally when the light is beautiful, there is a gorgeous sunset or I have set up a dramatic night time shot for you. These are purely optional. I will have everything set up for you to dash out. Which means these sessions only tend to be 5 or 10 minutes. But if you have seriously had enough, just say.
If you are planning on having sparklers or fireworks please do let me know. I am not allowed to arrange these for you. The venue normally takes full responsibility for setting these up. I am just there to capture it as and when it happens.
Cake
Wherever possible try to avoid this being placed in a dull boring corner next to a fire extinguisher.
First Dance
Top Tips
Try to make the first dance the last organised part of your day. I have been to many weddings where the couple have had their first dance and then everyone joins them on the dance floor with such enthusiasm. All of a sudden everyone is then ushered outside for sparklers or fireworks and then they never really return to the dance floor with the same energy.
Move - Shuffle by all means but shuffle in a circle so that at least everyone can see you.
Don't Hide - This is so tempting, believe me. Being the centre of attention is not my thing either but if you are too close and hiding in each other it creates a bundle of love but no faces.
Feeling brave? Spin your bride or even dip her a few times.
