I absolutely adore my job. I can’t think of anything better than helping wonderful couples to relive the most special day of their lives by giving them a stunning wedding album that captures all of their treasured memories forever. But being a wedding photographer is no walk in the park (although walks in parks are sometimes involved). Here are a few points to consider in your wedding planning to help your photographer out and also ensure that you get the most beautiful photographs. Win win!
Preparation Location
Your prep space is absolutely key. Most people don’t consider their prep space carefully enough and this can have a big impact on your photos. First of all, make sure that the space is big enough to accommodate you and your wedding party, is clean and tidy, and has plenty of natural light. Not only does this mean that your photos will be uncluttered, crisp and radiant, but your hair and makeup artists will also thank you!
Secondly, try to keep your prep space free of distractions. As the congratulations messages come pouring in, it’s easy to get lost in your phone. If you have a wedding party that is prone to a little bit of drama, this can also lead you to become sidetracked and this will really show in your photos. Be highly selective about what and who you surround yourself with on the morning to ensure that your photos show you looking ecstatic about your wedding day rather than stressed by extraneous factors.
Fantasy flat lays
If my friends and family ever catch me daydreaming, they can bet it will be about flat lays. I love them. A flat lay is when a selection of objects are arranged on a surface and then captured from a bird’s eye view. This is an absolutely stunning way to present special items related to your wedding. It doesn’t have to be a textbook flat lay either, it can just be a collection of objects that are arranged in a visually pleasing way. For example, a bridal flat lay or detail shot could include perfume, a save the date card, her engagement ring, shoes and a veil. Meanwhile, a groom’s shot might show his watch, aftershave, tie, pocket square and wedding ring. This is a perfect opportunity to capture those little details that might get lost in your couple portraits.
I always ask my clients to leave these items out ready for me so that I don’t disturb them during their essential morning-of prep. I come prepped with a kit to help me present them in the best way (trust me, I can match this to any theme!) and this is how I will spend the first 20-30 minutes of the morning while you’re popping the champagne and getting your glam on.
Your big moment
Ah, the ceremony! This is what it’s all about. You’re going to stand up in front of your nearest and dearest and declare your love to each other before making a lifelong commitment. Nothing could be more special, and this moment deserves to be captured in a series of breathtaking photographs. There are a number of ways that you can help your photographer out here to guarantee those swoon worthy shots. First of all, try to keep your decor simple and understated. This helps to limit distractions and also gives the clearest view for your photographer and guests. Next, check with your venue to see if there are any areas where photographers will not be allowed, especially in religious venues. It’s really helpful if I know this straight away to avoid wasted time on the day. I also recommend an unplugged ceremony to all of my couples. This means that guests are respectfully asked to put phones away and be in the moment. Not only does this encourage everyone to be present, but it also prevents guests from getting in the way of your photographer in order to capture their perfect shot. Finally, enjoy the moment, don’t forget to smile, hold your bouquet low (hips, not nips!) and pause during your first kiss to make sure your photographer gets that moneymaker frame.
love birds
You’re married - eek! How exciting! Once you’ve had a chance to do a bit of mingling with your guests and soak up all the happy vibes, your photographer will find the perfect opportunity to whisk you away for a few minutes to capture your couple portraits. These are probably the most important photos of your whole gallery. They’re the ones that you’ll want to display at home, and keep looking at again and again.
We can work together to plan in a few mini sessions throughout your day to make sure that we capture your ‘just married’ glow, some golden hour shots and even some fun nighttime shots, so it’s important to make space for these in your timeline. My best advice for your portraits is to just be yourselves. You don’t want to look stiff, awkward or cringey (see my upcoming blog on how to avoid this!) and these photographs should be a true reflection of you as a couple, celebrating your marriage. Don’t be afraid to be silly and have fun with it!
A Family Affair
Now that we’ve got your couple portraits locked in, you probably want some pictures with the rest of the fam or other special guests, right? I suggest planning this shortly after your ceremony before people have had a chance to wander off too much. It’s essential that you provide your photographer with a list of groups and names (keep it to about 8-10 groups, you’ll thank me later) and a helpful wedding party member so that we can keep a smooth running order. Be selective about your groups and make sure that these are selected by you and not influenced too much by others. It’s your day - you call the shots, literally! I would also highly recommend planning in another wedding party session a bit later on once everyone’s had a couple of drinks so we can capture some great candid shots of everybody having fun and enjoying that happy buzz.
And that’s it! Honestly, if I turn up on your wedding day and find that you’ve considered all of the above, I might throw myself at your feet in gratitude (and get some fab shots of your wedding footwear while I’m down there). By keeping these five tips in mind, you free up more of your photographer’s time to be able to capture those moments that you never want to forget. By just taking that little bit of extra thought and trying to view things from a photographer’s perspective, you can guarantee a wedding gallery that you’ll never want to put down. It’s all in the planning!
Danielle x
