Over the years, I’ve been asked by friends, brides and family members questions about how to get the best images from a professional photographer. So I thought that it might be time to commit some of this to paper and share it. Some of the areas I’ll cover include weddings, headshot/portraits, family portraits, and landscapes. If you have an area you’d like me to cover, let me know.
Here’s the first one:
5 Tips for Better Wedding Photography
The great thing about your wedding day is that it’s YOUR DAY. I have a few suggestions to make it a little less stressful from my personal experience. These are the things that have worked well for brides:
1. GET COMFORTABLE: Get to know your professional photographer. After you’ve made the decision and hired your photographer, get to know them. Outside of your bridal party, the only other vendor you will be spending the most time with is your photographer. If an engagement session is offered, take them up on it. Sure, you or your fiancé may be camera shy, but this is the best time to work out the kinks, before THE BIG DAY. Your photographer wants you to feel relaxed and beautiful so that it shines through in the images. The engagement session is also less stressful than the wedding day and you’ll have more time to get great images.
2. DELEGATE DISTRACTION: This is your day. The best thing you can do for yourself and your fiancé is to get the event arrangements of the day OFF YOUR PLATE. Best case – hire a coordinator, one who has experience with weddings. Next best thing, get a trustworthy, reliable friend to handle the arrangements. Preferable someone not in the bridal party. Then, let them handle it. The less stressed you are, the more beautiful you will be. Pictures of the bride on the phone all day are not so pretty.
3. SET ASIDE TIME: Most of those gorgeous images that you’ve seen were done either before the Ceremony or just after. Talk to your photographer about the type of images you want and how much time will be required to do them. Then include that time in your wedding day timeline.
4. HIRE PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP & HAIR: These professionals will work to get you looking like you on your wedding day. Pro products won’t make you look like a ghost in the flash pictures. Pro hair and makeup is made to last the entire day.
5. FIRST LOOK: Most couples are taking the First Look option to streamline and preserve their special moment of seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day. This is entirely a personal choice, however there are some benefits to consider:
a. You look your best right after you’ve gotten your dress on: Fresh hair, fresh dress, and fresh face. Your emotion is also very genuine. You want to capture that.
b. You and your fiancé can get most, if not all, of your formal photography done before the wedding, which leaves you free to enjoy your friends and family immediately after the ceremony.
c. Most of the friends and family tend to get antsy and/or are hungry and just want to eat right after the ceremony. This can cause the formal photography session to go long as people are constantly rounded up over and over again.
d. You’ll feel less stress walking down the aisle because most of the official photos are DONE!
e. You still get your private moment – your photographer will make it extra special for you – and you’ll get great photos.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Next up, how to prepare for headshots.
Cheers!