Top Ten Wedding Photography Tips for a Perfect Wedding Day!
Your wedding day is one of the most significant events in your life, and capturing every moment beautifully is essential. With so many details to consider, ensuring your wedding photos turn out perfectly might seem overwhelming. As a professional wedding photographer, I’ve compiled my top ten tips to help you get the best results and preserve those cherished memories forever.
1. Choose the Right Photographer!
Selecting the right photographer is crucial. Look for someone whose style matches your vision. Spend time reviewing portfolios and meeting potential photographers to ensure you feel comfortable with them. Your photographer should not only have the technical skills but also a personality that makes you feel at ease. Lets face it, its awkward taking photos! By your wedding, you should feel as if your photographer is also a friend. When you are comfortable with your photographer, it shows in the photos!
Don't be afraid to meet with your photographer multiple times before the wedding, I always meet at LEAST 3 times with my clients prior to the wedding and recommend you go with a photographer who does the same!
2. Schedule an Engagement Session
An engagement session is an excellent way to get comfortable in front of the camera and with your photographer. It allows you to get a feel for being photographed with your partner and see how your photographer works. Plus, you’ll get some lovely photos to use for your wedding website or save-the-dates. Also, many times, photographers will discount their engagement sessions when combined with a wedding package!
3. Provide Inspiration
If you have photography trends that you like or inspiration for your day, share them with your photographer! This ensures that all the important moments and shots are captured. Also, include specific group shots, candid moments, and any special details you want to remember. When booking with me, I include a comprehensive questionnaire that we go through prior to the wedding, this ensures that we have time set aside to focus on what is most important to capture on the wedding day!
4. Consider Lighting
Lighting plays a significant role in photography. Natural light, especially during the golden hour (the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset), is ideal. Plan your timeline to take advantage of the best light, especially for outdoor shots. Discuss with your photographer the best times and locations for your photos to ensure the best lighting! I am always happy to help with timeline finalization and offer input on where and when the photos could be taken for best light!
5. Get Ready in a Well-Lit Space
Some of the best parts of the day are the getting ready photos! Therefore, ensure your getting-ready room has plenty of natural light. This helps your photographer capture beautiful candid moments of the bridal party getting ready for the big day! P.S. Consider adding personal touches like matching robes or personalized hangers for your dresses to really make the getting ready photos personalized and all your own!
6. First Look Photos
Consider having a first look session. This private moment between you and your partner allows for intimate and emotional photos before the ceremony. It helps to ease any pre-wedding jitters and gives you a quiet moment together amidst the hustle and bustle of the day. Additionally, it sets apart an extra time to take photos of you and your partner, something that can be slightly more difficult post ceremony when family/group photos become a focus. BUT FEAR NOT! First look or not, you will have PLENTY of intimate photos of you and your partner on your big day. We can always find extra time!
7. Plan Enough Time for Photos
Allocate sufficient time in your schedule for different photo sessions: getting ready, first look, family portraits, and couple portraits. Rushed photos can lead to stress and missed moments. Work with your photographer to create a timeline that allows for relaxed, unhurried photography.. Your photographer should ALWAYS have at least one meeting to run through the timeline and make sure you are both on the same page!
8. Keep Your Details Together
Flatlay shots are an awesome way to personalize your wedding day photos! Gather all your wedding details (rings, shoes, invitations) in one place. This makes it easier for your photographer to capture these important items without having to search for them. These detail shots add depth to your wedding album and help tell the complete story of your day. Plus, all the hard work you put in to designing and making the wedding day your own should be celebrated!
9. Hire a Second Shooter
Talk to your photographer about hiring a second shooter. Most of the time, you wont need one. But if your timeline is a bit more rushed or your venue/getting ready spaces are split apart. a second shooter could be a great resource to have to ensure all the important moments from the day are captured! Here's an example of a photo you might miss out on without a second shooter. Of COURSE, you want a photo of the bride walking down the aisle, but sometimes, its great to also have a photo of the groom seeing the bride walk down the aisle. While this would normally be impossible for single photographer, a second shooter makes different angles a possibility!
10. Relax and Be Yourself!
Your photos will look best if you’re relaxed and natural. Have fun, and enjoy the feeling of being a celebrity for a day! (Paparazzi and all). Authentic emotions and candid moments make for the most beautiful and meaningful photos.
With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to capturing beautiful memories of your special day. Remember, the key is to book a photographer that communicates with you! You should know your photographer, their timeline and their style by the wedding day and they should be excited to share that info with you! I am incredibly lucky to do this for a living, talking about photography is one of my biggest passions so make sure you have a photographer you can call, email or text anytime you have a question! Your wedding day is a celebration of your love, and your photos should reflect that joy and connection.
