Photographs are a powerful way to experience life’s most precious and fleeting moments - like weddings. Photographs become heirlooms, passed onto the next and the next.
I recently found some photos I took a few years ago of my grandparents, now that they are moving on, those photos are so special and I know will continue to be. (See it at the bottom of the post.)
A wedding day is full of these once in a lifetime moments and they should be captured beautifully and held onto forever. BUT a wedding day should not be dominated by photos.
So here are 5 considerations to help you get the best wedding photos on the day.
Shoot At Sunset
The light is soft and subtle. Romantic.
You’ve had a drink, hugged everyone and enjoyed the day.
Now it’s time to take a few moments just the two of you to enjoy and reflect.
That’s the vibe of our sunset shoots - and it’s amazing.
So, plan your main shoot to happen at sunset time. It may require working around a few things time wise - but we can get better photos, in a shorter amount of time. Give me 30mins, in great light and we can make some magic happen.
A quick google will give you the exact sunset time for your wedding day (eg: Sunset time Feb 22nd 2021). If it is 7.30pm, let’s start shooting at 7/7.15pm.
If we have a good sunset shoot time, we can schedule just 1 hour earlier in the day to shoot in a different location with your bridal party.
Scouting - we always scout out amazing locations before the day. If you are happy, we will take care of the locations. If you have somewhere super special you would like us to check out - we will happily do that to.
Hire People You Really Like
Weddings are about people. And behind the beautiful instagram accounts of all those wedding vendors you are going to hire - are people. So do make sure you meet them and make sure you click, or connect in some way. They will be around on the day and can make the day, or they can stand awkwardly in a corner.
I always love to meet every couple either in person or over a video call - let them know I’m about blending in like one of your guests on the day. Let them know I’ll have a drink or two with them, yarn to their uncle and get in the middle of the dance floor. And if they like that - then it’s a match!
The last thing you want to be thinking on your wedding day is how awkward the DJ, or Photographer, or Florist was. Hire good people you like.
Choose A Getting Ready Spot Carefully
Don’t let your getting ready location be an afterthought.
You will spend a lot of the wedding day there. A lot of your photos will be taken there. And we want to ensure we have the best condition for great photos.
Choose somewhere with character, that fits the style of your wedding. Choose somewhere that’s light and bright, with lots of room for everyone.
AirBnb is the obvious, perfect spot to look for somewhere like this. A plain hotel room or a cluttered house will most like look like exactly that in the photos!
Don’t have too many people get ready with you. It can become chaotic. Your bridal crew and parents should be all you need to help you get ready. Don’t fill the place with everyone.
If possible, having the boys and girls getting ready locations close by is a huge plus for photos. I won’t be spending valuable time driving between locations and I’ll be able to jump back and forward between the two spots.
Allow 1 hour between hair and makeup finishing and the time you want to leave for the ceremony.
Carve Out Some Alone Time
I alluded to this in the first point but carving out some part of the day just for you two together is super important. The whole day does go by like a blur and it can seem surreal until it is all over. Find a moment in the schedule to have some time just the two of you.
This can be at our sunset shot. We’ll put a little music on, go somewhere beautiful and you’ll have the chance to chat, breathe, and just enjoy a second in a day that goes by so fast.
Prioritise What Is Important To You
At the end of the day, this is your day. Simple but it’s true and needs to be remembered. There are a thousand things that the wedding industry tells you that you need. Instagram is full of different ideas and different styles, all pulling you in different directions.
You will need to sit down and prioritise what is important to you and set your budget accordingly. If having a raging party is a non-negotiable, then prioritise a great band and an open bar. If the styling is top on your list, hire a stylist and a great photographer to capture it. Whatever it is, invest in the things that are important to you.
Of course, I think photographers should be high on that list no matter what you are planning - for the reasons I mentioned at the top of this post, and for the reasons displayed below in this photo of my grandparents together that I will hold onto forever.
