(This is the last in a three-part series called “Picture Perfect: Wedding Photographers and You” which I originally presented at the Wedding Showcase in January. Read Part 1, 5 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wants You to Know here; and Part 2, 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Wedding Photographer here.)
There are all kinds of things you can do to get better photos out of your wedding day – these are just 5 easy ones.
1. Make sure to eat.
Don’t let yourself suffer from hanger! One great way to keep a level head on your wedding day is to keep those blood sugar levels stable. You might find yourself in the middle of your portrait session and realizing that you’re starving, so make sure you have some mess-free snacks and water on hand to calm the cravings and your nerves! Granola bars fit easily into tiny clutches and dresses with pockets, or you can just designate someone to hold your snacks! You won’t regret it. Photographers: you won’t regret having your own snacks, either.
2. Communicate with your photographer.
Both in the lead-up to your wedding and during your wedding day, it’s best to keep your photographer in the loop about your plans, especially if you’re changing your mind as the day about your timeline or photos as the day goes on. We’re here to help and we want to make sure that you have the best experience possible, so always speak up if there’s anything you want to try or want to have done differently – remember, we only get one shot at this, so if there’s anything you want to do or don’t want to do – let us know!
One time your photographer really wants your input is considering where to do your portrait session. If you’ve planned the rest of your wedding day, why leave that part up to me? Consider your regular life – what do you like to do? Where do you like to go? Your portrait session should reflect you.
3. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.
You can’t rush baking a cake: it’s either done or it’s not. The same goes with great wedding photography – great, unique, awesome images don’t just happen; they take time to develop. You and your photographer need to warm up and get into a groove before those iconic images can happen. So if your family has gotten ready slower than anticipated and the traffic is bad and suddenly the hour you planned for your photos has been cut down to 15 minutes, your expectations will need to change. Knowing that, why not make it better for everyone and plan lots of extra time in your day – it will keep you and your photographer relaxed and happy, and your wedding photos will reflect that.
(Since you’ve probably never planned a wedding before, your photographer may want to help you build the timeline of the day to make sure enough time is allotted in different places. Talk to them about it!)
4. Consider a First Look.
A “first look” is wedding-industry-speak for when the couple sees each other and does a portrait session before the wedding ceremony.
I absolutely love these and recommend them to all my clients. They follow the natural excitement and flow of a wedding day – from the giddiness after you first get dressed to the nervous excitement right before you see your partner, and then you can have this beautiful, private moment with just the two of you. Then you have the ceremony and typically afterwards your family swarms you so you get the hugging and jumping and hugging of “yay we’re married!” followed by the family portraits – and then do you really want to leave your family at that point? No, you want to party! A first look allows you to get the portraits in without having to abandon your wedding in the middle of the event.
First looks are also a great choice for winter weddings, when the day gets dark faster – you can get all of your portraits (even the family portraits!) in before the ceremony, and then get to rockin’.
5. Consider the light.
Finally, your wedding photographer will love you forever if you consider the daylight when you’re planning your wedding timeline. No one really wants to do an outdoor portrait session at high noon in July, while your flowers wither and the sun beats straight down on your hot, sweaty, melting face. On the flip side, we absolutely DO want to do portraits outside within an hour of sunset – that’s called the “golden hour” and when you get that beautiful, dreamy, yellow light that photographers swoon over and makes the best pictures. If you can sneak away with your wedding photographer for a half hour at sunset, you’ll make their day… and yours!
To summarize, make sure to talk with your photographer about your plans for the day. Building a great timeline will keep you relaxed and in the best light (literally), and having food will keep you from being hungry. You can thank me later.
