WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
I have put together a few tips below which I have found over the years have greatly assisted in achieving wedding photos that are truly breathtaking and timeless.
GETTING READY LOCATION
Think carefully about where you will both be getting ready. Often some of the best shots of the day are taken at this time, and a gorgeous background helps take them to the next level. Choose a location that suits your style; whether it’s your home, a friend’s place, a hotel room or a cottage in the country, make sure you love the way it looks. If there are any pieces of furniture, art or decorations that you don't like, hide them away in a spare room on the big day. No matter what type of location you choose a tidy area plays a huge part in beautiful preparation photos.
The little details
Plastic or flimsy mix matched coat hangers can often distract and take away from the beauty and elegance of the picture. One suggestion is using a wooden (wood or white coloured) or personalised hangers to beautifully present your dresses and/or suits on. This small touch is something that many people overlook, but can make a big difference to the final detail photos.
TOO MANY CAMERAS?
Have an ‘Unplugged Ceremony‘; ask your guests not to take photos throughout the ceremony. I can’t tell you how many shots of a bride coming down the aisle have been ruined by dozens of guests holding the iPhones (or even worse iPads!) blocking the view. More importantly, many couples find to their dismay that they stand at the alter looking onto a sea of iPhone backs and cameras. Kindly ask your guests to be fully present, especially during the ceremony. That’s why you have me! I’ll be there to capture everything anyway, including all the big smiles and emotions from your loved ones.
LOCATIONS AND Travel TIme
It is important to consider how far apart your venues are (eg. preparation, ceremony, reception) in order to ensure that you maximise your time on your special day. You don’t want too much of your time taken up by driving from place to place. Less travel time equates to more time with your loved ones and also for great photo opportunities. If we go off site for your bridal party photos, I usually try to location scout the week of your wedding to help kick start some creative ideas and become familiar with the environment.
FAMILY GROUP PORTRAITS
Directly after the ceremony guests will want to congratulate and hug you as husband and wife, so allow time for this special moment. The family group photos usually takes place 10-15 minutes after the ceremony (parents, siblings, closest friends). To help ensure the process is seamless and allows for you both to get back to your guests, I recommend that you allocate someone from each side of the family to help rally the troops. Someone who is assertive and knows the guests is key. Keep in mind that 30 minutes of group photos will give you about 15-20 combinations.
Creative PORTRAITS
Try not to underestimate how much time is needed for a good portrait session. Nobody wants their guests to wait around for too long, but if you’re really after creative and innovative shots capturing you both at your best, you’ll need at least 60 to 90 minutes – more if there are multiple destinations - for your bridal portraits (this is on top of family portrait time). If you are worried about leaving people to wait while this happens, perhaps consider the ‘first look’ option – a photo shoot for just the bridal party before the ceremony.
reception MOOD LIGHTING
Love the low-lit, romantic look? Getting gorgeous, moody lighting for your reception that looks amazing in photos relies on one factor: lots and lots of warm toned light sources at different heights. Think Chinese lanterns of all different sizes, plus tea lights on tables, plus fairy lights, plus more lamp light around the sides of the room/space. The more angles your celebration is lit from, the more dynamic it will look.
GOLDEN HOUR
The most flattering natural light occurs when the sun is at a low angle, so the absolute best time to have your portraits taken outside is in the golden hour, the last hour before sunset or at least aim for the last few hours of the afternoon. At sunset, I encourage couples to sneak out for a 10-15 minutes of down time to capture you and your loved one in the golden light.
EMBRACE NATURE
Everyone hopes for sunshine for their wedding day, but things don’t always go to plan. So if there’s a chance of showers, have some umbrellas on standby. White or transparent umbrellas look the best in photographs. An overcast or wet day can actually make a stunning setting for your portraits. Embrace nature and enjoy every moment of your special day.
RELAX AND ENJOY the day!
Most importantly, your day will go by so fast so remember to plan enough time to simply enjoy yourselves and feel the love. That’s what it’s all about anyway. In regards to photos, the more relaxed you are the more this will come through in your photos. Trust me to tell your story through my lens.
The love you have for one another, surrounded by all your love ones will radiate and translate into beautiful images that you will treasure for a life time.