Helping Us Get Great Images!
No doubt you're going to have a lot going on the day of your wedding. Knowing this, and well in advance of your wedding day, we like to give our couples some simple, easy tips that will help us get great photos! Here are some of the common pointers we find ourselves suggesting time and time again to create beautiful, memorable images together:
Detail Shots
We would love to capture many of the gorgeous details that you've spent hours deciding about, creating, and imagining for your days. Shots of your rings, save the date announcements, invitations, bridal jewelry, special gifts, bouquets, or any other objects before the ceremony, we ask that you have them gathered together before hand so that you're not scrambling to get these objects while you're trying to get ready. This can be done slowly during the weeks leading up to the wedding day.
Hair
If you have mid length to long hair and are planning on wearing it down for your ceremony, try to have the front pinned or pulled back so that it is not constantly falling in your face. This will help us get clear shots of your beautiful, exuberant expressions! If, you are deliberately planning to go for a look where hair is draped in your face (which can look quite beautiful), please just let us know in advance so that we have a heads up!
Slow Down and Look Up!
When processing and recessing down the aisle, walk slowly! If you think you are walking slow, walk even slower! In your haste and nervousness on the big day, it's easy to rush past everyone in the audience, which makes it hard for your photographer to grab a great shot of you. Also remember to look up, so that everyone can see your beautiful face! Be confident that the ground is not going anywhere. Remind your wedding party to look up and walk slowly too! They will thank you for it when they see that perfect shot of themselves they were hoping for.
Smile, Smile Smile!
Remind yourself, your spouse, and your wedding party to keep smiling! Obviously we want you to feel relaxed and natural, but nobody wants a photo of the groom looking like a bored wet noodle at the alter. Own It!
Make an entrance, and own your day! When you are entering a room, entering the aisle, or any other time when people are seeing you for the first time (first time in your dress, first time as the couple), remember that they are there to see you! You should take a moment to bask in that moment, and own it. This will also give your photographer a moment to capture these little segues throughout the day.
Let Us See the Rings!
When exchanging rings, we ask both of you to hold the whole ring from underneath so that the top of the ring is visually available to us. This is a beautiful moment we'd love to capture. If you are holding the ring all the way around, it makes it very difficult to get a shot of the ring itself. To help us get a great shot of your ring exchange, put the ring on slowly, while grasping it from the bottom half, and cheat your hands out slightly so the camera (and your guests!) can see the ring.
First Kiss (yes, we even have a few notes on the kiss!)
Okay, we're guessing that maybe you've practiced this a bit! That said, there's still a few little tips to consider. Hold each other low for the first kiss, so that we (and your guests) can see your faces! We've seen some couples hold each other up high (above the shoulders) and completely block their faces. Also keep in mind that you can go slow! It doesn't have to be a quick, short peck. If you're not comfortable with a long slow smooch in front of the audience, remember that you are allowed to kiss more than once! This might be the one shot that you want the most, so making it last a little longer will help us get a few shots of it!
Toasts
While people are toasting you, your photographer will mostly be taking photos of you, in addition to the person giving the toast. We've found that the best photos of the couple are those in which the couple is connected somehow during these toasts; holding hands, holding around each other's waists, etc. It can also be a nice shot if you are both close (geographically speaking) to the person giving the toast. To see all of you in a shot can be quite a nice memory for you to have.
Cake Cutting!
We have no say in what you plan to do with that slice once the cake is cut, but for the sake of the slicing photos, four hands on the knife, and smile! Having fun and enjoying this moment will yield some great images. Some couples will get caught up in "getting it right," whatever that means. There is no "right" here. Have fun with each other and we'll get some great images!
Lighting
We're frequently asked about what is best lighting scenario for good photos. Evenly lit photos look the best, and for this reason, it is nice to have the couple stand in shade, if at all possible, during the ceremony. If you are in direct sunlight, which is how many locations are set up, we're often looking to see if we can have our brides backlit, meaning the sun is directly behind her. Sorry guys, it's more important that "she" be well lit then you. Direct sunlight tends to create harsh shadows on people's faces, let alone making them squint. The time of day also affects the type of light, and mid to late afternoon provides the nicest, glowing light for photographs. Noon-day light creates not-as-flattering photos because the sun is directly overhead. For this reason, you might choose to have your ceremony during the mid to late afternoon (or morning), which will also change, depending on the time of the year. In July, for example, a five or six o'clock ceremony would be lovely. That time in October, however, it will be nearly dark outside and we often find our Fall wedding to be scheduled around 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
