Something that I’ve learned through all the weddings that I’ve photographed and filmed is this, “Weddings usually don’t go according to plan.” Typically there’s at least one unforeseen event that can throw off part of your day, if not your entire day. That’s just how weddings are. My job as your wedding photographer or videographer is to try and capture everything that is important to you and document the day as it unfolds, all while capturing all of the very real emotions and feelings occurring throughout the day. I work with your timeline to stay as organized as possible during your day so that 10, 20, 50+ years from now you have amazing images and a gorgeous, cinematic film to look back on and remember your wedding day by. Here are my top 5 tips for getting amazing photos on your wedding day! (This counts for your wedding film too!)

1) Consider a First Look

Having a first look is a great chance to get all of your nerves and tears out before your wedding ceremony! It lets you experience all of those emotions between just the two of you. Plus wedding days go by so fast! It’s the only time during the day that you’ll get to enjoy each others company and spend time together alone before you get swept up in everything happening on your wedding day.

The first time you see each other on your wedding day it instantly becomes real. You’re full of emotion and excitement and when you have a first look you get to hold each other and experience all of that together, alone. If you don’t see each other until your wedding ceremony then all eyes are on you as you experience #alltheemotions and you don’t get a chance to soak it all in. As soon as you make it down the aisle, you go right into your ceremony and it’s at least half an hour before you might get a moment alone together. Our first look was one of my favorite parts of our wedding day, and so many of my brides tell me the exact same thing.

And lastly, immediately after your first look is a great chance to take couples portraits and get most of your other pictures out of the way so that after your ceremony you can join your party that much quicker. Bonus* your guests love it, because they don’t have to wait around for 1-2 hours after your ceremony before the reception begins.

2) Plan Your Day Around Sunset

If you’re not a photographer, then you’ve probably never heard the term golden hour. Golden hour is the time just before sunset and right after sunrise that makes everything better. This light is magical, and it’s what photographers dreams are made of. It’s the light that travels from 8,000,000 miles away just to remind you how luminous you are. Everyone and everything is enchanting during golden hour. No joke! 

This lighting is my absolute favorite to photograph couples in. Its a soft, airy light that I live for, and it never fails to make your photographs turn out breathtaking. It’s also the most flattering type of light because it doesn’t create harsh shadows on faces or bodies. 10/10 photographers would recommend shooting couples portraits during sunset.

3) Let You Photographer Know What’s Important To You!

A great photographer is not there to JUST take pictures, the right photographer for your wedding is there to document your love story and the beginning of your life together. In order to help them best capture this amazing experience, you have to tell them how you really feel!

I normally ask my couples:

– Are there any special heirlooms that have been passed down in your family or any other special wedding details that you want to have photographed? (things like jewelry, a hair pin, shoes, framed photographs, etc.)

– Are there any specific friends or family members that you want some photos with? (I have an entire list to make sure we get all of your important family photos, but it’s always nice to know if there’s any other specific shots you’d love to have!)

– Does your father, mother or bridesmaid’s reaction to seeing you in your dress for the first time mean the world to you?

I love knowing what moments are important to you to have photographed. Even the most experienced wedding photographer can’t read your mind. So if you chose your venue because of one feature that you absolute love and just have to have a photo that showcases that feature, then let us know! I love making my brides photography dreams come true!

4) Book An Engagement Session Early On

Get this out of the way early on!! Not only are your engagement photos great to use for wedding/bridal showers and invitations and many other things, your engagement session is the number 1 way to get you both more comfortable in front of the camera. You also want to be sure that you click with your photographer. Yes, it’s important that they are not only talented, but friendly, respectful, accommodating, and someone that makes you feel comfortable.

You honestly spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than even your spouse! So it really helps if they feel like an old friend. Plus your wedding day has so many moving parts! The extra confidence from your engagement session helps the day run much smoother! The right photographer will be your friend, you cheerleader and an awesome  camera-wielding side-kick that helps pull of your day as smoothly as possible.

5) Hire a Wedding or Day-of-Coordinator

I seriously cannot stress this enough. You should have exactly one responsibility on your big day, to relax and enjoy yourself. It’s your wedding day, not a day for you to be stressing about making sure everyone is where they need to be. Your wedding coordinator is in contact with all vendors before the date and all day during the event. It’s their job to make sure that all of your vendors have the same timeline, are aware of that timeline, and are updated quickly if for some reason plans change. Don’t be upset if  there are some changes to the timeline throughout your day, your coordinator will save the day by communicating effectively!

And there they are, my 5 tips for getting amazing photos on your wedding day

I hope these 5 tips for getting amazing photos on your wedding day give you a piece of mind as you plan your big day. Happy planning!

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