7 Tips To Getting The Wedding Pictures of Your Dreams

Chances are you’ve attended a wedding or two in your life, and you might have even had the honor of being in a wedding or two. If you attended a wedding as a guest you would know that the photographer(s) are always nearby, or at least they should be, getting photos of guests and details, and whatever else is going on during the day. If you’ve been in a wedding then you know first hand how crucial these photos are to the couple and how getting some of these photos is a carefully planned and orchestrated event. But how can you ensure your photographer is getting the very best photos of your day? The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to trust your photographer. He/she has done this countless times before and has witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to weddings. They have seen it all, so rest assured that they are operating with your best interest in mind. Let your wedding photographer direct you through your day. In this blog I’ll give you 7 tips to have in your arsenal to prepare you for the very best wedding pictures.

#1. Make Sure Your Venue Matches the Aesthetic of the Wedding Photos You Desire

Before booking your photographer you should have your venue reserved but before you reserve your venue you need to ask yourself… “Does this venue fit the aesthetic I am looking to have in my wedding photos?” The venue you choose plays a HUGE role in how your final wedding gallery will turn out. 10 Questions To Ask During Your Wedding Venue Tour. If you are going for a more dark and moody aesthetic then you wouldn’t want to choose a venue that is bright with white walls and clean lines. Similarly, if you’re going for the opposite, light and airy or bright with lots of natural light, then you wouldn’t want to pick a venue that is dark with low lighting and tunes of brick or dark color walls that absorb light. Sure, as photographers, we can work some magic but when you select the venue that matches your mood for your wedding day the photos will always turn out better.

#2. Select A Photographer That Matches The Style of Pictures You Want

This one seems like a no brainer but sometimes is done so with little thought. Just like with choosing the venue that matches your aesthetic, you should also choose a photographer whose work matches your aesthetic. Back to the dark and moody example. If you love the work of a photographer who shoots true to color and loves keeping their whites white and their blacks black (like me, I’m this photographer) then this would not be the photographer you would want to shoot your wedding. Most photographers have a defined editing style they have perfected and became known for over their years of shooting. Although you may love this person’s work and want to work with them they are probably not the photographer for you. The same goes for if you’re looking for a light and airy photographer you definitely want to stay clear of someone who mostly shoots dark and moody. However, if you must have this particular photographer be very transparent with them and let them know exactly the style you are looking for. If they agree that they can edit your photos in that style then you’re good to go.

#3. Map Out The Wedding Day Logistics

This is often done with your wedding planner or day of coordinator. Months before the big day you should have a rough idea of where people should be and what they should be doing the day of the wedding. This is a pretty big deal for wedding photos. Your photographer should create a Wedding Day Timeline that helps guide the day, but you should also have a day of timeline for the entire day. The timeline and how it is crafted plays a HUGE role in your wedding photography. The number 1 reason couples aren’t happy with their wedding gallery is due to the wedding day logistics. Rather you’re transporting the wedding party in a limousine or if you’re walking through downtown Columbus, Ohio, the time should be mapped out and everyone should know how long it’ll take you to get from point A to point B and back. Key pointers for constructing your timeline: First if you think a task will only take you 30 minutes to complete, plan for 45 minutes. Second: If you are moving locations throughout the day (Example: Getting ready at a hotel then traveling to a photo location and then the venue or church and then the reception) you should buffer enough time during the day for travel. Don’t just calculate the travel time from one location to the next, include the time it takes to move a group of people from the hotel room to the transportation. If you don’t have experience moving people you are unaware that the more people you have to move the more time it takes to move those people from Point A to Point B. How does this affect your pictures? Poor logistical planning cuts into the time that we have to take photos. Often times when the timeline falls too far behind the time that is used to make up for poor logistics comes from the time you have with the photographer.

#4. Have All Your Wedding Day Details Organized in a Specific Location

For those of you who want all the detail pictures, having them neatly organized in a box or bag the morning of your wedding will save you a lot of time and stress later in the day. It also makes it very convenient for the photographer to come in and grab your details for photographs upon their arrival. Again, think about your timeline. Usually the first thing we do when we arrive at your getting ready location is ask for your details and the dress to take pictures. I typically give this task to your maid/matron of honor and bestman. A bonus tip is to get a pretty hanger to hang your dress on. The regular plastic or wire hangers just aren’t the vibe for that beautiful wedding dress. Don’t worry if you forgot this detail or if you’re reading this the night before your wedding, I always have a nice wooden hanger available.

#5. Make a Shot-List

This is pretty standard for all wedding photographers. A wedding pictures shot-list will save you so much stress. I create a shot-list for every wedding, no matter how big or small. I have a standard shot list that I provide to every couple that has the most common used combinations on it. I encourage everyone to review the shot list and add or take away any combinations they see fit. Try to keep the family shot list to your immediate family only. This means, parents, siblings, and grandparents. Other family shots can be taken during the reception. I also include a standard shot list for the wedding party pictures. I like to have fun with the wedding party photos but we will always do the standard bridal party pictures first, just in case we are running short on time. I encourage you to create a pinterest board with a few poses that are creative things you would like to include in your wedding party or couples photos.

#6. Pay attention to the small details

Details, details, details, and details. Pay attention to those small details that you think people will overlook or not appreciate. They really do make a huge difference in your wedding gallery. Something as simple as making place card names for guests on a good card stock with a design you can easily make on Canva. Little personal touches like these are easy ways to elevate your reception aesthetic and your wedding gallery. Small details also include making sure your getting ready space stays tidy, or at least a small area where we can take pictures with all the mess out the way. I get it, a room full of people can easily get messy but it is very important that you reserve an area that is clutter free for those dreamy getting dressed photos. There is nothing worse than having clutter in the background of your photo that causes a distraction.

#7. Advise guests to unplug during your wedding.

Oh I know you’ve seen the photos floating around social media or posts telling you not to be that person. You know the ones during the first kiss or the processional where everyone is in the aisle with their phones while the photographer is trying to capture the moment. Little piece of information, photographers rarely edit the phones out. It is an editing nightmare that we rather not deal with. The simplest thing to do is request that guests leave the ceremony photography to the professionals. They will have plenty of time and opportunities to snap some phone pics throughout the day. An unplugged ceremony is so nice. It forces the attendees to be in the moment and view the wedding through their eyes and not through a screen. Honestly, what do they really do with these photos and videos anyway?

Closing remarks:

You can do whatever you feel is best for your wedding day. You don’t have to follow any of these suggestions but if you decide to, I promise you will not regret it and it’ll assist with getting all the photos you dream of having in your wedding gallery.