The following are some suggestions that will dramatically improve the quality of the portfolio we create together:
1. Getting Ready — an organized space is key
● Think about staging yourself adjacent to windows, preferably a space with taller ceilings and lots of ambient natural light.
● Dark rooms with window light can be beautiful in a moody and romantic way.
● Avoid cluttered areas. A messy room will create a distracting backdrop; sometimes the most convenient rooms are not always the most beautiful. Airbnb’s are great options if you need a larger space. I’d suggest asking venue coordinators for recommendations on nearby rentals, sometimes they have great tips.
● Choosing a getting-ready location that is suitable for family portraits is always a nice way to save time and a good option if the weather is not cooperating for staging portraits outside.
● I understand it doesn’t always work out to get ready in the same location, but if you can plan it out this way, I would highly recommend. Booking one hotel instead of two. Or finding a larger Airbnb. It saves some driving time and lets us photograph the getting ready part of the day at a slower and relaxed pace.
● Avoid water bottles and plastic plates if you are serving lunch. A classy charcuterie board will add to the staging area versus a cardboard box of sub-sandwiches.
● Getting dressed on your wedding day can be a beautiful opportunity for photographs depending upon your comfort level with photographers being in the room/bathroom/etc... Think about it, and let’s communicate your expectations beforehand.
● Hiring a stylist for your wedding day can be very helpful and time-saving. Surprisingly, few men know how to tie bow ties. A stylist can also help with any primping during portraits.
● Men’s stylist and custom suits: Jojayden
● Please gather your wedding day details prior to my arrival. These details include dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, and any other important items you would like photographed. I spend the first 30 minutes or so photographing these while you are getting ready. It’s a huge time saver for me if these pieces are prepared ahead of time in the best lighting situation. If you would like your florist to deliver any extra stems for these photographs, this can be a nice touch.
2. Pre-Ceremony — consider the first look
● A “first look” can be an opportunity for the couple to see each other and have a quiet moment before the ceremony. This might be the only time you have alone during the entire day. If you are interested in spending a little more time on some creative portraits, consider scheduling these photos before your guests arrive.
● If you plan a first look, I highly recommend scheduling family and wedding party portraits before the ceremony as well. The advantage is that it creates time for everyone involved to join in with guests during a cocktail hour: your family and friends will thank you! For any extended family involved that won’t be available earlier in the day, I would recommend scheduling these few combinations immediately after your ceremony.
● I always prefer to capture the important details and all portraits before the sun goes down. If you are having a winter ceremony, the sun will set between 4:30 and 5 PM. If you are not having an earlier ceremony, scheduling a first look is really important if you want portraits taken with natural light. Talk this through with your wedding planner and we can work together in creating the best timeline to work around the lighting.
3. Ceremony
● For outdoor ceremonies, guests are exposed to the elements and on a sunny day, many planners suggest having water available; however, plastic water bottles can end up cluttering your ceremony aesthetic. If you offer these before the ceremony, I have found that they will be everywhere in your photos. Perhaps consider offering water as guests exit. Serving guests a glass of champagne as they arrive is a classy touch.
● Consider a “phone-free” ceremony. You might not be surprised at how many photographs have been ruined by a guest who steps into the aisle to take a photograph, ruining our line-of-sight. A “phone-free” ceremony will also allow your guests to be present. The officiant can offer some words at the beginning of the ceremony, i.e.: “The couple has requested that all guests silence and turn off all phones and refrain from taking any photographs during the ceremony. They have intentionally selected professional photographers who will work to document the day for us.”
● Have your officiant move to the side before your first kiss so they are not awkwardly behind you in the photograph. I have also photographed weddings where the officiant has forgotten to tell the guests to be seated. Guests standing for the entire ceremony makes it difficult to photograph and can block my view entirely.
● Microphone stands are often poorly placed and popping out in strange areas (like the top of someone’s head). Likewise, if you have hired a videographer, tripods can detract from the natural setting if placed wrong. Consider allowing myself or your wedding planner to take artistic oversight over these easy to remedy mistakes.
● Lighting – If your ceremony is outside in the summer, scheduling your ceremony late afternoon is always best for lighting. The sun creates very harsh lighting at midday, causing shadows on faces and squinting expressions.
● Try to position your ceremony backdrop in a location that is not overly backlit, i.e.: a beach wedding with the sun setting directly behind you. It ends up creating a metering challenge in which I have to use flash lighting to compensate for the silhouetting.
● If your ceremony is in a dark room, at night, or by candlelight, adding a spotlight is a great idea and will create a better outcome for photos. While it does change the moodiness that you might be looking for, the alternative is my flash going off and distracting everyone.
4. Reception
● Floral arrangements on tables can beautify a dining space, but they shouldn’t block line-of-sight for taking photographs. Also, consider that floral arrangements can be added to the space behind where you are seated and become more featured in the photographs taken.
● Request your DJ to use only a white spotlight during formal dances, rather than a disco color spectrum. If there are colored spots on your faces, I usually will need to edit these photos in black and white.
● Think about where your DJ/Band will be set up. Their faces will end up in your photographs as well as any equipment clutter (sound boxes etc.)
● Indirect lighting from candles, chandeliers, and spotlights are preferable to harsh overhead lighting. If you are having trouble with the lighting situation, consider hiring a lighting designer. Proper lighting can really create a romantic and moody vibe and make all the difference with photography.
● For speeches, reading off paper always looks better in photographs than using a phone (over time these will look outdated)
If you are planning a smaller wedding, or perhaps a pre-wedding celebration, I highly recommend hiring a private chef. I’ve worked with Green Fork Food and The Sovingard.
Other FAQs
Do we need to sit you with our guests during dinner?
It is important that we mingle and integrate with the reception in a natural way. In this way, guests acclimate to having their photographs taken more quickly. Additionally, if we do not have a line-of-sight from where we are sitting at the wedding party, we risk missing a moment. The best arrangements are those in which we are in the back corner of the reception space or slightly adjacent to the main reception room. Food service is not a photographic moment, as nobody looks their best while masticating wedding fare. It is a moment to rest our feet and replenish our energies as creatives. In order for us to be on the same schedule together, please instruct the coordinator to synchronize our food service with yours.
Do you ask for a wedding day ‘shot list’?
The only list I ask for is the family portrait list. Our detailed approach ensures we capture your full story. If there is something particularly important to you, there is a line on my questionnaire for you to indicate that request. I will do my best to honor those moments/ideas; however, if I am focused on checking off bulleted items, then I will undoubtedly miss the authentic moments from your day. I do recommend bringing to my attention any special people, details, or planned moments.
What are your family portrait recommendations?
If formal family photographs are important to you, then think through how many people need to be coordinated. Please note that I limit family portraits to under 15 combinations. It is a safe bet to plan on two-three minutes per photograph in order to stage everyone. Therefore, 15 portraits will take about 40 minutes if everyone is on-time and orderly. Ultimately, these formal portraits require my clients to maintain a smile, and unless you are a practiced model, this can be tiring. I do ask you to give the list serious consideration. Some couples may experience “photo fatigue” if the list is too plentiful. I have seen many couples become impatient with family members and exhausted during this time. This is why I limit my number to 15 or less.
When communicating portrait times to the family and wedding party, give them 15 minutes prior to portraits to make sure everyone is on time. In addition, I ask clients to consider the location for these portraits in advance, as some family configurations are large and require adequate space. Filtered light is always favorable to harsh direct light. Try to add any grandparents first so they won’t have to get up and down or wait a long time.
What do you recommend for photo locations outside of our venue?
If you plan on locations outside of your venue, I recommend keeping the list short. I’d rather take our time and work in one or two beautiful locations than have a short timeframe at multiple mediocre locations.
What are your approximate portrait time recommendations?
45 min. Couple Portraits
30 min. Family Portraits (for under 15 configurations)
30 min. Wedding Party Portraits
If you’re having a first look, all of the above can be completed before the ceremony.
15 minutes for blue hour photographs (those few moments following sunset)
Any delays during getting ready (hair and makeup for example) can impact our time together for portraits before the ceremony. Adding in some buffer time can be helpful.
Videography recommendations?
Can I reach out to you with timeline questions?
There are no details I want to miss out on! Please feel free to contact me anytime. A well-thought-out timeline is important, and I am excited to help. A month before your wedding, I will send an email checklist making sure we are on the same page.