Getting the most out of your wedding photos
The whole wedding planning process can be pretty intimating with every minor detail being so important in making your dream day come together. We are sure you have been a part of a few weddings in your lives and have seen everything from the most magical moments to the not-so-great moments that a wedding day can bring. Here are a few tips to help get you more of that “magic” in your wedding day photos.
Pick a perfect prep location and keep it tidy
One of the easiest ways to come out with great prep photos is picking a naturally-window-lit space and keeping it tidy. After all, you wouldn't want your awesome-looking self competing with that suitcase, hair curler, leftover food, or water bottle in the background. We suggest designating an area that is de-cluttered for your photos so you have room to move around and keep you as the main focus.
Gather your details
A quick and easy way to save time is to consolidate all of your details (dress/suit, shoes, bouquet/boutonnieres, rings, cufflinks, accessories, invites, etc.) before your photographer shows up so you don’t have to be distracted trying to find all those important details that deserve some camera time.
Embrace the unexpected
Even with all the planning In the world, with so many moving parts, there are bound to be unexpected curveballs on your big day. We actually plan for it because it happens so often that it doesn’t even faze us in the least. Some of our favorite parts of our previous weddings have been the unexpected moments that ended up being the most beautiful and memorable photographs. So, if things don’t go exactly as planned, do your best to roll with it, embrace it, and enjoy the unscripted moment.
Breathing room
Buffer times in your schedule will be your best friend of the day – remember when we mentioned that we often plan for things not to go as planned? That’s where our dear friend “buffer-time” comes to the rescue; and, even if things do go exactly as planned, having a break to sit for a second, take a sip of water, or even just stare at your beautiful significant other thinking, “Holy Sh*t, how did I get so lucky?” will make your day that much more enjoyable.
Less is more
We have seen many couples go deep into the “Pinterest hole" and have a million ideas for their wedding photos, which is fantastic, but sometimes refining that wish-list will result in even more spectacular photos and will allow all of us not to rush through the day so you can stay relaxed and look natural in your photos.
Keeping it in the family
Family photos are one of the staples to any wedding day photo schedule and with good reason, but be mindful that the grouping permutations are endless. We could spend a couple of hours getting every combo out there, so take time to think about what is important and where these photos are going to end up. Do you need an individual photo with each family out there? Or one beautifully posed family portrait that would rival the Kardashians on their best day? Keep in mind that each permutation can take up to 5 minutes so choose wisely and methodically.
Be present
Take yourself back to the moment you two got engaged. No distractions in sight, eyes on the prize, and unimpeded emotions gushing out from each of you. That’s where we want your mindsets to be on your wedding day. Stay relaxed, remember that although the day might seem complicated with a million moving pieces, it is actually a very simple day with one goal – for you two to celebrate your love and promise yourselves to each other. With that mindset, you can breathe easily. The most genuine and heart-felt photos happen when you set yourself free to be present on your special day.