When you’re planning your big day, you put so much effort into getting every little detail right so doesn’t it make sense to make a list of the ‘Must have’ shots, so that your photographer knows what you want to capture?
When all said and done, the photos of your big day are the one’s which will (or should) last a life time. They’re the things you want to pass on to your children and on to your grandchildren. Sorry to say it but, your wedding dress will be out of fashion within a few years and everything else will quickly begin to fade, disappear and be lost, which is why getting the right photographer and the right photos is SO very important.
When you’re thinking about your big day you should make your photographer aware of the smaller details which you want capturing, that he/she might not be aware of.
Don’t get me wrong, any wedding photographer worth his salt will be aware of the standard ‘must have’ shots;
- Bride’s dress
- Flowers
- Walking down the aisle
- Exchanging of the rings/vows
- The first kiss
- Cake cutting
- The first dance
The above is a VERY brief list of ‘must have’s for the photography, but it’s important to supplement these with the pictures you want of the things and the people who make your special day, well, special!
The following may give you some ideas on what you want from your photographer and what you want to see captured. Believe me, it’ll help you, it’ll help the photographer and more importantly you’ll have images which reflected the hard work, romance and thought you put into the big day.
The Dress
After deciding to marry, the next big decision is the dress! It’s probably going to be the biggest and most beautiful dress you’ll ever wear and is often a work of art in itself! So before you put the dress on, ask your photographer to take pictures of it hanging in a well lit area. Maybe hanging over a chair or hanging near a window. The photographer should know what they’re doing here, but if there’s any little details you want to point out, then you should. For example I shot a wedding where the bride had a small blue hanky sown in to the lining of the dress. The hanky belonged to her, when she was a child.
I wouldn’t have known this small item was there if one of the bridesmaids hadn’t mentioned it, but I was able to take a lovely shot of this intimate item which she may have forgotten about in years to come.
Once the dress is on, then ask the photographer to take pictures of the back being tied up... you don’t get to see the back of the dress very often so this is a great chance to capture images of something you’ll not be seeing much of!
Bridal Preparations
Sometimes the most emotional, fun and exciting pictures to take throughout the entire day are the bridal preparations. With everyone excitedly getting ready there’s opportunity for some great behind-the-scenes shots, where some of the most natural and beautiful photography can happen.
But if you’re giving gifts to your bridesmaids and/or expecting arrival of someone special, then be sure to prime your photographer so that he can capture the expressions on people’s faces. This isn’t as contrived as it sounds and leads to some fantastic pictures that will make you laugh and cry at the same time!
The Table Settings
It’s taken months to organise; the venue, the dress, the grooms outfit, the music, the guest list, the table settings with the favours, the candles, the flowers and every other little detail you’ve put in to make the table setting ‘just so’. Yet there is a very good chance that you won’t see the room until it is teaming full of guests and they’ve already started opening the favours and have started to play with the table decorations!
So ensure when you’re talking to your photographer that they know you want some pictures of the tables and any special items you’ve placed on there. It really will make a nice back drop for your album and allows you to appreciate the hard work you put in!
Let’s not forget the Groom!
Before the ceremony the Groom is likely to be a bag of nerves and not in much mood for photographs, but pictures of him and his Groom’s party are excellent shots to capture because it’s just ‘the guys’ together and they can help calm each other’s nerves by focusing on a few photographs!
When you enter the room all eyes, quite rightly will be locked on you so getting some candid emotional shots of your groom’s face as you approach are timeless classics which melt the hardest of hearts! So speak to your photographer so they know that you’re wanting this kind of shot, so that they can position themselves in the best possible place to capture that moment.
Group shots(!)
This is the time you really do need to speak to your photographer because this can make all the difference to you, your day and ultimately to your photographs. Talk through the style of group shots you’re looking for with your photographer and give them an idea of what you’re after (formal groups or informal gathering). Most couples want a mixture between the two, so think about groups you want and then make a small list of about eight groups. This will allow your photographer to work with the best man to arrange the next set of shots.
The more planning at this stage, the faster the group shots can be carried out and everyone can go back to having fun!
Your First Dance
This is usually the last part of the day that you want ‘formally’ capturing and is still all important for your album, so that it tells the complete story of your day. Tell your photographer if you have something special planned and if you don’t then why not just make it up?! On the dance floor, simply waltz, or look deep into each other’s eyes and enjoy your first dance as man and wife. The photographer will be looking to use all the various light sources to capture some great shots, but it’s always helpful to know what the song will be and if you have anything planned.
Communication, communication, communication
When I’m lucky enough to be invited to shoot a wedding, I want to know I’ve got as much information about the couple as I can possibly get. This includes their likes and dislikes and what they’re wanting to get out of the photography. At the end of it all, it’s about communicating, communicating and then communicating some more. It’s following this process that I’m proud to have turned past clients into friends.
So when we meet, be sure to let me know just what you're looking for from your Photography.
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