A Wedding Day Experience
Your Guide to Beautiful Photos and a Stress-Free Day
WELCOME!
Hello, future brides and grooms, and welcome! This is such an exciting time for you! I’m sure your mind is racing with all the details of your perfect day. It’s all very exciting, but it can also be somewhat overwhelming. You’re planning a day that you may have been thinking about since you were a child. A day that you will look back on fondly throughout your lifetime together. As your wedding photographer, I want to help make this one part of the planning process simple. Wedding photography is about more than just the beautiful, timeless images you will receive. It’s an experience that becomes a memorable part of your day. Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve to have an amazing experience with someone who cares about you and your loved ones. The goal of this guide is to help you plan your wedding day in a way that will allow me to provide you with the BEST experience possible. Since you’re official, the next step is to plan your engagement session, and then we will start chatting about wedding day details as we get closer to your date! I am beyond excited to be working with you!! I cannot wait to get to know you two during your engagement session. From my family to yours, congratulations! It’s an honor to be your wedding photographer!
A Little About Me
I hope you have already been able to guess this, but I love what I do. Documenting weddings and families is such an honor. Since we will be spending a lot of time together on such an intimate day, I want you to know I am there for YOU. I will be doing whatever I can to be sure you have the day you have dreamt of. My hope is that when I first arrive on the morning of your wedding, you will already think of me as more than a random hired vendor, but as I will be a friend that you trust. For this reason, I only take on a small number of weddings a year. I want to give each of my brides and grooms the guidance and attention to detail they deserve. One thing I never expected when I began this career over 10 years ago was how important my friendships with my clients would become to me. Nothing is more rewarding than documenting a couple’s wedding and then watching their love and families grow over the years. Photography is so fun and fulfilling, but the relationships I have with the people in my photographs are what truly mean the world to me.
YOUR ENGAGEMENT
Now that you have picked a date, a photographer, and probably a venue, you can celebrate! Those are some of the most significant decisions in wedding planning, and you can cross them off your list! Hooray!! Now, on to the fun stuff, like your engagement session!
I include engagement sessions in The Wedding Collection because I genuinely believe they are a vital part of the process. During your engagement session, we get to know one another, you experience how I shoot and approach posing and lighting. Being comfortable with one another and practicing behind the camera can help on your wedding day. I’ll arrive at your wedding already knowing how you two interact, what your best poses are, and how to photograph you in a genuine way! What I will learn about you during your engagement session is invaluable! You may already be nervous on your wedding day, but at least you will be able to feel confident and relaxed behind the camera because of the great practice you had during your engagement session!
Your engagement session can be scheduled anytime before your wedding day. I usually suggest booking it at least 3-6 months in advance to avoid stress. Because my weekends are reserved for weddings and time with my family, I shoot engagement sessions on weekday evenings, generally from 5-7 p.m., depending on the light and the time of year. In the darker winter months, 3-5 p.m. is a standard time frame for a session to begin.
As you plan for your engagement shoot, you can start brainstorming about location ideas. I LOVE it when couples pick a location that is special or sentimental to them somehow! If you can’t think of anywhere specific that you would like to shoot, I can help you decide on a location. I love to shoot at natural settings, farms, campuses, downtowns, and I even have a few favorite greenhouses for winter! Lighting is the most essential part of choosing a location, but I do not shy away from unique ideas. The more creative, the better!
Preparing for your Shoot + What to Bring
POCKETS | Empty your pockets! You don’t want key chains or phones showing through. This is easy to overlook but very hard to edit out. I will remind you when we arrive and offer to carry your things. Just try to remember not to slide phones back in once we start.
CLOTHING | I’ll explain outfits in more depth, but generally, couples like to bring one casual and one dressier outfit. Feel free to bring options if you’re unsure about a few pieces, and I can help you decide. We can also email about it beforehand!
CHANGING CLOTHES | As much as I would like to say that we always have restrooms for outfit changes, we more often than not do quick outfit changes in the car if there are no other options.
FLIP FLOPS | If you’re wearing shoes that are difficult to walk in but look awesome, bring some comfy shoes to change into while we walk to each shooting location!
TIMING | Try not to be late, the sun sets quickly, especially if your shoot is not in the summer months. The later you arrive, the less time we have to shoot!
DEEP BREATHS | I’ll help you along the way, and it’s going to be a blast! I will instruct you on everything you need to know. Enjoy this time together, and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterward and celebrate!!
Outfits & Styling
Believe it or not, you have so much control over the outcome of your shoot and how it looks and feels! What you choose to wear is a big decision that often causes some stress beforehand. However, my hope is that with a bit of guidance, you will be able to determine the style and feel you desire for your shoot, which will make your outfit selection so much easier and less complicated!
Light, Earth-toned, Neutral, & Pastel Colors
When you wear light clothing, sunlight bounces around and reflects onto your face and everyone around you, creating a beautiful glow. This glow flatters your skin, making it creamier and hiding flaws. It also helps create the overall aesthetic of the photo.
Some colors don’t work for some people, but for the majority of people, they look amazing in neutrals. The truth is that neutrals are the most photogenic color for portraits. Another reason I highly recommend light colors is because sunlight combined with vivid colors (such as bright blues, neon yellows, etc.) will make for an unnatural color cast on your skin. With the lighting I use, if you are wearing bright green and it reflects onto your face (...and it will), it can make you look slightly sick, and we don't want that! I want to ensure your skin looks vibrant, healthy, and true to color.
My aim when it comes to clothing is that it does NOT distract from your faces and expressions. When you wear simple and timeless clothing, the attention isn't drawn to your clothing...but to your face and the connection between you. This is a great thing!
Romantic and Bright Style
If you’re hoping for a more romantic style of shoot that includes “light” and “airy” colors, you can make outfit choices that will allow your images to turn out brighter, softer, and extra photogenic! Here are some ingredients that go into creating a romantic-styled shoot. It’s important to note that you do not need to choose all of these ingredients to have a light and airy style to your images, but the more ingredients you include, the more romantic and bright your pictures will be:
Long, Flowy Skirts/Dresses: Dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric, and the ability to blow and move in the wind will always photograph beautifully! You would be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.
Khakis vs. Jeans: If you want your images to be as bright as possible, consider having your groom wear lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.
Only One Bold Color: If you want a bold and bright look but want to do it well and tastefully, I suggest that only one of you wear a bright and colorful outfit and the other stay in a solid neutral to avoid overdoing it! If you love color, you will love the “pop” it gives your images. Even colorful shoes or accessories can add a lot to your gallery without being “too” much.
Things to Avoid
Colors to avoid: bright reds, neons, oranges (they reflect color onto skin and can be difficult to edit!).
Alternate Heaviness: If you are wearing very dark jeans, the other may want to wear lighter pants. If one of you is wearing a navy top, the other shouldn’t wear a dark or heavy-colored top. To a certain degree, alternating the “heaviness” of your outfits can make your images look more balanced.
Avoid having one of you be casual while the other is more dressy. This can look a bit awkward in your photos.
Please don't try to match your significant other. Instead, try to coordinate! Coordinating is different than “matching." Coordination means choosing colors that look good together but are not necessarily close to the same.
Other things to avoid are tennis shoes, graphic tees, bold logos on shirts, sunglasses, and baseball hats.
Prepare for your shoot Together!
You’re not alone if either of you is a little anxious about this whole “picture” thing. I receive so many emails from clients who are worried their partner won’t be into it, but I have great news for you...you both are more photogenic than you think. I am constantly surprising couples by discovering their hidden modeling skills. My most common response after a session is, “That wasn’t as bad as I thought! It was actually fun!” Boom! Mission accomplished! When taking pictures was FUN, I have done my job well! Your engagement session is supposed to be fun and relaxed, not forced or awkward. As you prepare for your shoot, there are a few things that you can do.
To help each other know what to expect. I highly recommend sitting down together and looking at my engagement session gallery. Spend some time together scrolling through a few blog posts. I also recommend allowing plenty of time to get to your shoot! Nothing is worse than a couple showing up and they have been stressed and arguing in the car before they arrive! Last, but not least, remember to be patient with one another and don’t assume that anyone will not have a good time...You’ll be surprised how much you will both enjoy your session!
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING DAY
More often than not, our couples are planning a wedding for the very first time, and it can seem incredibly overwhelming! There is so much to consider, and I'm here to help you make the best decisions for your day! Overall, the most impactful choices have to do with your wedding day timeline. I have seen poorly planned timelines wreck wedding days, and I have seen strategic timelines save wedding days when emergencies arise. If you want to focus your energy on being intentional about one main thing in your planning process, direct that intention toward the timeline for the most significant impact! Let's get started!
A Sample Timeline
Below is a very simple sample timeline for you to use while planning. This timeline includes a first look simply because it is the more common option and allows for the most time for each event. It is set up for 8 hours of coverage. Simply use this as a guide when needed. I will reach out to you before the big day to get the necessary details for your specific timeline.
2:30-3:15 PM Detail Shots
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of her bridal details. It’s an important part of the story, and I love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc. I usually like to allow at least 45 minutes for this part of the day. While shooting details, I’m also capturing shots of the bride and her girls getting ready! If the groom is getting ready nearby, my assistant will begin photographing the boys close to 40 minutes before the First Look since it always takes them less time to get dressed!
3:105-3:45 PM Bride & Groom Prep
After the details have been photographed, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! I usually ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look photo-ready in those images. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc., and I will shoot some additional bridal portraits!
4:00 PM First Look
This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day! I will find the perfect location for my couple’s First Look before the getting-ready portion of the day. Don’t stress about your portrait locations. I will ensure the area is private, has excellent natural light, and is as secluded as possible.
4:15-4:45 PM Portraits
After the bride and groom take their time with the First Look, I will begin taking a few romantic portraits of them while the initial excitement is still present! I will also find the locations for these shots! Remember, the light determines where we shoot, so I can’t decide on portrait locations until the day of. As we shoot these portraits, the bridal party can start making their way to us for bridal party portraits!
4:50-5:20 PM Wedding Party Photos
Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots! One way to make sure we stay on schedule for bridal party portraits is to have someone designated to put the boutonnieres on the groomsmen before they arrive for portraits. During Bridal Party portraits, my assistant and I will take shots of the guys and girls separately AND together. After bridal party portraits are complete, the bride will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek, and the ushers will begin their duties.
5:00-5:45 PM Reception Details
If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, I will use this time to shoot the reception decor, hopefully UNTOUCHED. Suppose the ceremony and reception are in different locations. In that case, I recommend having a cocktail hour outside the main reception area to grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins and guests start laying down purses and coats on their seats.
6:00-6:30 PM Ceremony
It’s time to get married!! Most ceremonies are around 30 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 minutes, we’ll be sure to make adjustments to the timeline. Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
6:40-7:00 PM Family Portraits
Family formals typically take place immediately following the ceremony. It’s best to save all of the family formals until after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 minutes for family formals, and I will send a questionnaire before the wedding where you can list the shots you want.
7:10-7:30 PM A few Golden Hour Portraits
7:00 pm is the BEST time of day for portraits in the late spring, summer, and early fall! This is when the sun is glowy and golden. I love having a few extra minutes with the bride and groom to take a few “Just Married” portraits right after family formals!
7:30 PM Reception Begins
This is when the bridal party lines up for introductions, and the party begins!! By this part of the day, my timeline isn’t as strict. I work with natural light, so after the sun is set, my portrait time is over, and I begin focusing on the reception events! I include 8 hours of coverage so that I can be present for the main events of the reception and about an hour of dancing! If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, several options exist! You can add coverage or plan a "Controlled Exit" with your bridal party! We have had GREAT success with this, and the party never stops! Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of a Controlled Exit!
10:30 PM The Exit
Remember that all wedding days are different, and your timeline will be unique. Ceremony time and first looks will impact your timeline the most; I included approximate times for important parts of the day to help you plan.
APPROXIMATE TIMES:
DETAILS & PREP: 1.5 HOURS
FIRST LOOK & PORTRAITS: 30-40 MINS
BRIDAL PARTY: 30-40 MINS
FAMILY FORMALS: 20-30 MINS
EXTRA PORTRAIT TIME: As much time as you’ll give me!
When you’re planning a wedding day timeline, the best advice I could give is to ADD CUSHION TIME! Sometimes, the simplest things can take an extra 20 minutes, and then all of a sudden, the whole morning is thrown off. I have seen “getting the bride in her dress” take almost 40 minutes because of a button malfunction. It’s a smart idea to add an extra ten minutes here and there so we have some wiggle room to work with! This way, if one part of the day gets thrown off by 20 minutes, I can help you compensate for that time in other areas. There are so many different things to think about when planning a wedding day, so here are some tips for the pre-ceremony timeline! I realize that every wedding day is different, so not all of these tips will apply to every wedding day schedule. Something else to consider is that not EVERYTHING will go as planned, and I promise you, that is completely normal!!
Let the day begin!
This portion of The Wedding Experience sets the stage for the entire wedding day. It shares tips and tricks to ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation and beautiful portraits!
Getting Ready
It’s the morning of your wedding! Hopefully, all of the little details are taken care of, and you’re relaxing with your best friends while your hair is being done. If certain items haven’t been checked off the to-do list, it’s time to hand them over to someone else. Delegation is a key part of a stress-free wedding day. I know it’s hard to hand over the decorating duties and all of the last-minute things that need to be done, but it is important to relax on the morning of your wedding. The rest of the day is going to be fast-paced and filled with a lot of emotions! Take advantage of this downtime! There are a few things to consider about the “getting ready” portion of the day. Do you want to share a “first look” with your dad or anyone who plays a huge role in your life? Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts during this time? If so, who would you like to deliver them? Are there certain women in your life who would appreciate seeing you get into your gown? Some brides want very few people around for this moment. Other brides love having aunts and grandmas present! It’s totally up to you! A few other things to consider...as you get ready to put your dress on, refrain from putting any jewelry on. I love shooting all those final steps once you’re in your gown! Speaking of the gown, if your gown is on a plastic hanger, try to make a note to bring a wooden hanger along for picture sake. If you forget, no big deal! I’m a pro at finding wooden hangers at venues! Keep reading along for more “getting ready” tips to help you prepare!
The Window Effect
This is something that will make a dramatic impact on your pre-ceremony photos. By having just a simple window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful portraits with soft light. If there are no windows or natural light in the getting-ready area, I will likely have you do some faux "getting dressed" shots somewhere on the property where we can access natural light. This may be another room or just a simple doorway. Without natural light, my style of photos that you have come to love are nearly impossible. So natural light is very much a necessity. If you don't have any control over your bridal suite location, don't worry. I will work some magic to ensure that you still have detail shots and getting-in-the-dress shots that are photographed in beautiful light.
RINGS, SHOES, JEWELS ...
The whole day begins with the DETAILS! This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because it allows me to prepare and warm up my creative side! I photograph a bride’s details to match and showcase the style of the wedding day. So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding, and I love having ample time to stylize and shoot everything from the dress to the jewelry to grandma’s handkerchief! Below, you’ll find a list of the most common details that I photograph. I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give you a big hug, and then begin with all the goodies! (If you have any extra flower or greenery scraps left over from your florist, these make great additions to detail shots.)
WHAT TO BRING
dress veil/hairpieces
rings (all three)
shoes
bouquet & boutonniere
jewelry
perfume
invitation suite, borrowed, & blue
A FIRST LOOK
Your first look can be an amazing part of your wedding day! If you aren’t sure about this tradition, let me explain why it would be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration that adds to the experience and reduces stress. Please know that I never want couples to feel pressured to choose this option. However, I do want to make sure that I share all of the benefits because there is a reason most of my wedding couples do this and LOVE it!
Not everyone is aware of how incredible first looks truly are. Some couples get caught up in how “non-traditional” it is, and they immediately write it off. Some brides do love “traditions,” but what many brides want when it comes to their groom seeing them for the first time is a REACTION. Those who are not interested in a First Look usually think that by seeing each other beforehand, they will lose part of that reaction. They also assume that it will not be as emotional or as intimate as it would be if they were coming down the aisle. What I have found is the exact opposite.
Everyone knows that wedding days are a bit stressful. For most couples, the nerves kick in before they see each other because that’s when everything becomes VERY real! So when the nerves start creeping in, instead of keeping the groom in a secluded space until his time to enter the ceremony, what if you took him to a private place with no people, no onlookers, no distractions...and you let his beautiful bride, the love of his life, quietly call his name and have him turn around to see her for the first time. He would turn around and finally get his first look at his stunning bride, and not only would he get to see her, but he could embrace her, cry with her, kiss her...and ENJOY that moment with her for as LONG as they wanted. As she shows him her dress, she twirls a few times and then asks him what he thinks. His nerves start to diminish. After all, she’s the one who can make him most comfortable anyway.
They casually move into their romantic portraits because they aren’t in a time crunch. No one is around, the coordinator isn’t announcing “15 minutes left”, and there is no pressure. It’s just the two of them and their photographer capturing the excitement and the joy of their wedding day. This is their time to be TOGETHER...and to be ALONE. When does that happen on a wedding day? Without a First Look, it doesn’t happen. After their romantic portraits, they meet up with their best friends. Their bridal party joins them, and they still have plenty of time to spare.
After a few minutes, the bridal party portraits begin, and they’re FUN. They’re FUN because there is time to make them FUN. There aren’t any guests waiting impatiently at the cocktail hour, and there isn’t a DJ coming to find the photographer to get a time check. It’s wonderful!
After the portraits are done, the girls and guys separate and prepare for the ceremony. The guests begin to arrive, and the ushers are in place. Pretty soon, it’s time for the processional music to begin, and one by one, the bridesmaids make their way down to the front of the ceremony. As the groom clasps his hands...they aren’t clasped out of nervousness but excitement. The music builds, the bride's mother stands, and all the guests follow her lead. The groom looks up, and here comes the BRIDE! His best friend, his companion, his sweetheart, and she's stunning! The closer she gets, the bigger he smiles.
THE BENEFITS
MORE PORTRAITS & RAIN INSURANCE
You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a First Look, you’ll receive MORE portraits of the two of you, the images you will use to decorate your first home! With a First Look, you make the most of this significant investment and get the most for your money. Also, a First Look is also a type of insurance in the case of rain! Imagine if you didn't do a First Look and a storm sets in during the ceremony? Your window of opportunity for beautiful natural light portraits has passed. However, if you shared a First Look, you have already completed most of your portraits!
EXTEND YOUR DAY TOGETHER
The First Look allows you to extend your wedding day. Typically, the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle; the ceremony would end. You would hurry through portraits so your guests don’t wait too long and you’re not late for the introductions, and then it’s reception time. With a First Look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits, you get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your BEST friends on your wedding day.
YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME
First Looks allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. When you first see each other, it will not only be intimate, but you can cry, laugh, and cry some more...and then be in the PERFECT mood for our romantic portraits. Usually, portraits are a little rushed after the family formals, and it can be hard to get back into the “romantic” mode...especially with family around! When you have just shared your First Look, you’re READY to love on each other, and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments!
DIMINISHES NERVES
You get rid of your nerves! About half of my grooms were not entirely on board with a First Look initially. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve-racking it can be. I have heard from so many grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the First Look...but afterward, they admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony!
Now, let me put a disclaimer here before we continue. My clients are not required to do a First Look by any means! I used to feel bad for sharing this option with couples who were against it because I didn’t want to push anything on them. However, I’ve seen the benefits of a First Look over and over again, so I only share this because I want the BEST for my couples!! It’s totally ok if you choose not to share a First Look! It’s just my preference to do one for many reasons. For brides not interested in a First Look, let’s start chatting soon about how we’ll create a special timeline to fit everything in and still keep the day free of chaos and stress!
Daddy-Daughter First Look
This is for all of the brides who have a sweet spot in their hearts for their dad. I have to admit that Daddy/Daughter first looks get to me, probably more so than a First Look between a couple! For a lot of Dads, this is when everything feels real, and it hits him...“My baby girl is getting MARRIED!” These are precious moments to photograph, and I highly encourage any Daddy’s girl to make time in their timeline for this moment. It doesn’t take long at all! The hardest part is making sure Dad shows up on time! I recommend building this first look into the timeline and ensuring Dad knows exactly where he needs to be and when.
THE CEREMONY
Here it is! The moment everyone has been waiting for! The music is playing, and the guests have been seated. Ushers make their way to the back of the church, and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids while giving the musicians a 5-minute warning. The bride is about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life...and if she’s like most girls, she’s dreamed about this moment for a long time! Vows will be shared, and promises will be made...this is what it’s all about!! In a world full of wedding blogs, Pinterest, and bridal magazines, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by the “prettiness” of the event. While details do matter and planning is necessary, it’s important to never lose sight of the real purpose of this amazing celebration!
AN UNPLUGGED CEREMONY
Imagine this with me...you’re in my shoes...the most important moment of the day is about to happen. You’ve checked your camera settings, you’ve taken test shots and you’re ready to capture the bride coming down the aisle to her groom. You want to capture reactions, variety of angles and every moment of joy and emotion in those few seconds. However, just as everyone stands and the music plays, not one, but three different family members and friends get so excited that they take just one step out into the aisle with their iPhones in hand trying to capture the moment. I’m scrambling. My couple is trusting me not to miss this! But now I’m dodging guests who have no idea that the back of their heads, their arms and their phones are blocking me from capturing the bride and her dad walking down the aisle. It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a photographer during a ceremony. However, there is a solution! I highly recommend having an “Unplugged Ceremony”. This is just another way of saying that you want only your photographers to be capturing photos, and you would like everyone else to enjoy the ceremony instead of trying to capture it themselves.
Options for notifying guests your ceremony is UNPLUGGED.
1. Signage: Have a simple sign that guests see as they are entering the ceremony
2. Spoken: Have your officiant politely mention that you prefer no cell phones
3. Program: Include your Unplugged Ceremony request in your program design
4. All Three: If you really want to make sure that this request is honored, do all three!
LIGHTING—
Ceremony lighting is really important. If you get married outdoors at noon, the lighting will be extremely harsh, and not only will there be harsh lines of light on your faces, but you will also be squinting. I suggest planning an outdoor ceremony around 2 hours before sunset if you are having a First Look. If you are not interested in sharing a First Look, I suggest having your ceremony 3 hours before sunset to ensure that you will have plenty of time for your portraits afterward. The lower the sun, the more romantic and glowy the lighting. If you are having an indoor ceremony and there is an option to have spotlight-style lights on the bride and groom, I would recommend declining. It is always best to have EVEN lighting at the altar.
COORDINATION—
Hiring a full event planner or just a day-of coordinator makes such a huge difference. Brides realize very quickly that if they do not have someone in charge of the coordination of the day, that responsibility will automatically fall on the mother of the bride, the photographer, or the BRIDE herself! When a photographer is in charge of the timeline and the coordination of the day, the images will suffer. All of my stressful wedding situations were caused by a lack of organization and coordination. It’s so important to make this a priority. If you need any recommendations on wedding coordination services, I would love to share some of my favorite vendors with you!
FAMILY FORMALS
I absolutely love meeting our couples' families on the wedding day! Family formals usually are my first interaction with them, so I love to have a game plan for this part of the day! Eight weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from me asking you to list the family formals you want me to capture. Here is a sample family formal list to help you start preparing what shots you need. We do have to limit the family formal time to ensure we have plenty of daylight for your romantic portraits. However, we can be sure to capture any large family group shots we don’t accomplish during family formals at the reception!
A SAMPLE LIST
B&G with Bride’s Immediate Family
(Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Bride’s Parents
B&G with Bride’s Siblings
Bride with her Parents
Bride with Mom, Bride with Dad
B&G with Bride’s Grandparents
B&G with both sets of Parents
B&G with Groom’s Immediate Family
(Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Groom’s Parents
B&G with Groom’s Siblings
Groom with his Parents
Groom with Mom, Groom with Dad
B&G with Groom’s Grandparents
B&G with all family members if time allows
ROMANTIC PORTRAITS
If we’re being honest, all of the wedding day images are important, but the absolute favorites are almost always from my time with the Bride and Groom! These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle, and they will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are always my favorite because of their beauty and because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment, you will be alone with your groom on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and really connect before the craziness begins! Romantic portraits are normally done before the ceremony (after the “First Look”), and I LOVE shooting a few “just married” portraits after the ceremony as well! This is when the light is low and golden! It’s such a romantic time for bride and groom portraits. If you’re not interested in a First Look, we will include a lot of time after the ceremony for these portraits!
LOCATIONS —
One of my favorite parts of my job is making something ordinary look beautiful! This happens most often when it comes to picking portrait locations. If there is one thing I love and appreciate about my couples, it is their trust in me. Sometimes, I select portrait locations that most people wouldn’t consider attractive. So my encouragement is just to trust me. You don’t have to worry about a thing, and I promise you’ll love the results!
IN THE CASE OF RAIN—
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive during wedding season is, What do you do if it RAINS?!” I want to reassure you that even if it rains, you will still have beautiful portraits and BRIGHT colors in your images! Overcast skies mean vibrant colors! I know that rain isn’t ideal, and no bride would wish for rain on their big day, but if it happens, it happens...and it’s going to be JUST fine! Some of my best weddings have been on rainy wedding days!
Your Bridal Party
Let's chat about your bridal party! This is when the fun begins! I know from experience that all brides want their closest friends to have an AMAZING time during their big day, and I will make sure that happens! Bridal party portraits should be a lot of fun and actually enjoyable! After you share your first look, depending on the locations and the timing of the day, your bridal party will join us for portraits! If all goes well, we will be able to accomplish ALL of your bridal party portraits BEFORE the ceremony. This means your guys and gals will be free to mingle at cocktail hour if they wish! If there are flower girls and ring bearers, they can join us for the pre-ceremony portraits, or we can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before family formals. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres on and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets!
RECEPTION DETAILS
It’s time to relax, dance, and celebrate!! Your reception should be a BLAST! The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Your coordinator and DJ should make sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enjoy your night. Here are some tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.
GUEST CONSIDERATION: When planning your timeline, consider your guests. If you have many elderly guests who will not be staying until the very end, make sure you schedule the cake-cutting relatively early so that they can participate. Grandmas love seeing this sweet tradition!
- MAKE IT YOUR OWN: If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it! Make your reception a reflection of who you are, and don’t feel tied to traditions. Also, make sure you give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you don’t want to hear during your reception!
- DON’T GET CAUGHT UP in the formalities and the details. Sure, details are pretty and fun to photograph, but they can steal the joy of the day if you get too caught up in them. (Just speaking from experience here!) Plan your centerpieces, welcome table, etc., well before the wedding date, and teach your coordinator or family friend how to set them up so that you aren’t even thinking about those things the day of!
- RECEPTION COVERAGE: If you haven’t purchased enough coverage time for your photography to last until the exit, that’s ok! We have several options! I recommend planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed. The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour! One hour of dancing will be enough time to capture the joy of your reception!
CONTROLLED EXITS
If your coverage ends before the very end of your reception and you hope to have an “Exit” shot captured, you can plan to do a “Controlled Exit” with your bridal party! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a controlled exit with just the members of your bridal party and a few family members! This allows us to have more control over these shots and more than one chance at capturing an epic action shot, and the party NEVER has to stop! In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes!
Three Reasons to Consider a Controlled Exit:
1. Multiple chances at an epic shot: When you do an exit shot at the very end of the wedding day, I only have one chance to capture the two of you as you run through sparklers or whatever type of exit you have planned. When you do a “controlled exit,” I have multiple chances to capture several incredible exit portraits for you!
2. You haven’t partied all night yet: This means that your makeup and hair are still intact for your exit shot! That’s a win right there!
3. Coordinated Colors: When you are surrounded by your bridal party instead of wedding guests who could be wearing distracting colors, you can expect to have beautiful exit shots surrounded by your wedding colors!
ALBUMS
Having digital images is wonderful, but having a printed keepsake that tells a visual story of your wedding day is priceless! If you haven’t already invested in a wedding album, you can always come back to me at any time and order one.
ONLINE GALLERY
Your online gallery will be a beautiful, accessible way to view your images, download, and share them. We want you to be able to save and share your images freely and without any hesitation, so there will not be any watermarks on your pictures, and all of your photos will be available to download in high resolution. You will receive a separate online gallery for your engagement session and wedding day!
DOWNLOADING PHOTOS
You will be able to download your edited images directly from your online gallery, and they will be in high resolution! This process is very simple: You can either click the “Download” option that you will find at the top of your gallery email, or you can view your images in your gallery and download them from there! Once your gallery opens, you will see a “Downwards Arrow Icon” at the top right of your screen. Clicking this button will allow you to see your photo download options! Once you select which folder you would like to download or if you want to download ALL of your images, you will receive an email in your inbox when the download is ready. It can take a few minutes to package hundreds of photos to be downloaded. You may also download your images individually!
ORDERING PRINTS
You can order professional and affordable prints from your online gallery and have them shipped directly to your house! Print sizes range from 4x6 to 24x36 and are printed in a professional lab to ensure color and contrast accuracy. You are more than welcome to print images yourself. However, I warn you to avoid Walmart, Target, Costco, etc. I cannot promise that your colors will print true-to-life if you choose to print from non-professional labs.
GALLERY EXPIRATION
I have great news! Your gallery will be available for an entire year! However, I would recommend you download and save your images in multiple places as soon as possible for safekeeping. Please don’t use your online gallery to permanently store your pictures. Instead, download and save your photos on a solid-state, portable hard drive as a permanent backup and use an online backup system like Google Photos or Apple's Cloud Storage.
SHARING, WATERMARKING, & EDITING
You have the freedom to share your images in any way that you choose! These are your images, and I want you to love them so much that you can’t help but share them! I don’t believe that it is necessary to watermark my images. All I ask for is credit whenever you use an image on social media! I only have ONE rule regarding what you can and cannot do with my work. I always encourage my clients to refrain from re-editing their images. Let me do that hard work! However, if you have an image or two that you want to print at a large size and you find an imperfection, I will gladly perfect it! Just let me know!
NON-PROFESSIONAL PRINTS: How bad could it really be?
This is the original image that I edited and delivered to my couple. Below, you’ll see the most common print issues that clients experience when they choose not to print through a professional lab. I make sure to offer as many sizes as possible at an affordable price so that my clients can access professional quality prints for the images they already invested so much in. Investing in high-end photography but ordering prints at Target just doesn’t make sense.
COMMON PRINTING ISSUES: High-contrast, Over-Saturation, Orange, and Green Color Tones
THANK-YOU!
Last but certainly not least, THANK YOU for trusting me on your special day. I am so honored to be the one capturing your memories, and I cannot WAIT to celebrate alongside you! Enjoy this season of planning, but also remember that your MARRIAGE is more important than the wedding. The wedding will come and go in a matter of hours, but your marriage needs to stand the test of time. Continue to make time for one another even with all that needs to get done. As you continue to plan, please feel free to contact me with ANY questions you may have along the way! Depending on your date, our next step would be to finalize an engagement session if we haven’t already. Also, about 8 weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive an online questionnaire that will provide me with everything I need to know for your big day, and then we will schedule a call together! I hope this guide has been helpful as you continue to plan and prepare for your wedding day!