WEDDING GUIDEBOOK
only listen to as much of it as you want. this is your motha lovin day.
getting ready
WINDOW LIGHT. All I want is the light that comes through the windows straight from heaven. The second I show up, I'll be looking around for light switches to turn off anything artificial. That being said, if you have control over where you are getting ready, find something with TONS OF WINDOW LIGHT. Cute Airbnb's are a great alternative to a typical hotel room.
CLUTTER. It makes your photos look.... cluttered. Keeping bags, suitcases, trash, etc in a separate room or closet keeps the focus of the photos on what matters. Your face.
DETAILS! Anything that you put thought into - jewelry, invitations, veil, shoes - having it together and ready for me makes sure it isn't missed and you can avoid digging for it in the middle of getting ready!
MAKEUP. Hair and make up artist want light as well! Since they will get there before me, and will probably yell at me if I turn their lights off, have them set you in front of a window!
Timeline :: 90 minutes
Group portraits
FAMILY PORTRAITS. Because I love you and want you to love your wedding day, keeping family portraits to a reasonable amount helps keep photo fatigue away. A good amount is between 6-8 combinations. We can get them finished in 20 minutes if everyone knows where to be at what time!
DESIGNATE A HELPER. Notifying each person in the portraits about where to wait for you at and when, and then designate your most responsible family member to be in charge of rounding them up!
THE LIST. Please provide me with a list by the week before your wedding (so I don't have to bug you the week of your wedding!) of the first and last name of each person in each combination so I can yell through and keep the train moving! I promise I yell nicely.
BRIDAL PARTY. These can go before or after Family Portraits depending on who you prefer to release to the party first. Or depending on who you think is the most impatient. Your call.
Timeline :: Family Portraits :: 20 minutes, Bridal Party Portraits :: 20 minutes
CEREMONY LIGHTING
BACKLIGHT THE CEREMONY. If you are having a ceremony outdoors during the midday, hard or splotchy sun on you won't be ideal, so you are going to want it to be backlit. Which means setting up your ceremony so the sun is behind you lovers and your officiant, and your guests are facing the sun.
MICROPHONES. Being heard is great. Mic stands are kinda fugly. Hand-held mics or ear-pieces aren't eyesores, go that route if you can!
BE CENTERED. If you have any OCD in you, it might bother you if all your ceremony photos are a little off center. Try the 'piece of tape on the ground' trick or something else subtle to let yourself know where to stand. Also for the bridesmaids & groomsmen.
Bride & groom portraits
The best part of the day. First, because it's literally the only part of the day where it's just you two alone. (well, and me). Second, because these are the photos you hired me for! The ones that get framed and on grandparents fridges. It's important we give these all the honor they deserve.
I recommend two separate portrait times:
Right after the ceremony when all the high of the 'WE JUST GOT MARRIED!' is at its freshest. 10 minutes.
Sunset/Twilight. These are the money shots, when all of shekinah glory is shining on you. Within an hour of sunset time is ideal. 20 minutes.
OTHER RANDOM STUFF
MEALS. It's best if I eat right after the bridal party so that I can eat while you eat to be sure I don't miss anything.
UNPLUGGED. I honestly don't mind the cellphones and am not hesitant to ask Aunt Betty to cheek right if she's in my shot. But it always bums me out when I am going through photos the next day and all my captures of the crowd during the ceremony have zero genuine emotion, just zombie face. Some of my favorite ceremony photos are of the crowd being a part of it with you, and that isn't there if they're all trying to get a shot that's going to suck compared to mine. Consider requesting an unplugged ceremony.
TOASTS. Try standing during toasts so that you newlyweds and the person toasting you are close enough to be in the same image. Some of the magic of toast images can be lost if you are across the room from each other.
SHOT LISTS. In general, shot lists are a no-no. Pinterest is good for so many things, but not for sending me to re-create. It means we are trying to make your day look like someone else's. Instead, let's create something together that everyone else wants to pin.
WEDDING LICENSE. Save yourself from spending your first 15 minutes married filling out documents. Fill in the details ahead of time (or the next day!) and just worry about the signatures day of.
RECEPTION LIGHTING
THE MOOD. Flash photo’s are some of my favorites- but you’ll still want enough lighting that the mood of the day is felt through images that don’t have a flash on. Lighting that adds magic is candlelight, Edison bulbs, string lights, and chandelier combinations all help keep the mood and allow my camera enough light to focus cause we don’t want the flash look for all of them!
HAVE FUN, OKAY?!
The most incredible, emotive images come from you being fully where you are. The logistics get crazy. Family gets annoying. Tell yourself ahead of time that you are going to shake it all off and fully be there.