So I am revisiting some old posts. This was one from 2009 I thought could use a refreshing.

Getting the most from your wedding photography – Updated 2016

Wedding photography can be one of the largest expenses of your wedding plans. As any purchase a buyer wants to get the most for their money.  There are several things that can help during the planning and the actual wedding day.

1. Schedule enough time for photography

My style falls within the wedding photojournalist category. That does not mean every photo is a candid shot. There are what we call the “posed photographs.” That does not mean they are the traditional photos you see in your parent’s wedding album. These are the portraits of the bride and groom and wedding party before the ceremony and sometimes after depending on the schedule. Most times they are done separately so the couple does not see each other. I always like to have at least a half-hour for the bride and bridesmaids and a half hour for the groom and groomsman. This way we can have a little fun as well, walk around see what trouble we can get into.  So make sure you have planned this into your hair appointments and golf games.  Remember the more time we have, the more photos you have to choose from.

2. Remember your wedding photos when you pick your reception place.

Lets face it, the photos center around the bride and groom. The reception hall is the background to alot of what goes on at the reception. If your wedding reception facility has lime green walls, guess what, so do some of your photos. There are ways around this. Black and white photos hide green walls. A good professional photographer will walk around and scope out other places to stage a few things or allow a different angle. When you pick a reception place think of your photos.  Can you find lots of different backgrounds and nicely lite areas?

The color palette has become a huge part of my style. Every photo I take I try to incorporate your colors into them. I love an album that you can just look at the page and get the feel of the colors and style. So making sure your locations fit the style is a huge part.

3. Don’t like the look of your church.

Is the church a little too traditional for your taste? Just schedule time after the ceremony to make a stop. Parks, creeks, lakes, the horseshoe all make great areas for wedding photographs. Create your photos the way you want. Plus its nice to get away from the mob of guests for a few minutes.

4. Tell your photographer about all the little touches.

Every couple has downloaded from the Internet a generic list of things they want photos of. Not a problem. What I like to know is the stuff not on the list. Did Aunt Sally stay up all night to make the favors? Are dad and brother playing guitar as the guests arrive?  The idea of this is those moments and details are special to you for a reason. When a couple looks back at the photos of that detail it brings an emotional attachment to their photos. Those are the shots every photographer dreams of getting for a couple.

5. Be emotional.

So I don’t mean cry every five minutes. What I mean is don’t be afraid to let your emotions go that day. I always say if you cry I will take your photo. But just as much I am looking for happy photos too. Again I don’t want you to look back and think of a wedding as a happy event and only see serious photos.

First look is a great example. I try to stage it up where is quite and personal. I like to overly give the couple a few minutes before meeting to let the emotions and the moment sink in. Then the looks and feelings are real

I hope this helps as you are planning your wedding. If I am not your photographer for the day I hope this helps to make your wedding day even more special than it is. If you are still looking then contact me and I would love you hear about your photography plans so far.