.jpg "Tara Welch Photography | DC + Austin Wedding Photographer")
Do you ever wake up in the morning, have three espressos, and realize you have stuff you just have to talk about?
This is me this morning. So bear with me! I’ve decided to start a new category on my blog called Education. It’s for all you brides and grooms out there in internet land.
A question that I get asked a lot from friends and people I randomly meet is “How can I make sure my wedding photos are awesome? I don’t want super posey images!”
The easy answer is hire an awesome photographer but there are other factors as well. So listen up and get ready for the big secret!
The number one secret to great photos is TIME!!!!!!!!!! Seriously!! Make sure your family, coordinator or whomever is involved knows that the photographs are very important to you! It’s your wedding day, don’t let someone else dictate how long you can spend on these.
Any old hack can take a quick image of you standing up on an altar and be done. If you want something more creative you need to budget some time. So how do you do that?
1) Get ready early. I know you want your make up and hair to be fresh for the ceremony. I get it. But there is very little damage that can’t be fixed with some blotting tissues and lipstick (I recommend a stain so you don’t cover your lover in lipstick. Vincent Longo is the bomb!!!). And FYI makeup artists are notoriously late so get it done EARLY!!!!! (sorry to you lovely on-time MUA out there) Also stylists usually put enough product in your hair that you could skydive in it and be fine!
2) See each other before the ceremony. It’s fun and romantic to do a first look! And you can shoot in fun other locations than your wedding venue (again, if time allows). The big bonus on this is that after the ceremony you can just chill and actually enjoy your wedding rather than spend an hour getting creative images taken. Old fashion? Cool, there’s still stuff you can do!
3) If you aren’t doing a first look here’s some more advice. Have all your bridesmaids and groomsmen be ready way before the ceremony and do those group shots separately then. While I love a super creative huge bridal party shot after the ceremony, be realistic, they want to be at the bar.
Let’s do some fun ones with your respective parties beforehand, get a quick great shot of all of you together and then get creative images of you and your new spouse!!!
4) Avoid the Circle of Death!!!! In the nerdy wedding photographer world this is what happens after the recessional if you and the bridal party doesn’t “hide”. Everyone comes up to you and wants to take a photo with you and hug the crap out of you and talk your ear off. Fine and lovely but wouldn’t you rather knock out your family photos and get to jam and be hugged to death at your cocktail hour or reception? Most coordinators and planners know this as well and will offer suggestions but make sure you tell them just in case. Also if you and your family want a receiving line I recommend doing that at some other point in the night.
5) Cut out the crazy photo combos. Seriously. If you find yourself uttering “let’s get all the girls on the left side now……”, this is redundant. Formal group shots start looking all the same and I personally think it’s more meaningful to have fun portraits taken throughout the night in a more natural setting.
6 ) We will shoot you all night and it’s no big shakes to grab a fun natural shot of you and your 3rd cousins once removed during the reception. There is no need to have every single member of your family involved in the family formals. I usually shoot B +G with bride’s parents, B+G with groom’s parents, B+G with bride’s parents and siblings (with spouses), B+G with groom’s parents and siblings. Don’t worry, I’ll promise Mom and Dad to get a big shot of their family at the reception. And actually do it of course! *** That being said, I know many times your parents will insist and there is nothing you can do about it! Again, just budget time for it. : )
7) Surely this is a given but do let your parents and siblings know to stick around for photos after the ceremony. Also if there is a nasty divorce or some bad blood between family members please let us know before your wedding day. It can be managed quite smoothly.
Lasty and most importantly…….Communicate with your photographer. Send him or her adjectives that describe you, your wedding and what you envision. If you are thinking whimsical and playful tell us! If you want drama and sophstication, tell us! I had a client recently that described herself and her wedding as laughter, wine, laid back, and navy. I loved that and found it so helpful.
Well I’m going to get back to work now and hopefully stop sweating from my heart beating out of chest (stupid coffee). Hope this was helpful to someone out there! xoxo
