Wedding Photography Checklist!
Your special day is just around the corner! Here are some tips to keep in mind while discussing your wedding with your wedding photographer and/or videographer.
#1 Plan Your Budget to Make Room for Lasting Memories
When it comes to weddings, everything can be expensive! Make sure that you plan to have in your budget a quality wedding photographer. Sure Uncle Steve can take some decent photos, but odds are he’s not trained for all the intricacies in a wedding photography scenario, and may end up missing those special little moments and reactions. Chances are he probably doesn’t know about photo composition, how to edit those photos, or adjust those colors to make them pop. Let him sit back with the family and friends, and enjoy the festivities and hire a professional! (like Green Rose Photo!… yes, we inserted a shameless plug here ;-) ) Make sure you also check out your photographer’s work on their website, and follow them on their social media to get an idea of their creative style.
#2 Make Sure You’re On the Same Page
Most photographers offer several different wedding packages, some more affordable than others. Make sure to talk with your photographer and keep notes of what they tell you. If you’re trying to cut costs, a ceremony-only wedding package might be the way to go - it covers the essentials of the big day. Just don’t expect your photographer to stay way into the night if that’s all that you’ve agreed upon. Talk these details out beforehand with your Fiancé, and with your photographer, so that neither party is surprised the day of with what is being offered and covered.
#3 It’s All In The Details
Go over every little detail that you have planned with your photographer. If you’re having puppies walk down the aisle as ring bearers, let your photographer know! If you’re doing a first look before the ceremony, make it clear to the photographer so that these moments are not lost in time, and are preserved in film (or digitally for that matter). As you begin to plan for your big day, and all those little details, you’re definitely going to want to see photos of everything! Years from now you’ll be looking at those photos, and they will take you right back to that special day, which goes by so fast in the moment! (I almost didn’t get to eat my piece of cake at my own wedding!) Also, remember to slowly walk down the aisle, and make sure your wedding party knows to do that as well. There are a lot of emotions that take place as people rush down to the altar, so it’ll make your photographer’s job easier if everyone slows down as they walk towards the altar so we can capture more beautiful moments for you.
#4 Create a Timeline
Hopefully, you’ll be working with a wedding planner to help iron out the details of your day-of timeline. It is very important to plan where the bridal party is going to meet up, how they’re all getting to and from the venue, and if there will be pictures of everyone getting ready before the ceremony. These details are also very important for the photographer to know. That way there is no confusion as to where pictures will be taking place, and where family members should be for photos before the ceremony. Just remember to fill in the photographer with any changes or surprises as your finalizing your plans!
#5 Be Yourselves
Be sure to have fun and be comfortable in front of the camera, and with each other! If you’re funny and goofy, then let loose when it comes time for photos. The smiles will always photograph better and be more genuine that way. Don’t focus too much on posing - you might appear too stiff or uncomfortable. Let the photographer figure out what looks good when you’re together. They’ll know how to pose you both, and get flattering angles and the right lighting.
