The Key To Gorgeous Wedding Day Portraits
Let’s talk about the wedding day portraits and how to make the best of them! I want you to feel stress-free and to have a great time while I do my job.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Photographers aren’t here just to take photos, we are here to help you! We want to document your story and capture every special moment you share on your wedding day.
Make sure you tell your photographer what moments of your day are most important. Some ideas could be the father-daughter first look, dress reveal reactions, a portrait with your best friend, etc. I love to know what is extra special so I can capture the couples wedding vision!
PLAN THE DAY AROUND NATURAL LIGHTING
There is this magical time an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset for us photographers, the golden hour. Planning your time around when the sun sets can make for gorgeous and dreamy portraits. Here is a little guide according to season:
WINTER
During this season, this is when the sun sets the earliest, typically around 5:00pm. If you do have a winter wedding, I would recommend having at least 8 hours of wedding coverage to get perfect photography!
SPRING
The spring may vary because the sun set time changes throughout April and May. I would say the sun sets around 6:00 pm to be safe!
SUMMER
During the summer, we have the most light and that’s why they are my favorite. They are super flexible! Therefore, sun set can vary but it’s usually around 7:00-8:00 pm.
FALL
Fall is another tricky one! The time does change throughout this season but it is similar to spring, sun sets around 5:00-6:00 pm. The later in the season, the shorter time the sun is out!
CONSIDER A FIRST LOOK
I do not want to force my brides to do a first look if they don’t want to. In my wedding guide, I do give a few pages of information on why I recommend them…but here is why you should consider a first look session!
I was opposed to doing one for my wedding until I read about the benefits. What stood out to me was the fact the first look will be the only alone time with your significant other.
Between getting ready and mingling with your guests, you two won’t have much time to step out and be with just each other. Immediately after the first look, we jump into party portraits.
Your guests will also be happy because you won’t be gone for 30 minutes doing other portraits, you will already those done! Of course, we will slip out and do some ‘just married’ photos but those take 10 minutes!
First looks are my favorite, and here’s why…’Benefits Of A First Look’
GIVE YOURSELF BUFFER TIME
This one is very important! Give yourself 15-30 minutes in between events on your agenda!
Dress malfunctions
Plan on putting your dress on 30 minutes before the First Look. Things happen, buttons snap, zippers break, it’s ok! When you give yourself a little extra time, you can make up for the casualty. haha!
Consider travel time
From the hotel to the portrait location to the ceremony, there will be traffic. It also takes some time for people to clean up and pack their things into the car.
People are late
Life happens! People may run a little behind time.
Family formals
Let’s face it, it is hard to gather family into one spot! So making sure you have some buffer time before family formals will help get everyone situated in time for photos.
RELAX AND HAVE FUN!!
The most important tip I have for you is to relax and have fun! IT’S YOUR WEDDING DAY! Try not to stress the small things.
Know that everything doesn’t go according to plan and THAT IS OK! At the end of the day, it’s about you and the love of your life celebrating something special.
So, dance like nobody’s watching, sing your heart out, have a drink and laugh! Your wedding day is once in a lifetime.
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The Secrets To Beautiful Getting Ready Images!
