Wedding Day Tip Guide

Getting Ready

  • We love shooting candids.  Fun and sentimental moments will happen in every corner of the room you are getting ready in so it is best if you can keep the room clean of clutter.  It usually helps if everyone puts their bags in a closet or bathroom.
  • Natural light is best even for this part of the day.  Try to choose getting ready locations with plenty of natural light (lots of windows).  That being said, it is usually best for makeup shots if you are getting makeup done by a window also.  This part is really up to your hair and makeup artist- but it’s just a tip.  If there is enough natural light in the room, we will turn off all of the artificial lights for the best best best indoor photography light ever.
  • If you need ideas on getting ready places, check airbnb.  Most properties are full of personality and will make great backdrops for all of your getting ready shots.  Remember-natural light is key.
  • All of this stuff  goes for the groom too!  He’s important and needs a swanky place to get ready with his guys also.

Our thoughts about First looks

  • It allows for a private moment for the two of you to spend time together and can help calm some wedding day nerves.
  • We have more opportunity to get great photos of the two of you in lighting that we can control.  Normally we can do first looks in natural light (especially if your ceremony is after sunset).
  • It saves you time.  After the wedding you can head straight to your reception.
  • Sometimes it’s just not how you pictured your wedding day- and that’s 100% okay!  If you’ve always dreamed of seeing your best pal at the end of the aisle for the first time that day, then ditch the first look.  If you aren’t as traditional, then it can definitely help you get more awesome portraits of the two of you together.

Ceremony Tips

  • If you are getting married outside, try to get married with the sun behind you.  Keep in mind the sunset time for outdoor ceremonies and timelines.
  • If you are using a microphone, it is usually best to use a handheld one or one clipped to your officiant so the stand isn’t in the shots.
  • Consider having at least the ceremony unplugged.  We definitely don’t mind people using cameras or camera phones, but sometimes it can be a little distracting when people pop into the aisle as you or your loved ones are walking down.

Group shots after the ceremony

  • Caitlin takes pictures of the bride and all bridesmaids and some pictures of the bride and her family before the ceremony (Thad does the same with the groom.) It is helpful to have the flowers and boutonnieres available for these pictures.
  • We want to get all of the family shots that you want, so we always ask that the bride and groom send us a family shot list prior to the wedding.  We have a general outline of the family pictures we normally take, but this may change with divorces, siblings having their own families, etc.  We also may ask a family or friend to help us round up people since we don’t always know what everyone looks like.  Here is our standard shot list:
    • Couple + Bride’s Parents
    • Couple + Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings
    • Couple + Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Grandparents
    • Couple + Groom’s Parents
    • Couple + Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings
    • Couple + Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Grandparents
  • We LOVE to take sunset pictures of the bride and groom together on the wedding day.  If this can be worked into the timeline at all- you won’t regret it.

Other miscellaneous tips

  • We do everything we can to help keep track of timelines and make sure that everything is going smoothly on your day.  However, we aren’t planners, and having a planner can really help make sure that all of the hard work and money you put into your wedding is executed exactly how you dreamed for it to be.
  • We are always willing to help with timelines.  We know what times of the day that lighting is best for pictures and we want your pictures to be awesome.  If you have any photography related questions in the process of planning, please send them our way.
  • Share the timeline with your family and friends!  That way everyone is where they need to be and the day goes by smoothly.