Picture Perfect

Wedding Photography Do's and Dont's for Brides and Grooms

Being photographed can be an intimidating thing for a bride and groom, most of us aren't used to having our own personal paparazzi, not to mention being told to give your best personal display of affection in public while its captured on camera. But capturing the events of your wedding is terribly important and there are a few DO’s and DONT’s I’ve learned along the way with the help of some of my favorite photography pros that will make your wedding photos amazing.

DO find a photographer you trust.

When looking for a wedding photographer don’t just look at their websites and portfolio but also read their blogs and they’re “about me” sections. Most photographers like to share a little bit about themselves and you can easily see their personalities through their photos and what they write about themselves. Besides your fiancée, your photographer will be the one person you will be spending the ENTIRE day with, so it NEEDS to be someone you like. If you have things in common with your photographer you can trust that your end result will be exactly what you are looking for and they’ll be there to capture your real moments as if they were their own.

DON’T just choose a photographer by price or location.

There is a wedding photographer out their for EVERYONE, no matter what your style, interests or priorities. You can find someone in your price range, that also shoots the style you like, plus most photographers are willing to travel.

DO book an engagement session.

Engagement sessions are meant to be an introduction to being in front of a camera and getting to know your photographer. They are a casual and relaxed way to become comfortable in front of a camera. There is less time constraint during an engagement session, you and your photographer have time to get to know each other and actually talk! A good photographer will help you learn how to pose and act in front of a camera naturally, so on the big day you will know how to move and act in front of the camera with ease, because you’ve already practiced during your engagement session. 

DON’T let the little things stress you out.

Your dress WILL get dirty, your hair might fall out of place, and you will get lip-gloss on his lips. But, relax! It's a wedding and things happen, but that’s why you have so many amazing people surrounding you on your special day, let them worry about taking care of those things. Relax and enjoy the extra help, you don’t want to remember your wedding day with photos of everyone going crazy over a broken zipper, let others worry about it, drink a glass of champagne!

DO remember to include special details in your day.

Wedding photography tells the story of your day, so remember to have any special mementos with you while you get ready or at the reception so the photographer can capture that. Have your favorite perfume, jewelry, and shoes laid out so your photographer can grab those images.

DON'T take yourself too seriously.

The secret to amazing photographs is completely forgetting that the photographer is even there! The more you just take a deep breathe and enjoy your day and swallow yourselves in each others presence, the better the photographs are. Follow whatever instructions your photographer may have, and then just roll with it! Be confident in your photographer. Be flexible if they ask you to twirl an umbrella, jump in the air, sip a drink or step to the side. Act and behave like you normally would if you two were out on a stroll... embrace, touch each other, kiss, and your pictures will be all the more amazing for it!

DO hire a wedding planner, if you can.

The photographer can only plan and coordinate so much. Time checks, portrait locations, and all the little details cannot be left to the photographer to decide, they are there to photograph. You and your fiancé can’t take on all the responsibilities of the planning and coordinating the day of so hire a planner. It’ll save you and the photographer a ton of headaches.

DON’T stress over the weather.

Sure sunny warm days may seem ideal, but glaring mid-day sun is the absolute worst for photographs. If at all possible schedule outdoor ceremonies or any outdoor portraits for the afternoon, soft, warm afternoon sun if what you are looking for.

DO feed your photographer.

Weddings are long, hard workdays and your photographer and any additional shooters need a warm, large meal to make it through the night. Check with your reception hall and ask that your photographer be fed the same meal as the guests. There is nothing worse than working a 10-hour day and not being fed or being told by a bartender that he can’t serve “staff”, when you ask for water. Also ask your reception hall if they can feed your photographer first rather than last so they can eat and get back to work. Reception venues tend to feed the “staff” last then your left stuffing your face quickly or not at all because your missing all the action from guests that are up and dancing. If your photographer and dj are fed first they can eat and get back to work so they don’t miss any important events.

DO consider doing a first look.

Though the wedding day is about you two, it wont just be “you two” at all during the entire day. A wedding day doesn’t allow for much personal or alone time. So if you’re willing to bypass the “traditional”, a first look is an excellent option. A first look allows your photographer to step back, throw on the extra long lens and allow you two to have actual have a “private” moment. A good photographer will shoot from a distance while you walk up to see each other for the first time and you can actually TALK and TOUCH and enjoy your moment together, where as, up at the front of an aisle or alter you cant do much more than smile at each other. You can take a minute or 5 and hug and chat and calm each others nerves while your photographer is capturing it all from afar. Its extremelyintimate and a tiny slice of privacy for you two, that would will most likely not have again until the wedding is over.

DO allow enough time for photographs.

You're paying a lot of money for someone to capture your day so allow your photographer enough time to let them do their craft and be creative, if you want to be at your cocktail hour or if you are having a receiving line, do a “first look”! A photographer cannot capture all those cool images you see on their website if they have 15 mins to do family photos, wedding party photos & bridal portraits.

DON’T be afraid to be spontaneous and have fun.

That end result will end up being something you will cherish forever. It’s your wedding day so have fun, smile big, and radiate the happiness of the day. The little bumps in the road are what will make your day unique, special and authentically yours.

Photographer: Natasha Montero Photography

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Stacie Shea is a wedding planner, event designer and soon to be vintage rental company. Known for her out-of-the box ideas and fresh event concepts she loves to make an event uniquely yours. Stacie believes the most important thing she can do is understand her client and their story. She is based in Fairfield County but available to work with events worldwide!

For more information contact:
Stacie Shea
Stacie Shea Events
Event Designer
Stacie@staciesheaevents.com