Important Info To Share With Your Photographer
One of the most important elements of your wedding day is your photos. They are what you will look back on to remember your beautiful day. I always share with my couples how important it is to pick a photographer you are comfortable with, but it is equally important to know what you specifically want to be documented on your day. It is so important to meet with your photographer and have a clear understanding of how things are going to go the day of your wedding and provide them with a breakdown of your must-have photos. Communication is so important so making sure you discuss the important photos must-haves with your photographer is a key element to capturing your day. So, I wanted to share with you the details I recommend that my couples discuss with their photographers.
Lists Are Important
These are very important for both your sanity and the photographers. Take some time about 1-2 months before your wedding and start writing down how you want your family photos to go. I recommend to start with this one first because sometimes this takes the longest to break down. So you want to starting thinking about who you what in your photos and how you want them captured. Do you want a photo with each parent and sibling? Do you want separate pictures with each of you as the couple and each side of the family? Are there certain wedding party pictures that you want? Making lists of each different photo combination and who is in it is the best way to keep this organized. Breaking it down into lists is a great time saver and can make things run much smoother with a bigger crowd for photos on your wedding day. It can also keep your mind clear because this would be the last thing you want to think of on the day of your wedding. Also, lists are very handy to share with not only your photographer but also your wedding planner because they can help make sure that all the individuals needed for the photos are present and accounted for and haven’t wondered off to the bar just yet.
Example list titles -
Getting Ready Photos
Jewelry & other accessories
Shoes
Wedding gown
Getting makeup done
Getting dressed
Putting jewelry on
Toasting with wedding party
Mother moment
Ring shot
Etc.
Family Photos W/ Couple
Partner 1’s Sister & Husband - Hannah & Tim
Partner 1’s Parents - Carl & Mira
Partner 1’s Immediate Family - Carl, Mira, Tim & Hannah
Partner 2’s Brother - Nick
Partner 2’s Parents - Mark & Kim
Partner 2’s Immediate Family - Mark, Kim & Nick
Both Partner’s Families Together - Mark, Kim, Nick, Hannah, Tim, Carl & Mira
Etc.
Family Dynamics
Another important thing to communicate with your photographer are any family dynamics they might need to be aware of. For example, are your parents divorced and aren’t amicable with each other? Then you might want to plan to split up family photos so that Mom and Dad don’t have to be in the same space together at the same time. Is there a family member with any mobility issues that we might want to make sure we plan around timing wise and also make sure we have a chair available for? Are there any cousins or friends that don’t get along that we should make sure aren’t in pictures together? Does Mom really hate being in front of the camera? These are all things that will help your photographer plan for a smooth running family portrait session on your wedding day.
The Little Things
Most photographers start with the getting ready photos. During this time, your photographer will want to capture photos of all your little important details such as your shoes, jewelry, rings, invitations, etc. So, I recommend gathering these items together in a box or bag to have them all ready to go for your photographer when they arrive. This is a great time saver as well and also ensures you don’t forget any of the details. This also allows you to be able to sit back and sip a mimosa while your photographer works their magic.
First Look or Traditional Walk Down The Aisle?
Are you doing a first look or a traditional walk down the aisle? This is an important element to think about beforehand. If you are doing a first look, your photographer is going to need to plan more time before the ceremony for this. I have even seen some brides do a first look with their father, mother, siblings or bridesmaids. This requires more time before the ceremony as well. Just make sure you talk about these details with your photographer so that you have plenty of time to capture those special moments.
Most photographers will ask you these questions and some will even have checklists for you to select shot requests from. This is also important to know when picking your photographer because you want someone who is going to help you break down and navigate the photography process. Having all this planned out will keep your photos organized and make them go so much smoother so that you can really enjoy your wedding day and not stress about the photos.
Happy Planning <3
Naticia
