top tips from a wedding photographer

we hope that so far we have given you a good amount of wedding planning inspiration and tips! This time we wanted to give you some tips specifically from a wedding photographers perspective.

There are a lot of important things to think about when it comes to planning your wedding. (hense, why we created a guide) 😆

1. try that dress on a month (even a week) before your big day!

   You may just have the mindset that “it’ll be good enough”, or “i don’t have time for that.” but trust us, nothing stresses a bride (and her mom) out more than not fitting in the dress, and having to use whatever means possible to make it ‘fit’ right before the big moments. Please, if we can avoid ripping thousands of dollars worth of custom, BEAUTIFULly made wedding dresses on your wedding day, We are all for it! 🤧

2. do some teeth whitening!

   This may sounds silly, but you will not like looking at your wedding pictures 10 years from now thinking “with all the teeth whitening products in the world right now, why do i have yellow teeth..?” 😩

   *of course, as a photographer we can whiten a smile a little. however, going over hundreds of photos of your teeth and having to paint them whiter one, by one, by one, will most DEFINITELY add some editing time. Cleaner teeth, quicker you get that gallery! 🤪

3. Enjoy your big day, but don’t forget it.

   we know very well that wedding celebrations, and ALCOHOL go hand in hand. (they have for thousands of years.) As much as we want our photographs to be part of your everlasting memory of your special day, we know you want to have the physical memories from that day as well! Enjoy the day, have a drink if you want, but if your wedding day is 98 degrees do not use alcohol to hydrate. classic H2o is always a good choice for wedding days!

4. get your photos printed people!! 📸

   Yes, we know we live in a digital age.. which means you have all these memories and photos at the swipe of a finger. but there is something about a physical print in your hands and on your walls. we aren’t saying you have to go and buy that 30”X40” massive canvas for you and your grandma.

   however, maybe you have a beautiful coffee table, and nothing to set on it. Thats where buying a lay flat album can be a perfect thing that will last for years and years *(especially if you find the matching color of linen or leather to match your couch!) 📚

   or, maybe you have a blank wall just begging for something to hang on it. buy a medium sized print and a black frame and your wall will thank you!

   *but for real, buy a couple small prints for your grandma. trust us when we say they will love this and it will mean the world to them. 🤍

5. make a dance playlist!!

   nothing is worse than paying for good dj, and then having HORRIBLE music and nobody dances. You want to have fun, they want to have fun, (and lets be real, some guests are only looking forward to some food, and the dance!)

   *Plus, if you pay a photographer to stay an extra hour for the dance, at least make sure the dance floor looks like a blast so all the people that couldn’t make your wedding regret not coming! 💃

6. Plan a sendoff! (or a fake one) ✨

   some of our favorite action shots on a wedding day are from a sparkler sendoff! have everyone line up in two lines with a sparkler each, and then your run down the middle, (maybe pausing for a kiss) and off you go for the night!

   *It is also an easy way to get into a car quickly and not have to say those awkward goodbyes with everyone telling you to “have fun!!”.. 🥴

   P.s. If you only booked your wedding photographer till 8 for example, and your not leaving until midnight, you can always do a early sparkler sendoff, and instead of just running to a car, you run to the dance floor and party! 🤩

7. its okay to be a little bossy on your day.

   Now, we are not saying it is okay to be a bridezilla, please, nobody including you will enjoy that. However, you can be picky, you can ask people for favors, you can ask people to come, you can ask people to move things, run to the store for things (if its a reasonable distance) etc. just remember to say please, and thank you, and your the greatest! ☺️

8. let the photographer help with your timeline. 📝

   This is one thing that we know a lot about. especially if you do not have a wedding coordinator, the photographer will most likely be the one telling you what is next, and how much time until the next part of the day. Some photographers may not help, but they know best how much time you need for things like family photos, bridal party photos, when is the best lighting for sunset photos, how long for first looks, etc.

   So don’t be afraid to ask them for help!

9. announce a phone-free ceremony! 📵

   As photographers, you are trusting us, and paying us to capture your most special moments. your aunt Sue.. sorry, but she is not in charge of standing in the isle and capturing the kiss so she can post to facebook. 🙃 not only is it distracting to everyone else, but a lot of the time they get in the way of us trying to get that perfct shot. As much as we love your aunt sue, she does not need to be in your first kiss photo!

   you can also ask for people to put phones away for other parts of your day as well, it not only helps us, but makes the day more enjoyable when people aren’t so distracted by phones!

10. remember, it’s about the two of you. (not them) 👰‍♀️🤍🤵‍♂️

    Lastly, just remember the day is about the two of you, BECOMING one. So if you need 10 minutes after your ceremony, to just go kiss in the back stairwell, just tell us, or your maid of honor, and we will cover for you! 😎

    *why we say tell someone, is because if you don’t tell anyone, then everyone will start looking for you and someone. will. find. you. 😅 But if someone knows, they can cover and just say “oh, they went on a walk to take it all in!” 😏

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We hope you enjoy reading these as much as we enjoy making them! ☺️

Keep an eye out for the next one! until then, enjoy this short season of engagement! 🥰