How to get the best wedding photos
Thank you for booking me for your wedding. I don’t take for granted the trust you have put in me to capture your day and I can’t wait to create a gallery of images that you’ll love and cherish for years to come.
Over the many years that I’ve been shooting weddings, I’ve noticed that couples often have the same questions about how I work and what to expect on the day.
You may have a few questions too.
I want you to relax knowing that I will have everything under control from a photography point of view, and the information on this page is to help as you plan your day.
Tips to help me create the best images for you
- .No posing required!
I’m there to document your day, not to direct it.
This means that I won’t be manipulating or choreographing scenes, other than some gentle organisation during group shots and your couple’s portraits.
If guests ask me to take their photo that’s great, but otherwise I’ll be shooting candidly and naturally as the day unfolds.
- Be with each other – forget about me!
Whenever I ask my couples to show me their favourite photos from the day it’s always the shots where people are with each other, laughing, hugging, crying – just enjoying each other’s company.
The common denominator is that they are genuinely with each other, and crucially, not looking at me.
Those images where someone is looking directly at the camera rarely feature amongst the ‘favourites’.
- Don’t look at the camera – forget about me!
Please try not to look at the camera unless I ask (usually for the group photos).
It may feel strange at first, but the more you can forget about me, the better your images will be – and the more you’ll love them!
- I will get close – forget about me!
The best way for me to capture your day candidly and discretely is to blend in. To become as inconspicuous as possible.
I don’t do this by hiding behind plant pots. I do it by being friendly and sociable and getting along with your guests and other suppliers so that people relax with having me (and the cameras) around.
My style of shooting requires me to be in amongst the action, which means that for some of your photos I’ll need to get close to you and your guests. The only way that’s going to work is if I’m blending in as part of your group, so don’t be surprised if by the end of your day, when I’m packing up and leaving, I give you a big hug – by then it’ll be like we’ve known each other for years!
- Trust me – forget about me!
Trust that even if you can’t see me, I’ll be busy shooting away, or taking a moment to plan the next shot.
- Don’t worry about ‘getting in the way’
Guests (and yourselves) needn’t worry about ‘getting in the way.’ If I need to move I will. If I am shooting over someone’s shoulder or with them in the scene it will be for a reason and the best thing is just to ignore me and carry on. If I absolutely need someone to briefly move I will politely ask them.
- Tell me who’s who
It’s usually obvious to me when I arrive who the important people are, but if you could please point out or introduce me to parents and any other significant people at the start of the day that would be helpful.
- Your entrance – and how to make the most of it!
How will the two of you be making your entrance to your wedding ceremony? Will one of you be waiting for the other at the top of the aisle, or will you be making your entrance together?
Let me know your plans and what to expect so that I am in the right place when the time comes!
If you will be walking down the aisle behind bridesmaids, please leave a big gap between them and yourself – I usually recommend waiting until the final bridesmaid has completed her walk before you make your entrance.
Please enjoy the walk! This is what you’ve been waiting and planning for.
Take your time and walk nice and slowly to take it all in. For many couples, the bridal entrance (and exit) are some of the most treasured photographs, so take your time. Give me chance to get the best shots for you.
From a photography point of view this is particularly important in dark venues to help the camera focus as you walk towards the front of the venue.
- The kiss – make the most of it!
Sometimes celebrants or ministers can forget to step to the side or inadvertently position themselves between me and you.
Take your time and if you want to have a cheeky second kiss please go for it! It’ll give me chance to find my spot if someone has suddenly positioned themselves inbetween you and me.
- Your exit – and how to make the most of it!
As you exit as a newly married couple try not to look at the camera – at least not for the whole walk. I will be right in front of you, so it may feel strange, but make sure you’re looking at each other and your guests – take it all in and remember to forget about me!
- Confetti – yay or nay – and where and how
Confetti is a fun and symbolic wedding tradition which makes for some lovely colourful photos. Confetti throws are usually best if done outside where possible – please speak to your minister or celebrant to find out their venue rules and see what is permitted, including if there’s a wet-weather contingency plan.
If confetti is part of your plan I recommend nominating a couple of groomsmen or bridesmaids to help with handing it out (if you’ll be supplying it yourselves). Make sure you have plenty of it! There’s really no such thing as too much confetti!
Have a think about how you would like to have guests throw their confetti over you. You may want to walk through the middle of a traditional confetti aisle with guests either side of you, or you may prefer to stand together with your guests around you in a semi-circle. The latter is usually recommended if you have a smaller group of guests or would like as many people as possible in the photo.
The confetti format may be dictated by the venue and the space available. We’ll talk about it nearer the time, but give some thought to how you might like this to work.
- Phones away – ceremonies unplugged
I recommend unplugged weddings – weddings where phones are out of bounds for the crucial parts of the day.
I advocate guests being politely reminded, especially for the ceremony, speeches and confetti, to put their phones away and to trust me to capture the moments for you.
I’m not being miserable – I know how tempting it is to grab the phone to ‘capture the moment’ – but the best way to enjoy the moment is to leave the phone alone and to simply take it all in.
Guests with phones stretched out into the aisle can block my camera and block my view of you. Alternatively, but equally upsetting, the camera could mistakenly pick up the offending arm / hand / phone as the focus point – making you a distant blur.
Please, if you can, ask your guests to save their phone photos for the reception drinks and after party and reassure them that you’ll be able to share your gallery with them, so they won’t miss out.
- Phones out of pockets – avoid the bulge
Nobody loves photos of a phone or keys bulge in trouser pockets. If you can, I recommend finding an alternative place to store these for the day – or just ask someone to look after them for photos.
- Details, details
Whilst I am a documentary photographer and my focus is on people and moments, I will also take detail shots – photos of your venue, the flowers, cake and table settings.
I know that you’ll have spent time planning all the little touches so I make sure to record the details that I see. That said, I don’t typically do stylised flat-lays.
If you have special details that you would like me to take shots of during your morning preparations (jewellery, perfume, shoes, rings etc) please put these to one side and point them out to me when I arrive.
- Timings – let’s chat
Don’t forget to complete and return the Day Plan questionnaire – it will help me work out where I need to be and when. Once you’ve spoken with your venue or event planner and have a rough idea of your day plan schedule please let me know so that we can talk about the timings of your couples’ shots.
- Group shot organisation
One of the best ways to help your day run smoothly is to appoint a group shot coordinator – an organiser, a do-er, someone with a loud voice and who won’t be shy when it comes to rounding up the troops and getting everyone in position for group shots. For most people, the group shots are a necessity rather than a highlight of the day, so let’s get them done and dusted with the minimum amount of fuss and effort so everyone can get back to the party!
- Priorities if I’ll be the sole photographer
If you haven’t booked a second photographer there are a few additional things that you should be aware of.
I will have to prioritise aspects of your day to ensure that you receive a gallery of images which reflects the story of your day as fully as possible. It is likely that I won’t be able to stay for photos of you getting into your dress, as I’ll need to make sure I leave your bridal preparations in good time to get to the ceremony location, get parked and get my cameras into position for the ceremony, as well as to capture some candid shots of your guests and your partner waiting for your arrival.
I may find myself positioned in one spot for the ceremony, so your ceremony photos will be from that angle. I’ll do my best to move around as discretely as possible, but I’ll be subject to the venue shape and size and the minister or celebrant’s rules, so, for example, you are unlikely to receive images from the rear of the ceremony as well as the front.
As a single shooter there will naturally be less photos taken than when I am working with a second photographer. It will likely be the case that I won’t be able to capture two sets of preparations images (unless you are getting ready in the same location). There may also be less candid photos of your guests.
What to expect after the day
You’ll receive a sneak peek gallery within 10 days of your wedding. You’ll then receive your complete gallery within 6-8 weeks. Your photos will be delivered via online gallery to enable you to easily share images with your family and friends.
Your other suppliers may ask for photos to use on their own social media pages. I love to see the images I’ve created being used and shared, but kindly ask that credit is attributed to me with a link to my page and / or website and that they are not altered or edited in any way. If you are happy for me to do so I can send your suppliers a link direct – just let me know.
Most important of all – enjoy your day!
I hope these pointers will be a helpful reference point as you plan and consider your day. We’ll keep in touch in the build up to your day and we’ll have a final round-up call about a fortnight before. In the meantime, more wedding photography FAQ’s are here – just scroll to the bottom of the page – or just give me a call or drop me a line if you have any questions you’d like to discuss.
Jo x