Hello!
I'm super excited to be photographing your wedding! I know you are going to have the best time of your lives, and we're going to capture memories that allow you to relive each moment and enjoy the day over and over again. Planning a wedding is no mean feat, and you are probably going to have a lot of things to decide and arrange, and potentially various people to keep happy along the way! I've been to one or two weddings over the years, so I've put together this guide to make sure you have all the information and advice you need regarding wedding photography (before, during and after); and also some super secret insider info on planning and things you might not have thought of yet!
Top Tip - It's YOUR Day!
Plan the best day of *your* lives! Not the day anyone else thinks you should have, or the wedding you think Pinterest and Instagram might like to see. Do it your way and don't pay too much attention to what a wedding *should* be. If you think a wedding tradition is odd or outdated - then don't do it! You don't have to do anything because of 'should'. You'll only be doing this once – so make it entirely your own and unique to you.
But also – regardless of all the planning and preparations – be prepared to let go of everything on the day and just enjoy every moment – imperfections and all. All your favourite people in the one place celebrating your love for each other is what it's all about.
Having fun, loving & embracing each moment = the most awesome photos (much more than everything being 'perfect').
BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
Couples Shoot
An couples shoot comes with every full day ‘Big Adventure’ package but can be purchased as a standalone session too.
I consider couples shoot so important because, not only are the photos capturing a celebration of your exciting future together, they help prepare you immensely for your wedding day and give you an opportunity to see how I work behind the camera, ensuring you have a brilliant wedding with no qualms or worries whatsoever. Plus, there are a multitude of uses for the photos I take that day, including save the dates, wedding websites, hen parties, stag nights, wedding invites, thank-you cards and more.
During your couples shoot, you will see that being photographed is not as scary as you might have thought! I’ve had camera shy clients tell me that they really enjoyed the session, and it always shows in the photos, which is great. I promise plenty of bad jokes, and lots of fun and adventure. Click below to find out more.
6 Weeks To Go
Around 6 weeks before your wedding date I'll send you your wedding homework to fill in. Not only will it include schedules and locations, it will also give you the opportunity to list what shots are important to you and allow you to highlight anything out of the ordinary I might need to know (first dance with lightsabers – uh yes please tell me more).
There's no need to worry about sending over Pinterest boards or things like that, but if you have specific examples of shots you love from my website then please let me know. Other than that I totally appreciate that you trust me to approach your day with an open mind, that way I can create photographs that are truly and uniquely yours!
3 Weeks To Go
Around 2-3 weeks we'll have our final consultation, this can be via video chat or in person. We'll go over the homework, give timeline advice, and make sure I know all about everything that's happening on the day. I will then take all the information and craft an itinerary for you. It's not a strict itinerary; it's a flexible guide as to what has to happen at some point over the course of the day, to make sure everything is captured. Your final balance is also due at 2 weeks before your wedding date. You can also pay it off in installments at any time by clicking on your online invoice.
In the run up to the wedding you can add items to your wedding package at any time. For example albums or extra coverage to the end of the night, just click below if you want to do this.
YOUR WEDDING DAY
The Morning
I like to arrive about 2 hours before the ceremony. Coverage of 6+ hours means you have two photographers with you all day, double the eyes, double the fun! This means we can cover each of you getting ready no matter if you're in the same location or not. Why should only one of you get all the fun of having our bantz? ;) I kid, we're pretty much flies on the wall for the most part. We're not going to get in the way or make you repeat anything in slow motion or force any cheesy poses – unless you want some daft ones – then we're totally up for it! We mostly watch things unfold and be ninja-like. After about 10 minutes everyone will have forgotten we're there! Perfect.
We love to capture the things that matter and the moments as they happen – so just do what you need to do and let us document. We really want to capture your wedding as it was - so you can remember it that way – so, if things are chaotic then don't worry too much about tidying up, or hiding the chaos from us – but if you do want things to look neat and minimal then just be mindful of that. It can be a good job to assign to a wedding party member! 'The controller of chaos' has a nice ring to it I think!
Top Tip – Light & Labels
One thing that's important to consider is the light in the place you are getting ready. Natural light is always the most flattering and great to shoot in, so the more the better. A nice room with big windows is always a good choice!
In the morning, if there are certain detail shots, or items you want photographs of, then try to make sure these are out and on display (I don't want to miss real moments because I'm unboxing shoes!) These could include things like the rings, shoes, hanging up any outfits in a good position. If you are not too bothered about that, then no worries. Clothing always looks better on you than on a hanger anyway!
Make sure you remove the labels from everything before the big day. I can't tell you how many times the ceremony has been delayed as the wedding party have been cutting tags off necklaces/bracelets/shoes/dresses at the last minute! It's SUCH a time saver on the day :) This is another good job to assign to a wedding party member, 'lancer of labels'.
The Ceremony
It's always worth checking any photography rules with your venue and celebrant. Usually it's fine but there have been occasions where I've been told no photographs are allowed at all and that's not the news I want to be breaking to a couple two minutes before their ceremony starts. So please check with them and let me know if they have any concerns as I'm sure I can sweet talk them in advance ;)
Confetti!
It's unpredictable and guarantees smiles – I love it! Please check with your venue that they allow it and check out our favourite types of confetti HERE. I prefer biodegradable paper confetti as it falls the best. Dried petals can be a nice idea but they don't photograph as well and they can be tricky to get out of your hair/mouth!
Top Tip – Knowing when to live the moments
I'm totally happy for your guests to take photos throughout the day – but for any parents in attendance I'd ask you to encourage them to put down the camera for the important moments and just to be fully present and live through them. They need to see you as you really are and not through a screen. I'll be there to capture everything and give them the photos they'll cherish.
The Family Photos
I firmly believe it's important to get some nice formal photos of you both with your loved ones. It can seem a bit old fashioned but they've stood the test of time for a reason. Plus they don't have to be boring with my witty repartee around!
Depending on our schedule and the weather, a good time to do this is usually between the ceremony and before you sit down to eat.
We will finalise the groups you want in the wedding homework (don't worry it comes with a guide!) but be aware that these shots can take longer than you think. Each group can take 4-5 minutes to organise and so having 10 groups means you'll need to factor in around 45 minutes for these shots.
Top Tip – The less standing around the better!
With this in mind, I'd advise doing as compact a group shot list as possible, as the less time stood around wondering why nobody can find Auntie Sue, and the more time spent celebrating the better!
Try not to break things down too much, as usually the one that gets printed is the big family shot with everyone in it. Also, if I'm there all day and you want any informal shots grabbed with friends or family when everyone is relaxed and having fun later on, you or any of your guests can just tap me on the shoulder and ask for a picture.
All images from the day will be available for all guests to download or buy prints directly from your online gallery.
The Reception
If you've booked me for a full day package, myself and the second photographer will likely be working 10+ hours – and hungry photographers are sad photographers – if it's possible to provide us with a hot meal that would be fantastic. No worries if not, just let us know in advance so we can bring some food. The best time for us to eat is when you do – it's really the only time all day that we stop taking photos – guests with mouthfuls of food don't tend to make the best photos! We usually sit in a side room to eat so don't worry about finding us a place at a table.
Top Tip – Speeches
There are a lot of different ways to do any speeches you might be having, before the meal, during the meal or after – what to do? With my experience of weddings I would advise you to do these before the meal. That way the guests will be attentive and the speech givers can relax and enjoy their dinner afterwards.
I'd also encourage you to tell your speech givers to keep things succinct. Short and sweet really is the best, I'd say 5-7 minutes per speech is ideal. What's the longest speech I've ever witnessed you ask? 48 mins.
Awesome Portraits: Joy Story style
When it comes to photos of just the two of you, a couple of short sessions throughout the day is better than one long one away from your guests. I usually like to play this by ear on the day – especially as timings and weather can get in the way of the best laid plans. Later in the day is usually better as most of the formalities are out of the way, you are more relaxed and crucially the light is better the closer to sunset we get. Most couples love these parts of the day, as it's time away with just you two, taking time out as a married couple and having 10 minutes to yourself watching the sunset.
Working around you is very important to me so if taking more time for portraits or travelling a short distance to an epic location is important to you then just let me know in your homework and I'll arrange the plans!
Top Tip – Ignore me!
The key to documentary photography is learning to ignore the photographer. If you find yourself looking at me, just look away. It may feel strange at first, but as the day goes on you'll forget I'm even there. I'll direct you a little more during portraits but the story is still about you both and so I get you to interact with each other rather than me, for more natural looking images. It's about you being yourselves and capturing your personalities. The shots have to reflect who you are, that way they will be more meaningful to you and those close to you.
The Party
The advice here is simple – have an amazing party and go nuts! I'll be on the dance floor - and at the bar – wherever the action is! Capturing you and your awesome guests having an amazing time together. Nobody cares about the photographers by this point – it's great!
Top Tip – Get Ceilidh'ed Away!
The best wedding parties I've been to have involved an amazing band or ceilidh. I'd highly recommend one for your wedding entertainment. Guests seem to make more effort when there's a band and everyone makes effort when there's a ceilidh! I've got some belters of recommendations on the team-mates page HERE.
AFTER YOUR WEDDING DAY
48-72 Hours
I love to provide my couples with some previews of your wedding day as soon as I can. I'll edit and upload 10 -15 shots from your day into your online gallery. These are great to use for thank you cards and facebook announcements! I also love to share these on my social media but I'll check in with you if that's ok before I do.
You can see some of my previous posts on my Facebook and Instagram.
1 Month
A sneaky surprise awaits you on your 1-month-a-versary...!
6-8 Weeks
Your full online gallery is delivered. I prefer not to rush the process of delivering your images as I like to spend the right amount of time editing them to make sure they are the best they can be. I can promise you they'll be worth the wait! I will also send out your USB box full of surprises at this time!
Albums
If you pre-purchased an album, once you have your online gallery you can use your favourites button to start choosing the images you'd like to showcase. I'll send an email to explain the design process, and once you are happy with the final layout I'll order an album that you will love, and full of moments you can live again and again.
If you haven't yet purchased an album – no worries! You can add an album anytime before or after your wedding. Ideally, I would love all my couples to have this perfect memento of their day in an album that is made to be loved, passed around and down through generations to come. You can read more about the gorgeous albums we offer below.