On your wedding day you will have a million things running through your mind. Here are a few tips to think about ahead of time and to help you get the most out of your wedding photography ... as well as some helpful information on portraits and how we like to work! These are only suggestions and may not apply to everyone.
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Getting Ready
What to Wear: Whatever your style, get ready in something comfortable and flattering. This is the perfect excuse for you to buy a cute new robe, vintage slip or steal your fiancé's favorite worn in t-shirt ;)
Natural Light: Since you'll be getting ready indoors, pick a spot near a window for hair + makeup. Natural light is always the most flattering!
De-Clutter: Find a good hiding spot for all of the clutter, so there are some nice clean areas for photos! This is a good job for your bridesmaids ;)
Details: (Optional) Set aside any special items that you'd like photographed - the Invitation Suite, family jewelry, heirlooms, the rings, shoes, bridesmaids dresses, your dress. The best time for us to shoot these items is during the 'getting ready' portion of the day. And delegate! Have a bridesmaid go ahead and un-stuff the dresses and have them ready for the photographer so they can spend more time shooting than prepping.
Flowers: If you'd like to incorporate your personal flowers into the detail photos, please ask your florist to deliver these to your getting ready location.
Timing: We generally like to arrive about an hour before it is time to leave for the First Look or Ceremony.
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First Look
Couples always ask my opinion on whether to do a First Look or photos after the ceremony. I almost always say yes, yes, yes to the First Look, and here's why:
You'll still have butterflies: Many couples are concerned that if they do a First Look it will it take away from the feeling of excitement when they see one another walking down the aisle. No matter what, you will still be overwhelmed with joy and happiness during the ceremony, but with a First Look you just have that awesome moment a little earlier in the day and (in my opinion) it is even more special because it is just the two of you!
More Time: When doing the photos beforehand, we can schedule in plenty of time while nothing else is happening. That way we have more time for creative freedom and you're not having to miss out on your party! It can be a little stressful when you feel like you're having to rush to get back to your cocktail hour and the photos can reflect that.
More Relaxed: I have found that most couples are much more relaxed and enjoy this time more when they are spending it with their favorite person in the world - as opposed to being separated most of the day! What I regret from my wedding day (not doing a First Look) was what little time I actually had alone with my husband before the craziness began.
Natural Light: We love shooting you in beautiful natural daylight, and in the winter months it is typically dark after the ceremony! Take advantage by allowing us time for photos earlier in the day.
Intimate: Keep it just the two of you! There is nothing more awkward than having an audience for these intimate photos and I promise you'll enjoy this quiet time together on what can be a hectic day.
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Portraits
Depending on the wedding, I usually allot about 1 or 1.5 hours for "formal" photos (including the First Look). I use quotations because with us they are definitely more relaxed and casual! We like to capture genuine and natural moments as opposed to anything forced or too posed. We will give you some direction on where to stand, and what to do with your hands, but ultimately we are looking for those moments when you forget your photographer is even there.
Wedding Party: After the First Look + shots of just the two of you, we will ask the Wedding Party to join in for some photos of you guys hanging out and walking together, mixed in with some more posed group shots of you guys nonchalantly looking cool in front of the camera.
Family: Generally, we save family photos for last! Let's face it - this can often be the more stressful part of the day, so we like to keep it short and sweet by picking one simple backdrop that is at or close to the venue. We ask that you provide a shot list of different groupings you'd like and also to appoint a friend or family member to help gather people. They will be able to more efficiently match names to faces and help us save time!
Tip: Keep the list short and sweet... you will most likely be tired of posing at this point and will appreciate having a shorter list.
The more time, the better: Although we may not even need to use all of the scheduled time, things are usually running behind so it is nice to have a buffer. And if we get done early, that just means you have some more time to relax prior to walking down the aisle.
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Ceremony + Reception
This is the time where you can just forget we are there and do your thing! For the rest of the evening we will be flies on the wall, documenting everything that is happening. We like to get a mix of non-flash photos (to capture the natural ambience of the space as well as candids of guests) and bouncing the flash to create an even, more natural looking light when needed at the reception! We have tons of experience working in dark spaces with very low lighting, so don't worry .... we've got you covered.
If we see the opportunity for an outdoor sunset shot or some cool backdrop or lighting situation later on, we may snag you guys for a couple of quick additional photos. So trust in us, it will be worth it and you may find it refreshing to step out for a quick breather!
Sample 8 hour Timeline
2:30 - Getting Ready Shots
3:30 - First Look + couple portraits
4:00 - Wedding party joins for photos
4:30 - Family Photos (if before ceremony)
5:00 - Guests Arrival
5:30 - Ceremony
6:30 - Cocktail Hour (family photos if not before ceremony)
7:30 - Dinner + Reception
*pop outside for some sunset shots*
10:30 - Photographer Departs
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Want more? Read below!
DIRECTION
We really love that our clients are most interested in those un-posed shots... that is totally our thing!! But we also know that everyone needs some direction here and there (especially during portrait time)... so we promise that even those 'posed' shots feel natural and fun.
We totally understand first-hand how awkward it can be in front of the camera, which is why we do our best to make you so comfortable that you'll forget the camera is even there. For most of the day, we take a fly-on-the-wall, documentary style approach... so it is very easy for us to kind of slip into the background for a big part of the day. For portrait time though, we keep things light and fun and will prompt you with things like walking down the street, talking, holding hands, etc... so we can avoid anything that feels stiff or cheesy. We are always on the lookout for cool backdrops, textures, shadows and light.. we love finding these cool elements and placing our couples in the scene. We LOVE this time with our couples - we really feed off of the spontaneity, excitement and energy of your wedding day and we hope you can feel that in our photos!
COOPERATION
A session with us is definitely a collaboration! The photography will reflect our work just as much as it will your willingness and openness to being photographed! So, it is important for all parties to bring a good energy to the shoot in order to get great photos. That just means, have fun with it, relax and don't be too serious. Your love for one another will shine through.
COMMUNICATION
Communication is KEY! The best results come from weddings where clients respond to emails and communicate their needs and expectations prior to the wedding day .... as well as throughout the shooting process on the wedding day. We aren't mind readers and it takes two (or three) to create amazing photos together :) We love love love open communication and that goes both ways!
LET GO
This is a biggie! Like in life - the higher your expectations for everything to be 'perfect' on your wedding day, the bigger the disappointment. This goes hand in hand with the outcome of your photographs as well. If you are picturing an exact image in your head, it will pretty much be impossible to match.
We really THRIVE on the spontaneity that comes along with photographing our couples on their wedding day ... capturing those fleeting moments that can never be reproduced, ever! That is why we don't really like trying to recreate 'inspiration photos' or getting shot lists via Pinterest boards. Our best advice is to let go and live in the moment on your wedding day and enjoy every damn minute of the party you so carefully planned - and trust your photographer to create your own unique images.
Of course if you have some special requests (like specific locations, backdrops, etc..) or cool ideas, we definitely want you to communicate that to us. We love collaborating with our couples and cultivating a creative relationship!
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Thank You
You made it to the end .... Thank you for reading our guide. We hope it has been helpful! We are so stoked to be working with you and really appreciate your trust and your openness throughout this process. Cannot wait for the wedding!
The KBP Team