When you book in with your Wedding Photographer, you will already know and love their style and have complete trust that they will capture your day in exactly the way you want. Being on the same wavelength and getting along is a sure sign that you’ve picked the right photographer for you!

Each part of the day will be special and deserves to be captured in the most sensitive way to your day. You’ve done all of the planning, the hours you’ve spent over every tiny, fine detail that you’ve spent money and maybe even tears on will be forever documented in your wedding photos. Being a little bit prepared can really help your photographer maximise their time on the day: capturing both the detailed elements, as well as the candid emotions of the wedding party, the guests and of course you the couple, that have hired us.

Firstly, being as thorough as you can possibly be, in the questionnaire you’ll receive from us is the best thing you can do to make sure that all of your thoughts and ideas are verbalised and clearly stated. I will already have a mental ‘checklist’ if you will, of all the shots I’d like you to receive in your final gallery HOWEVER..if there’s a shot you had envisioned, or a little detail that you cannot be without a set-up photo of, let me know!

MORNING PREPARATIONS

Think: Lots of space, lots of light = beautiful photos

The room that you choose for your preparations can really change the feel of your photos. If you are able to, choose a large light room with big windows allowing all that natural light in - I promise, it will really lend itself to the final result. Sometimes this could mean even just the bride dressing and having final makeup touches done in a different room to the rest of her bridesmaids.

I’ll help as much as possible to tidy up spaces, but having clutter hidden away in suitcases under the bed will dramatically change a space - not to mention keep a nervous bride feeling a lot more relaxed!

I typically arrive 1/1.5hrs before the ceremony time. This should allow enough time for the hair and makeup artists to have worked their way through the line and be mid-way on the bride. Nobody wants to have 100 photos of themselves in hair rollers and pj’s!

Details, details details.

Put together a box of all the little personal touches to do with your wedding: jewellery, hair pieces, invites, loose flowers (you can request your florist leave some excess sprigs of foliage or a couple of flower heads to the side). Have any wedding day outfits you’d like photographed hung up somewhere with the accessories/shoes. This way I can easily set up some gorgeous flat-lays without disturbing you asking where things are.

Allow yourself 15 minutes or so of time once you’re ready.

By giving yourself a little slice of time once you are completely dressed and ready to walk the aisle, you can take in a moment with your parents/loved ones. The moments of waiting and pause after the rush of the morning’s preparations always results in some really special and emotional photos - not to mention gives you a breather! I also love to do bridal/groom portraits and wedding party photos around now - before any of the Great British elements get involved in your hair or makeup!!

THE CEREMONY

Put the phones down!

An unplugged ceremony is hands down the best thing you can ask for in order to a) have the most beautiful photos and b) invite and allow your guests the opportunity to be fully present, put down the devices and take everything in.

We’ll be the ones in the best position and able (hopefully!) to move around to get every angle, so nothing will get left out..you would much rather look back on your photos and see those faces you’ve invited to share your day with you, witnessing your vows, as opposed to iPhones. Your officiant or leader of ceremony will usually be happy to make an announcement before the start of the ceremony.

Talk with the person leading your ceremony about restrictions they have surrounding photos. There is nothing more crushing than not expecting there to be a problem with photographers present, than on the day, five minutes before you are due to walk down the aisle learning that there are to be no photographs taken. Yes. It has happened before!

GROUP PORTRAITS - THE ‘FORMALS’

Limit your list of formals

These are the ones - loved or hated and not often in between - that I get asked about the most. Your grandparents will no doubt ADORE these photos, and rightly so, they will end up proudly sitting on their mantle piece beautifully framed and shown to anyone that comes over. I’m more than happy to herd, arrange and capture group photos…BUT keep in mind:

It does take some time to gather your loved ones and organise everyone standing together close enough, looking well balanced on each side..I’ll take some beer glasses away..ask some to kindly remove dark sunglasses. By the time we’re ready and I’ve taken a few varied shots for your gallery, it will have been a good five minutes. This is why I would recommend choosing around 5 - 8 group shots maximum.

These are your ‘ride or die’ shots, the ones you absolutely can’t miss, and these frames will be filled with the most important faces to you as a couple.

The friends shots, the distant cousins, your first university halls group…they are of course still very important and we can quickly pull these ones together more casually at the reception, no problem!

For extra brownie points, delegate a member of the wedding party familiar with lots of the guests and family members to help out with recognising and calling over the relevant people.

COUPLE PORTRAITS

Over the course of your wedding day, I will steal you away from your guests (you’ll thank me!!) twice. Both very quick - plan for maximum 10/15 minutes each time if not travelling off-site - but this is where we’ll create the magic. The shots you’ll print out huuuuge and display all over your walls.

Not only does this give you a little time to soak in each other’s wedding day *glow*, but it will refresh you and allow for the chance to breathe, take a moment and reflect on the events of the day so far. Because it’s a big deal - you guys just got married! - and it happens fast.

Golden hour is where most of this magic happens, and I will scout out a fantastic spot for us to watch sun go down and the sky transform into a pretty watercolour backdrop for some romantic shots. We will chat together before the day to make sure that an important part of the day like speeches or first dance, doesn't clash with the golden hour.

Communicate with your photographer. If there are any specific ‘poses’ or ideas you want to try out: tell me!! These are your photos to love and cherish and I love it when my couples have some fun ideas that are unique to their relationship. Whether that’s photos with your four-legged fur baby or photos in a special cove nearby that you both fell in love with (and/or at!).

THE MEAL or WEDDING ‘BREAKFAST’

Yes please! We would love a meal! We would really appreciate some hot food on the day so that we won’t have to go ‘off-site’ in search of food, potentially missing an important moment, or the beginning of the speeches. No one needs a camera floating around them whilst they eat. This is also often our only chance to sit down and grab a little break during the day and if we’re able to be served at the same time as the wedding couple, it means we will be finished in time ready to capture the next part of the day or whisk you off for some more portraits in the golden light.

We love it when speeches are delivered before the food! It means everyone can eat without rushing and from a photographic point of view, the tables will still be perfectly presented - not to mention free of any accidental wine spillages that I feel is now just a rite of passage at weddings. Of course we will be on hand to gently guide on the day but it is worth bearing in mind how the people making speeches will be lit. Will there be lots of natural light? Will it be dark outside already? Making use of candle or fairy lights always looks lovely and cosy for Autumn/Winter weddings.

FIRST DANCE & EVENING DO

You’ll be bored of hearing me say this soon I’m sure: Lighting is EVERYTHING. Have a chat with either your venue or wedding stylist and see if there are lighting options. Ideally, we’d love you to have white/cream spotlights inside on the dance floor. The purple or colourful disco lights flashing around doesn’t do skin tones any favours and can often look harsh in photos - they’re great..but better saved for once the party gets started! If you’re planning an outdoor first dance (ahhhhh!!! Heart eye emojis!) a heap of fairy or festoon lights lighting you up would look AMAZING - in an atmospherical, subtle way.

Sparklers are always a good idea. Just make sure you have enough for around 30 guests and your wedding party to have a few each. You don’t have to go all out cater for every single person attending your wedding - not everyone will join us and that’s okay! All we’re looking for is a good amount of sparkle surrounding the couple and we’re good to go. Buy the long 18 inch ones as they burn for about 30-40 seconds giving everyone enough time to get lit up and form a tunnel of beautiful lights for you to run through. This is usually a super fun way to wrap up the evening before the party gets really wild!

…and that’s it! If you are still on the hunt for your wedding photographer to join you celebrating your 2022 or 2023 wedding, send an enquiry through here - I would love to chat, and hear all about your wonderful plans.

Here’s some ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for you curious lot:

I would always recommend getting your enquires in with suppliers as soon as you’ve booked a date with your venue. I am booking up to 18-24 months in advance currently and the year does book up fast, especially for Saturdays between April-September. I take on a limited number of weddings each year in order to give each one as much time and dedication as the next.
Absolutely, yes you can! You will find a whole menu of additional options on your quote which you can pick and choose from. I have a really lovely bunch of people who join me at some weddings and they are so useful to have around if your wedding is particularly large or has lots of elements to it.
I would recommend selecting this option if you’d like two lots of prep captured and lots of candids in your gallery.
Yup! On your gallery, you will spot the store where you can choose from a huge variety of options from matte/gloss to canvases and calendars. Album designing is also very easy to do within your store and products are saved so you can come back to them as and when you choose.