tips to get your best wedding images
02.13.08 | bridal-resources
we want to exceed your desires and wishes in
photographing your wedding day. we realize
wedding logistics do not have to be stressful and
with a little planning, your day will go smooth.
to assist you, we've compiled a list of 10 tips
to help you get the best out of your wedding
photography.
10. be comfy.
seriously. it's your day, why not enjoy it to the fullest? be sure you'll be comfy in your dress standing and sitting. during your wedding dress shopping, go with a friend that will tell you the truth about how your dress fits. consider packing a change of shoes for dancing and unwinding afterwards. avoid blisters on your honeymoon by choosing a comfy pair of dancing shoes. also consider scuffing the souls for extra traction.
9. dressing room prep.
pick a dressing room with lots of room and natural light. have bridesmaids clean up non-wedding messes like jeans and sneakers, but just don’t make it too sterile. place empty boxes and bags outside the dressing room and consider hanging the dresses and displaying the shoes on the floor. flowers look better in vases instead of cardboard florist boxes. cover ugly furniture with white sheets. in addition, good dressing room lighting is key. caution: bright sunlight streaming in may look great to the eyes, but extreme brightness in a dark room creates harsh lighting. blinds, drapes, or even a white sheet over the outside of the window creates nice diffusing light. north facing windows generally offer a bit softer light. if no windows are available, consider white lights or candles.
8. let us know.
if there are any particular shots you want, feel free to tell us. we work for you and want you to be happy with your images. you may want to designate an "event guide" to point out important individuals for informal or candid photographs. we prefer not to photograph from a “shot list” throughout your wedding day. long lists and frequent requests for posed photographs reduce the capability to explore and obtain photographs of genuinely occurring moments. that being said, we do have a mini-shot list in our head including: bride & groom, b & g with bride's extended family, b & g with groom's extended family, bridal party together, bride with bridesmaids (and individually), groom with groomsmen (and individually). we also plan to photograph the little details throughout the day.
7. plan alone time.
thoughtfully plan your day in advance, including 20-30 minutes of bride & groom alone time for your portrait session. private sessions also allow for greater creativity, minimize disruptions, and better enable us capture the intimacy of being newly married. competing with numerous flashes and suggestions to “look here” distracts from our efforts. exploring an old barn, a nearby park, a scenic vista, or even an urban alley can create an array of creative possibilities. plan extra time between your wedding events, as unexpected things may arise. we want you to reduce stress, relax, and enjoy your wedding day.
6. know 'where & when.'
preplanning with wedding couples is another key ingredient in capturing what you want. the next step can be challenging: getting everyone together at the same time and same place for the formals. after planning out the timing of your wedding thoughtful, create a 'where & when' sheet. print off copies and hand out at the rehearsal. emailing your 'where & when' sheet to the vendors is highly recommended to avoid surprises.
5. share the rules.
please let us know up-front any church restrictions. retrofitting photography needs to restrictions can be frustrating. to not break church rules, we have to know what they are. we choose not go near the alter to avoid interfering with ceremony.
4. face the crowd.
during the ceremony, if you intend to sit during your ceremony, sit together, not apart. intimate moments between the bride and groom are difficult to capture when separated. if possible, choose to face the crowd or at least face them at an angle. guests like to see a shared laugh or tear. we also want to capture those moments for you. we remember the joy on our wedding day looking out and seeing for the first time lots of family and friends all gathered together in one place at one time, which rarely happens. having your own mental snapshot of your occasion can be priceless.
3. don't 'say cheese.'
explain to your guests that our style is journalistic, which means we are with you during your wedding day and photograph actions in real time. many people are surprised to learn that they don’t have to look at the camera to get great shots. share your enthusiasm about your choice for photography to family and friends by sending an email to friends and family. you may want to include a link to www.kern-photo.com so they can get a feel for our style. in the email, remind them to ignore us as much as possible. that way they will understand our photography approach a bit better. to photograph natural shots, we prefer to blend in and be unobtrusive. preparing friends and family with that in mind will go a long way in making them feel more comfortable and won't be compelled to "smile." let kids be kids during the event, event though parents plead them to “say cheese.” kids do the darndest things at weddings and we love to shoot them :)
2. shoot formals first.
even if you have your heart set on not seeing each other until the ceremony, photographing the bulk of the family & group formals before ceremony is one ingredient for a smooth wedding day. after the ceremony, many brides would rather spend time with guests. in addition, gathering guests at the reception can be difficult and there's always the risk of spilling drinks on attire, especially with kids (young and old). we prefer about an hour and a half for portraits, including 20-30 minutes with bride & groom alone, 30 minutes with bridal party, and 30 minutes with family.
1. the 'first look.'
if you are in the early stages of wedding planning, consider a 'first look.' the extra time will be on your side and the images will be that much better with a 'first look.' why? bridal magazines often reference how a bride wants her images to look. two ingredients need for this photographic style include ample time before the ceremony and wonderful natural light. combined, these help set the stage for a more casual, relaxed approach in your wedding portraits. with a ‘first look,’ you have more control over location choice. your hair, makeup, and clothing will be in the best condition before ceremony anxiety, the hugs and kisses, and the rest of the craziness after the ceremony. you'll also have more romantic time for your groom to admire you in your wedding dress away from crowds. an added bonus: you will have more time with guests.
you'll also appreciate the difference of natural light makes in your photos. summer light lingers longer, giving a great chance at catching the warm light at a low angle. however, shorter days during winter months give little chance to photograph using natural, “pretty” light. if you are getting married in the evening where it is dark after the ceremony or during the months between november and april, we strongly suggest a ‘first look.’
even if you choose the traditional approach of shooting the portraits after the ceremony, time your ceremony so there is natural light available. ideally, plan the ceremony to end 2 hours before sunset to get the best out of natural light.
and finally,
trust in us.
you hired us because you trust us and we promise to do our best. trust us to cover all the photography details so you do not have to worry. above all, we want you to enjoy your day.
10. be comfy.
seriously. it's your day, why not enjoy it to the fullest? be sure you'll be comfy in your dress standing and sitting. during your wedding dress shopping, go with a friend that will tell you the truth about how your dress fits. consider packing a change of shoes for dancing and unwinding afterwards. avoid blisters on your honeymoon by choosing a comfy pair of dancing shoes. also consider scuffing the souls for extra traction.
9. dressing room prep.
pick a dressing room with lots of room and natural light. have bridesmaids clean up non-wedding messes like jeans and sneakers, but just don’t make it too sterile. place empty boxes and bags outside the dressing room and consider hanging the dresses and displaying the shoes on the floor. flowers look better in vases instead of cardboard florist boxes. cover ugly furniture with white sheets. in addition, good dressing room lighting is key. caution: bright sunlight streaming in may look great to the eyes, but extreme brightness in a dark room creates harsh lighting. blinds, drapes, or even a white sheet over the outside of the window creates nice diffusing light. north facing windows generally offer a bit softer light. if no windows are available, consider white lights or candles.
8. let us know.
if there are any particular shots you want, feel free to tell us. we work for you and want you to be happy with your images. you may want to designate an "event guide" to point out important individuals for informal or candid photographs. we prefer not to photograph from a “shot list” throughout your wedding day. long lists and frequent requests for posed photographs reduce the capability to explore and obtain photographs of genuinely occurring moments. that being said, we do have a mini-shot list in our head including: bride & groom, b & g with bride's extended family, b & g with groom's extended family, bridal party together, bride with bridesmaids (and individually), groom with groomsmen (and individually). we also plan to photograph the little details throughout the day.
7. plan alone time.
thoughtfully plan your day in advance, including 20-30 minutes of bride & groom alone time for your portrait session. private sessions also allow for greater creativity, minimize disruptions, and better enable us capture the intimacy of being newly married. competing with numerous flashes and suggestions to “look here” distracts from our efforts. exploring an old barn, a nearby park, a scenic vista, or even an urban alley can create an array of creative possibilities. plan extra time between your wedding events, as unexpected things may arise. we want you to reduce stress, relax, and enjoy your wedding day.
6. know 'where & when.'
preplanning with wedding couples is another key ingredient in capturing what you want. the next step can be challenging: getting everyone together at the same time and same place for the formals. after planning out the timing of your wedding thoughtful, create a 'where & when' sheet. print off copies and hand out at the rehearsal. emailing your 'where & when' sheet to the vendors is highly recommended to avoid surprises.
5. share the rules.
please let us know up-front any church restrictions. retrofitting photography needs to restrictions can be frustrating. to not break church rules, we have to know what they are. we choose not go near the alter to avoid interfering with ceremony.
4. face the crowd.
during the ceremony, if you intend to sit during your ceremony, sit together, not apart. intimate moments between the bride and groom are difficult to capture when separated. if possible, choose to face the crowd or at least face them at an angle. guests like to see a shared laugh or tear. we also want to capture those moments for you. we remember the joy on our wedding day looking out and seeing for the first time lots of family and friends all gathered together in one place at one time, which rarely happens. having your own mental snapshot of your occasion can be priceless.
3. don't 'say cheese.'
explain to your guests that our style is journalistic, which means we are with you during your wedding day and photograph actions in real time. many people are surprised to learn that they don’t have to look at the camera to get great shots. share your enthusiasm about your choice for photography to family and friends by sending an email to friends and family. you may want to include a link to www.kern-photo.com so they can get a feel for our style. in the email, remind them to ignore us as much as possible. that way they will understand our photography approach a bit better. to photograph natural shots, we prefer to blend in and be unobtrusive. preparing friends and family with that in mind will go a long way in making them feel more comfortable and won't be compelled to "smile." let kids be kids during the event, event though parents plead them to “say cheese.” kids do the darndest things at weddings and we love to shoot them :)
2. shoot formals first.
even if you have your heart set on not seeing each other until the ceremony, photographing the bulk of the family & group formals before ceremony is one ingredient for a smooth wedding day. after the ceremony, many brides would rather spend time with guests. in addition, gathering guests at the reception can be difficult and there's always the risk of spilling drinks on attire, especially with kids (young and old). we prefer about an hour and a half for portraits, including 20-30 minutes with bride & groom alone, 30 minutes with bridal party, and 30 minutes with family.
1. the 'first look.'
if you are in the early stages of wedding planning, consider a 'first look.' the extra time will be on your side and the images will be that much better with a 'first look.' why? bridal magazines often reference how a bride wants her images to look. two ingredients need for this photographic style include ample time before the ceremony and wonderful natural light. combined, these help set the stage for a more casual, relaxed approach in your wedding portraits. with a ‘first look,’ you have more control over location choice. your hair, makeup, and clothing will be in the best condition before ceremony anxiety, the hugs and kisses, and the rest of the craziness after the ceremony. you'll also have more romantic time for your groom to admire you in your wedding dress away from crowds. an added bonus: you will have more time with guests.
you'll also appreciate the difference of natural light makes in your photos. summer light lingers longer, giving a great chance at catching the warm light at a low angle. however, shorter days during winter months give little chance to photograph using natural, “pretty” light. if you are getting married in the evening where it is dark after the ceremony or during the months between november and april, we strongly suggest a ‘first look.’
even if you choose the traditional approach of shooting the portraits after the ceremony, time your ceremony so there is natural light available. ideally, plan the ceremony to end 2 hours before sunset to get the best out of natural light.
and finally,
trust in us.
you hired us because you trust us and we promise to do our best. trust us to cover all the photography details so you do not have to worry. above all, we want you to enjoy your day.