For a soon-to-be married couple, thinking about how wedding photos will turn out can be nerve wracking. Many sweat over the idea of the photos not capturing the vision of the wedding or the love of the couple. For some couples, it may even be the first time they’ve worked with a professional photographer, so they can find themselves struggling to correctly navigate the situation. If you’re in the midst of wedding planing, or your big day is fast approaching, here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to getting the most out of your wedding photographer.
Introductions make all the difference
When it comes to capturing the vibe you want for your wedding photos, introducing your wedding photographer will help to familiarise them with your taste. Take the time to introduce your photographer to your wedding party and your families, so they know who the most important people are. This will give your photographer a closer glimpse into who your family and friends are and will give them a small taste of each person’s personality. Your photographer will then have a better understanding about the people involved in your wedding day and will work even harder to make sure they capture exactly what you’re looking for. The goal is to make the photographer temporarily become a part of your family.
Have a bit of faith
When it comes to wedding photography, it’s best to let the photographer do their own thing. If you’ve hired someone with the qualifications and experience, you won’t have anything to worry about. Especially if they’ve been recommended by a friend or acquaintance who vouched for their ability. The best thing about hiring a photographer is the fact that they know what they’re doing and they know how to do it well. This is a chance for you to relax about getting the right lighting and your best angle, because it’s more than likely your photographer has already got it covered. Most photographers aim to take an obscene amount of photos so that there will surely be some that you like.
Have an engagement shoot
Think of it as a warm up for the actual big day. Having an engagement photoshoot with your groom-to-be is an excellent way to not only get comfortable with taking photos, but getting comfortable with your actual photographer. It’ll give you a chance to evaluate your photographer, and see if they are right for your wedding day. The photographer will appreciate taking engagement shots because they’ll be able to slowly gather information about what exactly works for you and your groom. They’ll see where you feel comfortable and will then implement all of that into your actual wedding day.
Make a list
To help our your photographer, try your best to come up with a small list of what you want photographed. Of course, what you want shot is entirely up to you; this could be your dress, rings or shoes or maybe a gorgeous shot of your and your mum. There’s no guarantee it’ll speed up the process, but it’ll point your photographer in the right direction and get what you want done.
Leave some time for the cheesy shots
Remember those nerve wracking shots I mentioned earlier? Here they come. Photos between you and your partner are the ones you’re probably most nervous about because they’ll typically be the ones you’ll be looking back on the most, or posting to Instagram when it’s time for a ‘throwback Thursday’ post. Many wedding photographers recommend leaving up to 30 minutes specifically for couple photos. Things don’t always go to plan on a wedding day and getting the best photos in one go is nearly impossible.
Embrace being candid
It’s understandable that you want your wedding photos to be perfect down to the last detail, but by over planning a photo may end making the photo look too posed, or worse, like something you can find off iStock. When taking your wedding photos, take a deep breathe and relax. Have fun with it and don’t take it all too seriously, you and your groom aren’t models so there’s no need to overly pose like one. Besides, some of the best shots you can get in life are always the ones that are candid.
