Eight Secrets To Great Wedding Photos From A Local Photographer
1. Prepare what you can, and on the day of, let other people, ideally a planner or day-of coordinator, keep you to it. Have a point person so that when the venue needs a last-minute decision, you have someone they can contact besides you. Emotions run high, and it is paramount to have someone else to help take care of things and give you some breathing room.
2. Try EVERYTHING on and pack it up beforehand. Encourage your bridal party to do the same. You don’t want to realize something is uncomfortable, doesn’t fit, or is missing the day of. A small sewing kit and scissors always come in handy. I’d have both in each partner’s getting-ready rooms.
3. When making a family shot list, List names like ‘Christine’ instead of ‘Mother of the Bride.’ Make sure these people know they’re wanted for photos and when. Again, this is a great place to delegate; can a member of your family or bridal party remind everyone who needs to show up? You can also ask your officiant to announce that close family should hang back after the ceremony.
4. Let us help you with your timeline. We know how to allocate your time and keep the day running smoothly. Send it to your other vendors and your bridal party. The more informed everyone is, the better; someone often needs to remind folks about photos, so share your plans!
5. Eat! Make arrangements for breakfast and lunch ahead of time. Plan delivery or arrange for someone in the bridal party to pick up meals. Remembering to eat is often forgotten as things get hectic, but it’s important to make it through the long day in good spirits.
6. Let go of traditions, trends, etc., that aren’t important to you. Everyone has opinions, but in a few years, you and your partner will look back on this day most often. Do what you want.
7. Hire a photographer whose personality and style you vibe with. You’ll spend most of the day together. Pittsburgh is lucky to have so much talent and variety. There’s a lid for every pot and a great photographer for every couple.
8. Stay hydrated before and on the actual day. You’ll look and feel better, which will translate into gorgeous photos.
Bonus: Breathe! Have a go-to breathing practice, mantra, or hype song. Things will go wrong; you can’t control the weather or your family, so embrace the chaos. The more present you are, the better your day (and photos!) will be.
Author: Tille Lee
