Let me start by saying that the most important thing that you can do on your wedding day is to be present in the moment and to focus on having the best time of your lives.
This sounds obvious but so often I’ve seen couples who have obsessed over the smaller details and that can detract from your overall experience. On the day itself all the plans are in place and your job is to bask in the glory of your wedding with the people you love most. What could be more epic!
For me your wedding is an incredibly exciting, unique project and I promise to work tirelessly to capture the story of your relationship and your day, your love story if you will.
I truly mean it when I say I feel privileged to be trusted with this task and I get a massive buzz from being a wedding photographer.
Don’t feel any pressure from any external people.
This is the ultimate celebration of you guys as a couple and you will only do it once. The best weddings are ones that are full of personality and that represent you as people.
Feel free to let your weird out, I’ll be there with my camera waiting to celebrate it!
From my perspective as a photographer, it can look really good if you put some thought into what you and the girls are going to wear in the morning whilst you’re having your hair and make up done.
You could opt for personalised gowns or just tell the girls to stick to a certain colour scheme.
This can be a great opportunity to get a fun shot of you all together before you get your dresses on.
Some photographers are really big on dress and shoe photos and some people love them.
I usually try to get a shot of the dress before you put it on and it can be very helpful to have some assistance from the bridesmaids to move it (this is the most stressful part of my day when I have to be responsible for the dress!).
It’s not my style to spend ages photographing these details as I much prefer to capture the fun that’s going on as you get ready.
Also if you are getting ready at home it can sometimes be difficult to find a spectacular backdrop for the dress.
Poor grooms often get overlooked! Don’t forget this is a really special and exciting time for you too. Think about what you want to do in the morning. Some guys like to relax with the groomsmen and play video games whereas some opt to go for a run or a round of golf to settle the nerves. All of these can translate into great photo opportunities. My next piece of advice for groomsmen is to not get dressed too early. It’s just extra time to spill something on your suit or get it creased. If you opt for a second photographer they will photograph all the details and have some fun with you and the boys as you get dressed. See below for more info on second photographers.
Are you planning to exchange cards and gifts on the wedding day? If so, then please let me know in advance what the plan is so I can try to capture you opening them. Not everyone does this so do not feel pressure to do so.
Are there any items that are especially valuable to you like a necklace or ring that has sentimental value. If you pictures of them then let me know and I will do my best to get some nice shots.
Formal group photos are a brilliant record of your day and your guests but be prepared for people to get a bit restless during this part of the day. From my experience this is the part of the day where it’s really useful to have a groomsman, either an usher or best man (or preferably both!), to help to choreograph your guests to make sure they’re in the right pictures at the right time. I recommend that you think about which group photos you want well in advance of the day and be aware that the more you have the more time we will spend organising people. I have found that anywhere between 5 and 10 group photos works well without disrupting the flow of your day too much. If you need some guidance on which groups people commonly choose then give me a call and we can discuss it.
This is your chance to take a breather and celebrate with one another that you’ve finally gone and tied the knot and you’re officially a married couple. For me it is a chance to have some fun and capture some amazing images for you to treasure forever. It’s up to you how long we spend taking couples portraits but I recommend that fifteen minutes would be the minimum. Also factor in any time to travel to locations for this and make sure you include it in your schedule.
Have you thought about having a videographer? Some people know immediately that it is something they want and some people don’t see the need. If it is something that you’re considering then I would be very happy to discuss it with you and I can recommend some videographers that compliment my style of photography.
Think about whether it’s important or not to have a band or any other entertainment. From experience I think bands can get the dance floor going early on which can be more difficult if you opt for a playlist on your phone. Bands don’t come cheap though so this can be an obvious way to reduce your spending on your wedding if the budget is starting to get out of hand!
An extra photographer equates to an extra viewpoint and more special moments captured. It is especially beneficial in the morning when both the bride and groom’s preparations can be captured in full and in my view this is an important part of the story of your day.
Are you and your friends all about the party? Do you long for crazy photos of you and your nearest and dearest throwing incredible shapes like no one is watching? If so then it might be worth thinking about how much coverage you require as I usually work until just after the first dance. Alternatively if you have plans earlier in the morning that you would like to have photographed then let me know about that too.
I love doing Pre-Wedding Photoshoots because it is a great way for us to get to know each other while capturing some fun and creative images which can look amazing on wedding websites or invites etc.
It can also be a long time between your engagement and wedding and this is a way of getting excited for the big day and having something tangible to enjoy during the build up. Ask for more information.
It can be really useful for me if you can let me know of any difficult family dynamics that I need to be aware of. It is quite common for people to not want to be forced into group photos with divorced partners etc so I try to avoid creating awkward situations with your guests.
Couples often very kindly provide food for me on the day and I am always extremely grateful for this but I do not expect it. Please let me know if there is food for me (and your second photographer) or whether I need to bring a packed lunch. If there is food please may I request the vegetarian option.
I have attended a lot of weddings over the years so I have become a bit of a wedding expert (I’ll probably regret saying that!) so feel free to pick up the phone and wrack my brains if you need some help with anything, I’d be more than happy to assist.
I think that is definitely enough waffling from me so all there is left to say is enjoy the planning process and shout if you need anything.
Peace out.
…use my skills and experience to tell the story of your wedding through epic photos.
…have the best day of your lives and create memories with your most precious people. Simple.
Please get in touch using the form here, or email pete@nomadlovestories.com
