What Wedding Photographers Wish Couples Knew
Wedding photographers spend a lot of time with you on your wedding day.
We're there while you're getting ready, during the ceremony, through family photos, portraits, and often a good chunk of the reception. We see the excitement, the nerves, the happy tears, the chaos, and everything in between.
After photographing weddings, there are a few things I really wish every couple knew before their wedding day.
None of these are complicated. Most of them are incredibly simple.
But trust me, they make a difference.
Eat Something
Please eat breakfast. Please eat lunch. Please eat something before we spend three hours taking photos.
I know you're busy. I know you have a million things happening. I know you're excited and probably don't feel hungry. Eat anyway.
Wedding days are long, and running around on an empty stomach is a great way to end up exhausted, lightheaded, or just plain miserable.
Keep snacks nearby while you're getting ready and make sure you actually eat during the reception.
I will happily remind you.
Wear Deodorant
This one sounds ridiculous, but I'm going to say it anyway.
Wear deodorant.
Wedding days can be hot. You're going to be hugging people, dancing, walking around, taking hundreds of photos, and probably getting a little nervous.
Your photographer is going to be close to you.
Your bridal party is going to be close to you.
Your spouse is definitely going to be close to you.
Just wear deodorant.
And if it's a summer wedding, bring some with you for later.
Bring Comfortable Shoes
You can absolutely wear the beautiful shoes you picked for your wedding.
But consider bringing a second pair.
You're going to spend a lot of the day standing and walking. Then you're going to spend hours dancing.
Your feet might not care how pretty your shoes are.
Comfy shoes for the reception can be a lifesaver, especially if your ceremony and reception involve a lot of walking or you're getting married somewhere with grass, gravel, or uneven ground.
And if you're worried about changing shoes for photos, don't be. I'd much rather photograph you comfortably than have you spending your entire portrait session thinking about your feet.
Stay Hydrated
Especially if you're getting married in Michigan during the summer.
You can be sweating through your clothes without realizing how much water you've lost.
Drink water while you're getting ready. Drink water between photos. Drink water during the reception.
If you're having alcohol, make sure you're drinking water too.
You don't want to spend your wedding day feeling terrible because you forgot to hydrate.
Bring Something to Touch Up Your Makeup
You don't need to bring your entire makeup collection, but having a few basics nearby can be helpful.
Chapstick, lipstick, powder, makeup wipes, Q-tips, and lash glue can all come in handy.
And don't forget tissues.
There will probably be tears.
Your Photographer Is Going to Fix Things
If your dress is twisted, your veil is sitting weird, your hair is in your face, or something doesn't look quite right, we'll usually tell you.
Sometimes I'll stop you before taking a photo and adjust something.
Sometimes I'll ask your maid of honor to fix your dress.
Sometimes I'll move your bouquet.
This isn't because we're being picky.
It's because we want you to look your best in the photos.
So if your photographer says, "Hold on, let me fix that," trust them.
Trust Us When We Move You Around
There are going to be times when I ask you to move somewhere that seems completely random.
"Stand over here."
"Take three steps this way."
"Turn toward the window."
"Walk back over there."
"Now pretend I'm not here."
I promise there's usually a reason.
You may not be able to see what I'm seeing from behind the camera.
Trust the process.
Sometimes the prettiest photo comes from a spot that looked completely unremarkable when we started.
Your Photos Don't Have to Be Perfect
You don't have to know how to pose.
You don't need to be models.
You don't need to practice smiling in the mirror.
My job is to guide you.
I'll give you things to do, prompts to interact with each other, and directions when you need them.
Sometimes I'll tell you exactly where to stand.
Other times I'll tell you to forget I'm there and just enjoy each other.
The goal isn't to make you look like someone else.
It's to make you look like you, having an amazing day.
Give Us the Important Information Ahead of Time
If there is something your photographer absolutely needs to know, tell them before the wedding.
That includes:
Complicated family dynamics
Important family members
People you definitely want photos with
People who should not be photographed together
Special traditions
Important details
Anything you're nervous about
We can't plan around something we don't know about.
The more information you give us ahead of time, the better we can help you.
Let Someone Else Handle the Little Problems
If something goes wrong on your wedding day, please don't immediately try to fix it yourself.
Your photographer can't fix everything, but we can often help find the person who can.
That's why I recommend assigning jobs to your bridal party and family.
Someone else can handle the missing boutonniere.
Someone else can answer a vendor's question.
Someone else can find Grandma for family photos.
Someone else can grab the Tide Pen when dinner ends up on your dress.
You have one job:
Get married and enjoy it.
We Want You to Have Fun
Your photographer isn't just trying to get a list of pretty pictures.
We want to photograph you laughing.
We want the goofy bridal party photos.
We want the real reactions.
We want the giant hugs.
We want the ridiculous dance moves.
We want the moment you realize your spouse has cake on their face.
The best wedding galleries aren't always the ones where everyone looks perfectly posed.
They're the ones where you can look back and remember exactly how the day felt.
Trust Us
This might be the biggest one.
You hired me as your photographer because you like my work.
Trust us to do what we do.
Trust us when we ask you to move.
Trust us when we tell you to slow down.
Trust us when we grab you for one more photo.
Trust us when we tell you we need five more minutes.
Trust us when we say the light is better over here.
You've already done the hard part. You've planned the wedding, chosen your vendors, and made it to the big day.
Now let your vendors do their jobs.
Final Thoughts
Your wedding day is going to be busy.
You're probably going to forget something.
Something might not go exactly according to plan.
You might cry.
You might sweat.
Someone might spill something.
Your shoes might hurt.
And that's okay.
Eat something. Wear deodorant. Drink some water. Bring comfortable shoes. Tell your photographer what matters to you.
Then trust the people you've hired and enjoy your wedding.
Because when the day is over, you're probably not going to remember whether your timeline was five minutes behind.
You're going to remember who was there, how much you laughed, how your spouse looked at you, and how much fun you had.
That's what I want to photograph.
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