Top 10 Wedding Day Photo Tips

I recently put together a great list to help Brides understand how they can help us (the photographers)create beautiful photographs that you will enjoy forever. Pay close attention to # 10 I think that's the most important. Top 10 Wedding Day Photo Tips .1. Follow the light.One of the key elements to a great photograph is amazing light. The best light occurs in the early morning and the last hour of daylight. Since most weddings don’t take place in the morning, the end of the day is the perfect time for portraits of the bride and groom. 2. Round up the family.Your photographer will need 4 to 5 minutes per family portrait. Remember this when you’re scheduling the events on your wedding day. It’s best to give your family members a time and location for portraits. If your family is organized, the portrait session will go quickly so everyone can get back to the party. 3. Minimize the “must-haves”.Try not to overwhelm your photographer with a huge “must haves” list on your wedding day. You selected your photographer for their style and expertise. Let them do what they do best. If you have a few photographs that you really want, let your photographer know before the day of the wedding. 4. Practice your kiss.This may seem silly but when you kiss during the ceremony, you want to make sure you are both comfortable. Also, if you want a photograph of your kiss, remember to hold the kiss for at least a second or two. 5. Capitalize on your location.Use your environment in your portraits. You spent time selecting the location for your ceremony and reception; make sure your photographer documents its beauty. 6. Invest in multi-tasking engagement portraits.Have engagement photographs taken at least one month before the wedding. This is a great time to get to know your photographer and feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Engagement photographs can be taken in multiple locations with different outfits. The photographs can be used for a guest sign-in book, décor at the reception, the newspaper, save the date magnets or postcards, a sign-in frame, etc. 7. Keep it timeless.Be cautious about special effects and your photographs. Your wedding photographs should be timeless. Will you like the special effect in 10, 20, 30 years? If you love a certain type of effect that your photographer offers, have them create a large print with the effect. But try to limit the amount of special effects in your album. Many special effects tend to be trends that eventually go out of fashion.8. Book early.When you want quality photos, you need a quality photographer. Yours should be one of the first vendors you hire for your wedding. Most photographers book six months to one year in advance. 9. Make the weather work for you.Rain can be great for photographs! Storm clouds can add drama to a photograph. If you check the weather forecast and it looks like rain, go out and buy oversized umbrellas. Have your photographer take some fun shots of the bridal party holding the umbrellas in the rain. Remember to have someone hold an umbrella for the photographer! 10. Relax!The most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Try not to stress over the little things. People smiling, laughing and enjoying the day are the best photographs.