Wedding Photography Tips

So how do you get the most out of your professional wedding photographer? I have been married for 5 years now, have been a bridesmaid 5 times and have had more friends than I can count get married. One summer I think I attended 14 weddings – we had to have a ‘wedding gift’ budget.  So with the experience of being in weddings parties and photographing weddings I thought I’d offer some wedding photography tips to help make your day look amazing.

• Organsie an afternoon tea for the wedding party. ( Hungry people get grumpy, grumpy people don’t look good in photos)
• Book an engagement shoot. This is becoming more and more popular and is a great idea. With engagement shoots it gives you the opportunity to learn how to be comfortable in front of a professional wedding photographer. You’ll learn how to get creative shots before the big day. It is a ton of fun and you can use the photos for ‘save the date’ post cards or invites.
• Chose a theme. Have a good think about what you like and what represents you then infuse it into your wedding – and make this clear to the photographer.
• Detail Detail Detail. I love the details in a wedding and reception. It really is an opportunity to show your flare and style. A friend of mine had a photo booth. Another had a blackboard for people to write a note and have a photo taken with the board. The decorations, colors and style all add to the fun of your photos. For wedding decorations, check out a few of my favorite blogs - Style Me Pretty and Green Wedding Shoes.
• Props. I love props. I literally have a trunk full of props for engagement sessions and weddings. Think about umbrellas, signs, flowers, scrabble, a couch on the beach, flags, cookies with writing on them, large poems, favorite books. The list is endless and exciting.
• Chose a wedding package that includes a photography assistant. It really does make a difference with lighting, special effects, and props. If a bra strap is showing or someone is not in the right place then an assistant will often spot and fix this before the shot is tarnished.
• Keep your make up natural and light. Make sure your make up is Matt and not too heavy. Take photos of the make up at your trial. Make sure you are happy with the result through the lens of a camera.
• Spread your photos through out the day. The sunset hour is one of the most beautiful times for photos. Unfortunately in summer this can sometimes clash with your reception. It is totally worth sneaking out between dinner and desert for some beautiful quick photos on sunset.
• If you have any other suggestions leave me a comment or send me an email.

xxx Lavara