Top Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Wedding Photography
We know that photography is a significant investment on your special day, so we want to help you get the most out of it!
We absolutely love what we do, and it’s our great hope that not only do you have the most magical time on your wedding day, but that you walk away with images that capture everything you dreamed of and more so that you can cherish your celebration for years and years to come.
After many seasons and countless beautiful celebrations, we’ve learned a thing or two about getting the most from your wedding photography. Here are our top tips for having the best time in front of the lens.
START WITH VALUES
It’s so important to love the style and work of your photographer, but it’s just as important you like who they are as a person too! They’ll be with you for up to 12 hours on your wedding day, so it’s really important you get along and feel comfortable around them. Think of them as part of your wedding day team and look for someone who shares similar values to you - they’ll be the best placed person to help you feel relaxed and guide you on the day so you don’t end up with nervous, posey photos (but so that you also know what to do with your hands!).
RELAX
This might be easier said than done, but try to relax and be open-minded about where the day takes you. There might be unexpected weather, hair and make up might take longer than you thought, someone might be late or get lost trying to find the venue. Nothing ever goes exactly to plan! But don’t worry. Often that’s when memories are made and the best moments are captured. We promise you’ll have the most fun this way, and it’ll really show in your photos!
FORGET THE CAMERA
Pretend we’re not even there! Laugh, cry, dance and sing like no one’s watching. The best photos are the ones of relaxed and happy couples just being themselves. It’s our job to look out for the magic moments (and to be totally invisible), so just focus on enjoying the best day of your lives and we’ll do the rest!
TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Ditch the detailed shot lists and just go with the flow. We think it’s so so important to book a photographer whose work you really love so that you can trust them to just do their thing on the day. You want someone who’s experienced enough to handle any challenges that may arise, but not so rigid that the celebrations feel overwhelmingly structured.
Let us do what we do best and we promise we’ll capture all the natural, candid moments as they unfold. If we’re too busy following a specific shot list, we may miss those lovely little details that you just can’t plan. Of course, if there’s something or someone that’s really special to you (certain wedding styling details or a favourite aunt - we won’t tell!), be sure to let us know.
GETTING READY LOCATION
Getting photos taken while you’re getting ready? This may sound silly and obvious, but keeping the location clean and clutter free makes for much nicer photos. This sometimes gets forgotten in the excitement of the day, so just try to keep the plastic bags/travel bags/boxes/piles of washing stored in cupboards or out of the way.
MAKE UP
We know what you’re thinking - this list is about photography tips, not make up! But trust us when we say your make up on the day plays a big part in the way you feel about your wedding photos in the long run. Too many times we’ve seen brides and their bridesmaids have make up done that doesn’t really feel like them. The result is always extra nerves and even more discomfort in front of the camera than usual, which of course we don’t want for you on your special day!! We recommend booking a really experienced make up artist that makes sure you still look like you. Some of our faves who get it right every time are:
Melbourne: Claire Vyverberg, the team at Tonic Agency and Carla Dyson.
Byron Bay: Luciana Rose.
Somewhere else? Get in touch and we’ll ask around to help find someone for you.
FAMILY PORTRAITS
Picture this. You’re newly married, everyone’s excited and having a great time, and suddenly Uncle Bob and Aunty Judy have wandered off to mingle with the guests and are impossible to find for your family photos. Oops!
To keep things on track and get you back to your guests as soon as possible, write a short list of the family portraits that are important to you (we recommend about 10 combinations). Make sure you speak to each of those family members before the big day and make it clear they will be needed immediately after the ceremony for photos. You might also like to pick a close family friend (one with a loud voice that isn’t afraid to use it!) that can help with calling out names and wrangling any lost members on the list to save time. Organisation is key here!
COUPLE PORTRAITS
The couple portraits will be the first time you get a quiet moment together as newlyweds. Congratulations! Take a breath and enjoy it. Our advice? Keep the locations to a minimum. A great photo is often more about lighting and emotion than it is location. Plus you’ll be a lot more relaxed knowing you don’t have to visit lots of different spots. Just be yourselves… honestly. The more relaxed you are together, the more magic happens.
Any questions? We’re all ears! Get in touch at hello@jeremyblode.com or via the contact form here.