I’m sharing my best tips for you to get the most out of your wedding photography experience! Whether you’re working with me or another photographer, there are simple things you can do to make sure you are getting the best experience possible.

 

Make sure you click with your photographer.

It’s super important that you are comfortable around them, know how they work, and for your personalities to mesh. I am energetic, bubbly, and an easily excitable person. I may not be the best fit for someone more serious or quiet. 🙂 Having a consultation to make sure you’re the perfect fit for each other is extremely important. Your photographer will spend more time with you on your wedding day than anyone else! Schedule an engagement session with them too. That time together will let you get to know them even better and see how they work and interact.

Allow enough time for portraits into your timeline.

Bride + Groom portraits are hands down one of the most important of the entire day. After all, these are the ones that will be treasured for generations and the ones that you are likely to have printed and framed on the wall! I like to have at least 45 minutes with my couples on their wedding day to ensure a variety of locations and poses in their gallery. Having a first look really helps with this!

Scroll down to see how my couples have a variety of photographs! It’s not because weddings are photographed at different venues, it’s because I have 45 minutes to take the bride and groom away capture their personalities (also why tip #1 is so important!).

 

Choose a pretty getting ready location with lots of natural light.

A beautiful space with natural light makes for amazing portraits, even if they are just getting ready photos! It makes the portraits that much more elegant + frameable when you have a pretty room for putting on your dress, shoes + jewelry, and looking at yourself for the first time as a BRIDE! South Eden Plantation has a GORGEOUS bridal suite made just for brides getting ready!

Have all of your details ready for your photographer.

Don’t add more stress to yourself! By being prepared with a bag/box filled with all of the pretty little details ready to go for your photographer, they will be able to get started right away and have the full time designated to photographing details. If your photographer or a bridesmaid is having to search around for a copy of the invitation, your perfume bottle, the rings, etc. it cuts into the time they could be shooting and will result in fewer portraits!

Every bride and groom has special invitations, whether you hire a professional calligrapher, use a special photograph on your Save the Date’s or you have an addressing party with your bridesmaids, photographers want to help you capture your details so you can remember them for years to come!

Hire a professional + experienced makeup artist + hairstylist.

They are worth every penny and so important in assisting the wedding photography experience! I highly recommend having a bridal trial run done prior to the wedding day so you’re comfortable with the look and make sure it’s exactly how you want it. Professional artists who work weddings know how long it will take them based on how many girls are needing hair/makeup and will know when to arrive the morning of to ensure they are finished on time and don’t run too far behind.

Haus of Beauty did an incredible job on Lindsey’s makeup! They’ve done some amazing work for my Tallahassee brides!

I hope you find this helpful as you are planning! 🙂 If you’re looking for more wedding photography planning tips check out my blog about having a second shooter! 

xoxo,

Amber