Working with Your Photographer: How to Ensure the Results You Desire

 

You have finished the leg work related to finding the photographer to document your wedding day, but have you thought about how you can best work with this individual for the best possible results? Generally, your photographer will provide you with specific instructions regarding the information they need to get the photos you desire, but on the off chance they don’t provide you with a lot of guidance, here are some things for you to think about.

One of the biggest decisions to think about is the timing of your photos. One option is to take the majority of your pictures before the wedding ceremony. A disadvantage to this plan is that you and your fiancée will see each other before the ceremony. The big advantage here is that if you get your photos taken before the ceremony, you don’t have to miss out on the cocktail hour, which is when most people take their pictures. And then of course, you can take the pictures between the ceremony and the reception. A final option is to take the pictures after the reception. With this final option, you don’t miss out on the cocktail hour and the first time you and your sweetie see each other is at the ceremony, however most brides and grooms aren’t looking quite as polished after 4 hours of partying.

Another topic that deserves forethought is who you want to be in your pictures. Is it important to you to have a group shot of all your cousins? How about a picture of your great aunt Edna and your great uncle Bob? Consider writing multiple lists, the first being the people you absolutely have to have in formal portraits making up your “a” list. Set a designated time to have these photographs taken, and make sure to notify everyone in these photos of the time and place the pictures will be taken. Appoint a close friend or family member as photographer’s assistant, and ask that this person help “stage” groups of people to be in each picture, so the photographer doesn’t have to waste precious time calling out names and waiting for people to assemble.

Create a second list spelling out people that you want your photographer to get photos of during the reception. Remember that your photographer has not met the people on your list, so again appoint a representative to help stage these people, for instance tell one reliable cousin from your mom’s side that you would like a photograph taken of all your female cousins. Then at some point during the reception, the designated cousin can gather aforementioned cousins, and grab the photographer to get the desired shot. You will need a representative for each group you want a picture to be taken of- so tell one good friend from high school to make sure to help stage a pic of all your high school buddies, and your best friend from your old street that you want a photo of all your childhood buddies. With all these representatives working with your photographer, you will be sure to end up with all the group shots you desire.

Most wedding photographers have plenty of experience, and will do an outstanding job even without the pre-planning mentioned above, however, the more forethought you give to your wedding photos, the better the odds of getting all those special people in your pictures!