Top 10 Tips For The Best Wedding Photos
The date is set, the venue is chosen and the planning for your big day has begun! Now is the best time to start looking for the perfect wedding photographer to capture those special memories that will last a lifetime. As a photographer, I have worked with a lot of Yorkshire couples over the years and I want to share my top 10 tips for getting the best wedding photos.
1. Do some research
This is probably one of the most important tips I give to all my couples: find shots and angles that you like and that match your style. Pinterest is a very good place to explore different styles of photography, so I would suggest creating a wedding photography board and start pinning the photos that you like most.
My photography style is documentary, telling the story of your day mixing in some stunning couple portraits. I like to mix staged and candid shots of you and your guests as well as beautiful pictures of your venue and decorations to make sure you will remember every little detail of your big day.
2. Book a meeting with your photographer
Once you find the shots and styles that you like it’s very important to book a meeting with your photographer to discuss the plan for the day. I really enjoy chatting to my couples, finding ways to bring their ideas to life and to tell their story in a way that feels personal and unique to them.
I’d love to chat to you over a coffee at my studio where you will be able to see more of my work and some of my stunning Italian wedding albums. Alternatively, we could chat over the phone or on Skype.
3. Be flexible!
Your photographer has a lot of experience and they will be able to help you come up with the best plan to make your wedding day pictures look amazing. My main tip is to not be afraid to go out of your comfort zone when it comes to your wedding photography and try to incorporate a variety of shots and poses into your wedding plan, even if they’re slightly different to what you had in mind.
Some of the best weddings I have photographed have allowed time to ensure I can capture some magical couple shots, those wow shots to display on your wall. I don’t get you posing for ages, I just capture some natural shots of you as a newly married couple. So sit back, enjoy your day and let me work my magic!
4. Tell a story
When planning your wedding photography it’s important to have a theme or a story in mind. This helps tie your photography in with all the other details of your wedding.
I like to work around your wedding theme and capture images that will perfectly showcase all the little details that make your big day special to you.
One of my favourite weddings focused their whole theme around Harry Potter. It was a truly magical experience and really caught the inspiration of the guests. This allowed me as a photographer to get creative and capture all those special little details.
5. Find the perfect location
Choosing the ideal venue is no easy task, but if you have your heart set on a special place make sure that you explore the surrounding area a few weeks before the wedding and find some key spots for pictures. This will make your wedding day a lot less stressful, as your photographer will be prepared and factor moving in between locations into their wedding day plan.
I have photographed a large number of wedding venues in Yorkshire and I am familiar with many of them but if I am not, I would love to have our pre-wedding meeting at your venue and chat through finer details and then we can plan the best locations for your wedding photos. Don’t be afraid to factor in a bit of extra time to stop off at another location, that can provide some truly memorable photos.
6. Be organised
Another really important tip I give all my couples is to make a list of key people that they want to take pictures with on the day and send it to me ahead of time. This helps me plan ahead and make sure nobody is missed out of any wedding pictures. Another good tip is to delegate the role of picture coordinator to someone in your bridal party that is familiar with all your guests. They will be able to coordinate the family and friends photos together with your photographer so you can enjoy being in the moment without stress.
I love to photograph your whole day and that includes groups, so I send you over a questionnaire before your day which helps me to plan and you to tell me what groups you want. This ensures I am as organised and prepared as you on the day.
7. Give yourself plenty of time
My natural style allows me to capture your love and allow you to have those precious moments together just after your marriage. This gives you an opportunity to relax and take a short break from everything and take it all in.
Make sure that you have some time set aside for a photo shoot, even if it’s only 30 minutes to avoid stress on the day. Take this time to also enjoy the first few quiet moments with your partner as a newly married couple. Being relaxed and not worrying about having to rush to the next event will make you glow in your wedding pictures.
8. Embrace the weather!
Weather in the UK is unpredictable, but don’t let a few clouds ruin your big day. Sometimes the best kinds of wedding photos are those spontaneous candid pictures where you both laugh in the beautiful sunshine or dance with your matching brollies in the rain.
As a photographer, I like to be prepared: rain or shine, I will capture your day! The rain can provide a unique opportunity to capture some stunning shots, so if it rains, don’t worry, just wait for me to be creative and grab my brolly.
9. Build trust with your photographer
Having open and honest conversations with your photographer about your expectations is key in building trust. If you’re worried about whether your photographer’s style will work for you, I recommend booking an engagement shoot. This way you will get to know their style a bit better and you can choose the shots and angles that work best for you from that shoot and use them again on your big day.
I offer engagement photoshoots and this provides a fantastic opportunity to capture some stunning photos in your chosen setting. It also helps me to get to know you better, and you to get to know me. It is always lovely to have photos in a natural setting where you can relax and we can have a bit of fun.
This is your day and as your photographer, I want to capture the important things to you, so don’t be afraid to chat to me about them. I plan ahead of time and always have notes with me, so I will make sure I capture all your special moments for you.
10. Be yourself and have fun!
It seems like a very obvious tip, but there’s a lot of truth behind it. You will look better in photos when you are happy, relaxed, and loving every moment of your wedding day. So enjoy your big day and you can be confident that if you choose me to photograph it, your photos will be amazing.
I hope you find these tips helpful in planning your wedding photography. If you would like to download my Yorkshire wedding photographer brochure, click here.
I’d love to chat about your upcoming wedding and see how I can capture your wedding day and give you some wonderful memories that you can treasure for a lifetime. You can view my packages here. Please call me on 07833447838 or send me an email.
