Jonathan & Kristen’s Wedding Photo Guide
Inspiration On What To Expect
Pre Ceremony Details
First things first, let’s photograph some details! To ensure time efficiency, please set aside the following items so that I can begin photographing them immediately upon my arrival.
His - suit jacket, cufflinks, watch, shoes, boutonniere, rings, vow book, cologne, cigars, groomsmen gifts.
Hers - wedding dress, shoes, jewelry, bouquet, vow book, perfume, something-old/something-new, bridesmaid gifts.
Wedding flat lays are photographed the day after your wedding. Styling flat lays requires time, precision, and creativity, which sometimes isn't available on the wedding day. Should you decide you want these photos included in your session, I will collect your wedding invitations on the day of the wedding. I will also reach out to your florist and ask for leftover florals. This will ensure color cohesion throughout your wedding images.
Getting Ready
This portion of coverage is primarily fly-on-the-wall, documentary photography. My assistant and I will float around the space(s), capturing the moments from a variety of angles. There are some moments where we can insert a bit of guidance, such as the mother of the bride helping with the wedding dress or a bridal party toast.
Dos & Don’ts - Try to keep your bridal rooms as clean as possible. No one wants to see luggage or trash in the frame as you’re getting dressed. It takes away from the romance of the moment.
Designate a corner, closet, or separate room for all luggage. If this is not possible, try to keep the areas close to the window(s) as clean as possible. Window light is soft and romantic, and we’ll want to capitalize on it as much as possible.
Pre Ceremony
Before guests arrive, my assistant and I will capture detail photos of the altar, welcome table, signage, florals, etc.
Opting for a first look? Here’s how it’ll go down:
Once the location is chosen, my assistant and I will take solo portraits of the groom waiting there. Afterward, the day-of coordinator or I will go fetch the bride. The groom will have his back to the bride as she walks up behind him. My assistant and I will snap a few different angles before the bride taps the groom on the shoulder. The groom will turn toward the cameras and see his beautiful bride for the first time.
Upon this reveal, be in the moment with each other. Kiss, hug, cry, laugh—everything and anything! My assistant and I will be quiet flies on the wall, photographing every little moment.
Once the nerves and emotions have calmed down, I will step in and begin formal portraits of the two of you.
In most cases, there is enough allotted time after the first look to tackle as many family/bridal party photos as possible. This allows for the two of you to get the most out of your cocktail hour.
Family & Bridal Party Photos
Unless requested otherwise, I tackle family photos first, followed by the bridal party. For these formal family portraits, I focus more on the immediate families of the bride and groom, including their grandparents.
I will begin the photos with the grandparents so they can be seated and rest afterward. As you may remember from the family shot list you were requested to fill out, I photograph a mixture of group shots and individual shots.
Heads Up - When I take individual portraits of you with your bridal party members, I like to take a formal portrait and a silly one! Give your bridal party a heads up so they can brainstorm ideas for poses.
Ceremony
Pretty self-explanatory. My assistant and I will be photographing the ceremony from a variety of angles. Stay close by after the ceremony for any remaining family/bridal party photos while guests make their way to the cocktail hour.
Dos & Don’ts - Remember the “The Floor is Lava” game from growing up? Well, in this case, direct sunlight is lava. While you’re standing at the altar, if you or your partner feel sun spilling onto your face, try to reposition yourselves into a shadier spot. Diffused light is your friend!
You’ve just been announced as husband and wife, kissed, and started the recessional—stop halfway down the aisle and go for another kiss!
Cocktail Hour & Reception
For the remainder of the evening, my assistant and I will be documenting the reception candidly. We will photograph from a variety of angles, capturing the first dance, parent dances, toasts, bouquet/garter toss, cake cutting, and more. During open dancing, feel free to grab either my assistant or me for casual photos with you and your guests.
Sunset Photos
Here are the real WOW photos from the day. Let’s run wild and have some fun! Don’t hold back your love and admiration for each other. The more fun you have, the better the photos will be!
Send Off
Whether you have a planned send off or not, I’ll make sure your gallery ends on a great kiss photo of you both.
“And their love story became a beautiful adventure, unfolding with joy and laughter each day.”
This concludes the wedding day coverage!
Friendly Reminder - The day after the wedding, I will send you your ceremony kiss photo, ceremony exit photo, and a handful romantic photos of the two of you. A full preview gallery (containing 100+ images highlighting the entire wedding day) will be delivered to you through an online gallery 1-2 weeks after the wedding.
Your final wedding gallery will be delivered to you through an online gallery 6-8 weeks after the wedding. Should your wedding package include a physical album, we will schedule a Zoom call and begin the album ordering process.