Sep 145 min read

Photography Tips For Wedding Couples

Updated: Oct 11

No matter where our couples may be in their wedding planning journey they always ask us for photography tips for their wedding day or engagement shoot. Sometimes this is months in advance, others it is on the day when they suddenly realise just how much they are going to be in front of the camera, AND panic !!!!

Bride and groom smiling during their church ceremony

All you need to remember is we have done this countless times before and know a thing or two to help calm you down and relax. We may not be wedding planners or co-ordinators, but on your wedding day that is often what we become. As one of the few suppliers who are with you all day many people see us as their point of contact. In our meetings with you we nail down a timeline so we know when and how things are happening so we can be in the right place at the right time.

There are no second chances for this so we work with you to nail it.

Here are our top wedding photography tips to help

Bride and Groom Preparations

With two of us we can easily cover both without having to rush around from pillar to post.

A clear space is key for getting good photos. So, whether you are getting ready at your venue, your parents home or your own home take a little time beforehand to remove anything that may get in the way. Space is at a premium when you consider just how many people will be there.....your wedding party, make-up artist, hairdresser, photographer and/or videographer.

Plan to be ready well in advance because sad to say something will inevitably go wrong, but if you have plenty of time to spare you are often able to fix any glitches before they become a stressful nightmare. Allowing plenty of time also means you can chill out with your bridal party and get those all important photos with them without having to rush off to your ceremony and missing out because you are running late.

Photographing With Permission

We know this will sound strange but do check with suppliers and venues that they are happy to be photographed and there are no restrictions. There are no set rules or guidelines, every supplier and venue is different. Some religious places of worship for instance do not allow any photography during your legal ceremony, whereas others are completely laid back and impose no restrictions at all. If you are having a religious ceremony we will always endeavor to be at the rehearsal so we can discuss everything with your officiant and formulate a plan of action to circumvent any problems that may arise.

Do read all your supplier contracts as there are some, all be it rare who will have clauses restricting photography and videography.

Position Is Everything

There have been occasions, specially in churches where we have been relegated to the back, but if we are aware of this in advance we can be prepared with our zoom lenses already set up on our cameras.

If your priest or bridesmaids are entering before you, make sure to allow a good gap between each persons' entrance so we are able to get good clear photos of everyone. And, most importantly your entrance should be completely clear of others. We often suggest allowing your bridesmaids to take their seats and be off the aisle completely before you make your entrance giving us a clear view.

And, remember two photographers will mean two positions, different angles and more photos of your day for you to cherish.

Consider Going Unplugged

We have lost count of the number of times a photo has been ruined by "Uncle Bob" jumping in front of us to get the picture he wants. We understand your wedding is a special day for you, your family and friends, but when you have paid a professional photographer it really is frustrating to be unable to do our job properly.

This is why we love when couples choose to have an unplugged ceremony. Their guests fully enjoy and experience the wedding service, rather than watching it on a tiny screen, and if the couple do turn to look around them they are not seeing a sea of camera phones instead of faces.

Confetti Shots

If you have your heart set on getting those wonderful photos full of confetti then you need to A - make sure your venue allows confetti, and if yes, what type (many venues have considerable restrictions) and where. Many churches prefer confetti to be thrown away from the main doors so they are not having to hoover indoors to clear it all up. And B - have more confetti than you think you need. We would definitely recommend supplying the confetti yourselves as we have known many couples who expected their guests to bring their own only to end up with little to none and be very disappointed.

The Group Photos

We always ask our couples for a must have list of photos along with the caveat that the more photos on the list the longer it will take to get them done, on average you should allow 5 minutes per photo. Our usual way to work through these is to start with the whole group of everyone and then gradually break it down to the smaller group portraits. This way we release people as quickly as possible to get on with enjoying themselves, and are not waiting around for one person to be found so we can complete a photo as everyone is already gathered together.

We recommend designating someone to help get people together, such as bridesmaids or ushers who are likely to know many of your family and friends.

Alone Time For The Couple

It may be your wedding day but the chances of you and your partner actually having some quality time alone together is extremely low, once married everyone wants to chat and congratulate you. Noel and I barely said two words to each other after our wedding ceremony as we pulled here and there by our respective families and friends, all excited to be with us. It was not until we sat down to eat that we were able to chat a bit more.

This is where your photographers are your best friends and allies as we take you away from everyone for your private portraits and allow you that much needed time to take things in and just be the two of you.

We always tell our couples to ask any time they need 5 minutes break from the overwhelm as we are their perfect excuse. It is rare anyone will question the photographer wanting to take a couple more photos of the happy couple.

Your Dress Will Get Dirty !

No matter how careful you are, and even if you spend the whole day indoors, your dress will get dirty. Also, if you want photos outdoors in a field or gardens be prepared to have to walk across the grass or dirt to get to your desired location. We've had a lot of practice in carrying trains and will make every effort to avoid any particularly muddy patches, but you should be prepared for your dress to get dirty if you want those gorgeous backdrops that you chose your venue for.

Finally....It's Your Wedding... So Do It Your Way !

If you want the traditional style of wedding photos that is fine, but if you are prepared to step out of the norm and go for it we can promise you some epic photos that reflect you as an individual couple and not just like any other wedding.