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Wedding Day PhotographyGetting the Best Images of Your DayBy Cat Warren, Photographer

Over the last 9 years that we have photographed weddings we have seen a lot!

The weddings have been as amazingly fun and varied as out clients are. From small intimate weddings to elaborate 3 day weddings, each has brought joy and challenges. Through it all I have learned something from each one, sometimes these lessons end up adding to the tips we give brides!

Weddings are made up of little events (or chapters) and its these events that you flash back to later on. The ring exchange, cake cutting, saying I do. The more events you can create the more memorable you make the day.

This guide is to help you make the most of your wedding day photography, we’ve assembled tips from the things we’ve seen over the last 9 years with the goal to help you plan your wedding day schedule to get the best possible images from your day.

All the planning for your wedding is a lmost complete and your wedding day is right around the corner! Planning enough time for your photography is the key to a great album that tells the story of your day!

WEDDINGMOMENTSIn

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BE ORGANIZEDGetting ready ALWAYS takes longer than you expect! Have all of your things together and know where they are! 

It wastes time to have to stop and look for something or get it out of the car a few times – and time adds up.  Also if things need to be assembled, get them done the day before.

STICK TO THE SCHEDULEMost of the time issues we face are because someone was running late during the getting ready phase. So create a schedule for getting ready, If you end up ready early it gives you time to relax or for more pictures!

We suggest that you allow more time than you think for hair and makeup, it can take an hour per girl. Hire the appropriate number of stylists if all the girls are getting done up!

HAVE A CLEAN ROOMEnsure that rooms are clean and not cluttered. “If it’s in the room it’s in the photo,” so if you want p i c t u r e s f r e e o f b r e a k f a s t wrappers, clothes, and other distracting items, It is best to assign someone, a bridesmaid, to be in charge of keeping the room clean because you’ l l have enough on your mind.

HAVE THE DETAILS READYHave the dress and tux, shoes, j ewe l r y , r i ngs , ga r te r , and anything else of significance that you would like photographed organized and accessible.

BRIDE GETS DRESSED LASTMake sure that your parents and your wedding party are dressed when it’s time to help you get dressed.  You in your bridal gown w h i l e y o u r m o m a n d t h e bridesmaids in sweat pants, It just doesn’t look right.

Getting Readythe transformation

We prefer to start your wedding day coverage when the Bride begins her preparations.

We suggest having the hair and makeup artists come to you at the hotel or venue. Having on-site hair and makeup makes things flow easier and you are not competing with the salon’s other clients or getting stuck in traffic.

Don’t worry, we are not covering this part of the day minute by minute, more often we are are capturing little moments and getting to know your family & the bridal party better.

During this time we will also be photographing the little details for the day (your dress, rings, and such) as well as the finishing touches as you put your dress on!

We’ll meet up with the Guys at some point and capture what they are up to getting ready for the day.

Once everyone is dressed we will do some portraits with the Bride, her family and attendants and with the Groom, his family and attendants.

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This is often the unseen part of your wedding day and they are special moments that are often overlooked.

We love the atmosphere of anticipation during the getting ready process, it’s unmatched during the wedding day. The guys usually drown it with a little toast and jokes; while the g i r l s g iggle, cry , and experience a full range of emotions of everything in between.

Tips for Great Getting Ready Photos

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STEAM THOSE DRESSES Don’t wait to steam those dresses! This includes the Bridesmaids, Moms and anyone who will be in photographs! If you are dressing at the venue, steam the dresses before taking them to the venue, especially if we only have 30 minutes to dress at the venue before pictures. It takes longer than you expect to steam a dress! We would prefer that the wedding dress be steamed and the dress on a pretty (not a dry cleaners) hanger so that we can photograph it with the other details.

FLOWERSMake sure to have the florist aware of the time that you will need the florals. You may choose to have the flowers in your getting ready location or at the venue. Generally the Bride & Bridesmaids will want their flowers for pictures if we are doing them before the ceremony. Pinning on corsages& boutonnieres are important images as well.

MUST HAVES FOR GETTING READY

• Pretty Hanger For Your Dress

• Drinks & Snacks for the Wedding Party (cold water especially if it is HOT outside)

• Paper Towels (especially important to dry off bouquets)

• Kleenex

• Emergency Kit (Bandaids, Breath Mints, Stain Remover Wipes, Safety Pins, etc)

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You have invested in all the parts of your day, the dress the decor and the food. Don’t forget to invest in how you look! Makeup and hair are the most important part of your attire besides the dress, you are going to be photographed ALL DAY so your look has to be spot on the entire time. Here are some tips to help you with looking your best for your important day!

HIRE PROFESSIONALSYour Wedding day is stressful and being pampered while you are getting ready makes the day much easier. You will want to hire someone that has lots of experience with flash photography and weddings. They are used to making Brides look their best for their pictures and your makeup will last all day. Even if you are not the type to wear makeup, make an exception for your wedding day. It may feel like a splurge, but it makes the difference!

SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIMEAllow 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated on the big day. This will ensure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding. We recommend that the bride allow 2 full hours for just her hair & makeup.

DO A TRIAL RUNBe sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding for peace of mind. This is a great time to do Bridal Portraits and make sure all elements, from makeup, to hair, to dress, to jewelry, are a perfect match—and fabulously photogenic. You may be surprised that you will need to wear more makeup than a daytime look, because you’re likely to look washed out without it.

WATERWORKSThere will be tears, so waterproof mascara is a must. Even if you’re not terribly emotional, the stress leading up to the day is enough to leave anyone in tears.

FALSIESEven if it seems counterintuitive, most wedding makeup artists will swear on false eyelashes. Not only do they make your eyes pop, you will hardly even notice that they’re there. Make sure to research and consult with your makeup artist to know which ones to buy.

WEDDING DAY HAIR & MAKE UP TIPSLOOK GREAT FROM FIRST GLANCE TO THE LAST DANCE

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S H I M M E R M E T I M B E R S

Please don’t use light reflecting moisturizers, makeup, concealers and powders. They reflect light and will lead to extensive retouching.⟸

The same goes for glittery makeup and

body shimmer. It gets everywhere!

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HAIR DO’S AND DON’TS

Most brides face to the right during the ceremony, so if you have hair jewelry you may want it to to be on the right side of your updo.

Also watch your bangs so that they don’t cover your face during the vows and the all important first kiss! What looks good from the front, may not look good from the side!

IT’S NATURALTo prepare for every lighting scenario, apply makeup in natural light, since you can detect subtle tones in skin and foundation color, and know for certain how much blush or bronzer to put on. We recommend setting the makeup artist up near a window with lots of natural light. This also helps us with the getting ready pictures as we will have great light!

STAND UP TALLGood posture is the icing on the wedding cake. You might look good enough to eat, but slouching makes you look shorter and sloppier. Stand tall and avoid posing, just be yourself!

CROWNING GLORYYour hairstyle needs to work with your dress and your personality, and it needs to hold up all day! You don’t want it to fall flat before the reception!

No we recommend up-do’s because they stay beautiful all day. Pick something your feel comfortable in and adds to your wedding style.

PAMPER YOURSELFSplurge on having the stylists come to you on wedding day. In the long run it saves you stress, time & money. You are not worrying about traffic or schedule mishaps at the salon.

We do recommend that the bridesmaids get their hair and make up done professionally as well. This will give them a more uniform look in your pictures and everyone looks great!

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4.5 HOURS PRE-CEREMONYWe arrive to document the

details, finishing touches on hair & makeup and the groomsmen making their final preparations.

3.5 HOURS PRE-CEREMONYIt’s time to document the bride getting into her wedding dress,

the guys getting finished up and their boutonnières on

3 HOURS PRE-CEREMONYWe arrange for a “first meeting”

for the bride & groom where they see each other for the first time & for their couples portraits

2 HOURS PRE-CEREMONYFormal photographs with the

entire wedding party and the bride and groom’s immediate

and extended families.

30 MINUTES PRE-CEREMONYWe start documenting the

details and guest arriving for your ceremony. At this time you

should take a few minutes of quiet time to get ready before

all the excitement begins!

CEREMONY TIMERelax & enjoy the moment.

15 MINUTES POST-CEREMONYWe capture your first moments as husband & wife! If there are additional formal photographs desired we will take this time to

complete them.

15 MINUTES PRE-RECEPTIONWe photograph the end of the cocktail hour, reception space, cake and floral decor.

We also touch base with the DJ, Catering Manager or Wedding Coordinator to see if there were any last minute changes to the reception schedule.

RECEPTION TIMEWe document the reception candidly as it unfolds, including the first dances, toasts, dancing, and cake cutting. We will take a break once dinner is served to eat. Don’t worry; one of us is always available for any photo requests throughout the evening.

2 HOURS INTO RECEPTIONWhile the reception is in full swing (after dinner, the toasts and cake cutting) we will whisk you out for a quick break and some night time romantic portraits.

3 HOURS INTO RECEPTIONThe evening is winding down with more dancing, Bouquet and Garter Toss and the Last Dance

END OF THE NIGHTWay too soon the evening will be over, we’ll document your exit from the reception and wish you well on your honeymoon.

WEDDING TIMELINEbackbone for your dayA wedding is a whirlwind of events, gone in the blink of an eye. There’s little more important to a perfectly executed event than an organized timeline.

When planning your timeline, please don’t forget about travel times for both your guests and the photographers. If your ceremony and reception are at the same location it’s not as much of a factor.

For weddings that will have ceremony and reception at the same location and you are limited to a short timeline you may want to think about doing a location photo session before arriving to the venue or arriving ready for photos instead of dressing at the venue.

We can do family photographs and First Looks at the hotel you are getting ready at or at a nearby location instead of at the wedding venue. We love being creative with the family images and there are lots of things you can do to make them unique to your style.

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We know all weddings are unique and we want to cover your entire day we will work with you to create a timeline that works for you!

PLANNING FOR YOUR WEDDING DAYYour day is filled with little events, the more events the more images! Here is a timeline that allows for the most photo time and eventS!

How you plan for photos makes a big difference in the images that you get from your day. Here is the timeline that we prefer for

weddings, it allows time to capture all the moments!

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A T I M E L I N E C O M P A R I S O NWhat a real wedding day looks like with and without a “First Look” These weddings have everyone at a single venue for getting ready through the reception.

Photography Timeline WITH a First Look

12:00 PM Meet Bride to Photograph Getting Ready & Details

1:00 PM Meet Groom to Photograph Getting Ready & Details

2:30 PM Bride Gets Dressed

3:00 PM First Look with Bride & Groom, Individual & Romantic Portraits

4:00 PM Bridal Party Portraits

4:30 PM Family Portraits

5:30 PM Photograph ceremony details, guests arriving and cocktail hour location details

6:00 PM Ceremony

6:30 PM Additional Family, Wedding Party and/or Bride & Groom Portraits

7:00 PM Photograph Reception Details while Bride & Groom enjoy some alone time and get ready for the reception

7:15 PM Guests enter reception space

7:30 PM Bride & Groom’s Entrance into Reception

7:35 PM First Dance

7:45 PM Blessing of the Food & Dinner is Served

8:15 PM Toasts & Cake Cutting

8:30 PM Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances to open the dance floor

8:45 PM Dancing

9:30 PM Pull Bride & Groom out for some night shots

10:00 PM Bouquet & Garter Toss

10:30 PM Last Dance

11:00 PM Bride & Groom Exit

Photography Timeline WITHOUT a First Look

1:00 PM Meet Bride to Photograph Getting Ready & Details

2:00 PM Meet Groom to Photograph Getting Ready & Details

3:30 PM Bride Gets Dressed

4:00 PM Groom’s Portraits with his family and Groomsmen & Bridesmaids

4:45 PM Bride’s Portraits with her family and Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

5:30 PM Photograph ceremony details, guests arriving and cocktail hour location details

6:00 PM Ceremony

6:30 PM Formal Portraits with Bride & Groom, Families and Bridal Party

7:00 PM Bride & Groom Portraits

7:15 PM Photograph reception details as Guests enter reception space. Bride & Groom get ready for reception

7:30 PM Bride & Groom’s Entrance into Reception

7:35 PM First Dance

7:45 PM Blessing of the Food & Dinner is Served

8:15 PM Toasts & Cake Cutting

8:30 PM Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances to open the dance floor

8:45 PM Dancing

9:30 PM Pull Bride & Groom out for some night shots

10:00 PM Bouquet & Garter Toss

10:30 PM Last Dance

11:00 PM Bride & Groom Exit

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This is the fun part of your day!

Portraits of just the two of you.

These are often the most

cherished photos from your

wedding day for years to come.

We encourage our couples to consider seeing each other before the ceremony and doing a ‘First Look”. I know you may be thinking that if you see one another before the ceremony it will be less emotional when you walk down the aisle, but we have not seen that to be the case, most of the time it’s just as emotional if not more.The First Look is really for the Groom (and for the photography timeline) and we work hard to make it special for him! Doing a first look lets you have more time for the romantic couples photographs that our couples love and want, without sacrificing time with your wedding guests.

Most of our couples choose to do their first look alone, spending 30 minutes to an hour taking those artistic, romantic shots that just can’t be captured in the short time after the ceremony. After those are finished, the wedding party and parents join us. By the time we are done the only photos that may have to be taken after the ceremony are a few with extended family.An extra benefit is that couples who opt for a First Look usually end up with 30 percent more photos than those who don’t – AND your makeup is still intact!

Romantic PortraitsDo we have to do a First Look?

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BE YOURSELFThe best pictures happen when the bride and groom are just being themselves and interacting with each other. Laughing, kissing, hugging etc. Just like on your engagement session we’ll give you some direction, feel free to just have fun with it!

ALONE TIMEDuring the bridal and couple shots, it’s essential to have some alone time with us, your photographers.

The really lovely, affectionate photos only tend to happen when you don’t have a large group of people looking on.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR GUESTS

During your formals and your bride and groom portraits don’t worry about your guests waiting for you. Most – and probably all – of them have been to at least one other wedding and they’ll know to expect that you’ll be busy with your photos for a while before joining them. As long as they have appetizers and beverages, they’ll be perfectly fine! ☺

Tips For Great Romantic Portraits

Your Portraits

can be posed and

formal, fun and

silly , artistic

and modern or a

m i x t u r e o f

w h at e v e r yo u

want.

It’s your wedding

day!

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Wedding Party Portraits

Don’t forget your Bridal Party! You will want time on the schedule for fun shots with the members of the bridal party!These portraits can be done before and/or after the ceremony. Some of our couples have even made time between the first look and the ceremony to do a photo shoot with their bridal party. We love when our couples think out of the box for these!

Family Portraitsmaking it painless

There are many options for including your immediate family and/or extended family in your wedding day photos.

It will help to decide what groupings are most important to you both (and to your parents). We are happy to photograph you with ALL of your family members, but r e m e m b e r t h a t t h e s e photographs take time to set up and will have an impact on your day’s timeline.

We generally photograph the immediate family groups as formals and save the many smaller groups of friends or extended family for the reception.

We prefer intimate group shots and always stat with the largest groups and break it down into smaller groups. This way we can get the hardest shots done first as sometimes family members (and even bridal party members) wander off before pictures as they are wrapped up in the excitement of the day. This will help with everyone’s patience and get everyone to cocktail hour faster!

One way to keep family members together after the ceremony is to have the recessional include all your family members walking out after you to a specified location until your guests leave. Just make sure everyone who is to be involved in these important photos is notified before the wedding and knows to be there for family photos.

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Family Portraits

(aka Formals) is

probably one of the

most challenging

parts of a wedding

day. It can be very

hectic if it isn't

organized.

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The formals do not have to be

pictures of famil ies standing

uncomfortably in a line or very

posed. We try to put the group at

ease, work quickly and ensure the

poses are natural, with pleasant

smiles.

Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents

Bride & Groom with Bride’s Family (Parents, Siblings & Spouses, Nieces & Nephews)

Bride & Groom with Brides Extended Family (Family & Grandparents)

Bride & Groom with both sets of Parents

Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents

Bride & Groom with Groom’s Family (Parents, Siblings & Spouses, Nieces & Nephews)

Bride & Groom with Groom’s Extended Family (Family & Grandparents)

Bride & Groom with Bridal Party

Bride & Groom Alone

Bride & Groom with Officiant

We know that families are not all this simple., so we encourage our couples to add their “must haves” to this list.

We add 5 minutes per added grouping to the timeline so that we are insured enough time!

Formal Portraitsour “must have” list

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www.weddingsinthemoment.com

678-7 74-9338