It’s off to the Dalmahoy again this weekend for Rachel and Stuart’s wedding reception. I love the venue and with the sun shining (it’s looking good guys!) it has so many options for photos that I will be spoiled for choice.
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Tips for Wedding Photographers
Here’s a lesson for all you budding wedding photographers - have backups for EVERYTHING!!
My system of having backups for everything just got tested in a big way, when my old and trusty battery charger for my Canon 5D batteries just failed on me. It’s all good and well having 3 spare batteries, but if you can’t charge them, it could be a big problem.
Luckily, my backup charger was a mere 5 mins away in my studio - phew!!!
OK, so I shoot with a 7D and 5D MKIII but that 5D is my backup backup camera.
The lessons: check all your gear the day before the wedding, make a checklist of ever single thing you need to think about (from getting your clothes ready, to putting petrol in the car), so that you don’t need to do anything other than remember to read your checklist - that takes a huge amount of pressure off.
Check your gear before the shops shut preferably, as you can always pop out and buy anything you need replaced.
Have backups for everything. The initial cost hurts, but it saves you so much in the long-term.
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TIPS FOR BRIDES - 9 PERSONAL TOUCHES
I know that your wedding is already going to be filled with personal touches, but make sure to add a few at the reception too. These can be great ice-breakers for your guests as they take their places for the wedding breakfast.
A few I’ve seen recently (and BTW, I love shooting these small details which also make great additions to the album!) are pictured above, such as a London Underground inspired table plan, photos of the couple on holiday in various locations on each table, gifts and party packs for the children and even chatterboxes, which I remember from my childhood. Then there was the old fashioned sweet stall - Hmm, I’m definitely not admitting to how many of those I had!
Not forgetting the mounted print, which I offer to all couples who have an engagement shoot with me and once it is filled up with all your friends and family’s messages becomes a very special and personal memento.
Check out my wedding packages and photos here:
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Funny Photos →
These made me laugh. Although I need to stress that none of them are my photos!
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TIPS FOR BRIDES - 8: BRIDAL PREPARATION PHOTOS
I love photographing this time in the wedding day! It’s a special family and friends time with equal amounts of relaxation, emotion and nerves. ‘Who would want a photographer there for that?’ you may ask.
When you consider the amount of time and effort you have put in deciding on all the details and how special some of those items are then it makes more sense. Which details and items? Well, there’s the dress, shoes, jewellery, flowers, button holes, hats, bridesmaid’s outfits, hair, make up, heirlooms (see Tip 7), dad’s outfit, flower girls outfits, gifts and more! All in one place at one time, perfect for your photographer to work away and capture them for posterity.
Then there’s the special moments, like when you first unveil your wedding dress to your dad, the bridesmaids, button holes get put on, flowers arrive, first shots with your family.
In short (I could go on, can you tell?) it’s a very special time and those shots look lovely in your album and you will cherish them, I promise!
To see more of my work and package prices, click right HERE.
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TIPS FOR BRIDES - 7
Use those heirlooms!
You will often be wearing rings, necklaces and other pieces of clothing or jewellery with emotional significance, but if they can’t be incorporated into what you are wearing, why not do what one canny bride did and put your family heirlooms into the bouquet! Carrying it round for the day is just as special as wearing it and always tell the photographer, who will happily oblige and capture the memory as well.
One thing though - don’t forget to remove it before you go throwing that bouquet over your shoulder!
For more tips, scroll down this page (you may need to hit archive at the top of the page to see older posts).
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Ruth and David’s wedding was a lovely one to shoot at The George Hotel and I was delighted to receive a very warm, kind testimonial from them:
“Thanks to Phil for giving us some wonderful memories of our wedding. Phil was excellent throughout the day, making sure neither of us were bothered by minor details regarding our photographs and helping to coordinate the larger groups and making sure we got all the shots we wanted. He really captured some great moments throughout the day as well as some fab ‘posed’ photos. Phil is so down to earth and calming and couldn’t recommend him highly enough. Thanks again Phil, for everything! David & Ruth :)”
To see more of my work and to see my wedding prices, please visit my website here:
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My wife Heather and I at our stand at the Corn Exchange Wedding Fair. Come and see us to chat about your wedding photography! We are on stand 82.
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TIPS FOR BRIDES - 6: GROUP SHOTS
This always comes up as a ‘hot topic’ at every wedding meeting I have. It’s mentioned in all the magazines and photographers all have their opinions too, with some even going as far as having strict limits on how many can be shot.
While I would never go that far, it’s not in my nature, I think that there is a need for young couples to understand the implications of the group shots on a few aspects of their day.
Timing is the most important aspect. Once you sit down and actually plan out what is happening when, you may be surprised by how little ‘breathing space’ there is in the schedule. It’s a big important day and you want to strike the right balance between formalities, enjoying yourself and spending time with your guests, as well as setting some time aside for the professional photographs. I am often approached to chat about groups when the schedule is nearly complete and the list for groups can be up at about 15 shots, all with different people, to fit into a 30min slot. Even working as fast as I do for groups, this would present a challenge.
Small groups take an average of 3mins per shot. So 10 groups will take 30mins. If everyone was waiting at one place at one time, then I could knock them off in 10mins, but this is real life and people are always needing rounded up from various places. While I employ the ushers or bridesmaids to round people up while I am shooting, it still leads to the 3mins figure being more or less right.
Large groups are a law unto themselves, but I always plan 10mins per large group - particularly when they are of indeterminate size - such as All the men, All the Women, All the men in kilts, Everyone. Often they have to be shot in a different location from the small groups for purely logistical reasons and people are always missing for a few minutes - and it is always someone critical to the shot, like the groom!
So 10 small groups plus a couple of big ones may take 50 minutes out of your schedule. If you know this and those groups are important to you then all you need to do is set this time aside in your schedule and discuss the logistics with your photographer in advance. I always do a venue visit before the ceremony with couples and we agree which groups will take place where and when they will be done.
Two small but important factors to be considered in the schedule, but never added in are the ‘real’ start time of the ceremony. I don’t think I have had one wedding start exactly on time yet, you brides do like to keep your partners waiting! This has a small knock-on effect to timings. Then there is the 15min period after the wedding ceremony and before the photographs where you can bask in the glow of being newlyweds with your family and friends. This is a lovely time for all and can lead to some wonderful photos.
Other than the timing, you need to be clear what you liked about the photographer’s style in the first place and think about which photos of his/hers you loved. I am betting that is was the spontaneous, mood-capturing, funny, tender ones and not a family group. The more time taken up by formal shots, the less time will be spent on those candids. And how long do you really want to be spending standing around posing? Would you rather be chatting to your guests and relaxing?
So, I am fully aware of all the decisions for your day and hope this guide helps a little. You will find me more than co-operative when we shoot the groups and I almost always get told how easy I make them, which is always a pleasure to hear. I work very hard to ensure that this is the way things happen and ultimately you get the photos you want.
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It’s going to be a busy weekend at the Corn Exchange Wedding Fair. Come along and chat to us on Stand 82.
Don’t forget to check out the PSD Photography wedding website here too.
