Tips: What to Discuss with Wedding Photographer
What to Discuss with Your Wedding Photographer
Your checklist before the wedding day is of course super long, but no matter what, schedule a time to discuss wedding information with your wedding photographer from the get-go.
Once all the wedding bills have been paid and you return from the honeymoon, the wedding photos will be all you have to relive your special day. When it comes to wedding photos, you must have a clear idea of the shots you want. There are some must-have wedding photos that every couple should consider. However, you may also have some unique or personalized ideas to include in your photo album.
Quick tip: Create a Pinterest Mood board, and screenshot photos from your wedding photographer’s portfolio to get an idea of the poses and vibe you’re looking for in your wedding photos.
It’s crucial to communicate your preferences with your photographer and make sure they understand your vision. By planning ahead and discussing your wedding photo ideas with your partner and photographer, you can ensure you have beautiful and memorable photos to cherish for years. And if you don’t discuss the following with him/her/they, the photos may not come out as you imagined.
Hi! I am Miranda Suess, an NJ wedding photographer
I am here to support you in your wedding planning journey to make it stress-free and picture-perfect. I have a Youtube channel that shares more tips and tricks too. This blog post, it’s specific to bride-to-be so you know what to discuss with your wedding photographer.
List of Family Groupings: Including Names and Relationship to You
This is one of the most important tasks you and any bride to be will have to share with your wedding photographer. Family photos can take long if the people in the list are not communicated with or show up later to the time. This can hirt a wedding photography schedule on your big day and cause a lot of stress if not done right. A group photo with all guests included is a fun option and you may also want to pose with different groupings of friends and family. Your photographer needs a list of the groupings you want, so they can plan and capture all those shots within the available time.
Provide the photographer with the groupings, but also names and their relationship to you. This makes it easy for photographers to call someone for a photo and they’ll also know what setting or atmosphere will be appropriate. For example, a photo with the bride and groom’s closest family may be formal, but for a moment with college friends a fun moment with everyone pulling a face could be the way to go.
Example:
- Bride (name) + Groom (name) + Bride’s mom (name) + Bride’s dad (name)
- Bride (name) + Groom (name) + Groom’s mom (name) + Groom’s step dad (name)
- etc.
Divorce and Photography: Managing Relationships and Group Photos
When planning the groupings for your photos, also consider separations and divorces. For example, there may be divorced couples or in-laws who avoid each other at all costs and would prefer not appearing together in photos. Or, when looking at your wedding photographs you don’t want an image reminding you of something like a divorce. Inform your photographer about these couples beforehand and plan the group photos to accommodate this.
Family Dynamics: Potential Conflicts and Preferences
Be open with your photographer about what exactly goes on in your circle of family and friends. Photographers must know which individuals don’t get along, so they don’t ask them to appear next to each other in a photo. This lowers the risk of them engaging in conflict and you won’t have individuals who are obviously uncomfortable ruining your wedding photos.
Language Barriers: Communication with Your Photographer and Guests
A skilled photographer has the ability to put people at ease, so their smiles look natural and they seem comfortable posing. This requires exceptional communication skills but the photographer’s skills won’t be enough if the guests don’t understand him or her.
If your wedding will include people from different cultures that speak various languages, specifically ask the photographer what’s needed to ensure the photos will still come out amazing. This could include:
– Vetting photographers and picking one that speaks languages your wedding guests will understand.
– Providing all guests with a schedule, so they know where and when to be for group photos.
– Asking a multilingual guest to interpret the photographer’s words.
Discuss a plan with your photographer before the wedding day, so you avoid unnecessary confusion and stress for yourself, guests and the camera crew.
Religious Considerations: Discussing Your Beliefs and Traditions
Help your photographer capture the best moments by clarifying religious and cultural aspects that will play a role on the day. Remember, traditions that form part of wedding ceremonies differ between religions and your photographer may not know all about your belief system.
Provide a list of the moments you want the camera and the order they happen in. The photographer can then use the best angles because he or she knows what is happening next.
Also make sure the photographer knows how to act during the ceremony. You don’t want the camera clicking away during a moment when everyone expects absolute silence.
Surprises on the Wedding Day: Preparing Your Photographer
A skilled photographer will make the most of each situation, such as using a surprise visit from a flock of doves as a romantic background for a photo of the bride and groom. However, the more surprises the camera crew knows about the better they can prepare and optimize the moments. Therefore, anyone planning a surprise should inform the photographer beforehand.
If you plan on surprising your spouse-to-be—perhaps singing on stage?—arrange a private meeting with the photographer to plan angles and lighting. Also inform the wedding party that anyone considering a surprise for the couple should contact the photographer and explain their plans so it’s guaranteed to be captured for eternity.
Photo Inspiration: Sharing a Mood Board of Poses You Like
One way to feel more comfortable posing on the day is knowing what will be expected of the couple AND ensure the photographer knows your preferences. Mention preferred wedding color schemes to set a mood as well as poses you want to try.
A pose can be fun to show off your personalities or it can focus on intricacies of the bride’s hair or details of the dress or your rings. Each of these calls for a different setting. For example, hair photos work well in the dressing room beforehand. For photos of rings, the moment when you’re exchanging rings creates the ideal moment to show off the rings. To ensure that your rings are captured in the best possible way, it’s crucial to discuss this with your photographer beforehand. Let them know that your rings are an important part of your wedding story and that you would like them to be featured in your photos. This will help your photographer plan for the right angles, lighting, and settings to create stunning images that showcase your rings.
Make sure that you have ordered and personalized your costum made wedding ring with your engagement ring and your style beforehand so that it will be reflected in your photos. By coordinating with your photographer and planning ahead, you can optimize the moment of exchanging rings and capture photos that you will cherish for a lifetime. Whether you opt for classic, timeless poses or more creative and personalized shots, your wedding photos should reflect your unique style and personality.
Photo Usage: Discussing Your Plans for the Photos
Start planning what you want to do with your photos even before the big day. Will you simply keep digital copies, or do you also want to print a wedding album to page through? Your photographer may have some special offers on getting photos printed and can even help put together your album. Knowing this beforehand helps you budget and if photographers know you want a statement image to hang above the fireplace, they’ll make sure to capture a suitable, epic moment.
Timeline and Venue Contract: Collaborating with Your Photographer and Venue
Your photographer must plan carefully to capture all your group photos and provide you with the set of images you’re paying for. This requires knowledge of how long the venue is available, so he or she doesn’t run out of time.
Also plan the day’s timeline together, because photographers can advise you on the best times to capture special moments, and make the most of natural light. For example, cut the cake at sunset or release butterflies during ‘the golden hour’.
Furthermore, it can work in your favor if the photographer and a contact person at the wedding venue meet beforehand. Ask them to keep each other informed on what’s happening, such as when dinner is served or when a group photo will be taken. This helps photographers capture each moment on the timeline and food won’t get cold because everyone is somewhere else smiling for the camera.
It’s safe to say picking your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions of the day. However, your communication with this vendor will determine how successful he or she can perform their task. Give this aspect of your wedding organizing enough time and attention and your wedding pics will still leave you smiling decades from now.
This article is written by Isabelle Marinier and edited by Miranda Suess
