Surviving Wedding Photos

Planning a wedding can be stressful. From large affairs, to simple gatherings, most weddings call for a photographer.

You want to capture the day as if flies by. To look back and admire all the work you put into it.

Most brides give little thought to their photos once the photographer is booked. They might have inspiration Pinterest boards on dream cakes, dream venues, and dream table settings.

Well, I’m here to encourage brides to start Pinterest wedding photo boards.

Surviving Wedding Photos - Plan Ahead

This Pinterest board will be your way of planning ahead. When choosing a location, check their website. Some venues have photos on their website for inspiration.

If you see a shot, angle, or pose done by another bride or another photographer, save it. Show it to your photographer. They will love your input.

So many times, I’ve shown up to a wedding and the bride hasn’t given any thought to location, poses, or arrangements and later wished they would have planned ahead.

It isn’t the photographer’s job to read your mind, you have to tell them what you want or they will start arranging photos based off of traditional portraits.

You can always print off a list like this to mark up, and send it to your photographer.

Surviving Wedding Photos - Timing
The tradition is for the groom to not see the bride until she’s coming down the aisle. But ‘Frist Looks’ photos are gaining popularity.

This is where the bride and groom meet before the ceremony, or before the group wedding portraits, for an intimate photoshoot, where they see each other for the first time.

It’s romantic, and it gives brides a close-up of the pure adoration their husbands have on their faces.  

If you don’t know if ‘First Look’ photos are for you, check out this compilation of photos. I dare you not to cry.

A huge source of stress for brides who want to keep things traditional is trying to fit wedding photos in-between the ceremony and the reception. So, if you insist on doing them during this time, please try to occupy guests with drinks, music, or even an activity.


Surviving Wedding Photos - Cell Phones

Guests love to snap pictures of the bride on their phones. More and more brides, however, are opting for a cell phone picture-free wedding.


Guests catch brides at unflattering angles and post them freely online.


You are more than welcome to post a well-worded sign as guests arrive alerting them of this rule.


This also prevents guests from hopping between a photographer and the shot they are trying to get.
I’ve seen many a photographer rant over a missed first kiss because a guest stepped out into the aisle to snap a picture with their cell phone.


Surviving Wedding Photos – Mothers

Brides consult their mothers and mothers-to-be on most aspects of the wedding planning process, but they forget to ask them about photos.


Wedding portraits are sometimes the only chance families have to get everyone together in a single picture. These pictures are then framed and hung on a mantle for years to come.


Mothers need the opportunity to tell the bride what kind of pictures they would like, and which ones they expect.


Surviving Wedding Photos – Children

It’s always adorable to have the bride’s niece and nephews dressed up as flower girls & ring bearers, but children are wild cards at best.  


For information on the best conditions for children to co-operate, check out Working with Children & Animals.


Surviving Wedding Photos - Final Thoughts

Wedding photos are a wonderful memento of your shared commitment of love, so remember:

·         Try to enjoy your big day - Genuine smiles come out best in photos.

·         Communicate what you expect of others.

·         Don’t lock your knees

·         Stay hydrated!

Happy Shooting!

Laura Rose-Grabinski
Rose Weddings & Photography
April 11th 2017