Wedding Photography
Around 6 weeks before your wedding day I send out a “Final Details Form. This is for you to fill in so I know exactly where I need to be and at what time. There is also a place on the form for you to write down any family and friend groupings you would like and any other ideas you may have for your couples portraits.
I have couples who have requested a trip to the beach, a cliff top photo, Whitby Abbey at sunset, the heather up on the moors, a quick nip back home for photos with horses and dogs, all of these things are possible with planning. Most of the photographs I take are a record of your day as it happens and you don’t need to write them down.
Being an experienced wedding photographer you learn over time what will be happening through each part of the day and where you need to be to get those important photos. So what do I photograph that isn’t on your list, please read on to see how I photograph a wedding day.
The Venue
These are the first photos I will take and they are important ones. In my time as a wedding photographer I’ve seen many venues change ownership and with that come changes to the building itself. These photos are a record of how the place you chose looked on the day you married.
Wedding prep
I love this part of the day, the girls getting their hair and makeup done, the guys discussing after shave and watching youtube video’s of how to tie a tie. If you are both getting ready in the same place I can cover both of your prep photos or you can add a second photographer to your wedding package which allows full coverage of the morning.
Guest arrivals
Again this is where a second photographer is a great idea. It’s lovely to see guests arriving in all their finery, excited for the day ahead and congratulating the parents on a match well made. These photos are predominantly candid but if time allows can also be a great time to ask for a quick pose of the arrivals.
The Ceremony
I will join the guests in the ceremony room or church just a few minutes before you walk down the aisle, I take some photos of your partner and then the bridal party as they make their entrance. Depending on the venue and indeed the registrar or Vicar, I can hopefully move around to take different angles as you say your vows to each other.
I overshoot your wedding ceremony giving you lots of special moments to choose from for your wedding album. Must have wedding photos for this most important part of your day include you saying your vows to each other, your wedding ring exchange and the all important first kiss. Although we aren’t allowed to photograph you signing the register we can set this up after all the paperwork is finished.
The Walk
You may choose to have a gentle stroll, holing hands as you walk back down the aisle, a dip kiss half way down or a full on bouquet in the air and dance to your chosen exit song. Whichever you chose I’ll be waiting to photograph it and from here, if you’ve chosen to have a confetti tunnel, we’ll go straight outside and do that.
Your guests won’t mind waiting a few minutes for their welcome drink so this is the best time to do both your confetti and a full group photo. Rounding up guests after they’ve dispersed is like herding goldfish. Uncle Arthur will be stood at the bar waiting for a pint, Great Auntie Ethel will have gone to check in and a couple of friends will be doing tiktoks in the now empty ceremony room.
So, confetti, group photo, welcome drinks, in that order then it’s done and you have a record of all those who spent this amazing day with you.
The Mantlepiece Photos
I’m often praised for my efficiency, particularly by your more mature guests who have attended many weddings in their time. Nobody, including yourselves, wants to spend an age standing around waiting for never ending line-ups of photos. Hence why I ask for a list with names and relationship to you and chose an assistant, typically a bridesmaid, to help round people up.
I will pose the two of you together and add people in and take them out until we get your formal wedding photos done quickly, efficiently and most importantly we’ll make it an enjoyable experience for all concerned. We start with immediate family and finish with the bridal party, making these last photos a little different to the formal ones.
The Couples Portraits
It doesn’t matter where you’ve chosen to hold your wedding day there are photos to be found. Many venues have extensive outside space but if there’s somewhere else you’d like to go that’s absolutely fine, we jump in my car and off we go. If you would like to go somewhere else for photos this needs mentioning on your final details form so I can take into account your ceremony, speeches, wedding breakfast and then make a plan that fits.
The Wedding Breakfast
This is a great time for photos as guests relax at their tables awaiting the feast. I’ll be wandering around with my cameras taking candid shots and awaiting the announcement that welcomes you to the room. I’ll photograph your speeches and the guests reactions to them then I’ll leave you in peace to eat your food, you don’t want photos of people eating.
Second Portrait Session
Depending on the time of day of your wedding ceremony and indeed the time of year you may want to head out for some more portraits of you both, particularly if it looks like a nice sunset.
Or for winter weddings night-time photos are a lovely way to add a fabulous finish to your wedding album. If you’d prefer to spend this time together or just socialise with your guests that’s completely up to you. This is your wedding day and must be done your way.
Special Guests
Whether you’ve asked for a magician to join you at some part of the day, a musician to play you down the aisle, singing waiters for after your breakfast or maybe a surprise visit from some Llamas. Perhaps you have a special mode of transport you love, you’re bringing your pet or having fireworks and sparklers to start off the evening celebrations.
These are all things I ask you to put on the form. I’m very good at keeping secrets so if this is to be kept as a surprise from your guests or your partner jot that down too.
The Dancefloor
Your first dance together as a married couple is a lovely part of the day. It helps to know you if you’ve practiced any moves and are going full on lift in a Dirty Dancy type way or are just going to sway awkwardly until the DJ releases you from the pain and gets everyone to join in.
Don’t worry, whichever you choose to do the photos will show you loved every minute of it but I will position myself differently if you’re going to swing each other around. I stay for around 30 minutes after your first dance to catch some dance floor action and in the summer months I’m happy to use this time to grab a later sunset.
So there you have it, these are the photos I take without you having to even give them a thought. A relaxed portrait session that is gently posed and not at all awkward and a candid reflection of your day that tells the story from start to finish. Give your list some thought, but not too much, it’s my job to ensure we get the very best from your day and your venue.
Thanks for reading.
Ange x
Wedding Venues and suppliers in these photos are-
