You want to look back on your wedding photos and think, “These are great photos!” As a bride, you want the very best pictures taken on your wedding day. Here are some tips that are a must when your photographer is taking those ever-so-special photos.
PHOTO OP: When choosing a photographer, make sure that you know exactly what you want, and know how many photographers you will need to capture your special day. Some of the most popular must-have shots include:
-The bride getting ready
-The bride and her bridesmaids candid shots
-The groom getting ready
-The groom and his groomsmen candid shots
-When the father of the bride sees her for the first time
-When the mother of the bride sees her for the first time
-The bride walking down the aisle
-The groom’s reaction when he sees the bride for the first time
-Giving the bride away
-Taking vows and exchanging rings
-The Kiss
-Walking down the aisle as husband and wife
-Leaving the ceremony
-First dance
-Leaving the reception
-Detail shots of your bouquet, cake, gown, shoes, rings, food, venue, flowers and décor, lighting, favors, and anything else that is unique to your wedding.
There are plenty of other shots that can be taken throughout your wedding day, just make sure you have plenty of the above shots to include in your wedding album; you will not regret it.
PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS: You want your photographer to be able to tell a story while taking gorgeous photos of your wedding day.
Proposal: One of the most popular photography trends would be the proposal photos. Grooms have somehow read the bride’s mind and thought, “Maybe it would be nice to capture the moment of our proposal.” Thus the proposal pictures were born. One of the most beautiful moments of the whole wedding process is when you get engaged. It is a story that is told over and over again throughout your married life; having a photo of that moment helps convey what words cannot. Why not have your photographer present?
Photo Journalistic: The photo journalistic approach is a very popular trend. This entails shooting from a far, letting the bride and groom tell the story, without interruption of their special day.
Vintage Shots: Vintage shots are becoming increasingly popular. Whether they are sepia toned or black and white, these photos are show stoppers.
And More: Edgy wedding photos are also becoming popular, due to the increased amount of “ink” that some brides and grooms have, as well as their bridal party. Edgy photos are typically set in black and white settings, sometimes at night. They can be eerie, but always look stunning. Groups jumping, such as the bride and her bridesmaids, the groom and his groomsmen, or both groups together, offer a fun photo op and a nice contrast to the more formal shots typically seen in wedding portraits. The panoramicshots are always fun to look at, so you can see each and every guest that attended. The newest fun trend is the horror shot, where the bridal party appears to be running from something big and scary: dinosaurs, Star Wars Storm Troopers, or even an erupting volcano.
UNCONVENTIONAL PHOTOS: Do you like to swim or hike? Do you live near a railroad track or a race track? There are many different ways to get that unconventional shot, including kissing while underwater in a pool or lying on the beach. If you have a favorite board game such as Scrabble, why not get the letters, L, V, and E, and spell out LOVE, making the engagement ring the O. Does your wedding gown have a corset back? If so, lace up your gown and have your engagement ring in the laces to get this gorgeous and unconventional ring shot. Do you and your future husband love getting coffee or ice cream? Take your wedding photos at the local creamery or coffee shop while enjoying a treat, just please don’t spill any on you! The sky is the limit for unconventional shots; make sure to infuse your personality in these photos. Have these shots done after the ceremony, possibly after the honeymoon, so that you can relax, get the dress cleaned, and have fun!
The second part of Choosing Your Photographer will be posted in my blog on Monday, February 10.
You can also see this article at www.premierbride.com and in the current issue of Premier Bride of Mississippi.