Tips For Easy and Perfect Wedding Photos

Wedding photos are a big deal. Years from now, you will look back at these pictures and remember just how excited you were. They may even remind you of details you had forgotten. But how do you get the perfect wedding photos? What can you do on your end to help your photographer get the best shots? Here's a list of a few things you can do to get the BEST wedding photos possible.

1. Set up a time for you and your photographer to meet at your ceremony site to check out lighting. Even if your wedding is outside, tree and/or building placements might cause weird shadows during the ceremony, which the photographer might be able to work with if given enough time. And if your wedding is outdoors, make sure to go over the backup ceremony site as well. This will also give the photographer time to find the best areas for posed photos to save time the day of the wedding.

2. Have 2 photographers. Many companies offer two photographers, but if not, ask if your photographer can bring a photography friend with them. It may cost extra, but it's well worth the extra angles and the ability to have photographers in two places at once.

3. Try to factor in some time for your photographer to get photos of the ceremony and reception site before guests start to arrive. Photos with guests in them can seem busy and clustered, but if your photographer can make it to the decor before the guests, you're more likely to have Pinterest quality photos!

4. To help the posed photos with family go faster and smoother, give your photographer a list of the various groups you would like capturedand include names so the photographer can call for them individually. Take it a crucial step further by contacting everyone on the list and asking them to stay after the ceremony to have the photos taken. Otherwise, guests have a tendency to wander around and be difficult to find.

5. It may seem like the perfect time to talk to your family during the posed photos, but the more talking, the more likely every photo is going to have someone with their mouths open in a weird shape, distracting from the rest of the photos. Ask your family to focus on smiling during the photos, this way the photos go by faster, and you'll have more time to catch up during the reception!

6. Have an unplugged ceremony. seriously, this cannot be stressed enough. Guests with phones and cameras out do not make for pretty pictures, and can often time disrupt the photographer you paid to capture these shots. And while you're at it, keep the unplugging going through the posed photos. This is another way to speed up your photo time, and keeps your guests eyes focused on one camera instead of 5 or 6.

7. When setting up your reception, keep lighting in mind. have important factors out in good lighting so the photographer can get the best shot possible. If you want pictures of your gorgeous cake, don't go putting it in a dark corner that would require additional lighting to capture properly.

8. Also keep the background in mind the day of your wedding. The more clutter there is in your dressing room, the more clutter there will be in the photos. Pack your makeup and hair supplies in cute bags, and try not to leave your lunch and snacks strewn everywhere.

9. If you are having a first look, either with your father, groom, children, or other important people in your life, make sure the area around you is what you want in the background. Again, clutter and lunch do not make the best details.

10. Tell your photographer up front what you want, they are not mind readers. If you like black and white photos, or bright, colorful photos, or dramatic and dark photos, tell them! Tell them as early as you can too, because if what you ask is not their style, they may need to practice before your big day.

We hope you've found this article helpful, and that these tips help create the perfect wedding photos. If you have any more ideas, post them in the comments below! We would love to hear them!


*All photos used in this post were captured by Sweet Memories Photography.