GETTING READY! wedding advice

This blog will be in four parts,”Getting ready” Ceremony”., “The intimate session” and the reception.

Today I will be covering “getting ready”

I always get to the location early. The first thing that I photograph is the atmosphere of the venue,this is important to my couples,they have chosen this venue for a reason. After twenty five years of photographing weddings I have had the privilege of traveling to castles in Germany,the super dome in New Orleans,the Biltmore in North carolina,Hemingway house in Key West just to name a few.

New Orleans superdome

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international fine arts wedding photojournalism

 

 

For my couples,try to have the ladies and the guys get ready at the same location,there are two sides to the story.I like to go back and forth.

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international fine arts wedding photojournalism

During this time I like to photograph the details,  have a go to person for your photographer. I always ask to have the details ready for me when I come in.The rings,the flowers,an invitation or newspaper,something with the date on it,shoes dress,vows etc…

Advice to the ladies,choose a room with the most natural light,remember that light is very important for the sake of the photos,you do not want to get ready in a room with florescent lite with no windows.Try to keep the room free of clutter.

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Leave plenty of time for some bride and groom portraits when you are all ready.For the brides do not be last to have your hair and makeup done.

“Catch Me If You Can”

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international fine arts wedding photojournalism

Try to get plenty of rest the night before and if you get nervous remember it is about the marriage. Dont sweat the small stuff,just go with the flow.

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE/WEDDING TIME LINE ADVICE By creativefreedomphoto

  I am always asked these question and I am happy to help in fact, your photographer is the best and most valuable person to go to to help you plan the timeline. Photography IS 50% light,50% composition.

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  I am also asked how many hours of coverage should you need. Let me put it this way more coverage = more quality photographs, dont rush your photographer.

  How much coverage depends on a few things, is your wedding big with over 100 people, does it have several locations,or is it a small intimate wedding.

  Getting ready/So much happens during this time,try very hard to have the guys nearby you dont want to miss this part of your story,the contrast can often times be hilarious!

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 Keep in mind if you have two locations for guys and girls the photographer will need allot more time to go to two location,driving time,finding parking,packing and unpacking equipment etc that takes allot of time and can take time away from what is most important,capturing your wedding day.When I have the guys and girls at the same location, I just go back and forth, if mot much is going on with the girls, I check out the guys. During this time is not only about “getting ready” doing hair putting on makeup and getting “the dress” on its about the details, have them ready when the photog comes in, your rings, an invitation, newspaper something with the date, wedding vows,your grandmas necklace,Have the flower there as well, whatever it is you want photographed. During this time if I am at one location the entire day (best option ) I will usually go into the reception room and photograph the set up,the venue itself the atmosphere is also very important. The set up for the ceremony and then back to the brides room to spend some quality one on one time for bridal portraits

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 Have hair and makeup come to you ALWAYS!. Brides, DO NOT be the last to get ready,allow more time for everything than you think it will take.Get ready early, if you are last and its almost time for the ceremony, not only will I not have enough time for bridal portraits,you will feel nervous and rushed and it will show on your face, again I stress this do not rush your photographer! The ultimate time for me at the beginning of the story if everyone is at one location is about three hrs. It is a very important time with so much going on and so many wonderful photo opportunities also a good time for me to get to know family and friends of the couple.

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 THE CEREMONY:

TIME- If outdoor wedding,two to three hours before the time of sunset. Two if you dont have a million groups shots and the ceremony is very quick,three if you have allot of group shots with a long ceremony.Group shots take more time than you think. Again allow more time for everything

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 Most important leave the last half hour or more of light (The magic hour) the best lite of the day for just the two of you alone, I call it the “intimate session” plan a cocktail hr for this time your guests will be fine and it will be the only “alone “time you might have together all day. Out of this time comes the most beautiful portraits of my couples capturing their relationship and the love they have for each other, this is absoulutely my favorite time to photograph, DO NOT miss this time, do not rush your photographer or cut it short, I have had couples after we have disused this only give me five minutes, you will never get this time back!

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Reception-

   Again will there be a huge party with dancing   bouquet toss,cake cutting sparkler send off/parting shot, do you want the entire reception covered,if not push up the most important moments to you. If so, remember photographer, D.J all of your vendors should be fed,treat people the way you would want them to treat you. While everyone is eating take care of your vendors.People dont look their best when they are eating!

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  My full coverage (the time I need to tell the story is about eight hrs. You can always add more if your photographer is up to it.

  If it is a small intimate wedding on the beach with just the two of you and a few close family members, I have a minimum of two hrs and have it on an off day, most photographers are booked on the weekends or wont take a two hr wedding on a Saturday.

  I do hope I have helped and answered allot of your questions.Keep this in mind, I am an award winning international fine arts wedding photojournalist with a very unique style, I travel worldwide  http://www.creativefreedomphoto.com/

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THE DOS AND DONTS OF WEDDINGS/FROM A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER /creativefreedomphoto

There are so many after twenty one years of learning,I know I will leave out some.Here is a list that will be very helpful to you in planning your wedding!

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Get the groom to be involved, it’s his wedding too

Seat older guests away from loud music

Remember to involve step parents in some way

If it is the joining of two families, incorporate the kids into the ceremony,give them each a gift,have them participate

Have someone else do your makeup, you will be too nervous and critical,I dont suggest a relative I do suggest you hire a pro hair and makeup that will come to you!

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DO get airbrush and false lashes!

DONT be the last to get ready, as a wedding photographer, I need one on one time with my brides for the very important bridal portraits.

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DO have everything
in one place, have everyone come to you.

DO rent a house
on the beach perhaps as apposed to a resort  , do you really want to see five other brides getting married,this is YOUR special day!

Look for your ceremony and reception sites first-one year out is average

Less is more,less guests = less stress Don’t invite guests you really don’t want to see at your wedding

Don’t seat divorced parents at the same table

Try to have an engagement session, great way to get comfortable with your wedding photographer,also nice to display an engagement photo next to your guest book

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I love this idea, donate flowers the following day to a nursing home or hospital

DO feed your vendors!

If you hire an award winning photojournalist who has a gift for capturing “the moment” DONT give him/her a list of a thousand group shots or constantly tell them what to do, trust them,and enjoy yourself,forget about the camera!

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DONT hire any vendors you wouldn’t want as guests DO hire your photographer early,DO read my post on the art of finding the perfect wedding photographer,the best ones fill up fast!

DO ask your photographer for recommendations of vendors better to have people that work well together especially a photographer and video,everyone needs to work as a team!

DO work on the timeline with your photographer,keep in mind photography is light +composition. save the last half hr for just the two of you in the best light! Your guests will be fine,perhaps plan a cocktail hr for this time.I sometimes give a day after intimate session especially when it is a destination wedding, using the destination as a background, You get to wear your wedding clothes once again and will have the most awesome and unique photos of just the two of you!

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If you have an outdoor ceremony be sure to have a backup in case of bad
weather

Be sure your Maid of honor knows how to bustle your dress

Be sure to eat on your wedding day, it’s easy to forget or be too excited
but you don’t want to get run down or have low blood sugar!

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MOST OF ALL Don’t stress out over little things! REMIND YOURSELF, ITS ABOUT THE MARRIAGE!!

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