20 Wedding Pro-Tips for Brides for the Best Wedding Photos
If you’re a bride looking to have a premium looking wedding gallery, these tips are for you. Over my years of photographing weddings, these are the tips I have collected when giving my brides advice on what will make their photos look best!
1. Clear your getting ready suites of any trash and clutter. You don’t want coffee cups, messy overnight bags, and empty food containers in the background of your photographs.
2. Although it seems counterintuitive, allow your photographer to turn the lights off in the getting ready space when your hair & makeup is done. The lighting will be much more even & clean.
3. Collect your details for your flat lay in a shoe box and give to your maid of honor the night before or the morning of soo you don’t have to worry about it when your photographer arrives.
4. Request floral blooms for your florist for your flat lay. It adds a beautiful touch when your flowers are incorporated throughout the whole design rather than in just the corner as part of your bouquet.
5. Communicate with your photographer ahead of time if you’d like to incorporate a theme in your flat lay. For example, if you two are adventurous and love to travel—maybe you’re having a destination wedding, your photographer can plan ahead of time different items that will make your details unique to you & your story.
6. If you have gifts you’d like to exchange, plan for time in your timeline to exchange them during your first look (if you are doing one). You’ll be able to see your partner’s reaction rather than waiting until you receive images from your gallery to relive that moment.
7. Arrange for a quiet moment together with your spouse after your ceremony or right before your reception. This day is about you and celebrating your love. You should be able to have moments to connect and slow down during your day.
8. Instead of having your family sitting on your “side” during the ceremony, have them sit on the opposite side so that way they will be able to see your face rather than the back of your head.
9. Hand your bouquet to your MOH when you meet your soon-to-be spouse at the altar so your hands are free.
10. It’s okay to hold your partners hands from the very beginning of the ceremony. It’ll allow you two to feel connected, you won’t be thinking “what do I do with my hands” & your pictures will look so much more natural.
11. During your ceremony, right after your officiant says “you may now kiss” take a moment. Look each other in the eyes and truly soak it in. You just got married! This day goes by so fast so just take one extra second to cherish it before you kiss.
12. Have you ever heard of the phrase “lean in for a kiss”? Well, I want you to forget about that phrase. Instead, embrace each other, wrap your arms around one another, or even do a dip during your kiss. I promise you, not only will you get swept away at the moment, but the pictures will be a lot more magical this way!
13. Kiss for longer than you think… like 5-7 seconds. Who cares what your guests think? You just got married! Live in it!
14. Plan to kiss at the altar, halfway down the aisle, & at the back of the aisle. This gives multiple opportunities for beautiful photos & the ones in the aisle allow the photographer to capture your guests cheering for you!
15. This may seem obvious, but if you’re not planning to do a receiving line, keep walking when you recess up the aisle after your ceremony. If you have a designated spot for couples portrairs or family formals, it’s even better to head straight there to keep things moving!
16. Repurpose your bouquets after the ceremony so you can use the bouquets as decorations.
17. Plan for golden hour photos in your timeline! No explanation needed—I mean look at these photos.
18. Communicate with your photographer if there are certain moments of your first dance you’d like them to capture. If you’re planning to do a final pose, if your photographer knows it will be happening & roughly the direction you’re facing, then you’re golden.
19. Let your wedding planner, day of coordinator, or caterers know that you’d like your photographer to eat at the same time that you do. This is for one main reason: If your photographer is eating when you are, there is no chance that they will be missing important reception events that need to be captured.
20. Lastly, if you’re looking for a unique way to keep your flowers forever, send them to get preserved in resin. The company I recommend to my couples is Blossom & Rhyme.
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