To help maximise photo opportunities on your wedding day some planning is essential. Below are some suggestions and guides for incorporating a successful photo shoot into your wedding day.
How much time is required for photography?
There are 4 major events in a wedding day to consider to ensure there is enough time available for photo opportunities:
- Groom and groomsmen getting ready
- Bride and bridesmaids getting ready
- Wedding Ceremony (at a Church or other setting)
- Bridal group photography
- Reception
Groom and groomsmen getting ready
I like to arrive at the location where the boys are getting ready at least 3 hours before the wedding time.
The best approach for photographing the boys is to ask them to get dressed into their suits. This makes for plenty of interaction with they boys as they sort out shirts, ties and cuff links etc. At the end of this process I’ll have plenty of candid shots as well as some formal shots of the boys looking like they are about to head off to the church.
Once I’m finished photographing the boys, they will usually get back into casual clothes as the wedding time is still several hours away.
Bride and bridesmaids getting ready
I like to arrive at the location where the bride is getting ready at least 2 hours before the wedding time.
Plenty candid photographic opportunities usually present themselves (such as hair, makeup, shoes, flowers etc) while the girls are getting ready.
Formal photographs that are recommended are:
- individual shots of the bride
- individual shots of each bridesmaid
- all the girls together as a group
- the bride and her parents
It is suggested that you allow approximately 20 – 30 minutes for these formal photographs.
Wedding Ceremony (at a Church or other setting)
No special planning is required for this part of the day, as there will be ample opportunity for photography simply by the nature of the event, as every one will be looking their best and love will be in the air. My job is to simply document and capture the event so that you can enjoy it for years to come.
It is suggested that family photographs are taken within 10 minutes of the ceremony ending. Family photographs are very important, and the ceremony is perhaps the only time during the day that you can be certain that everyone will be present. Allow no more that 15 minutes for family photos, and if there are any special combinations of family you would like photographed together, please make a list for me.
Bridal group photography
After the wedding ceremony it is time to head to a suitable location for bridal group photography. An open park, garden or beach are very suitable examples. If time permits it is recommended that 2 or more different locations are used to give you some variety in your photographs.
This is time that we can get creative and capture that special photograph that you will be proud to hang on your wall.
There is a time tested set of images that we like to capture that include:
- bride and groom together in at least 3 different situations
- each bridal party couple together
- the entire bridal group in at least 2 situations
- candid shots of the bridal group
Once I have secured these images, we will try some more adventurous photography.
I recommend that you allow at 2+ hours (excluding travel time) for bridal group photography. If you are short on time than an absolute minimum time for bridal group shots would be 1 hour (excluding travel time). You don’t want to rush, as I want you to look relaxed an happy, so allow plenty of time, and bring plenty of refreshments to ensure the bridal group photography is an enjoyable and and productive part of your day.
p.s. It’s a good idea to make sure you have plenty of refreshments for the bridal party at this time of the day.
Reception
At the reception we like to secure photographs of:
- the bridal group entering the reception (while being announced by the MC)
- cutting of the cake
- a group shot of the guests at each table (if applicable)
The only requirement for photography at this time of the day is that you have fun.
Weather considerations
Even though the chances of inclement weather are usually slim, it is fortuitous to have a plan to cope with less than ideal conditions.
All that is needed is to have a nominated location that can be used in wet and/or windy conditions. It is important to do this before the wedding day so that any approval for public areas or buildings can be obtained in advance.
Good examples of suitable locations include:
- a historic building with antique aesthetics for inside photography
- a decorative foyer of a classy hotel
- on old train station (with cover)
- a local pub that has character
- any building that has a large verandah for cover
Sunset
The time of year and in particular when the sun will set is very important for wedding photography, particularly when daylight saving is not in effect. If it becomes dark too early in the day then suitable conditions for photography can be severely limited.
Sunset can also provide exceptional conditions for photography.
To calculate the time that sunset will occur anywhere in Australia for any given date, visit the Geoscience Australia – Astronomical Information website.
Example itinerary
If you choose me as your wedding photographer, we will discus the day with you and ensure that an itinerary is made.
Below is an example itinerary. Each wedding is different, and this is just a guide. As you can see it is simple, but gives a good guide to the day and helps ensure that there will be no surprises.
- Wedding date: ??/??/????
- 11.00am – Boys getting ready (location and phone number)
- 12.00pm – Girls @ Brides house (location and phone number)
- casual shots of getting ready
- formal shots of bridesmaids
- bride with parents
- 1.45pm – Girls leaving for Church
- 2.00pm – Ceremony @ Church (location)
- document all steps of ceremony
- signing of the register
- 2.30pm – Ceremony ends
- 2.45pm – Family photos @ Church
- 3.00pm – Bridal group photos @ park opposite church
- gardens
- boardwalk and lookout
- gazebo
- (wet weather option – old Railway under the verandah and/or foyer of the hotel)
- 5.15pm (approximately) – should be finished bridal group photo’s. Leave for reception.
- 5.45pm -Arrive at reception. (Location) Bridal party to freshen up before being announced.
- 6.00pm – Reception.
- cutting of cake
- bridal waltz
- table group shots