When you start to think about capturing your wedding in pictures, one of the first priorities you’ll likely have is choosing your wedding photographer. The vast majority of your most cherished wedding photos will come through your photographer’s lens, so choosing the perfect one is very important for preserving the memories of your special day. Each wedding photographer will have their own style and flair, so there are a lot of different options from which to choose. For this reason, it is very important that you properly research your potential wedding photographer and make sure that they are going to get the shots that you want the most.
One of the most common blunders that occur during the chaos of a wedding is missed photo opportunities that you will regret not having later on. The biggest problem is that your wedding photographer can only be in one place at any given time, so missing some moments is bound to happen. The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to come up with a list of photos ahead of time that you want to have included and go over it with your wedding photographer. While going over the list, you should make sure you look through their portfolio to be sure that you like their photography style and the types of photos they’ve captured for other couples.
With all that said, there are a few ways to make sure you get the memories you want from your wedding day captured on film. Here are a few ideas to help you prioritize which photos you want so you can tell your photographer ahead of time.
Ceremony Photos
By and large, the most important wedding photos for most couples will be the ones that are taken during your ceremony. These photos will include pictures of the groom standing at the altar, the bride waiting at the back of the aisle waiting to make her entrance, and the classic first kiss photo. Since most wedding photographers are certain to get those pictures, you’ll want to indicate other types of photos you want such as pictures of you saying your vows, doing your sand ceremony, or your parents’ faces as you each say “I do”.
Special Moments
At most weddings, there will be a certain amount of pre-planned moments and activities that are worth capturing on film. This can be anything from a special dance that you do as a couple or taking photos of people using wedding sparklers during the ceremony or reception. Since you’ll probably have these things scheduled in advance, you can easily put together a list of timelines so your wedding photographer can arrange to be in the right place at the right time.
Reception Photos
One of the most overlooked and under captured parts of a wedding is the reception. Most photographers will get the most important shots like the couple cutting their wedding cake and the bride doing the bouquet toss, but often times the more candid moments never make it to film. IF you are interested in getting pictures of your friends and family laughing and having a good time during the reception, make sure you request that ahead of time from your wedding photographer. By putting a solid plan together in advance, turning memories into wedding photos will be much easier for your photographer to accomplish.
