Are you dreaming of stunning wedding photos you can hang on the walls of your home, the kind of images you can show off to family and friends? Well, it takes more than an awesome photographer to get those kinds of photos—it takes you and your partner working with your wedding photographer to create the images you dream of. Check out these five tips for getting epic wedding photos!
1.Invest in a great photographer.
There are plenty of places in your wedding budget where you can cut costs, but photography shouldn’t be one of them. After the wedding is over and the cake is eaten, your photos are all you’ll have left to remember the day. You don’t want to have subpar photos because you asked an amateur photographer family member to take them so you could save money.
Take time to interview potential photographers and find one who you feel comfortable with and whose images are just the type of photos you want. And be sure to book your photographer for the whole day, so every moment of your ceremony and reception is covered. What couple doesn’t want those awesome exit photos? Make sure your photographer will be there to capture all the moments that matter to you.
2.Focus on the love of your life.
A lot of people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, but of course they still want wedding photos they’ll love! The best thing you can do is focus on your soon-to-be-spouse and remember what the day is all about. If you spend too much time thinking about posing and the positioning of your body, you’ll feel and look awkward. Just focus on your partner, and your body language—and smiles—will be perfectly natural.
3.Ensure you have plenty of time for photos.
Epic wedding photos don’t happen in a few minutes. Make sure you have a solid chunk of time in your wedding day schedule for couple portraits, especially if you want to wander away from the venue for some gorgeous shots against the natural scenery. Plus, you’ll need a little time to loosen up and start having fun in front of the camera, and stepping away from all your guests can give you a chance to relax and enjoy the moment.
4.Take the light into consideration.
When you’re planning your ceremony time, think about what the light will be like. For example, afternoon light can often be too bright and drain everything of color, while evening light has that golden glow that everyone—including photographers—loves. But there’s a limited window to taking advantage of “golden hour” before the sun sets.
Be sure to talk to your photographer about when the light will be best for photos and try to schedule your portraits around that time if you can. And if your schedule for the day doesn’t leave room for evening photos, consider booking a post-wedding shoot to get additional photos in the light you want.
5.Trust your photographer—and give it your all.
If you want gorgeous photos in the mountains or on the shore of a lake, you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Let go of your inhibitions and just be yourself! And don’t be afraid if your photographer asks you to venture a little off the beaten path. Trust their ideas and know that the resulting shots will be just the epic images you’re imagining.
By taking time to choose the right photographer and trusting their ideas and skills, as well as relaxing and having fun in front of the camera, you can get epic wedding photos to remember the day you married your best friend!
About the photographer: My name is Tom Gooch and I am a storyteller.
A wedding day passes by so fast it’s almost a blur. The happy couple is busy enjoying their guests and they can’t be everywhere so they will surely overlook a few things. But a really good wedding photographer will make them feel like they didn’t miss one moment of their big day. That’s where I come in.
After photographing over 1000 weddings, I’ve picked up a thing or two. From the intimate moments preparing for the ceremony to the very last song of the crazy fun reception, it takes keen eyes and calm intuition to capture all of that joy and spontaneity.
You see, I believe that wedding photography is not just about taking stunning portraits. It’s also about capturing the emotions within fleeting moments, the sweetness of intricate details, and the raw candid reactions of those closest to you and then weaving all of that into a dynamic narrative.