Last Updated: February 14th, 2020
We know how stressful planning a wedding can be.
As a married couple ourselves, we’ve gone through the ups-and-downs that come with wedding planning.
As wedding photographers, we’ve seen dozens of other couples go through many of the same things.
Between remembering all of the emotions we felt and conversations we had together back in our planning phases, to talking with our couples today – we realized there is room for us to give some advice when it comes to helping get things sorted in the photography department (that is, after all, our specialty!)
So, with this in mind, we put together 27 wedding photography tips for brides.
These tips will help you better prepare so wedding photography can be one thing you don’t have to worry about. There is more than enough on your plate as it is!
(For wedding photographers: this is also a great list to check out to get a better idea of what your clients may be thinking about!!)
1. Pick the wedding photographer you want
The key to successful wedding photography is having the right person for the job.
This is pretty obvious, but it is so crucial to get right.
We hear of many people hiring a photographer they don’t want because of budget restraints and even pressure from family to go with a certain person.
As hard as it can be when facing scenarios like these, know that marriage is (hopefully) a one time event. Having someone you can click with and like the work of will make it far easier for you to come away from your own wedding with photos you will love for a lifetime.
2. Raise your wedding photography budget if at all possible
In the area of budget, it’s important to not view wedding photography as a tacked on expense if it’s important to you.
Don’t get us wrong, some people just don’t care much about being photographed or having memories in this fashion (you know: by a professional) – and that is absolutely okay!
But, if this is something you value, having a better quality service will typically be found with more established wedding photographers who tend to charge more than you may be wanting to pay.
Note: your financial situation is your own.
We know that not every couple can afford a $5,000 wedding photographer.
Use your best judgment and evaluate your budget to see what makes sense.
One thing to really consider is what else you are planning to purchase for the big day.
For example, if you set aside $1,500 for wedding photography, but found a photographer charging $2,000 that you really like – it might be worth putting out the money on this instead of dropping $500 on a chocolate fountain.
3. Hire a reputable wedding photographer
You don’t just want any photographer, you want someone you know will produce great work for you.
Wedding photographers with a good reputation will be most likely to come through for you. A proven track record of being easy to work with, having a positive attitude, and producing great images for many clients is very important.
One of the downsides of the wedding photography industry is that there are many, many newcomers joining every day. Many people with a camera see it as an industry they can jump into to make a quick buck, and to an extent that is true. But, there is more to wedding photography than just taking pictures.
Please know, that doesn’t mean you can’t hire a newbie. We were new once, too! Heck, we even hired a relatively new photographer ourselves! But, we can admit – it is still more of a gamble than going with someone who has built the credibility already.
4. Seriously consider a wedding photography team
As a husband & wife team, we are a little biased – but for good reason…
Having 2 photographers is better than one. Here are some reasons why:
- The main photographer gets an assistant – this helps speed up set up times, coordinating people for family formals and other shots, and so on
- You will get more photos – with two people taking pictures, it’s easy to see why
- You’ll get alternative perspectives – one of the best parts about having two photographers capturing the same event is getting multiple views of the day
- The photographers can be in two places at once – think: guys getting ready in one hotel room, ladies in another
To see more of our work, check out Hand and Arrow Photography
5. Read the photography service contract AND understand it
Before our clients sign a contract with us, we like to remind them to “makes sure you read and understand the contract.” We always say – “don’t sign until you understand and are comfortable with it.”
This is an important practice in any area of your life.
We recently bought a dishwasher – and for sure, we read the contract (as tedious as it was) to make sure we understood what we were signing for.
For wedding photography, if everything isn’t discussed explicitly at a meeting with your photographer, the contract should spell things out like:
- Timing of photo delivery
- Extra charges that might come up
- If there will be sneak peaks
- What add ons you will receive (like albums, prints, print credit, etc.)
6. Make sure your personality is compatible with the photographer
Ideally, you should take time to meet with your potential photographer before booking them.
This can be a phone call, Skype meeting, or in person.
Generally, when you inquire with a photographer, they will ask to set up a consultation to discuss further. It’s at this time that you should come prepared with questions, concerns, and so on.
In a lot of ways, it’s really like a job interview. Just keep in mind, the photographer is probably vetting you, too!
When we meet with prospective clients, we are always checking to make sure we will be compatible with the people we’re talking to, and that we can reasonably offer a service that is right for them.
Some things we look for in a client:
- They come prepared with questions
- They have some similar interests to us
- They respect our work and time (ie: note liking our portfolio, don’t ask for discounts, etc.)
When we hired our wedding photographer, some things we thought about:
- Is the photographer prepared to meet with us?
- Does the photographer seem to love what they do, or is it just a job?
- Is wedding photography a specialty, or do they do a lot of photography jobs?
- Does the photographer communicate effectively with us?
It’s simple stuff, really…
If you have any red flags, the best step is to either get clarification or go another route.
The photographer/client relationship is hugely important to the success of the wedding day. Unlike most other wedding vendors, you will see the photographer the majority of the day, and they will be “in your space” much of this time. You want someone you can click with successfully!
7. Communicate your needs to the wedding photographer before the wedding
Communication is key to having a great relationship with your photographer.
While the wedding photographer should be initiating some conversations to get to know you better and understand your needs, they are not mind readers.
Photography can, at times, be a deeply intimate relationship between you and a photographer.
We have all had photos taken of us that we’ve found to be unflattering. We all get self-conscious from time to time. Great photography will make you feel beautiful, even if you don’t always feel like it.
If you have any special things you want your photographer to keep in mind, it’s important to let them know.
We’ve had clients request more photos from a straight on perspective vs. side perspective as they were self conscious. It’s a reasonable thing, and while we try to reinforce that they have nothing to worry about, the last thing we want is someone paying hard earned money to us for us to not give them the respect of at least keeping this wish in mind.
8. Have a wedding timeline in place – and try to follow it as much as possible
Wedding timelines will make your wedding.
We’ve worked with photographers in the past who don’t use wedding timelines, and unfortunately this technique doesn’t really work. Sure, once in a while things might go smoothly and without a hitch, but after shooting 20+ weddings a year – we know with 100% certainty that if we didn’t have a timeline, things would be all sorts of crazy.
Your wedding timeline should be reviewed, if not put together by, your photographer.
In our little world, we actually put together wedding photography timelines with our clients in advance of the wedding. This helps us set expectations of where we will be (and where others will be) and at what time.
In our experience, we also have found that timelines help reduce stress for the bride, groom, and their families and friends.
As you know, wedding planning can be stressful. A timeline is a way to help visualize how the day will unfold.
9. Get support from your fiancé
While the focus of this article is to provide wedding photography tips for brides because the ladies tend to be the ones doing most of the planning, it is important to remember that you are in this together with someone.
In our experience, the best wedding photography is created when both the bride & groom are on board and excited!
10. Work with your photographer to put together a shot list
We often talk to other photographers about some of the things we do to run our business successfully, and a recurring theme we go on about is how important it is to set expectations. A lot of people have heard about this, but it can be difficult to know how to take action to set reasonable expectations with people.
To effectively set expectations, we do a couple of things:
- Be proactive
- Voice our opinion
- Be empathetic
- Do things to benefit our clients, but NOT at our own expense
- Find common ground
- Let our clients have a say!
Let’s be real for a minute: Some wedding photographers can get freaked out by a shot list.
We can admit, it can be daunting as we’ve read stories of some photographers being approached by clients with extensive shot lists basically wanting to emulate every photo they’ve ever seen on Pinterest.
In practice, shot lists when put together reasonably can be a really useful tool to get all of the necessary and best shots.
We actually have a set shot list we always refer too, this helps us have something to physically check to make sure we’re getting the shots we want.
We also ALWAYS put together a family formal shot list with our clients – this let’s us know all the family formal pairings.
From there, anything else that is a special request, we write down.
Why is this so important?
In the heat of the wedding day, you will not remember every photo you want.
Brides, grooms, photographers, onlookers…everyone gets scatterbrained at some point in the day. It’s an event with so much going on, and so little time…and we all want it to be PERFECT!
By putting together your must have shots and pairings, you’ll make things much easier!!
11. Do not focus exclusively on having a “Pinterest-perfect” wedding
Pinterest can be a great source of wedding photography inspiration for brides. Heck, we even check it out on occasion for new posing ideas!
But, like any form of social media, it also has its pitfalls.
Wedding photographers generally cannot replicate images taken by other photographers. There are so many things that go into the look of an image such as:
- The couple themselves
- The venue and surrounding environment
- The weather
- The lighting (this one is huge!)
Definitely feel free to provide your Pinterest board to the photographer, but it’s not reasonable to expect them to replicate images.
12. Select a venue that will contribute to your vision for the wedding day
Given you are looking at wedding photography tips for brides, it’s most likely that you’ve already chosen a wedding venue (congrats if that’s the case!).
Still, it’s worth mentioning that your venue selecting is one of the most important choices for the big day.
If photography is really something you care about, having an environment that lends itself to being photographed is hugely important.
We’ve shot at venues that are just so photogenic that we’ve been in awe from the moment we pulled into the parking lot. Others…not so much…
This isn’t to say that a photographer won’t be able to find some photogenic spots anywhere (trust us when we say: we could manage nice shots in a landfill). But, some venues are simply stunning on their own – no window dressing needed. Keep this in mind, but ultimately choose a venue that works for you!
13. Hire other vendors based on how they will contribute to the look of your day
Your other wedding vendors will end up contributing to the look of your pictures in ways both large and small.
Sure, the catering and food present probably won’t impact things too much, but the florist and DJ will – sometimes in really significant ways.
Vendors like these that play a large role in the aesthetic and vibes of your wedding are especially important to get right.
14. Plan enough time for hair & makeup (it tends to take longer than you expect)
We know how important hair & makeup sessions the morning of the wedding are to many of the ladies out there. You want to feel your absolute best, and so many of these artists do a stunning job.
As wedding photographers, we love to see the results of all this work. But, one of the big setbacks we often encounter is being in a rush to get the bride into her dress, snap a few portraits, and grab some other photos. At it’s worst, we’ve had hair & makeup run over time by an hour – completely eating away at time for a First Look and portraits (Yes, we managed but it was not fun for us or the couple).
Once you receive a timeline that you’ve solidified with your photographer, be sure to inform your hair & makeup artists of the timing. You may need to set the expectation that ALL of that work needs to be done promptly, otherwise it will have a negative impact on your photo schedule.
15. Have all accessory items together at the start of the day
When your photographer first arrives to greet you at the start of the day, the next step for them will naturally be to start photographing the details. These are items of significance to you that you want immortalized as a part of your day in photos.
If you don’t happen to care for these types of shots now, just think how they can help to enhance your memory of the day 10, 20, even 30+ years from now!
Some of the common detail items we photograph include:
- Wedding dress
- Rings (wedding + engagement)
- Shoes
- Bouquet
- Perfume
- Necklace + earings
- Borrowed-and-Blue
- Anything else of special significance
Oh – and don’t forget to mention this to your fiance, as the details for the guy can be just as important like shots of:
- Suit
- Shoes
- Watch
- Cufflinks
- Tie
- Wedding ring
- Boutonniere
We recommend having these items together because it makes them immediately accessible for the photographer. This means: less stressing out trying to find every last item.
16. Understand the best time for photography, and schedule around it if possible
If you want really romantic looking portraits, it’s highly recommended to schedule time for these during Golden Hour.
This is the hour before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon. This creates a really soft and glowing looking light. On the best days, it’ll come paired with the colors of the sun setting like vivid red, pinks, and oranges. On lesser days, it’s still a great time just because the light is more diffused. It really is the most flattering time for anyone to have photos taken.
While photos can be taken at any time and be beautiful, photos during Golden Hour cannot be fully replicated – even in Photoshop!
17. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable to get the best shots
As beautiful as wedding attire can be, it’s not always the most comfortable or easiest to get around in. We’ve seen some BIG dresses in our time – and while they photograph like magic just struck from heaven – getting our bride to the right spot for the PERFECT photo can sometimes take some time.
It’s often the funny banter we have with our couples about the “behind the scenes” stuff that no one is going to see.
With photos published in magazines and on blogs, no one really sees the hills we’ve had to climb, how we’ve trekked out in really bad weather, the pot holes we’ve driven through, how Chris repeatedly falls in mud…you get the point…
Sometimes, getting the best possible photographs means being willing to get a little uncomfortable. Of course, don’t do anything you really don’t want to do (and no photographer should be pushy on this!) – but if you prep in advanced, it might help you be ready when the time comes to say…”Yes, I’ll climb up this hill in my wedding shoes!”
18. Select a limited number of shooting locations on the wedding day
It can often seem like the more location diversity you have, the better your pictures will turn out.
While there is some truth that diversity in your photos (be it the posing or actual location choices) can enhance your wedding photo gallery, it can also be detrimental.
Having too many locations in mind means that you will spend less time taking pictures, and more time rushing from spot to spot.
Our recommendation: if you have any specific areas you’d like to have pictures taken at, let your photographer know. Then, give them the reigns to select any addition locations! We work just like this, and it seems to be a perfect approach.
19. Let family, bridal party, and friends know when they are needed for photos
While most people think of “wedding photography” as being primarily of the bride & groom themselves – the reality is that the vast majority of photos you receive will end up being of family and friends.
First, you have your formal photos. For these, it’s super important that you let the people who will be needed know they will be needed. Going back to that wedding timeline we talked about earlier, you should be sure to lock down a specific time when they will be needed, too!
Throughout the rest of the wedding day, most other photos of these folks will unfold naturally. But, if there is anyone not included in those formal shots that you want a picture with, be sure to list them out and let them know. Even if it’s just a quick text message of “hey…at the reception of my wedding, can you make sure we get a picture together taken by our photographer?”
It’s things like this that will ensure you come away with ALL of the photos you really want.
20. Know that a good photographer can make even a drab location look great
One of the most significant wedding photography tips we can offer brides is this: even if you aren’t finding a location to be all that attractive, photographers often have a different way of viewing things.
Living on the East Coast, we face months of grey skies and brown landscapes. It gets pretty boring. Yet, as photographers we’ve learned how to work with this. All we need is a patch of color, a little bit of contrast, a little architectural quirk…and we’re good to go.
If you’re wondering about how this could be, we wrote another post talking about how photographers can make even unattractive locations look great!
21. Schedule additional wedding portraits after the wedding
Because the wedding day can be hectic, it is sometimes easier for bride & grooms to schedule another photo shoot to capture their portraits together.
For many of our couples, we shoot portraits on the wedding day, then do what we call a “Day After” session where they will get back into their wedding attire and get more photos taken together. These are honestly some of our favorite shoots, and our couples walk away feeling amazing to relive their wedding day like this.
From first hand experience, we actually did a “Day After” shoot ourselves. We loved our wedding, but got dressed up again and went for a long hike up a mountain for some sunrise shots. It’s hard to beat it, and we were all smiles together the whole time!
22. Always make time to be present on your wedding day
On one hand, you should want to maximize the time with your wedding photographer. After all, you are spending good money on this service.
On the other hand, it’s your wedding day. You only get one of them!
This is an area where it’s important to strike a balance. But, in conversations with our clients, we often like to reiterate how important it is for them to be present. They should enjoy their time so it feels less like a really expensive photo shoot, and more like a day they’ve chosen to bind themselves together.
This is where structuring your day with a timeline and being open with your photographer will definitely help. We have many couple’s who tell us, “We’d like to be around for most (if not all) of cocktail hour so we can mingle with our friends and family we haven’t seen in forever…is that okay?” Our response? Yes, it is absolutely okay! We will make sure we can get all the photos we need so you can be happy with the results.
No matter who your wedding photographer is, they will want to give you this opportunity to have the experience you want to have.
23. Have a “no photos” policy during the ceremony
A big wedding photography tip for brides – have an unplugged ceremony.
This means: no cameras and no cell phones. And Aunt May…no tablet computer you don’t understand how to use.
One of the biggest distractions on the wedding day is people taking pictures. Not only this, but they often get in the way of the wedding photographers who are there to do a job – document the wedding. One thing you do not want is an entire ceremony of pictures filled with people on their phones.
A few ways to enforce this…
- Let people know in advance
- Assign some people who will be attending to ask others to put away their electronics
- Put up a sign at the entrance of the ceremony space
- Have your officiant remind everyone
24. Try to have reasonable expectations
A very important thing we think about as wedding photographers is making sure expectations are reasonable and realistic.
Every once in a while, a bride might go off the deep end. Sometimes it’s having too many special requests for photos to look like those from Pinterest. Other times, it’s expecting all of the portrait photos to be done in 5 minutes.
An easy way to make yourself a great bride to be photographed is to simply ask…”Is what I’m requesting reasonable, or do I seem a little crazy?” From there, have a conversation with your wedding photographer to talk it out.
In our book, it’s always okay to ask something. But, you shouldn’t just assume something can be done just because you have asked. It is, however, up to the photographer to help you understand what is reasonable and what is not. Sometimes, it’s not always clear if you’re not too experienced with photography or the flow of weddings!
Also, your photographer knows you’re feeling a little stressed and anxious. It’s completely normal! Just know, it will all turn out great!!
25. Ask your wedding photographer to take special photos as you think of them on the wedding day
With all the pre-planning you have done to help your wedding photography get along without a hitch, you’re bound to forget something. That, or you just have a great idea come up in the moment. Whatever it may be, definitely make your voice heard.
One of the common things we do during a wedding day is remind the bride (and groom) that we are there for them. They can grab us at any time to take a photo. A lot of times this happens during the reception to grab group photos or shots with their friends. Sometimes, they have a great idea for some extra portrait shots. Whatever it is – it’s cool. You’re wedding photographer should be up for any of it!
26. Treat your wedding photographer well
Photographers will often try to go above-and-beyond for their clients. But, as you might expect, when we’re treated with respect (or better), it reflects on our work. Simple things like saying “thanks” when a photographer gets a special shot or letting them grab a bite to eat during dinner can make a world of difference.
27. Give your photographer some freedom of expression
The last wedding photography tip for brides that we have is to just let your photographer do their job.
If you fell in love with their photography style by looking extensively at their portfolio, you should trust that you’re in good hands.
They will create work that you will look back on with fondness for the day and love to have been married!!