So lets get started….
I am so honored that I get to be a part of this amazing chapter of your story.
That said, all tips in here are merely suggestions. Only you two know what feels right and I urge you to follow your intuition. After all, this day is here to celebrate you, your unique personalities and your decision to spend your lives together.
I know there is a ton of information out there and it can feel overwhelming at times. This page is meant to give you a little guidance along the way. The advice in here will not only allow for stunning wedding photographs, but it will also ensure that you get to enjoy a relaxed and more importantly FUN wedding day.
That you two have decided to get me on board for one of the most important days in your lives means the world to me. It’s this trust that inspires me every day to create the best work I possibly can.
from the bottom of my heart.
thank you
Welcome to your ULTIMATE
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
BUT Before we get to the good stuff I just wanted to take a moment and
THE COUPLES GUIDE
Great, let’s Get to Planning!
Sounds like something you’d be up for?
I love to take my couples to the beach, on hikes or other adventures where we can create something beautiful in a relaxed atmosphere. The results are also the perfect addition for wedding invitations and Save the Date cards!
An engagement session is the perfect way to kickstart the relationship with your photographer. It will allow you to get used to being in front of the camera, calm your nerves before the wedding day and is also a ton of fun!
EngAGEMENT SESSION
I’m also more than happy to receive inspiration photos from you, so please if you see something you love on insta, pinterest or wherever, please take a screenshot and share it with me!
The internet has an abundance of wedding inspiration in store for you - so much so, that it can feel overwhelming when you first dive in. Below you’ll find a collection of my favourite blogs & online magazines that have a ton of helpful advice and beautiful imagery to get you inspired for the big day.
Inspiration
Structuring the flow of the day from the getting ready through to arriving at the reception is my area of expertise, so please get in touch with me! We can jump on a phone/video chat to help decide what time is best to have your ceremony and how the whole day is going to look. I then take it upon myself on the day to be in charge of the schedule. I will keep things moving along so that you don’t have to worry.
Lets talk about time
From a photography standpoint, light is a key factor and will greatly influence the mood I am able to capture during the ceremony, the couple shoot, the evening etc. Simply keep that in mind, especially for everything taking place outdoors, and feel free to consult me for any questions that may come up. I have also included lots of advice on how to make the best of different light scenarios in the upcoming chapters.
Pay Attention To Light
Try and abstain from filling up the day’s agenda down to the last minute. Instead, add an extra 10-15 minutes to every activity, because, from my experience, a lot of things take longer than originally anticipated. That’s normal and shouldn’t be a reason to get stressed out. Instead of spending your day chasing down a schedule, give yourself some breathing space so that you can relax and enjoy every moment.
Leave Some Wiggle Room
A lot of weddings are structured in a similar way, but that doesn’t mean that you need to stick to this procedure religiously. Here are a couple of things to consider as we create a timeline for your day.
Timeline
*Please note this does not include any travel time
Finish shooting
9:30pm
Arrive back at reception
5:30pm - 6:00pm
Portrait Session
4:00pm
Whole Group + Family Photos
3:40pm
Ceremony concludes, allow time for guests to congratulate
3:30pm
Ceremony commences
3:00pm
Arrive at ceremony location and begin capturing setup, guests arriving and groom waiting
2:30pm
Bride Prep
12:30pm
Groom Prep
11:30pm
Please see a rough timeline for full day wedding with a 3pm ceremony below to give you some idea:
While there are certain traditions, there’s absolutely no rulebook when it comes to what a bride or a groom has to look like. Follow your heart. Stand your ground when bridal shop owners, makeup artists or relatives want to convince you of anything that doesn’t sit right with you. Believe me, a couple of hours into the wedding day, these choices will make all the difference. And how comfortable you are will shine through in every photograph.
Stay True To Yourself
Styling is such an individual thing, but no matter what your dress goals are, there is one thing you should never forget:
When it comes to wedding dresses, every woman is different. Maybe you’ve had a vision of your perfect dress ever since you were a little kid. Perhaps you want to surprise yourself. Maybe you’ve decided to have your dream dress tailored for you. Or you’ve been browsing vintage shops for the last couple of months waiting to find a golden oldie to walk down the aisle in.
Styling
I urge both of you to choose something light. Something you can move around in with ease. A skirt that won’t stop you from dancing. Shoes that won’t stop you from climbing a tree stump for that one epic wedding photo. A hair style and makeup that look beautiful, but effortless and natural in photos. And remember - it’s perfectly normal that over the course of the day a strand of hair loosens or an epic adventure session leaves some muddy traces on your dress. Don’t worry about it and don’t let yourself be limited by an outfit that you will most likely only wear once in your lifetime. Instead, create some memories in these clothes!
Keep It Natural
Only bring a small group of people to your dress fittings. They should know your style, shield you from obtrusive shop owners, be kind and honest and also know when to shut up. This is exactly the squad a nervous bride-to-be needs by her side.
choosing The Dress
This advice applies no matter how lovely and competent your makeup artist seemed on first impression, and no matter how much you adore every portfolio shot of your hairdresser’s creations. Scheduling a trial is crucial to ensure you have a similar vision, discuss your preferences and no-gos beforehand and try different things without time pressure.
Schedule a Trial For Hair & makeup
Here are a few more things to keep in mind :
This part of the wedding guide is written for you, the groom. I don’t know how big a role you’re playing throughout the wedding planning process. Maybe you are actively engaged in every part of the journey, or perhaps you are standing on the sidelines, nodding through ideas, not quite sure what all the fuss is all about. Either way, that’s totally cool and my intention is not to convince you that table decoration and colour concepts are the bee’s knees when you simply don’t feel that way. But I have accompanied many couples through this time in their lives and there are a couple of things that I would like you to know.
For The Groom
A huge part of the wedding industry caters towards brides and their ideas and visions. However, this is your wedding, too, and you get a say in what it will look like. Take a moment and ask yourself what’s important to you. What are you looking forward to the most? What do you need in order to enjoy the day? Whether it’s amazing food, a live band playing all your favourite songs or a relaxed morning with a ton of time for your buddies. Make sure to set some priorities and communicate these things clearly with your bride-to-be and everyone involved. Your fiancée will be ecstatic to have you actively participate in the wedding planning process instead of just being a sounding board for her ideas.
This Is Your Day
If you show up for the couple shoot in a great mood, happy to create something awesome and willing to trust me with my approach and ideas, then I have everything I need to create epic photographs with the two of you. It’ll be much more fun than you might think and ultimately you’ll be happy to have taken some time out of your day to create these photos. These snapshots of your day will last a lifetime, so I will make sure that you have fun creating them.
Here’s my promise to you:
From my experience it’s often the bride that insists on having a professional photographer for the day. Many grooms are a lot more skeptical when it comes to photography. I assume it’s because they are worried I will force them into a bunch of lovey-dovey poses and expect them to put on a cheesy front for the sake of a romantic picture. And while I do my best to communicate that this isn’t the case, I understand that there often remains some hesitation on the side of the groom.
A Word on Photography
The morning hours of your wedding day are so precious and it’s one of my favourite parts of the whole day, capturing you two getting ready for the celebration ahead.
When the groom-to-be buttons up his shirt with trembling fingers and the prospective bride’s mom can hardly hide the tears seeing her little girl in her wedding dress. When little love notes are exchanged, hugs are shared and you can almost taste the anticipation in the air.
Putting a little bit of thought into the setting and details of this emotional and very exciting first chapter of your wedding day will set the perfect tone for everything to come.
Getting Ready
What Do You Need To consider When choosing A Getting Ready Location?
An open and calm space with lots of natural light (big windows) is perfect to document everybody’s preparations. I would usually recommend an AirBnB whose interior fits the overall feel you are going for on your wedding day. Whilst some hotel rooms can be great, please bare in mind that they can also be very cramped and dark, which does make it harder to take great photos. Do you research!
If you decide to get ready at home, choose the brightest and biggest room in the house and transform it into a sacred space. That means getting rid of any distracting elements (goodbye laundry baskets and woollies bags!) and surrounding yourself with beautiful things and your favourite people.
Whilst the bride usually receives the most beautiful room, it’s important to put some thought into where the groom will get ready, too. A scarcely lit hallway or a tiny room with no natural light isn’t good enough. Instead, check in with the hotel staff whether it’s possible for the guys to get ready in another free hotel room in the morning, check for some cool barber shops (or other awesome venues) close by or make sure that another room on location is being prepared for the groom and his groomsmen.
Keep in mind:
There are a few factors to consider when calculating the time needed for capturing the Getting Ready.
How much Time Do I Need To capture The Getting Ready?
When will the makeup artist and hairdresser get to work?
How many hours have you booked with me?
How many people are going to be there?
Usually, one and half to two hours is a perfect timeframe. It allows me to capture the setting and mood, the beautiful details, you (and the bridesmaids) getting the finishing touches of hair and makeup done, you putting on the dress, as well as lots of candid moments in between.
As for the groom I will generally go to the boys first and hang out with them for around an hour.
For same sex couples I like to come up with a plan that best suits you!
Simply keep this in mind when planning the day. Having a few extra minutes at the end of your Getting Ready sessions is also advised!
We can always work with less time, but please note this often means some things have to fall by the wayside if the schedule gets delayed.
It’s very likely the two of you will be incredibly nervous during those hours you spend separately. So, why don’t you write each other little love notes that both of you can read before you head off to the First Look or ceremony? It is a beautiful, loving gesture that calms the nerves and will make you overflow with gratitude. You’ll get goosebumps every time you look back on these moments through the photographs.
Pre-Ceremony Love Letters
06
I will take quite a few photographs before you put on your wedding dress, so maybe you want to put a little bit of thought into what to wear beforehand. A morning gown or a Kimono look beautiful in the photographs and are just as comfortable as your favourite trackies and a shirt.
Think About What You Will Wear Before You Put on The Dress
05
Having all seven of your awesome girlfriends, your two sisters, your aunt and your mother join you in the morning may sound like a good idea at first. But please keep in mind that with too many people around it often gets very busy. Things take longer than anticipated and you will have a hard time relaxing and taking it all in. My advice would be to choose a handful of your favourite humans to share these precious first hours of the day with and give the rest of your beloved friends a big hug as soon as you see them later in the day.
Surround Yourself With Your Favourite People
04
Even if you’re in a hotel room, things quickly get messy with hair straighteners, (plastic) bags, clothes, half-eaten energy bars and makeup containers lying around everywhere. Sometimes it makes sense to decide on a certain corner (or room) where everyone can drop their stuff or, perhaps you could ask your bridesmaids to do a quick cleaning session before I arrive. Keeping the space tidy will ensure that we don’t constantly have to move distracting (or straight up ugly) elements before taking a shot.
Keep The Space Nice And clean
03
When you get your hair and makeup done, please make sure you sit by a window facing outside. This guarantees the best light for the photographs. Your makeup artist and hairdresser surely won’t mind, as they will look for optimum lighting anyway. It will also ensure that your makeup looks just right in the daylight.
Sit By The Window
02
Often the Getting Ready starts with me taking detail shots of your dress, jewelry, shoes, rings, cuff links, invitation cards etc. It will save us a lot of time if you’ve already put all these things together in one place, so that I can access them easily and arrange them for some lovely detail shots.
Detail Shots
01
Here Are A couple more Tips on How To make Your Getting Ready A Success:
The First Look is a unique way of celebrating the moment that you see each other for the first time in your wedding attire. It takes place before the ceremony and the setting can be anywhere, from a forest behind your accommodation an alleyway by your chapel or even a beautiful room in your house. You will get to enjoy some quiet minutes, while I keep a discreet distance and capture this emotional encounter.
Personally, I love the First Look for its intimacy and emotion. It gives you the chance to share a moment all to yourselves before the wedding day buzz begins, to exchange a few words in private and to calm each other’s nerves before all eyes are on the two of you.
It also has the advantage that we can use the time to take some couple shots a little earlier in the day and/or family formals that later on may interfere with the flow of the day.
The setting and mood of your First Look are completely up to the two of you - let your imagination run wild! I’ll be more than happy to help you plan it.
First Look
Unplugged Wedding
I understand that capturing important moments with a smartphone is second nature to most people these days. However, asking your guests to refrain from using cell phones and tablets during the ceremony allows them to take everything in.
It also ensures that no enthusiastic guests will limit the frames I am able to capture during important parts of the ceremony. It’s sad to be unable to take a proper picture of the groom waiting for his bride at the end of the aisle because guests are in the way, trying to capture a grainy iPhone shot.
It is not a concern for everyone, but definitely something to think about. If you decide to unplug certain parts of the day, put it in the invitations so your guests are aware beforehand. Let people know that they will have access to your wedding photo gallery afterwards. That way they can relax, knowing they will receive beautiful memories of the day, too.
It also gives me the opportunity to capture the raw emotions and reactions to what is happening. It’s a shame to witness emotional moments unfolding while people’s faces are hidden behind small screens, or seeing guests too engrossed in operating their smartphone camera to even realize what is going on around them.
Ceremony
The ceremony is one of the highlights of your day. Whether you have chosen a beautiful little chapel or you are going for an outdoor ceremony with an awesome view - I am convinced it will be breathtaking.
The moment the bridal party enters the ceremony site is exciting, and while that excitement may lead to a certain hecticness, I urge you to take your time on your way down the aisle. That not only allows you to enjoy your big entrance, but also gives me the opportunity to capture everything going on. Keeping your distance from the person ahead of you is also important so you are not blocking each other out. Same goes for the first kiss by the way - instead of a peck on the lips, linger a tad longer. We know you want to!
Take Your Time
If you are having a religious ceremony, make sure to check in with your pastor or religious leader beforehand and see how they feel about photography throughout the ceremony, or even in the church in general. Some are very sensitive when it comes to these topics as they are worried the photographer will be a distraction or could even interfere with the ceremony. If you tell the person conducting the ceremony about your photographer a couple of weeks or months before your big day, you will have enough time to clear potential concerns and can let me know about regulations upfront, too, so I am prepared.
Communication Is Important
When choosing the perfect place for your ceremony, keep in mind that light is a key factor that will greatly influence the mood of the ceremony setting. In Cairns, mid afternoon is great for outdoor ceremonies, as the sun sets earlier up here then down south, this also allows plenty of time after the ceremony for family photos and the portrait session.
Light Is A Key Factor
Right after the ceremony is usually when everyone walks up to congratulate you and give you a hug. Many beautiful moments will happen between you and your guests and I will be there to capture them. But that is also why it is important to put a little bit of thought into where and how you want the congratulations to take place – it normally works best if you walk all the way to the end of the isle and then let your bridal party and guests file out after you. This is also a great time for a bio-confetti or petal toss!
After The ceremony
After the ceremony I like to jump into the whole group and family photos. For the family shots I suggest keeping the list short and sweet. Believe me, things will take longer than anticipated. Whilst I will have the list on me it is also a good idea to give it to someone who knows both sides well so he/she can line up the next group while I start taking photos. It’s also helpful to let people know upfront that you plan on taking family photos so they know not to wander off after the ceremony.
Family Photos
Portrait Shoot
The portrait shoot is an awesome chance for you and your bridal party to enjoy a few quiet moments away from the wedding day buzz. It gives you time to catch your breath, reflect and create more beautiful memories with me. Whether we go for a little walk not far from the location or drive a few minutes to a stunning view- there is always a great setting to be found and I am convinced it will be beautiful.
We usually have the best light right before and after sunset, during the so called ‘golden hour’ and ‘blue hour’. The sun is very low in the sky, immersing the world in a warm light that looks incredible in photographs. In Far North Queensland the best light is from 5-6pm, which is perfect!
When is the best time for the couple shoot?
An hour to an hour and a half work is usually great if we don’t have to drive to locations, if there is some drive time involved that will need to be factored in as well. Depending on the flow of your day it can also make sense to split the couple session into parts. We might do a little session right after the First Look and then head out once more before sunset to get that golden glow.
How much time do you need to set aside for the couple shoot?
With a little bit of research there are usually lots of beautiful places to be found almost anywhere. But less is more! Let’s focus on two or three spots close to each other, so there is no rush.
Where should the couple shoot take place?
If I’m not familiar with the area and I have the time, I will wander around the property for a bit in the morning and will already have a few scenic spots in mind when we get to the couple shoot part of the day. Feel free to look around the area yourself and send me some snaps beforehand, so I can get an idea and we can talk about what’s important to you.
In addition to a beautiful backdrop I always pay a lot of attention to the light in a particular place, the position of the sun and possible reflections of trees that may create green shadows on your skin. These are the kind of things a photographer considers to ensure you get the best results. You can always trust my judgement.
Please Note:
Reception
A great portion of the day has already passed and it’s been a great success. Approaching dinner time you will be happy, filled with joy, but most likely starving and eager to sit down for a delicious meal.
Personally, I quite enjoy capturing speeches and the emotional moments that unfold. My advice would be to keep them humorous, to the point and have no more than 3-4 throughout dinner (e.g. in between courses).
Keep Speeches Short And Humorous
It’s totally understandable that you’re worried about the day being a success, the timeline working out and everyone having fun. Here’s just a quick reminder that it is all going to be wonderful.
It Will Be Amazing
After all, your wedding day is one big get- together of all your favourite people in the world. The same people that have seen you grow into the person you are today. That you stay up all night with, talking with over a bottle of wine (or two). That have been by your side through the good and the not so good times. These folks will have a great time regardless. Because they love you. And they are so, so happy for you!
Pay Attention To The Lighting
I always prefer to work with natural light and save my flash for the party and dance floor. That way I can work almost unnoticed and will not interfere with the event, or the work of the videographer (if present). Opt for candles, festoon/fairy lights and tons of warm, indirect light sources. The party lights can come on once it’s time to let loose on the dance floor!
Feed Your Photographer
I take photos while the guests are seated and have their first drinks, but will stop shooting once dinner is being served. Eating guests don’t like to be photographed and that gives me the opportunity to take a break, eat and safely store some equipment that I don’t need for the rest of the night. Please make sure that I am being served dinner at the same time as the other guests (not afterwards, as venues tend to do with vendors) since I need to be ready to go again as soon as speeches commence.
First Dance & Party
It’s party time and that means there’s nothing left to do but dance your heart out. Make sure people are allowed to join you on the dance floor right after the First Dance, so that the vibe will be at its absolute peak.
And Now, It’s Time To Let Go And enjoy!
Your first dance is a one of the final highlights of the day so make sure to put some thought into the setting it is going to take place in. Look for a nice area with a beautiful background and lots of space for your guests to stand and watch. Natural light sources such as sparklers and festoon lights create a nice and romantic atmosphere. For the sake of getting beautifully lit photographs, ask the venue to switch off any colourful spotlights. There is one exception; a warm light in the background pointed at you two can have a beautiful effect.
Make Your First Dance magical
After this I’ll be happy to leave you to yourselves, while I set forth with tons of beautiful photographs on my memory cards and a big smile on my face. Rest assured: I can’t wait to show you all the stunning photos we have created together that day.
Most weddings tend to wrap up by midnight, whilst it seems like finishing your night off with a grand sparkler exit is a great idea it can also become a little perilous as the night wears on. Don’t get me wrong, I love a sparkler exit it’s so much fun and the photos always look beautiful but safety is really important here. That is why I suggest we do the sparkler tunnel photo just before I leave at around 9/9:30pm. I will help with the co-ordination of this on the night but it is important to let me know well ahead of time so that we can make sure it all goes to plan.
Sparkler exit
After The Wedding Day
I know you cannot wait to get a glimpse of your photos and I promise I will send a sneak peek your way as soon as I possibly can. Normally within 48 hours! This will be a selection of images from both the ceremony and the portrait session and it will be accessible via a password protected online gallery that you can also share with your family and friends.
Wedding season can get very busy, but believe me that I am just as enthusiastic to get your wedding gallery to you as you are to finally see the images.
You will receive your full gallery around 8-10 weeks after your wedding day. Gather some of your closest friends and family members and celebrate the moment you first see those photos. It’s such a precious experience!
I am so happy when you share your images with friends and family. Make sure to tag me when you post them online. It’s highly appreciated, because I am always excited to see your favourites and others that like the images can easily find their way to my page.
Also, I kindly ask you to not add any filters when posting on Instagram (or similar apps).
When vendors ask you to use images of your wedding day for their business pages, I am more than happy for them to but please ask them to credit me. Thank you so much!
Receiving Your Gallery
Sharing Your Photographs
Thank you!
I hope the advice on these pages has helped you and given you new ideas and confidence for the rest of the wedding planning process. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am here for you every step of the way and so very excited to take on this adventure with you.
And now, let’s do this!