Helpful Tips and Ideas

General Tips and Wedding Tips

Ladies - DON’T use body glitter when getting ready for photography sessions, it shows up as lots of bright white spots on your skin. But do use extra make up especially Foundation, Blusher and Eye definition.

Brides - Carry a can of hair spray in your fix it kit, stray hair blowing in the Auckland breeze can distract attention from the blushing brides beautiful face, especially when its in her eyes.

Mums To Be - The best time to be photographed is between 7^1/2months to 8 months. Your tummy is full and it ensures it’s captured before the risk of an early delivery.

New Mums - The best time to capture baby is either when they are really new in that 1^st month, or in the first year when they have just started to sit and before they want to start crawling.

Mums - A little extra makeup than normal. I can recommend a makeup artist if you’d like to make sure you look really great!

What to wear? - Clothes can be distracting in a portrait shoot. If they are a strong colour, have a pattern or if one person is wearing something different from all others, this will be what you first see. What you want is the focus to be on the expressions and what story they tell. I recommend everyone in jeans and the same plain coloured top.

Wedding Photography Tips for Brides, Bridesmaids, Mums and Grooms

My commitments to you as your wedding photographer:

“I should be absent but present"

“I should be convincing but fun.” (For the guys particularly)

For the girls -“I should wait that one last second for that beautiful look.”

For you the bride, - “Well lets just say we will be friends for a long time after.”

My husband says that web pages are like men’s only magazines. No-one reads the words they just want the pictures. All brides need to read what is written here as it will definitely assist you on your wedding day with your planning and in getting the best possible images we can.

Choose A Professional Photographer

It is vital when choosing a photographer that you choose an actual Wedding Photographer not someone who just photographs weddings every now and then. An experienced photographer has the knowledge to use the environment and the light correctly, to deal with all situations and to work the “crowd” to get the best from them.

Most importantly they use a professional lab for the process of images, Wall Art and Albums, maintaining a high quality.

Weddings are very personal events and the personalities involved individual to themselves.

The chemistry between yourselves and your photographer will have an influence on how the photos and the experience turn out. You don’t have to fall in love with each other, but you do have to connect and feel

comfortable with them. Do they share your vision of how you want your days memories recorded?

Do you like their image style? Is it flexible? Can they offer a mix of product options to meet your needs?

Of course, this is a two way street. The photographer will be establishing whether they can work with you and provide you with what you want.

If you have a good relationship with a photographer that you trust you will most definitely enjoy the day and most importantly have results you will treasure forever.

You want to choose your Photographer early in the planning process. Once you have found someone you like, book them, because tomorrow someone else might.

Pre Wedding

You will want to make sure that you can have at least two meetings with your photographer.

I also like to attend the rehearsal, it helps me plan the ceremony stage and it’s also nice to meet the Minister or Celebrate and to check on any restrictions on photo taking. It’s also a great chance to meet the rest of the bridal party. All essential in getting to know you better and assisting the plan and hence results of the day.

The first one helps you establish if you want to book them and is an opportunity to not only discover whether you are comfortable with them but to share your plans, thoughts and ideas for your day. Then of course you want to be considering the photographic packages that cater to your needs.

The second visit will often occur in the two weeks prior to the wedding. At this point you want once more to get to know your photographer a little better. Go through the final schedule of your day and work on finalizing photographic plan. It’s also good planning to visit the venues and locations with the photographer or at least make sure they are familiar with where they will be shooting.

It’s also wise to consider wet day options.

Nothing helps a photographer more to understand your visual expectations than showing them pictures of what you like. How-ever make sure your expectations and desires versus reality are in the right place.

You will never get exactly what you see in another picture. Firstly, you are two different people.

The location, light and weather conditions will be different, hence so will the result

What Products Do You Want?

Do you want your photo diary starting with you getting ready? Do you want detailed images of your beautiful gown and accessories? We look stunningly beautiful on our wedding day. We are glowing with all of the emotions of the day, about to peak when we walk down the aisle. Take center stage and take time to have some beautiful bride portraiture done at this time.

Do you want photos of the groom getting ready? Do you want family photos done after the Ceremony? Where do you want to have your personal shoot done? What kind of landscape do you want as a backdrop? Is there somewhere that represents your relationship?

Of course the list goes on but your photographer will discuss these with you as they are working on your photographic plan.

Remember to book them at seat at a table and dinner if they are shooting your reception.

On The Day

Photographers play an important role in your day and will be able to help with planning the timing for each element. You don’t want to run out of time for the family shoots because you need to get to a location or for those special portrait photos because dinner is being served!

Most photographers also have a time limit in their packages so you could be paying extra if you are not well organized.

Know that you will be late! Something will happen in your day to put stress on your tightly framed timetable. Make sure your schedule is flexible. The happiest, most relaxed bride is the one that has half an hour to relax before going to the ceremony.

Probably your biggest challenge with time is after the Ceremony when everyone wants to congratulate you and your photographer, being the time keeper at this stage needs to get the family photos taken.

Keep this in mind when working out your time frames.

Better yet consider having your portraits done prior to the ceremony.

It could save you both time and money!

Have a dedicated person to help you manage and oversee the details of the day. You don’t want to be worrying about them or trying to fix problems! And friends and family love having something they can do to contribute to your special day.

Take hairclips, hairspray and face powder in your purse. You have got to keep looking great all day long!

Take a jacket in the car. It can often be cold or windy at your location shoot! If the terrain of your location would be best walked in flat shoes, take them! Be prepared for your gown to get a bit dirty. It’s often hard to avoid in outdoor locations. And always have umbrellas on hand!

Along with celebratory beverage of your choice in your car during your photographic shoot don’t forget to take cool water, especially on a hot day. Sometimes it’s pure thirst you need to quench! Think about taking a snack too.

Your photographer will be want to make sure that they are appropriately dressed for your event so make sure you advise them of the dress code for the day.

What To Expect

Most of us don’t like getting our photos taken and aren’t comfortable in front of the camera.

Have fun, fool around a little and you’ll find your shyness is usually overcome. Part of the photographer’s job is to help you with this, but it’s what you give the camera that will create the results.

Relax, pretend they are not there, and just enjoy each other. That’s what a photographer wants to capture. All the feeling and love that you have for each, the romance, delight and laughter of the day.

That’s what makes a great photograph!

However the reality is the photographer is there. While you may not want “posed” photos, along with the spontaneous images, they will direct you in the aim of creating well composed images with good light.

Enjoy the process, have fun and enjoy being the center of attention. It doesn’t happen very often and when will you get professional photos taken of yourselves again?

Looking Your Best In the Photographs

If you have a “best side” or a comfortable side, or are conscious of particular body areas, let your photographer know. It will help them take images that you feel flatter you.

To avoid a double chin, push the tongue up behind the front teeth when you smile.

Practice good posture, throw your shoulders back and hold your head high. Always angle yourself a little, rather than facing the camera straight on, present yourself with pride and it will be evident in the pictures. You may feel silly, but practice posing in a full length mirror.

Rest assured you’re not the first bride to be who has taken this approach.

Looking great on the day and looking good in your photographs requires two levels of thought and you need to talk some of the following things through with those who are doing your hair and make up.

Loose hair over the face may be a style you like but nothing is more distracting and can almost ruin a portrait than hair obstructing your face.

A lot of makeup products have light reflecting illuminates in them. You don’t want to use these, as they can make you look either pale or sparkly in photographs.

Avoid a shiny face by using an oil free foundation with a matte finish and brush translucent powder over your face and neck. Choose a lipstick that doesn’t clash with your bouquet and nothing to glossy.

A last thought on looking great for your day. Consider what you wear prior to slipping into your gown.

Many tops and bras leave “skin dents” that you can see when you are in your gown.

I hope you found these notes of value and that they assist you in being prepared for getting the best possible photographic memories of this very special day.

Share some of these tips with your bridal party, as they are a big part of your photo shoot. Having everyone feeling comfortable with the process will get you those stunning images that you will proudly display. A constant reminder of your beautiful day.

Anything But Ordinary