10 Things a Photographer Should Do for a Successful Wedding Day
"Isn't photographing weddings stressful?!"
The answer: Not at all!
In fact, I welcome the fast-paced, detail oriented, hustle and bustle of a wedding day. I love the quiet moments the bride and groom share together during couples portraits and first look photos, the crazy dancing action shots during the reception, and the laughter that comes with trying to cut a cake together.
I've been photographing weddings for so long that this question always takes me by surprise and I have a hard time even remembering how nervous I was photographing my first wedding. I was in my very early twenties and had never actually attended a wedding even as a guest! I knew my shot list, and I had a creative eye. I had also seen wedding ceremonies in many movies so I figured...I know what's coming! It was in a medium-sized church, I couldn't have asked for a nicer couple, and I took a shot that 15 years later I still get compliments on.
Here are 10 things a photographer can do to ensure a focused, stress-free, creative wedding day and happy couples every time.
1) Communicate with the bride & groom early about their schedule, and offer feedback on timing for group and couples portraits, first look, preparation photos, and venue shots.
Most couples finalize their schedule and fine-tune it with their wedding planner. Most couples also don't know how much time to allow for certain things and insight from an experienced photographer is always helpful. This usually happens in depth at least several months before the wedding day, and then I will look through the final schedule a month out, or whenever the couple emails it to me, to make sure nothing is missing. When you communicate early and with detail, it also lets the couple know you are an expert in this area, and having trust in their photographer takes one less worry off their plate.
2) Ask the bride and groom in advance if they have any important expectations for photos outside of the classic shot list.
This will give them an opportunity to let you know about any especially important elderly family members, and special details like the bouquet including great-grandmother's brooch or flower centerpieces to match their parents' wedding colors. The couple will probably also take this opportunity to tell you about any awkward family relationships so you can handle family portraits delicately when needed. I like to request a specific shot list of groupings in this situation so I can call out names from the list and don't risk simply asking for "mother and father" of the bride, "aunt and uncle" etc when maybe the two are at each other's throats and only tolerating being the same room for the day for the sake of the couple.
3) Confirm your arrival time and location via email a few days prior (even if you've already done so).
This lets the couple know you're on top of your job and means one less worry for them the day-of.
4) Introduce yourself to the other vendors via email in advance.
Whether or not the couple is using a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, getting in touch with the DJ, caterer, and on-site event manager gives everyone a chance to exchange contact and social media information, and most importantly get on the same page about exactly when the cake will be brought out, so you know when you can get detail shots before the cake cutting; when the flowers in the ceremony space will be complete and ready for photos before guests arrive; special announcements or changes to the schedule in real time. In my experience as a photographer, I have the most up-to-date schedule because I'm with the bride and groom the entire time. I often run to update the DJ and caterer about 15 minute delays or special requests by the couple on timing for announcements.
5) Charge your batteries and pack a charger just in case.
I know this sounds super-duper obvious but if you only knew the number of photographers I've worked with whose battery died or they forgot their memory card and didn't bring backups. I always quadruple-check that I have twice as many memory cards as I expect to use, and I rotate my batteries the night before even though I know they're charged. As I grab my keys to walk out the door I peek in the equipment bag one last time to make sure I have a flash, batteries, and memory cards.
6) Give the bride your cell phone number.
I always email the bride my cell phone number the night before even if she has it in every email previously. She has a lot going on and bumping your cell phone number to the top of her email list is crucial if you're planning on receiving details about where the bridal suite is the morning of. It will also save her time hunting through past emails. It's a tiny but meaningful action.
7) Help the bride prepare for bridal detail photos.
I always tell the bride exactly what I need to deliver memorable photos for her, and recommend she gather everything on a table or better yet, have a close friend or sister be in charge of that so she doesn't have to worry about it. While she's finishing her hair and makeup, I'll photograph her bridal accessories: shoes, veil, jewelry, hair embellishments, perfume, clutch, and engagement ring.
8) Dress professionally.
I know the norm is for photographers to wear black. I've seen so many wedding photographers wearing black jeans and a ragged black t-shirt with sneakers. It makes me cringe. You might not be part of the photos but you are still visible to all the guests even if you're laying low. Dressing appropriately for a wedding will help you blend in and keep the focus on the special events.
I usually choose a slim, simple black or deep deep navy blue cotton, silk, wool, or linen cocktail or business professional dress with dark flats, or a knee-length a-line skirt with a dark shirt. I'm very comfy, able to get down on the floor easily or squat, and always wear comfy shoes that don't make noise but still go with the outfit. If the wedding is mostly during the day, I'll take the opportunity to wear lighter colors in the spirit of celebration, while allowing myself to blend into the background and not to distract as I'm moving around.
9) Check in with the officiant or minister before the ceremony.
I always ask for a run-down of the ceremony and if there will be any extra special things planned, such as pouring sand, lighting candles, etc.
Also, most officiants know to step aside while saying "you may now kiss your bride", but I don’t like to take chances and risk having a face right in the middle of the kiss photos. A simple, polite conversation will get you both on the same page and ensure gorgeous photos.
10) Prioritize backing up your photos. Go straight home and upload photos to a hard drive, or possibly two.
I then secure the cards in a special drawer and they don't get formatted until the photos have been delivered and uploaded into high res storage. Here's what I tell my friends: even though I will finish working at 10 pm two blocks from the club you're at, I'm not coming straight there from the wedding. I'm going straight home to upload the photos.
In reality, none of my friends go to the club and more and neither do I. But, I am often invited to some Saturday night event where I could easily just leave my bag in a corner for the evening, but that insanely unprofessional and high risk is not one I am ever willing to take. My work is not complete until I see the photos fully transferred and backed up.
