TIMELINE TIPS
TIMELINE TIPS
Each timline will look DiffERENT
GETTING READY
Details
Okay!! So from the moment We arrive, please have the following things ready for me. These are going to be for the detail shots:
Items to have prepared and ready for me to photograph (all may not apply):
NOTE: please have these items together in one place (For example: a shoebox). Your items in one box and your groom's in another. If you are getting ready at separate locations, then please keep ALL rings with the bridal items, including the groom’s ring.
HIS : shoes, ring, ring box, bowtie or tie, tie clip, pocket square, watch, cuff links, vow book, etc.
HERS: Invitation suite, shoes, ring(s), ring box, bracelets, earrings, necklace, hair pieces, vow book, perfume etc.
In Addition:
1) If there are any textured / sentimental details that you love that you feel like would make great accent items to your detail shots then feel free to throw those in there (lace, fur, miniature plants, pretty rocks, anything!!).
2) Please have your dress on a cute hanger. If you didn’t buy one specifically for it, that’s okay! Any nice wooden hanger will do just fine :)
3) I love to incorporate floral in my detail shots. If at all possible, I will grab the brides bouquet and incorporate it, if the bouquet can be arranged to be there along with the other bridal details, then awesome!
Once i’m done shooting details of your items and your dress! I’ll start taking candid photos of you and the girls!
I typically don’t shoot anyone “Getting Ready” until they’re almost completely ready, cause let’s be honest, no one wants photos of themselves with their hair half curled and one eye of makeup half done! haha.
W H A T T O W E A R I D E A S:
Now even though we probably just want to get ready in a t-shirt and Pj pants like usual haha. But this is your wedding day, and I’m going to be taking photos of you walking around, hanging with your girlies, and then of course I’ll pull you aside for some bridal photos of just you getting ready.
Consider wearing a gorgeous boho white maxi lace robe/gown. They make for dreamy getting ready photos, just like this one. But wear what you think you look the best in.
For more ideas like this check out this Pinterest board:
T H E “ G E T T I N G R E A D Y “ S P A C E
Make sure to be intentional about your getting ready location. It literally defines the whole mood and feel of your photos, and can make or break your images. For example, if you decide to get ready in a crappy stuffy hotel bathroom with bad lighting and no windows, you might feel stressed and claustrophobic.
Instead…consider getting ready in an open, clean room with soft natural light coming through the windows, a place that will make you feel more at peace and in touch with your emotions.
Okay and then there is “Good light”. I swear you will be a master at noticing light by the end of all this haha! Try and get ready near a window with natural light coming in, it is much prettier for details and your skin will look more radiant…rather than yellow-ish overhead lighting. Like I mentioned before, keep indoor lights off during getting ready photos so you don’t get mixed colors in your photos (don’t worry, I’ll switch them off if you forget!).
THE CEREMONY
The best time to start your ceremony is 2 hours before sunset! You can search what time is sunset on your wedding day on google.
The reason, why you want to start your ceremony 2 hours before sunset, is because this gives us time to capture all formal photos. Which include the family photos, bridesmaids photos, groomsmen photos, and bride and groom photos right in time for sunset!!
It's Go Time
Remember it's not a race, Make sure everyone is walking slow. That all wedding party STOPS at the begin of the aisle. Bride STOP at the begin of the aisle. So everyone can admire how beautiful you and your dress are, it also gives me a few seconds to take that all so special shot of you and your father. This also gives us a few seconds, to take the grooms reacting to seeing you for the first time. Then make your way down to your soon to be husband nice and slow.
Only after I do's are done, When you are told to kiss, I will ask the officiant to step to the side. Where I can take the shot of everyone in the background celebrating ya'll big day, as you all kiss. On the way back down the aisle make sure you and your now husband Stop half way down aisle,( can kiss or do the dip, Whatever makes your heart happy.)
FAMILY PHOTOS “FORMALS”
Family formals comes immediately after the ceremony, so making sure family members stay put after the ceremony ends is so important. Since usually I only have about 20 minutes to photograph the “family photo portion” of the day.
This is just example of the line up.
Please provide a detailed family photo list 2 months before the wedding:
List the groupings of family photos you would like taken after the ceremony.
Ex: Bride & Groom with Groom's Parents (actual names).
***This can be provided in a word document or email or whatever is easiest for you! Having this helps make the family photos go much smoother and in a timely manner :)
Having a list will save so much time & make the process so simple! The reason I ask for names of family members is because it saves from any family dynamic awkwardness! So instead of saying "bride with dad & step-mom," I can just say, "Sarah with Tom & Sally." It’s much more professional & family are more likely to respond to hearing their actual name called. I always get so many compliments at the end of family photos for how easy, organized, & seamless it was!
F U L L - W E D D I N G P A R T Y P H O T O S
Once we finish up with family photos, we will bring in the whole wedding party (Bridesmaids and Groomsmen) for group photos!! If you’re having a first look, full wedding party photos might happen before the ceremony to leave more time for couple portraits.
C O U P L E P O R T R A I T S
Here’s where all the romance and feelings happen!
Where I’ll sneak the two of you away for sunset photos! And make you kiss right in front of me for a bunch of photos! haha
***I’ve normally set aside 45-30 minutes of couple portraits. But if you want to set aside more time and literally take a bunch of photos in your wedding dress and not stressing about time, because you have all your college buddies and family waiting for you at the reception than I would really consider having a “Day After Wedding Session”.
RECEPTION
T H E G R A N D E N T R A N C E
This is when I’ll be shooting candid photos of you and your husband walking in the reception!!
I’ll also be shooting reception details.
Please communicate with your wedding planner or DJ to turn off any colorful lighting, strobe lighting, and any other distracting lighting. And to ONLY leave on the warm, ambient lighting for the entrance, first dance, any special parent dances, and during cake cutting.
I just don’t want you to look back on your photos and think “wow I wish I would have turned off the blue lighting, cause now I look like a smurf” Hahaha. yeahhhh we don’t want that! Also if you're uplighting is blue, than anything that is white (hence your wedding dress) will have a blue hue on it.
D I N N E R
Since no one wants photos of open mouths full of food lol. I’ll be eating at the same time as you.
Cause you better believe I’ll be starving by the time dinner rolls around. Also, make sure to coordinate this with your caterer, they sometimes will put me in a back room, which is not ideal, since I won’t be able to see any important events happening, if I'm in a random room lol.
So keep me in the party!
P A R T Y
WOOHOOO!!! LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!
I WILL sing along, and dance with you all night longgggg!!
plus take all the dancing + drunk photos of your wedding party, family + friends! haha
S P A R K L E R E X I T
Make sure to see if your venue allows this.
If, you’re doing a sparkler exit! It usually takes about 15 min. So I’ll probably make you run up and down twice! Only because I want to get a variety of sparkler exit shots! Just follow my lead, and I got you!!