A Bride’s Wedding Day FAQ is under construction, but here are a few samples to help you on your day:

1. Make sure to schedule some ‘together time’ with just the two of you for photographs. It does not have to be hours and hours… even 30 minutes will do if you are tight for time. But it should be just the two of you with no distractions.

2. Consider a ‘First Look’ session. This is becoming more and more popular. The bride and groom meet, just the two of them, before the ceremony. It is a very emotional and beautiful experience and we get some of our most memorable photographs from those sessions. It is during a less-stressful part of the day, time is not usually a problem, and it is normally during those sessions we get those great ‘Fashion Bridal’ shots too.

3. Engagement sessions are great! It gives us a chance to be together for an hour or two doing something you like, getting to know each other, and getting great photographs. Even the most camera shy types have fun, relax, and enjoy themselves during these memorable sessions. They are complimentary in most of my packages because they help us get to know each other and we have fun on a ‘practice’ run for your big day.

4. If you are on a budget for photography time, consider a British or Australian style package. In those countries, it is rare for the photographer to stay for the entire reception. Buy coverage from ‘Getting Ready” until ‘One Hour’ into the reception. Get the things like the First Dance, Cake Cutting (it is, after all, supposed to be your guests dessert) etc. out of the way at the front end of the reception. Keep in mind most brides do not put a lot of ‘Party’ shots in their albums anyway. That way you can get the photography you want for your day without having the hours (and costs) stretch out.

5. Wear a long veil… that is something you are not going to do every day!

6.Your First Dance is something special.  However, lots of us (me included!) are not really very good dancers.  So treat yourself to something special before your big day.  Lots of local dance studios have a “First Dance” program and will help you choreograph a very nice dance to the music you pick for your First Dance.  Even if you are an accomplished dancer, a professional studio can put together something extraordinary for you.  And the lessons are reasonable too.

7.  Make sure to talk with your officiant, be it your Pastor, Priest or Civil Officiant about their policies regarding photography. We take the sacrament of marriage very seriously and do NOT in any way interfere with the ceremony. The best praise we have received from officiants is that ‘they didn’t know we were there’. We cover the ceremony, professionally, thoroughly… and discreetly.