You’re all booked in!
I am honestly so humbled and excited you have chosen me to capture your wedding day and just want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you. It has been my privilege to be trusted by so many couples over the years and I can't wait to do the same for you.
This little guide will hopefully help answer some important questions for you and offer general guidance and tips but if you have any unanswered questions, don't hesitate to drop me a message.
formals (aka family heritage photos)
To benefit from a documentary approach and to best preserve your experience of the day, it’s best to keep formal group photos to a minimum. Feel free to skip this part if you’re deciding not to include them.
Having witnessed this portion of the day countless times, I can tell you first-hand that it can quickly become stressful, and people don’t want to spend too long on these photos. Therefore, only include group photos if you genuinely want them and inform your friends and family in advance. Allocate enough time for group photos (each photo can take 3-5 minutes), and please ensure your designated ‘helpful person’ knows the people listed. It is their responsibility to gather the people for each photo and ensure no groups are missed.
Include no more than 8 groups and try to limit participants to immediate family only, with ideally no more than 15 people per photo. Something to bear in mind is family members will always try to add in an extra cheeky one or two groups and this is another reason I advise to keep your actual list short - that way, if they do add more on the day, we still have time for the ones you actually want. Unless it’s something you really want, I do recommend to avoid the ‘everyone’ photo. It can be difficult to gather everyone in a timely manner and also ensure they are all visible in the final photo.
Below you'll find an example list of options that will allow you to cover the 'key people' shots but without it becoming too extensive and taking away from your day. I will contact you a few weeks before the day to confirm your chosen groups but if you're unsure on where to start, here is an example list of options you might want to include in your list (based on previous weddings I've photographed and what they've included)
01. Partner one’s and partner two’s immediate family (parental/ guardians)
02. Partner one’s family (Ideally just close/ immediate family)
03. Partner two's family (Ideally just close/ immediate family)
04. Wedding party (partner one with their wedding party - include little ones)
05. Wedding party (partner two with their wedding party - include little ones)
06. Full wedding party (just adults)
confetti
I do advise that to get the best confetti, you should directly supply the confetti to your guests yourselves. Gone are the days when guests bring their own confetti to weddings due to venue restrictions or uncertainty on if you're partaking in this moment. A lot of weddings now opt to skip confetti (especially central london ones) so if you're one of those couples, feel free to skip this section.
If you’re partaking, here’s some top tips;
Check your venue are happy for you to have confetti and if there are any restrictions they might have in place - certain restrictions can apply at churches or anywhere with animals on site and some are restrictive on colours due to colour transfer.
The more confetti, the merrier. Aim for around two handfuls per guest and around two canons if you want the full experience.
Larger biodegradable paper circles show up really well in photos and 'Your Confetti' are great suppliers of this type of confetti. They have the option to mix and match colours to work with colour schemes and have kindly supplied me with an exclusive discount code for you to use - Use code 'YCBYCHLOEMARY' to get 15% off your order.
For natural candid confetti images, make sure you enjoy the experience. As you walk, just look at each other, take in the joy of the moment and just have fun with it. It will go EVERYWHERE but we can deal with this after - there’s nothing worse than someone fussing over you mid confetti line to get it out of your hair or your dress.
Don't worry about cones or bags for the confetti. Just pop it into a big basket or vessel of sorts and get your guests to grab handfuls. It's easier for them to throw and easier for you when organising. Plus the boxes and cones usually just end up in the bin or becoming very glamorous litter.
Portraits
I really do advise even the most camera shy to go for a quick portrait session. It's not only a great time to capture you both in your full glam, but it’s also a good time to take you away from the hustle and bustle of the day. The number one regret most couples have from their day is that they didn’t get enough time together with their partner. Feel free to even use this time just to be with each other and celebrate the fact you just got hitched - you can even bring along a glass of bubbles or a bottle of beer for the moment too.
15 minutes is all I need for a few quick photos of the two of you. The key to natural photos is to just keep moving. If you want to do less than 15 minutes, this is also totally okay. It's more important to me that you have the best day ever and prioritise what's important to YOU. So if that means having a short couple session and jumping straight back into the action of your day, then that's good with me. We can even opt for two smaller sessions to incorporate an outfit change or a change of location change after dinner as well.
We will normally go for a little walk around your ceremony location (central London we can even jump in a taxi / on the underground) and just have a chat with each other. The main tip I can give is to just try and let yourself relax and push past any ‘awkward’ feelings. We'll create some natural and candid photos of the two of you and if you want to get a bit more creative, we can create simple but dramatic portraits as well. Most of the time, the photos I'm taking and are the most loved ones are usually the 'in-between' shots of us moving locations. If you feel like it's needed and want a little help to loosen up and get the shots, I can even offer some 'light guidance' on the day. Some couples even turn this into an opportunity to do an activity together - think going to the local pub for a pint, walking their dogs or even just watching the sunset together. There is no set way or time to do this and we can do whatever feels most natural for you.
There’s no need to pre-plan a list of locations for your session as we will work with the lighting and weather that we're presented with on the day (I will usually take a little pre- ceremony walk to scout out some options) If you've got your heart set on specific locations, of course please do let me know and I will try my best to fit them in for you.
Timeline advice
I don't need your timelines any further than about 4 weeks in advance and my automated system will send you out a little questionnaire asking for all the information I need to allow me to know what's going on and when it's happening. It also allows you to go back in at any time and make changes if needed. The system will let me know you've re-submitted so I can check for any major changes and contact should I have questions.
I’m not looking for a minute by minute rundown of your day and to best benefit from a documentary approach, I’d advise to not to plan things out this way either. I’m just looking for a rough guide so I know where to go and when to cover any big moments for you.
I've popped below a few little helpful tips about timeline planning but if you're unsure about something or have any questions around timings, you're more than welcome to drop me a message. Please do be aware I can only really make recommendations on timings based around photos or my past experience at weddings - for any major technical help or logistics based questions, it's best to contact your planner or venue for advice.
You need to include any travel time between venues within your coverage hours. The officiant performing your ceremony will usually want you to arrive 15 mins before the ceremony starts and that's usually both registrars and celebrants.
You can do another couple portrait session in the evening if you're looking for some variation in your couples photos. Think Golden Hour (if we get it - a sunny day doesn't always mean Golden Hour) or even a blue hour. You can also use this as a chance to have extra portraits either in a change in location (if your ceremony is in a different place to your reception) or in a different outfit if you've planned an outfit change!
If you want both of your prep times covered (and are getting ready at separate locations) multiple angles of your ceremony and speeches or simply just want more candid photos, it’s best to add a second shooter. You can easily add one on to any package for a small fee.
It's up to you when your coverage starts but remember your coverage hours must be used consecutively. If you've opted for an 10 hour package and you have a first dance scheduled for 8pm, you'd ideally want to allow a little time after it as well to take into account any delays that can occur plus a little time to cover some dancing after (trust me, they do happen) So let's say 60 mins. This would mean an 9.00pm finish. If you've got a 1pm ceremony and wanted to have some 'pre ceremony' coverage as well, you'd be looking at an approx. start time of roughly 11.00am to cover everything. If you wanted to have less prep and more party covered instead, move start times forward by an hour.
Group shots usually work best after your ceremony during cocktail hour/ before wedding breakfast call in. Couples portraits are best done after any group shots but before you sit down for dinner. For super stealthy timings, we can even run off during dinner call in.
Avoid putting any speeches between courses. It can be quite jarring as a guest to keep starting and stopping during dinner and will leave hungry people wondering where their food is but it can also cause logistical issues for the majority of your suppliers. Catering will trying to be trying to keep food warm if a speech overruns and it doesn’t allow the venue staff or myself to take a small break. I’m quite an ‘on the go’ photographer as I find a lot of story happens during the ‘in between’ moments of your day such as between courses but I do like to try and take 15 mins to grab myself something to each and just to check over my kit. Usually as a supplier we get fed after the last guest has been served that course so this leaves us a very small window to eat the food you’ve kindly supplied. My best advice is to usually place them before or after dinner or even a few pre starters and the rest after dessert has been served for a non interrupted dinner. If you’re keen for an in-between style then please don’t be put off by my advice, I am simply here to offer any helpful advice I can an am speaking from experience.
phones
Guests will want to take lots of photos to remember the day which is totally okay with me but sadly a lot of the time they won’t really think about when it's appropriate to do so. I've had guests and suppliers jump in the way of my camera so they can get their phone photos during some really important moments and sadly, it can impact the final results. I personally have no problem in allowing guests to take photos but as your hired professional, I want to get the best images possible for you. If you’re concerned about phone happy guests, a great way to set a clear tone from the get go is with signage or with a small message on your orders of service so guests can see this before hand. Another great way to do this is to advise your officiant that you want an unplugged ceremony (whether that's a celebrant or a registrar) so they can communicate with a quick message to your guests before anything kicks off. Guests will probably still try to get a few cheeky photos but this will keep things to a minimum. You don’t need to limit it to all day either, just ask during important moments like your ceremony or speeches.
Your chosen suppliers will also be capturing content to help market themselves and show their work off to new clients. If you haven't thought about it already, it's worth communicating before hand if this isn't something you want them to do - including myself. It's something that can be easily avoided by just letting them know before hand and maybe even telling them whilst you'd appreciate the content capturing to be kept to a minimum, they will be allowed access to the professional photos once the wedding is over.
I personally keep any behind the scenes capturing to a minimum and more so capture content of the venue but it's worth letting me know if it's something you'd like me not to do. I'm always happy to share your gallery with your chosen suppliers so they can use the photos to show off their hard work. If your suppliers get in touch asking for access to your gallery, it's best to send them directly to me so I can communicate any usage terms/ licensing rules as copyright of the images in a commercial way remains with myself. It also means I can keep track of who is using images and that they've sought permission from us both.
some final pieces of advice
Trust and connection are the biggest factors that impact my work. I’m a big believer that both go hand in hand in playing a huge role in how I capture the day so by the time your day comes around, I want it to feel like you’re just catching up with an old friend. Couples who come to me are the type of people craving something more real from their photos and want to see everyone’s genuine love and joy and emotions. Think messy tables, raw emotions, chaotic moments, less ‘soft smiles’ and more of the genuine memories. The more you trust you have in me, the more likely you’ll love your photos.
My style means I don't go around asking guests if they'd like their photo taken and instead, prefer to prioritise natural and real moments or your guests. If your guests would like a professional photo taken then of course they're more than welcome to approach me during some of the more quiet moments of the day and I will kindly take it for them (usually this is best between dinner and evening plans)
Do try to keep your group photos to the pre prepared list you have. It will likely change a bit on the day but by having the list, it keeps changes to a minimum.
If it rains - it rains. Most likely your wedding is taking place in the UK and there’s a higher chance of it raining here, even in the summer. Make weather permitting plans and try not to etch anything into stone. Discuss a back up plan with your venue or embrace the weather! I’ll be there to capture whatever happens and am more than happy to get a little wet when needed.
Having one or two helpful people around for group photo gathering will help formals run more smoothly. As mentioned, it doesn't have to be a member of your bridal party but just someone who knows most of the people on the list - it makes it easier for them to know who they're gathering.
I do arrive a little earlier where possible to have a look around for couple portrait locations but if you have any specific ideas of locations you want to use, please do let me know. Otherwise, I will look to use locations we find on the day that have great light/ make an interesting background.
If having that ‘first kiss’ moment captured is really important to you, try to hold it for a few seconds or have a few cheeky little kisses. Don't overthink it and do what feels most natural to you but do be advised sometimes a quick ‘peck’ can easily be missed.
You don't have to have a photo of you signing your register if you don't want it. Most couples don't know this but registrars actually set up a fake register after you've signed the real thing for data protections reasons and it can feel a little awkward sitting there and pretending to sign again for a photo. It becomes a lot more obvious it’s a staged moment. Some officiants are much more chill about it these days and let us take photos of the actual thing happening but some don't and prefer to set it up after. If you're not fussed on having these, just let them politely know so they can just let you get up once you've signed the official paperwork.
And finally, PLEASE take all of my advice with a pinch of salt. It's just a few tips and tricks I've learnt throughout the years but please you don't have to follow any of it. For me, it's important you have the day YOU want to have and that goes for following any of my advice as well as others advice. If you'd prefer to relax and not think about any of the above, please know you have the permission and the space just carry on as normal and I will capture whatever happens as it happens - naturally.