Amazing wedding photos don’t just happen by chance. It takes a lot of work, experience, planning, and thought to create a stunning, effortless looking photograph. So here are a few tips to ensure that you and your photographer have the best chance for getting you amazing, heirloom quality images.

1. The Timeline – This is huge. I always like to be involved, or at least in the loop, when the timeline is being put together. The last thing I want is for anyone to feel rushed or stressed out, including myself and my clients. There are many things that go on behind the scenes that couples are unaware of, and unfortunately wouldn’t know to plan ahead for. The biggest example is portrait time. I’ve photographed weddings where I’ve only been given 5-10 minutes to get the bride and groom’s portraits. They turned out o.k., but I definitely could have delivered more photos and more thoughtful photos if I had been given more time. Couples don’t realize that the gorgeous photos that they see on wedding blogs take time to create. I request that my brides and grooms give me an hour (doesn’t have to be all in one shot) for portraits. And think of it this way (as a photography friend of mine so aptly put it)… “If you don’t give me at least an hour for your portraits, you’re paying for a service that you aren’t utilizing!” And when it comes right down to it, aren’t your portraits the photos you will hang on your walls, show your children and grandchildren, etc? I think they definitely deserve proper thought and attention. :)
2. The Details – I love to photograph details. Every little detail is just as important (and have been given as much consideration) as the big events on a wedding day. They also help tie together the photographic story of your wedding day. It helps tremendously to have all of your details gathered together in a shoe box the day of the wedding. When your photographer is ready to photograph things like your shoes, jewelry, perfume, invitations, etc. you won’t have to scramble about to retrieve them.
3. The First Look – The first look is when the bride and groom share a private moment together before the wedding ceremony, and the groom get’s the first look at his bride. Many couples are opting for this option and I’m so, so glad they are. There are so many benefits of doing a first look; decreases nervous pre-wedding jitters, gives the bride and groom a private moment together on their wedding day (something unheard of!), beautiful and emotional photographs, decreases stress on a tight timeline, utilizes the daylight for an evening ceremony, and so on… I think the #1 reason couples don’t want to do a first look is because they don’t want to take away from the moment of the bride walking down the aisle. The brides and grooms that have done a first look have told me that they do not regret it, and that they don’t feel that a first look took away from the moment of the bride walking down the aisle. 
4. Communication & Trust – Above all it’s so important to work with a photographer that you trust. When you are selecting a photographer take everything into consideration; their portfolio, their communication habits, their personality (yes, if possible try to meet them in-person prior to booking), look for client reviews on Google. And lastly, ask them what their workflow is and how they operate on a wedding day. For example; I (personally) don’t like working from a shot list. My clients trust me enough to get the shot of their wedding dress, and the shot of the bride walking down the aisle, and the cake cutting, etc. When I’m given a long list of shots to take on a wedding day, it takes away from my creative thoughts and processes. I end up spending more time checking things off of a list than I do giving my shots the proper thought and creative attention. 

To Inquire about Availability and Investment for Wedding Photography Contact Kristen by clicking here, or by sending an email to kristen@kristenlynne.com.