Wedding Portrait Tips

Are you conscious of how much time should be savethe ceremony. This includes the families of both the
for your wedding portraits? For your photographer toBride and Groom, the whole wedding party and, of
do a good job, it perhaps more than you realize.course, the Bride and Groom alone. If your family
Usually, the photographs will begin at the Bride'sgroups are being photographed indoors but not in a
home before the ceremony. Here the photographerstudio, you may need to allow the photographer time
will take portraits of the Bride, her family and theto set up lighting apparatus and arrange props.
bridal party. It is vital that your hair and make-upOutdoors settings are generally no problem and the
appointment is planned early enough so that youphoto session can begin right away. These portraits
begin your photographs on time. Hair and makeupgenerally go quickly (unless a family member is
should be finished a minimum of one hour before youmissing). The one to two hours for your family
are planned to begin photographs. Allow time forgroups will fly by and will depend on the size of your
travel, dressing and finding that lost pair of earrings.families, whether there are children involved, and the
Most expert photographers will want two to threesize of your wedding party. This does not include
hours of shooting time before the ceremony. Ensuretravel time to the location or travel to the reception
your flowers are ready and everybody is dressed.afterwards.
This gives you time to enjoy the photographicYou may save money by having your photographer
session, have a couple of breaks and get to thephotograph your cake cutting, first dance, toasting
church on time.portrait and other reception-type photographs
It doesn't seem to subject how long your ceremonyprevious to the reception, rather than when these
is planned for - you will be at the church for about anevents really occur. By this time you will be tired of
hour. Longer if you're having a receiving line after thephotographs and will want to enjoy your evening and
ceremony. If the ceremony is scheduled to end atbe with your guests. The usual reception
3:30pm, do not schedule your photographs at 3:35pm.photographs will take almost one-half hour if done
Take into account the travel time from the church tothis way.
your location. Your participants will not arrive all atKeep in mind that if you have any particular requests,
once either. You may want to assign a brother, sistersuch as an extra location for some portraits of the
or wedding party member to systematize yourBride and Groom, to allow extra time for travel, set
families and get them to the photo location on timeup and shooting. If you allow your photographer the
and all together.time to do their job, you will have a good experience
The family groups are generally photographed afterand photographs to last a lifetime.