Wedding Photography: Expectations Vs. Reality

Wedding photos hold a special place in the hearts of couples, capturing the cherished moments of their big day. Being able to relive all of the important moments from your wedding day through the eye of the artist who captures them is exciting! But what should you expect on your wedding day as it relates to photography? While the allure of picture-perfect Instagram feeds can set high expectations, its essential to understand the reality behind those beautifully captured shots. Let's delve into the behind-the-scenes of wedding photography and shed some light on what to expect on your wedding day.

Getting Ready

Getting ready photos can be a breeze or totally hectic depending on how many people are in the room and how the morning started off. You might not be able to tell this in photos because photographers have ways of staging moments to feel authentic and emotional during the getting ready portion of the day. However, a lot of times people will be running around like crazy trying to get all of the details in place. The rooms are often messy with bags, clothing, food, drinks, etc. Photographers, bridesmaids, groomsmen, the bride and the groom all have to work together to ensure a nice, clean, beautiful photo space.

Ceremony Photos

We're all at the mercy of the ceremony location. If your location is outdoors - it could be super sunny, overcast, hot, cold, snowing, raining, etc. It's impossible to plan for the weather a year plus in advance, all we can do is hope for the best and have a plan B. On the other hand, if the ceremony location is indoors, like a church, a lot of times we'll be subject to whatever the lighting situation is in the venue. Especially if the venue doesn't permit flash photography.

Once the ceremony begins photographers will typically roam around the location to get a variety of shots, expressions and reactions. Any time you see a really gorgeous entrance photo, kiss photo or exit photo, you can almost guarantee there was some planning that went into that. If you want to see any of these key moments from a specific perspective, be sure you're clear about that ahead of time. If you're planning a fun exit or fancy dip, make sure you tell your photographer so they can be ready for the big moment!

Couples Portraits

Couples portraits are my favorite time of the day. Most couples tell me, "Oh we're so awkward in front of the camera" or "I hate having my photos taken."

Many couples express discomfort in front of the camera, only to discover their photogenic sides when guided by professionals. A successful photoshoot is a collaborative effort; while your ideas matter, the responsibility for creating images shouldn't rest solely on you.

Couples always want candid photos. But when was the last time you tried to be candid for a photo? Did you like the way you looked or felt in that? Was it even truly candid? Or did you just act something out to get the photo you hoped for.

Photographers love natural, authentic reactions and expressions and want your love to shine through the photos. I like to do what I call posed candid. I put my couples into a pose that's going to look good from the angle I'm taking their photos from, but then give them something to do to get a more natural and authentic reaction from them. Posing is an important part of photography. After all, I want you to look your absolute best. No double chins or weird arm/leg placements on my watch.

Family Photos

The reality of family photos is that they can be stressful. Maintaining order during this time can be challenging. Family often wants to socialize, congratulate you on your big day, wander off or simply just not be paying attention. It can be super stressful to maintain everyone.

A skilled photographer acts as a conductor, organizing family members and calling out shots. You're not responsible for positioning every family member; leave that to the professional's expertise.

Wedding Party Photos

Wedding party photos can also be hectic depending on how large your wedding party is and if alcohol has already been flowing for a while. The reality is, it's pretty likely the people in your wedding party aren't that into the photos. They may put up with them for you, but their attention span will be gone quickly.

My recommendation is to make this part of the day quick and easy so the wedding party can get back to their job - which is to party and bring the energy!

Reception Photos

Reception photos capture the heart of the celebration, but spontaneity takes center stage. While setting up posed shots becomes challenging, documenting candid moments becomes even more exciting. Newlyweds, along with their wedding party, have the power to set the reception's tone. Taking to the dance floor encourages guests to join, making for vibrant and memorable photos.

The more fun you have during your reception, the more fun your photos will turn out!