Michelle Rees Photography

Wedding Photographer Blog

If you are getting married or taking photos at your first wedding

& wonder what the photographer gets up to before & during the day, then this blog is for you: 

This isn't an exhaustive list & is written as a female solo photographer (i.e. no assistant) and with by no means aiming to cause offense over same gender couples, for the sake of this blog I have written the word 'bride' and 'groom' as the list is the same for all weddings.  I have also written this list based on a wedding taking place in the UK where the ceremony may be taking place at a different address to the reception. 

I may well pop back when I remember something else, but as an 'off the top of my head' list, I welcome you into my mind when I put on my 'wedding photographer' hat.

 

Before the day:   Okay so you've had the enquiry & made the booking, met the couple in person to discuss ideas and received the signed contracts back.  Then a couple of days before the big day you get into action.  Here is a to do list:

What are you going to wear? 

  • Think comfortable & practical - can you lift your arms up to take photos without clothes being restrictive. 
  • Will you be too hot or too cold - check the weather forecast 
  • Not too revealing - you're there to blend in.  you'll be running around, climbing on things, laying on the floor so trousers is my go to option 
  • Flat quiet shoes - you'll be standing, walking & running around for around 10-12 hours.  And you don't want to be in a church and clip clopping around, or trying to tiptoe and lose your balance. 
  • Will it be wet underfoot?  If you want arty photos of puddle reflections, you will need to bring something to lay on (fold up a plastic mat in your camera bag)   
  • Will it be raining?  Although you wont be standing outdoors taking photos for hours on end in pouring rain, make sure your equipment wont get damaged - get rain covers for your camera and lens & camera bag. 
  • Umbrellas...  if it looks like it might rain, speak to the couple in advance about having x2 white umbrellas - they may have already got some, otherwise buy a couple to take with you, then you can get them posed outside briefly.   
  • Pockets or waist utility bag / belt - if carrying x2 cameras you'll have a double camera strap but make sure your spare batteries and SD cards are handy - know which pocket or bag zip compartment they're in as you won't want to be wearing your camera bag all day.   
  • Snacks - you'll be hungry and thirsty all day so put snacks  / bottle of water into these pockets/bag too! 
  •  

Check your Kit

  • Make sure your camera settings are set correctly before the day e.g check you're set to shoot in raw and if you've adjusted your white balance on a different shoot, then set that to auto again.
  • If you're using x2 cameras (I put a short lens on one and a long lens on the other to save time switching lenses), ensure the times are synced so when editing, the photos are both in the same time order.
  • Make sure all camera noises are switched off and your screen brightness is not too bright.  No one wants to hear unnecessary beeps during the ceremony.
  • Guess your settings beforehand and set the ISO, Shutter and Aperture in advance based on knowing if you're photographing in doors (is the church dark) or outside with guests (is it over cast or bright sunshine) and practice switching settings without looking so you don't miss any crucial shots while you're faffing around trying to get your camera to work
  • Charge all your camera batteries.  
  • Format all your SD cards and have appropriate cases for them. 
  • Devise an SD card system so you know immediately which cards are empty and which are full up - you must NOT lose or damage them!  
  • If you want to stand on something during the ceremony or when taking group shots, bring a stool with you & practice setting it up and down quickly and quietly - consider labelling it so if you accidentally put it down somewhere, the venue know who it belongs to.
  • Camera Flash - have spare batteries in your bag / pocket
  • Have some couple poses in your mind (or printed off) beforehand so if you go blank on the day, you have back up ideas
  • Work out what you would do if you drop and break your camera.  May be have a spare camera and lenses in your car for worse case scenarios like this - this happened to me - my mirror came unattached inside my camera during the 'getting ready' section of the day...  In fact, go through ALL the 'worse case scenario's you can think of so you are mentally and physically prepared. 

Info you need to find out before the day:

  • Are you being fed or do you need to bring own lunch/dinner with you?  - Know what time this break is and for how long.
  • There will always be a 'list' of photos to get and this is great but always get more than the list. Ask if there's anyone who's travelled a long distance or is the eldest family member so you can get the bridge/groom photographed with them.
  • If you are photographing the bride getting ready, find out if there is a hair dresser and make up artist there.  You don't need to arrive too early but good to arrive before they leave so you can take 'fake' getting hair and makeup done photos. 
  • If the driver is outside with the car, check what route they are driving to the ceremony and what time they are scheduled to leave the house so you have time to photograph the car.  If you are getting to the ceremony early (as mentioned in the next section), you won't have time to photograph the bride getting in the car if you're the only photographer as you cannot be in 2 places at once, so ensure you photograph the bride when she arrives at the ceremony instead. 
  • If ceremony is different location to reception, work out where you're going to park for the ceremony (cost of carpark etc) in advance.  Make sure you KNOW the route and how long it takes, where you go when you get there etc. 
  • Confetti:  Do the couple want confetti and a) is this allowed at the ceremony or being done at the reception - will all the guest be given some b) when do they want it done. Be prepared to organise this part by getting one of the groomsmen to shout for you. i tend to get everyone to line up in x2 lines forming a sort of tunnel, then the couple start at one end, people throwing confetti in turn and you walk in front of them, slowly walking backwards taking the photos.

Make sure you've included times for these on the day:

  • Consider getting to the ceremony 20-40mins earlier than the bride is due to arrive for all of these shots: Photographing all the guests arriving, Photos of the groom / groomsmen & images of the venue, Get outside again to photograph the car arriving. PLUS this extra time means you can:   
  • a) speak to the celebrant/vicar/priest beforehand out of politeness and negotiate where you will be standing but don't let them be too forceful as it's your job to get photos but obviously be polite. 
  • b) speak to the Best man & ask if you're allowed to handle the rings out of respect and if so, you may choose to do some arty shots with them. otherwise just held in Best man's hand in their ring box is fine. then again a close up once they're on the couples fingers.  If there is a child being the ring bearer* then photograph their face with the ring box.  *When they do their ring bearer duty during the ceremony, some children get shy and rush this bit so be super fast to capture the photos. 
  • After the ceremony as soon as they're in the car, zoom to the reception and get the venue before guests go in. This means you can quickly photograph all the little details the couple have organised e.g. table settings, decorations, flowers on tables. photo their place names etc and the atmosphere when room is empty.
  • Ensure you have scheduled in 20 or 30mins with the couple during the reception to take them away for photos. don't leave this too long as once they get settled it's hard to encourage them to leave friends and family. If you are unfamiliar with the reception venue, speak to staff to ask where other couples get their photos taken in case there is a room or staircase, or part of the garden you don't know about. 

On the day:

  • I'm not going to list everything that goes on during the day as every wedding is different and you should know what is expected of you, so these are just a couple of extra points not to forget:
  • The timings usually go out the window and you can always liaise with the venue to check when they are going to start serving food etc.
  • Talk to the DJ to find out what he  / she has been asked to do regarding first dance . / cutting the cake and if you would like them to announce on your behalf something over their microphone, I'm sure they will be happy to help you. 
  • Ask the venue who sorts out the cake cutting and where and when it will be done. don't ask the couple any of these questions so they're left to enjoy the day. 
  • Keep your eyes and ears open - you will need to be everywhere all at once, anticipating laughs in conversations, cute moments by the child guests, touching moments where guests are speaking to the couple, emotional moments during speeches and split second events like the first kiss, the cake cutting, confetti, putting rings on fingers etc.  
  • So take a deep breath, make sure you've got headache tablets handy and enjoy yourself!