Wedding Bible

The Getting Ready

Here are a few simple tips on how to get the most out of these shots...

• LOCATION – Pick somewhere non cluttered with wonderful natural light. We capture locations in a true to life way, whether it’s bright and airy or dark with no natural light - this is how it will look in the photos.

• MESS – Nominate someone to keep on top of the mess – shopping bags, suitcases & general clutter are distracting and can really change the whole look and feel of a photo. Just shove it all in a cupboard! We are documentary photographers so if there’s clutter it will end up in the shots. If you don’t want it there, remove it :)

• LIGHT – Turn ceiling lights and lamps off as these can affect skin tones. We much prefer to use only the natural light available where possible.

• DISTANCE – If you’re getting ready close enough to your partner then we can capture both of you getting ready. If you are too far apart or getting ready at different times which means it’s not logistically possible then we will visit one of you before the ceremony

• LETTERS & GIFTS – If you are sending each other letters or gifts then wait until we arrive so we can capture this moment.

• INVITATIONS – If you would like some photos of your invites then bring one along so we can photograph it.

TIMINGS - Remember we have to leave 15-20 minutes before you leave to ensure we arrive at the ceremony location first. Remember to factor this into your timings.

Indoor Ceremonies

• LIGHT - Get as much natural light into the room as possible. If possible then have natural light only and all ceiling lights and lamps off
• SPACE - If the ceremony room is small, please ensure that you allow enough room for both of us to stand at the front next to the person conducting the ceremony. We like to stand either side so that we can capture both of your lovely faces.

Outdoor Ceremonies

• TIME – If possible plan your outdoor ceremony at a time when the light is best. Try to avoid having harsh direct sunlight on you. Standing under a tree can help with this.
• WEATHER – You really can’t predict it. Have a backup plan in case of rain! We cannot shoot in anything more than a light drizzle so if it’s torrential you will need to have a plan b.

Church Ceremonies

• RULES – Unfortunately churches usually come with a lot of rules that limit what we are allowed to do and what we can capture. Sometimes we are allowed to stand at the front with a nice clear view but other times we are not allowed any where near. Sometimes we are even told we are not allowed in the church at all and often the couple have been told the opposite beforehand. We believe that these rules are completely outdated and that YOU are the boss as you are the ones paying to get married at this venue. We recommend you speak to the person conducting the ceremony in advance and tell them that you require your photographers to be at the front and not stuck behind a pillar 🙃. We are **always** quiet, super chilled and **will stand in one place if required** (and we appreciate that many photographers unfortunately give us all a bad rep when it comes to this). But it is down to you to discuss this with them as they won’t pay any attention to our wishes on the day!

Unplugged Ceremonies

An unplugged ceremony is where guests are asked to not use their phones, tablets and cameras, and are instead asked to just be in the moment. Usually the person conducting the ceremony will announce this at the start if you ask them to.

We love it. Because it means we can capture everyones true emotion without a camera, phone (or even an iPad) in front of their face. It also means that we can get a clear shot of you walking down the aisle without all of the guests getting in the way whilst they try to get a shot on their phone.

We have no problem with guests taking photos throughout the day – we just ask that they leave the group and couple shots to us and stay seated during the ceremony.

An example of what happens when you announce everyone can take as many photos as they like 🙈

Of course it’s your choice and these are just our preferences

Confetti

These are always some of our favourite shots! Here are some tips on how to make them amazing…

• TYPE OF CONFETTI – Paper confetti will really fly through the air and stay flying around the longest - easily the best option if you want those crazy confetti shots! Small dried petals are also nice, but can be hard to see depending on the background. They also don’t fly as well as paper. Large petals are very heavy and will fall straight to the ground - often it’s very hard to capture these in the air and they can make the confetti tunnel look a bit sparse. We always say buy the amount you think you need then buy loads more - you really can never have too much!!

• GUESTS – Have a groomsmen make an announcement to guests before the confetti starts asking them to concentrate on throwing the confetti and not trying to get a photo on their phone – the amount of guests that forget to throw their handful of confetti because they are too busy trying to get a phone snap…

• SPEED – Walk slowly. We usually walk backwards as you walk towards us, so take your time and savour the moment. (We’ll remind you of this on the day) or you can have all the guests gather behind you and throw confetti all at once - this looks awesome too!

Couple Photos

There are two perfect times for couple photos - before the meal and then again during golden hour. 10-15 minutes before the meal is ideal and then another 15-20 during golden hour. But we are happy to spend as much or as little time on these shots as you’d like.
It's all super chilled and a nice quiet time for you to take a break from the party and just enjoy being married and in love.

Group Shots

We always get comments from guests on how quickly we get through the group shots! Here are some tips to help…

• KEEP IT SHORT – Select a few group shots that are important to you. Usually this is parents, siblings & grandparents. We like to spend a little more time on bridesmaids and groomsmen photos so we do these last.

• HELPER – Nominate someone to be in charge of rounding up the people needed for the group shots. We wont know who is who so make sure the helper knows exactly who to gather and has a list available to them on the day.

• LOCATION – We’ll pick a spot away from the guests. This means we’ll get them done quickly without guests asking to take the same photo on their cameras. It will also stop family members from wandering off!

For small group shots allow 3-5 minutes for each one. For whole group photos we need a window or somewhere high up to capture this. Allow around 10 minutes for these.