The Isaacsons Photo Co: Wedding Photography Guide

This wedding photography guide includes all the tips and tricks you need to know before your wedding to help everything run as smoothly as possible, and to set your photographer(s) up for success.

Plain and simple: your wedding is all about you and your person. And your wedding photos are the one thing that is going to last for generations, long after the cake's been cut and the dances have been danced. It's super important to be 100% confident about your choice of photographer, and to trust them fully and completely with the amazing honour and responsibility that is capturing the story of your wedding day.

The absolute basics

If you take nothing else from this guide, here are some simple steps to get you started:

If you haven't already, create a mood board. You can do this any way you would like to, but Pinterest makes it really easy. Compile images that align with your vision. How do you want your wedding to look and feel? What kind of photos are you most attracted to? What is your vision for your wedding? Sharing this with your photographer (and other vendors) is an invaluable tool for getting everyone on the same page and both excited and prepared for your big day.

Next, create a shot list. Include every single photo you want taken on your wedding day, including all family combinations (by name). Download my sample shot list below to get you started!

Third, think about having an unplugged wedding. This means asking your guests to put down their phones, especially during your wedding ceremony. This not only allows them to be fully present, but it avoids the truly horrible scenario of your wedding photos being littered with people leaning into the aisles with their phones (which sadly happens all the time).

Putting together your Wedding Day schedule

As you dive into your engagement, the task of putting together your wedding day schedule looms closer and can easily become more and more daunting. Whether you love organizing and event planning like me, or you hate it, like so many, here are some helpful things and template schedules to keep in mind right from the get-go, to remove any stress and set you up for success.

To start, I would consider the season. Plan your wedding schedule around the season , namely, when it gets dark outside. I shot my first ever wedding on a Winter afternoon, the couple didn't have a first-look, and by the time the wedding ceremony was over it was pitch black outside. Wherever possible you should plan to take your couple-only photos in the hour or two before sunset, which shifts around the time of your ceremony. Start there.

Second, think about a first-look. It's 100% a personal preference as to whether you have a first-look or not. There are some pros: it can eliminate nerves as you spend some private and alone time together before the ceremony, and you can take your couple photos before the ceremony which allows you to join in cocktail hour. There are also some cons: there's nothing quite like a groom seeing his bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle. Either way, think about it, and plan your day around it.

Third (and this is an important one) schedule in a buffer of time. Tight timelines that leave no room for things going wrong are a quick and easy recipe for wedding day disasters. Jump ahead of the curve and schedule more time than you think you will need for hair and makeup and transport (account for unforeseen traffic) especially.

How long do photos take?

This question is such a hard one as it's variable by so many factors, but as a general rule of thumb, allow approximately the following amount of time for each type of photography you are looking for:

Details: 30 minutes

Getting Ready: 60 minutes (girls) 30 minutes (guys)

First-Look: 30 - 60 minutes

Wedding Party: 30 - 60 minutes

Immediate Family: 30 - 45 minutes

Extended Family: 30-45 minutes

Couples Session: 60 minutes

Note: these times do not include transport, packing up/ unpacking gear, getting everybody together, etc. Time buffers are always a glorious thing!

It’s all about lighting

The golden rule of photography is lighting over location. Capturing crisp, natural, beautiful photos required crisp, natural (as much as possible!), beautiful lighting which plays into your wedding in a number of ways. Keep these two points especially in mind as you begin to put your plans together:

• Getting Ready: Both your photographer and you will be 100% happier with your getting ready photos if the room you are in has access to lots and lots of natural light (such as one or several big windows). Try to choose a room as large as possible to give everyone their own space, and keep it clean and tidy - your photos will thank you! 

• Couple Photos: As much as humanly possible schedule your couple-only photos around an hour before sunset. It's by far the best time for lighting.

Things you need to know how to do

An easy-peasy way to eliminate stress on your wedding day is to make sure the relevant people know how to do the following things before the big day:

• Tie a tie or bow tie

• Fold a pocket square

• Bustle your dress

• Pin a boutonniere

And finally..

Your photographer(s) and other vendors will need both a seat and a meal at your reception. Please reserve them one.

Hold your first kiss for at least a few seconds. It will help you to enjoy and cherish it, and it will ensure your photographer has enough time to capture it properly.

Although it feels unnatural to not look at the person who is speaking, do your best to look at one another and not your officiant during the wedding.

Unless you are having an elopement or a very intimate wedding I will always highly recommend a wedding package that includes a second shooter. Your photographer will not only have twice as many amazing photos to work with, but it allows for two angles and literally focusing on two places at once (such as BOTH of your faces as you walk down the aisle).

You guys, think about your tan lines! The same thing applies to your entire bridal party. At least a month before your wedding you need to be very careful about what you are wearing and how much time you are spending in the sun.

If at all possible, schedule a trial hair and makeup appointment. It removes so much stress and crazy from your wedding day, so you can go into it confidently knowing what you want (and don't want!).

Empty those pockets. This is especially relevant for the dudes, but applies to all. Please empty your pockets before the wedding ceremony, nobody wants to see your phone and keys through your pants.

Prepare your family. Download my guide below for some extra tips on how!

I’m here to help, answer all your questions and guide you through this process! Please say hey and be in touch.