As a photographer who has done over 175 weddings, I can say that I’ve likely seen it all. Curiously, people never really ask me what I think about things, but I do have thoughts. Your photos, besides your wedding rings, are literally the only investment for your wedding day that lasts beyond the day. So here are a few tips from me to you, about things that I wished clients would do to help make their photos even better.

Make that Getting Ready Room BIGGER!

There is never enough space during the getting ready process. The bride, all her bridesmaids, makeup artists and hair stylists and allllll their stuff, mothers, visitors, videographers, bags and bags and bags of stuff…… it all fills a room or house very quickly. You need to book the biggest room the hotel has. A standard room will absolutely not work. As a photographer, I need space and distance and above all else, I need natural light from windows. I need space to set up your flat lay, in a nice uncluttered area with good light and neutral colors. So it’s a big ask. Think of a large space you can use, and make it even bigger.

I’m not here to call out any places, but I can think of a few venues and hotels where the bridal suites were pretty tough because they were cramped, with few windows and filled with artificial lights.

Get That Wedding Cake Away from the Plastic Tent Wall

Wedding cakes are beautiful!! Even the little cutting cakes that are so popular right now. These cuties need their own moment. They seem to usually be placed off to the side in the tent, just on a table next to the plastic tent wall. Let that baby shine! It needs to be on a cute little table in its own space, with a nice background. Even just for a few minutes, for the photos. I also prefer that clients do not cut their cake right up against the plastic tent wall. We could do a much better background. Move the cake out into the center of the floor if you must.

Which brings me to my next and related point……

Put the Desserts out in the Daytime

This is the tip that makes me the most sad. It is the most disappointing thing when the fabulous dessert display gets set up after it’s gotten dark outside. Why? Because then I have to photograph the desserts with flash and that is absolutely heartbreaking as a food photographer. My entire career as a food photographer has been based around making food look its best with natural light, and that simply will not happen when the beautiful desserts get put out after dark next to a plastic tent wall. All you get with flash next to plastic is a black background reflecting wrinkly flashy plastic.

You have hired a food photographer for your wedding, so let me do what I do best with regards to your desserts display.

(I also love to have time to photograph your appetizer display especially if it’s an elaborate one! However that doesn’t always work out because I have to also be doing your family photos at the same time. Too bad I can’t be in multiple places at once.)

Do you see a theme here? Basically anything beautiful worth photographing should not be next to those plastic tent walls.

Invest in One Fantastic Bridal Bouquet

Maybe you’re not doing the full florist thing, with bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnières, centerpieces, ceremony arrangements, garlands, etc. I’m seeing a bit more artificial flowers lately. I totally get it. I would, however, encourage you to do one thing with real flowers: a gorgeous bridal bouquet. Make that investment in that one beautiful accessory, and you can use it all day long in sooooo many of your photos.

• I can style the bouquet in your getting ready photos
• You’ll be using it in all of your portraits
• You can place it on your sweetheart table for decoration
• Its uses are endless

With well-chosen flowers and colors it can pull your entire look together and will be well worth the money for the impact it has on your photo gallery.

Turn Bistro Lights On Even During the Day

If your venue has any kind of bistro lights, twinkle lights, etc, please turn them ON as soon as you get there. Whether they are around or inside the tent, or if they’re strung among the tree branches, turn them on! I have no idea why, but it seems like venues don’t usually turn them on until it starts to become dusk. Trust me, those lights do show up in photos even in broad daylight and they add so much to the ambiance of the photos. Why wait to turn them on?

The Bedford Village Inn is a great example of a place with fantastic bistro lights and they keep them on from the very start of the day. The result is magical.

The Flat Lay: Let Me Photograph Your Accessories

Please, please let me photograph your accessories during the getting ready part of your day, and give me enough time to do it. And please have all your materials gathered before I get there, so I don’t have to spend valuable time going around asking people and looking for them.

In my wedding magazine that I provide couples upon booking, I outline the things I’d be looking for when I arrive for the getting ready. So I’m always surprised when I get there and they are asking me what I need. I don’t think people read the magazine I created for them! That does make me sad. But it’s very clear when a bride has read it because she is very prepared.

Mrs. Boxes are a beautiful way to showcase your ring(s) and they come in a wide range of colors to match your theme. I love when brides provide a Mrs. Box to go with their photos. And if you don’t have one, just ask me because I have a small collection. I love flat lays so much that I even invested in some Mrs. Boxes for my clients’ photos. Let me know what your colors are and I can bring one for your ring shots.

I am finding lots of brides lately who are not interested in giving me these things to photograph and that makes me sad. You have hired a photographer skilled in creating these flat lay shots, so let me do what I do best. It’s a great way to start the day off with creating gorgeous styled photos with items that will not be available for the rest of the day. Let’s do it!

In Conclusion

As I mentioned, nobody really asks me what I think about things, so this unsolicited advice is completely unasked for. However, I have so much experience with wedding photography and I have so much information and opinions to share. I encourage clients to use me! Ask me, pick my brain. I’m always happy to share ideas and methods that make the day easier for you and me both, and result in a better photo gallery.