T H E
WEDDING E X P E R I E N C E
A GUIDE FOR
TRICIA MCCORMACK
PHOTOGRAPHY
COUPLES
F I N D
U S
O N
S O C I A L M E D I A
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www.TriciaMcCormack.com Tricia@TriciaMcCormack.com 413.358.8006
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F A C E B O O K
www.facebook.com/triciamccormackphotography/
I N S T A G R A M
www.instagram.com/triciamccormackphotography/
P I N T E R E S T
https://www.pinterest.com/triciaphoto/
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W E L C O M E
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M E E T
Tr i c i a
T H E
C R E W
Lisa
Christina
Hello! I started this business because
Lisa is my right-hand girl on your
Christina joined my team in 2012 to
I love capturing moments that make
wedding day! She is there to help your
help with our everyday operations and
us appreciate life. Add dedication, a
day run smoothly and to creatively
communicates with our clients often.
lot of hustle and a passion to connect
capture your wedding from additional
She is the "checks and balances" that
with others, and now I can call
perspectives and angles. Lisa has
ensure our couples receive invoices,
photography my career. I am the lead
a degree in photography and has
prompt answers to questions, and
photographer and your main contact.
been working with me since 2013.
that products arrive at your doorstep.
Your wedding experience is my top
She works in my office throughout
We joke around the office that she
priority and that's why I have a team
the week, making sure timelines are
can read my mind! You'll hear from
to make sure things are running
in order and your images will be
Christina during your experience,
efficiently and on time. I feel so lucky
delivered beautifully and on time.
so I'm glad I've had the chance to
to work creatively every day and also
introduce her here.
create images that are a legacy for couples and families. Thank you for trusting me with such an important time in your life.
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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Your Engagement Session
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Engagement Prep
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Engagement Session: Timing
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Sample Timeline
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Weddings & Seasons
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Pre-ceremony Prep
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Day of Reminders
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Timing Tips
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Your First Look
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The Ceremony
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Family Formals
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Romantic Portraits
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Trusting Portrait Locations
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The Case of a Rainy Wedding Day
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Your Bridal Party
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Reception Details and Tips
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Berkshire Photo Booth
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The Last Shot
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Legacy Albums
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Your Online Galler y 7
YOUR
ENGAGEMENT
SESSION Now that you have picked a wedding date, a
What I learn about you during your engagement
photographer, and a venue, you can celebrate!
session is invaluable. You will feel like a pro on your
Those are some of the toughest decisions in
big day because of the great practice you had during
wedding planning and now you can cross them off
your engagement session. Your engagement session
your list. Hooray!! Now on to the fun stuff.... like your
can be scheduled anytime before your wedding day. I
engagement session. I offer engagement sessions
suggest booking it at least 3-6 months in advance. As
because I truly believe that they are a VITAL part
you start to plan for your shoot, we will start brain-
of the entire process. Your engagement session is a
storming about location ideas. I will send you sugges-
chance to get to know me. You will experience how
tions with examples. I LOVE it when couples pick a
I shoot as well as how I handle posing and lighting.
location that reflects their personality. I shoot in parks,
This session will make a HUGE impact on how the
botanical gardens, fields and anywhere that is
wedding day flows. I’ll arrive on your wedding day
meaningful to you. This is a very personal expe-
already knowing how you two interact, what your best
rience and most couples agree it's a lot of fun!
poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way.
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ENGAGEMENT PREP It’s always a little intimidating to have your picture taken. I realize that preparing for your engagement session can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips for outfits and accessories that will make the engagement shoot preparation a little more manageable.
- Don’t MATCH. Instead try to pick outfits and accessories - Most often, couples like to have one casual, everyday that coordinate. If everyone wore the same exact color at
outfit and then one outfit that is dressier. This will give
their engagement shoot, how boring would those images
your shoot two totally different “looks”. I recommend
be?
beginning with the dressy outfit first.
- Don’t be afraid to be BOLD. Accessorize and make your
- Make sure you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing.
outfits your own. Scarves, bold necklaces and fun shoes are always welcomed.
- BE ON TIME! The sun is only out for so long. The later you arrive, the less time we have to shoot.
- MOST PATTERNS are actually ok. Graphics on shirts, however, are not favorable for portraits. If you’re wearing a
- Clean the ring. I love to take a few rings shots while you
pattern, make sure it’s not overwhelming and distracting.
change outfits. The cleaner the better.
- Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards for more outfit
- Relax. You don’t have to be a pro at this. I’m going to
inspiration if you’re having trouble.
help you along the way, and it’s going to be a blast. Enjoy this time together and make a date out of it. Plan dinner
- Empty your pockets. Literally. You don’t want to have key afterwards and celebrate. chains or phones showing through your pockets. 10
ENGAGEMENT SESSION Approximate Start Times :
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WIN T E R
SUM M E R
D e c-Mar :3-5pm
Jun-Aug:6-8pm
During December through Mid-March you can plan on your engagement session taking place around 3-5pm. However, with the time change in Mid-March the start time will shift one hour later.
Summer engagements, just like all engagements, take place two hours before sunset. Hopefully, this means that the shoot will be during the cooler part of the day.
SPR ING
FA LL
Apr-May : Var ies
S ep-Nov : Var ies
The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months, our shooting times change as well. You can plan on approximately 5:30-7:30pm in April and 6-8pm in May.
The sunset time changes drastically during these three months. In September, you can plan on 5:30-7:30pm until the third week, and then you can plan on 5-7pm until mid- October. After the first week of November, plan on 3-5pm.
If you want to see more examples of season specific engagement sessions, check out my Pinterest board at pinterest.com/triciaphoto/
LOGISTICS: - I photograph engagement sessions on weekday evenings because our weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings. - I love shooting at gorgeous locations. We recommend two locations max for engagements. While it does offer variety, the more outfits and locations you choose, the less images I am able to capture. - I love to travel to our shoots! If you’d like your session in NYC or Boston for example, I can accommodate that. There is an additional travel cost of $350 for that type of session.
YOUR
WEDDING DAY
SAMPLE TIMELINE The next four pages will outline an ideal wedding day, assuming a 6pm ceremony start time. This "ideal" timeline is also based on a wedding day that includes a first look (when the bride and groom see each other before the wedding). Most of my couples choose the first look option, and you can read more about that option in a few pages. Remember that all wedding days are different, and your timeline may differ due to travel times or unique situations.
Bridal Details 2:00-3:00
Brides love having beautiful shots of their details. It’s an important part of the story and I enjoy having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc. I like to allow at least one hour for this part of the day. While I’m shooting details, I’m also capturing some shots of the bride and her girls getting ready. If the groom is getting ready nearby, my second shooter, will be photographing the groom's details and the guys at the same time.
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Bridal Prep 3:00-3:30
After the details have been photographed, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress. This is a big moment. I usually ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look nice in those images. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc. I will also shoot some additional bridal portraits.
First Look 3:30
This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day. I will find the best location for the "First Look" and set the couple up to see each other. I will make sure the location is private and as secluded as possible, so you can concentrate on one another.
Portraits 3:30-4:15
Bridal Party Portraits 4:15-4:45
After the bride and groom take their
Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots.
time with the "First Look", I will take
I buffer in extra time throughout
a few romantic portraits of the two
the day just in case we have some
of you while the initial excitment is
unexpected things that hold us up.
still present. I will find the locations
One way to make sure we stay on
for these shots as well. Remember,
schedule for Bridal Party portraits is
the LIGHT determines where we
to have someone put the boutonnieres
shoot, so I can’t decide on portrait
on the guys BEFORE they arrive for
locations until that day. As we shoot
photos. During Bridal Party portraits,
these portraits, the bridal party can
Lisa and I will be sure to take some
start making their way to us for
great shots of the guys and girls both
Bridal Party portraits.
separately AND together.
Family Portraits 4:45-5:30
Formal family portraits traditionally can take place before the ceremony. It’s best to do all the family formals right before or directly after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 minutes for family formals and I will send a questionnaire before the wedding where you can list all the various group shots you want. It's so important that you create a list with first names so we can call off each group.
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THE TIMELINE C ONTINUED...
A Moment to Breathe
Reception Details
Ceremony
5:30-6:00
5:30-6:00
6:00-6:30
After Bridal Party portraits are
If the reception is in the same
It’s time to get married! Most
complete, the bride will go inside
location as the ceremony, I will use
ceremonies are 30 minutes long. If
to freshen up and get ready for
this time to shoot the reception decor
your ceremony is longer than 30
the entrance into the ceremony.
UNTOUCHED. If the ceremony and
minutes, we’ll make adjustments to
At this time the ushers will begin
reception are in different locations, I
the timeline. Cherish these
seating guests.
recommend having a cocktail hour
moments. Your ceremony will pass
outside of the main reception area if
by so quickly.
possible. This allows me to grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins and guests start laying down their belongings at their seats.
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Cocktail Hour
6:30-7:30
Just Married Portraits
7:15-7:30
Reception Begins!
7:30
Cocktail hour is when we like
I love having a few extra minutes
This is when the real party begins.
to go around the venue and get
with the bride and groom to take a
By this part of the day, my timeline
candids of your guests. If you love
few “Just Married” portraits right
isn’t as strict. I begin focusing on the
group shots and want a picture
after family formals.
reception events. I find that includ-
of everyone at your wedding, we
ing 8 hours of coverage allows us
recommend incorporating a photo
to be present for the main events of
booth. We have our very own,
the reception and about an hour of
Berkshire Photo Booth. It is so
dancing!
elegant and fun! Read more about it on page 58.
A PPROX I M AT E T I M E S : DETAILS & PREP : 1.5 HOURS
CEREMONY: 30 MINS
FIRST LOOK & PORTRAITS : 1.25
COCKTAIL: 1 HOUR
HOURS
RECEPTION: 3 HOURS
BRIDAL PARTY : 30 MINS
EXTRA PORTRAIT TIME : 15 MIN
FAMILY FORMALS: 30 MINS
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WEDDINGS &
SEASONS
Portrait & Timing Tips for: SPRING, SUMMER, FALL & WINTER SPRI NG
SUM M ER
Spring weddings are lovely. Everything is fresh and in
Summer weddings are breathtaking. I love that there is so
bloom, which provides beautiful scenery. If we find any
much daylight. So, if you’re having a summer wedding,
type of blooming tree or plant; it will be worth giving a few
you should plan on having a few minutes to slip out of the
minutes for portraits with it, you’ll LOVE the result.
reception for your sunset portraits. You will NOT regret this. Usually these portraits happen during dinner or open dancing so that no one even notices that you’re gone for a few moments.
FALL
W IN TER
Fall weddings are stunning too. I just love the colors.
Winter weddings are gorgeous. There is nothing more
Most of my fall brides worry about peak foliage and I just
romantic than a cozy winter wedding; however, they do
want to reassure you that all I need is one tree with some
take some additional planning simply because of the
color in order to make it look like fall. A little bit of color
sunset time. At this time of year, the sun sets around 4pm,
can go a long way. Your portrait time will vary depending
this can make a winter timeline more challenging. It is
on your wedding date. We’ll be sure to discuss this when
ideal to have all of your portraits done before sunset. This
we create your final timeline.
isn’t a problem if you’re having a late afternoon wedding. However, if you’re planning a late evening wedding, you may have a bit of down time from 4pm until the start of the ceremony. You may need more coverage time as well. 21
PRE-CEREMONY
Let the day begin! This portion of The Wedding Experience really sets the stage for the entire wedding day. The next few pages share tips and tricks that will ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation and beautiful portraits.
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GET TING READY
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It’s the morning of your wedding. Hopefully all of
Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts
the little details are taken care of, and you’re relax-
during this time? If so, whom would you like to
ing with your friends and family while your hair
deliver them? Are there certain women in your
and makeup is being done. If certain items haven’t
life who would appreciate seeing you get into your
been checked off of the to-do list, it’s time to hand
gown? Some brides want very few people around
them over to someone else. Delegation is a key part
for this moment. Other brides love having aunts
of a stress-free wedding day. I know it’s hard to
and grandmas present. It’s totally up to you. There
hand over the decorating duties and all of the last
are a few other things to consider as you get ready
minute tasks that need to be done, but it really is
to put your dress on. First, refrain from putting
important to relax the morning of your wedding.
any jewelry on. I love shooting all of those final
The rest of your day is going to be fast-paced and
steps once you’re in your gown. Speaking of the
filled with a lot of emotions. Take advantage of
gown, if your gown is on a plastic hanger, try to
this downtime. There are a few things to consider
make a note to bring a wooden hanger along for
about the “getting ready” portion of the day: Do
picture sake. If you forget, no big deal. I’m a pro at
you want to share a “first look” with your dad or
finding wooden hangers at venues. Keep reading
any other person who plays a huge role in your
along for more “getting ready” tips to help you
life?
prepare.
THE
WINDOW EFFECT
By having just a simple window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful portraits with soft light. I prefer natural light so the more windows, the better.
EVERY LI T T LE D E TA I L
RINGS, SHOES, JEWELS ... The whole day begins with the DETAILS. This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day. I photograph the details in a way that matches and showcases the style of the entire wedding day. So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding. I love having ample time to stylize and shoot everything from the dress, to the jewelry, to grandma’s handkerchief. To the right you’ll find a list of the most common details that I shoot. I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give you a huge hug and then begin shooting. (Please reassure your mom that I will take GREAT care of the dress, I promise!)
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W HAT T O B R I N G
{
dress veil / hair pieces rings (all three) shoes bouquet & boutonnieres jewelry perfume invitation suite borrowed & blue 29
D AY- O F R E M I N D E R S
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G ATHE R the goods. CLEAR the clutter. IM PRES S with the dress. BRING the bouquet.
If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so that I can begin quickly and have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and your girls.
Try to keep your getting ready room as clutter free as possible. When I arrive I may ask your bridesmaids to help me move some items so that they don't interfere with your photos.
If you want to have a nice photo of your dress before you put it on, you may want to consider buying a nice hanger to go with it.
Don’t forget the bouquet. Have the bouquets and boutonnieres delivered to the bride and groom before the first look so that you can have your bouquet in your portraits. No worries, if it’s hot, we’ll be sure to keep it in water as much as possible before the ceremony.
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When we’re planning a wedding day timeline, the best advice I can give is to ADD CUSHION TIME. Sometimes the most simple things can take an extra 20 minutes, and then all of a sudden, your timeline is restricted. It’s a smart idea to add in an extra ten minutes here and there so that we have some wiggle room to work with. This way, if one part of the day gets thrown off by 20 minutes, I can help you compensate for that time in other areas. There are so many different things to think about when you’re planning a wedding day, so here are some tips for the pre-ceremony timeline. I realize that every single wedding day is different and so not all of these tips will apply to every wedding day schedule. Something else to consider is that not EVERYTHING will go as planned, and I promise you, that is completely normal.
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TIMING TIPS
GETTING IN THE DRESS
CREATE A CUSHION
I’ll ask you to get into your
A 10-minute cushion every
dress close to a window. It
now and then is a GREAT
would be great to have your
idea! It’s amazing how fast time
bridemaids already dressed
slips away the day of.
when you’re getting in your gown.
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THE BRIDAL B OUQUET There are so many expenses when it comes to wedding planning. Many brides have to prioritize where they want to invest. I just want to share a little tip that can save money and make a huge impact on the way your images turn out. If you’re having trouble making a decision about your florals, I recommend making your bridal bouquet a big priority. When I’m photographing a wedding, if the bride has a gorgeous bouquet, I can make the entire day look like there were beautiful florals everywhere. I can use the bridal bouquet to spruce up bridal details, reception details AND even bride and groom portraits as well. The bridal bouquet is one of the focal points for me when it comes to your photography, so I highly recommend getting your DREAM bouquet. If you need to invest less on the bridesmaids bouquets, they will not be photographed nearly as much.
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VEIL OPTIONS Most of our couples opt for a "First Look", in this case we have options for the bridal veil. I recommend that the bride only wear her veil while walking down the aisle, this is a suggestion for these three reasons. 1. This is something new for your groom to see when you’re walking down the aisle. 2. A lot of times, during a "First Look", the groom is so excited to see his bride that he accidently pulls the veil out when he throws his arms around her. 3. Saving the veil for the ceremony ensures that I will get some “Just Married” portrait time with the couple because brides love having a “Veil Blowing in the Wind” shot of their own. This isn’t a rule, it’s simply a suggestion that we make after having photographed over 200 weddings.
YOUR FIRST LOOK
Your "First Look" is an amazing part of your wedding day. If you aren’t sure about this tradition, the next few pages will explain why it would be a romantic addition, how it adds to your experience, and also reduces stress. Please know that we would never want any of our couples to feel pressured to go with this option. However, we do want to make sure that we share all of the benefits of a first look because there is a reason most of our couples do it and LOVE it.
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F I R S T L O O K | Why It’s Worth It
MORE PORTRAITS You’re investing in your wedding photography. With a first look, you’ll receive MORE portraits of the two of you. These portraits are likely the ones you will decorate your home with. With a "First Look", you make the most out of your photography investment.
ENJOY THE SURPRISE FREELY You actually get an authentic, intimate moment before there is an audience. Most brides don’t realize that when you come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your gorgeous-ness, he can’t even tell you how amazing you look. He can’t touch you, embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how stunning you look.
YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME "First Looks" allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode (especially with family around). When you have just shared your "First Look", you’re READY to show all your affection for one another and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments.
DIMINISHES NERVES Here is the chance to get rid of nerves. Most couples don't anticipate how nervous they will be on their wedding day. I have testimonials from so many grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the "First Look", but afterwards admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony.
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THE CEREMONY Here it is, the moment everyone has been waiting for. The music is playing and the guests have been seated, ushers make their way to the back of the church and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids while giving the musicians a 5-minute warning. The bride is about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life. Vows will be shared and promises will be made... this is what it’s all about. It’s important to never lose sight of the real purpose of this amazing day.
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LIGHTING
CEREMONY RESTRICTIONS
Ceremony lighting is really important. A Ceremony
We usually like to try to connect with the officiant
at 12pm, outdoors, causes harsh lines of light on your
before the start of the ceremony. As a photographer,
faces, and squinting. I suggest planning an outdoor
it is helpful to know ahead of time if there are restric-
ceremony 2-3 hours before sunset. The lower the sun,
tions. Certain aspects of religious ceremonies should
the more romantic the lighting. If you are having an
not be photographed with flash or at all. By knowing
indoor ceremony, it is best to have EVEN
ahead of time, we can better prepare to photograph
lighting at the altar.
your ceremony. This also allows us to talk about it before the wedding day and preempt any stressful situations that may arise.
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PROGRAMS & D E TA I L S
C O O R D I NAT I O N
Not EVERY guest needs a program. Many clients print
Hiring a full event planner or just a day-of coordi-
a program for everyone attending their wedding, and
nator is SO helpful. Brides realize very quickly that if
realize that most families only take one. You might
they do not have someone in charge of the coordina-
end up with over 100 extra programs. Also, before
tion of the day, that responsibility will automatically
ordering your programs, have SEVERAL people check
fall on the mother of the bride, the photographer
it for spelling and grammatical errors. Programs
or the bride. When a photographer is in charge of
and the ceremony decor are things that the bride can
the timeline and the coordination of the day, the
plan in advance but should delegate the actual job of
images will suffer. Stressful wedding situations are
completing to a friend or coordinator. The last thing a
caused by a lack of organization and coordination.
bride needs to be doing the morning of her wedding is
It’s so helpful to make this a priority. If you need any
running around setting up the decor.
recommendations on wedding coordination services I would love to share some of my favorite vendors with you.
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Sample List for FA M I LY F O R M A L S
We absolutely love meeting the families of our couple on the wedding day. Family formals are typically the first interaction we have with them, so we love to have a game plan for this part of the day. Eight weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from us that will ask you to list out the family formals you want us to capture. We will ask you to create a full list of combinations. Including first names is extremely important so we can call each out one by one. We also suggest that you share this list with your parents for their review. I have provided a sample family formal list to help you start preparing what shots you need. Family portraits should be about 30 minutes to ensure that we have plenty of daylight for bridal couple portraits. However, any large family group shots that we don’t accomplish during family formals, we can be sure to capture at the reception.
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) Bride & Groom with Bride’s Parents Bride & Groom with Bride’s Siblings Bride with her Parents Bride with Mom, Bride with Dad Bride & Groom with Bride’s Grandparents Bride & Groom with both sets of Parents Bride & Groom with Groom’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) Bride & Groom with Groom’s Parents Bride & Groom with Groom’s Siblings Groom with his Parents Groom with Mom, Groom with Dad Bride & Groom with Groom’s Grandparents
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ROMANTIC PORTRAITS All wedding day images are important but the ones that are always fan favorites are taken during my time with the Bride and Groom alone. These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle. They will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are often my favorite too, not only because of their beauty, but because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment in time, you two will be alone on your wedding day. You will have a chance to experience your love for one another and really connect before the craziness begins. Romantic portraits are normally done before the ceremony (after the “First Look”) and I also LOVE shooting a few “just married” portraits after the ceremony as well. This is when the light is low and golden, and offers such a romantic time for bride and groom portraits. If you’re not interested in a first look, we will make sure to include a lot of time after the ceremony for these portraits.
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TRUSTING
PORTRAIT L O C AT I O N S
One of my favorite parts of my job is taking something so ordinary and making it look absolutely fantastic. This happens most often when it comes to picking portrait locations. If there is one thing that I love and appreciate about my couples, it’s that they trust us. Sometimes I select portrait locations that most people wouldn’t consider attractive. For example, the image on this spread was taken behind a building where the couple was married, as seen below. Because my couple trusted me and were willing to come out back with me, they now have amazing portraits. So I encourage you to trust us! You don’t have to worry about a thing. Trust our location choices and I promise you, you’ll LOVE the results.
BEHIND THE SCENE
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I found the porch to use for Mike and Katie's bridal party and couple portraits. I am so thankful they trusted me.
THE CASE OF A
RAINY W E D D I N G D AY
One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive during wedding season is “Soooo, what do you do if it RAINS?” I want to reassure you that even if it rains, you will still have beautiful portraits and BRIGHT colors in your images! Overcast skies mean vibrant colors. I know that rain isn’t ideal and no couple would wish for rain on their big day but if it happens, it happens. It’s going to be JUST fine! Some of our best weddings have been on rainy days. Here are a few things to remember: 1. All I need is a porch, just one porch, to create naturally lit portraits. 2. Let me worry about the pictures. You have enough to think about. If there is a chance of rain, I’ll be sure to do some extra scouting to find a covered location or two for us to use for your first look, romantic portraits and bridal party portraits. 3. Take it one step at a time. Don’t think about your entire day and what will happen if it rains. That will only overwhelm you. Definitely have a rain plan for your venue, but then let your vendors do the work of handling the rest of the day if rain is in the forecast. 50
We placed Jess and Junie under the shelter of a veranda during their portrait session (lower right), and used a colorful umbrella that added some pop to their photos (above).
(Left) This was the last shot of the night for Ellen and Jeff, and it so perfectly shows that the rain can’t keep us from taking beautiful images! Don’t let the fear of rain steal your joy. You can’t control it, and we promise we will make the best of it.
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YOUR BRIDAL PA R T Y Let's chat about your bridal party, this is when the fun REALLY begins. I know from experience that all brides want their closest friends to have an amazing time during their big day and I will help make sure that happens. Bridal party portraits should be a ton of FUN. After you share your first look, depending on the locations and the timing of the day, your bridal party will join us for portraits. If all goes as planned, we will be able to accomplish ALL of your bridal party portraits BEFORE the ceremony. This means that your guys and girls will be free to mingle at cocktail hour if they wish. If there are flower girls and ring bearers involved, they can either join us for the pre-ceremony portraits or we can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before family formals. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets.
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R E C E P T I O N D E TA I L S
We love shooting details! You'll be introduced into a crowded room, so the setup that you so carefully planned is something that you don't often see. We've got you covered!
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Much like the ceremony, you have the freedom to make your reception your own. It’s your party, it should be exactly how you want it to be. Here is a list of some key events that happen often at receptions: - Bridal Party Introductions
- Welcome by Father of the Bride
- First Dance
- Blessing
- Father-Daughter Dance
- Cake Cutting
- Mother-Son Dance
- Toasts
- Anniversary Dance
- Bouquet and Garter Toss
- Bride and Groom Thank You
- Large group portraits with friends
- Traditional Religious Dances
- The exit of the Bride and Groom 55
RECEPTION TIPS The fun has begun, it’s time to relax, dance and celebrate. Your reception should be a BLAST. The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Here are some helpful tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.
- GUEST CONSIDERATION : Take your guests into consideration when planning your timeline. If you have a lot of elderly guests that will not be staying until the very end, make sure you schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a part of it. Grandmas love seeing this sweet tradition.
- KEEP IT MOVING : When planning, think about how you can plan your reception in a way that will keep guests engaged and moving all night.
- MAKE IT YOUR OWN : If you want to have a special dance, do it. Your reception is a reflection of who you are, so don’t feel tied to traditions. Give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception.
- RECEPTION COVERAGE : I recommend planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed. The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour. In our experience, one hour of dancing will be enough time to really capture the joy of your reception.
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Get pictures of ALL of your guests! They won't feel self-concious in front of the camera when in Berkshire Photo Booth! Photo booths are the most in-demand addition to weddings, offering your guests the chance to come away with fun, instantly shareable, personal souvenirs. We've shared some examples below. With our open-air Berkshire Photo Booth, you'll capture all of the guests at your event. Large groups of your friends and family can easily fit in our booth, because they are not confined to a small space. With high quality images, professional lighting that makes all your guests look amazing and a range of backdrops, you'll have pictures that remind you of all the fun you had. What's more, our Berkshire Photo Booth allows your guests to email, text and send their images right to social media from our kiosk. Let me know if you would like to book the Berkshire Photo Booth for your wedding day.
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www.berkshirephotobooth.com
RECEPTION:
THE
L AST SHOT
Many venues are just as beautiful at night as they are during the day, which gives us the opportunity to create a beautiful image to show the ending of your perfect day. This type of image also gives us a great closing photo to use at the end of the blog we create for you and your album, if you have purchased one. We will ask you at the end of the night if you would be interested in taking an ending shot. This will require you to leave your party for just a moment, but we know how important that time is, so we make sure that the shot is setup and ready for you when we come to get you. These images often end up being a stand-out photo in your gallery.
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LEGACY ALBUMS
Having digital images is wonderful, but having a printed keepsake that tells a visual story of your wedding day is priceless. If you haven’t already invested in a Legacy Album of your own, you can always come back to us before your first anniversary and order one. We aren’t a photography business that pushes products, but we want to help you wherever we can. We believe our albums are important not just for our couples to have, but for their grandchildren to enjoy as well.
SIZE OPT ION S:
8x 8, 10x10, 12x12 S AY T HA N K YOU W IT H A PA REN T A L BUM : The year I got married I made albums for both sets of parents right away. They did so much to make our wedding a dream come true, so we decided to surprise them with their very own albums on Christmas. After the wedding chaos is over and life returns to normal, we can begin to plan and design your album. If you want to surprise your parents with their very own albums from your wedding for a holiday or special occasion, let me know 2-3 months in advance so we can get started designing and have them delivered on time. 60
YOUR ONLINE GALLERY Years ago you had to select and then order prints of the images that you wanted to have forever. That isn’t how it works with us. I want you to have ALL of your memories in your possession forever and ever. I also want you to share your images freely and without hesitation. This is why I deliver your images via an online gallery. This means that you don’t have to wait for a package to arrive in the mail and you’ll have access to them wherever you are. I’ve listed some important information that will help you understand your online gallery and all that it can do on the next page. Enjoy!
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DOWNLOADING PHOTOS: You will be able to download your edited high resolution images directly from your online gallery to your computer. This process is very simple; once you have logged into the gallery using your email and the password we provide to you, you can choose to download one specific image (hover over the image and click on the cloud with the down arrow, your photos will download directly to your “Downloads” folder), or you can click the Download button to download the entire gallery, you will be notified via email when your entire download is ready. It takes a few minutes to prepare for hundreds of images to be downloaded.
ACCESSING YOUR PHOTOS ON YOUR PHONE: Your photos will look just as beautiful on your phone, and is easy to share with friends.
ORDERING PRINTS: You can actually order professional and affordable prints from your online gallery and have them shipped directly to your home. Print sizes are all under $25 and are printed in a professional lab to ensure color and contrast accuracy. You are more than welcome to print images on your own. However, I would warn you to avoid Walmart, Target, CVS and Costco. I cannot promise that your colors will print true-to-life if you choose to print at those stores. If you don’t print through your gallery, I recommend using Mpix.com.
GALLERY EXPIRATION: I have great news, your galleries will remain open for 3 months. However, even though you will have access to your images for a long time, I would still recommend downloading them and saving them in multiple places for safe keeping.
SHARING, WATERMARKING & EDITING: You have the freedom to share your images in any way that you choose. These are your images, and I want you to love them so much that you can’t help but share them. I don’t believe that it is necessary to watermark our images. All I ask for is some type of credit whenever you use an image on social media, this is really important to our studio and #triciamccormackphotography is always appreciated. I only have ONE rule when it comes to what you can and cannot do with our work. I always encourage our clients not to re-edit their images. Let us do that expertly. However, if you have an image or two that you want to print at a very large size and you find an imperfection, I will gladly perfect it. 63
THANK YOU! Last, but certainly not least, THANK YOU for trusting me with your special day. I am so honored to be the one capturing your memories, and I cannot WAIT to celebrate alongside of you. Enjoy this season of planning but also remember that your MARRIAGE is more important than the wedding. The wedding will come and go in a matter of hours but your marriage will stand the test of time. I know because I've been married to my favorite person for 16+ years. As you continue to plan, please feel free to contact me with ANY questions you may have along the way. I hope this guide has been helpful as you continue to plan and prepare for your wedding day. Love,
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tricia@triciamccormackphotography.com ¡ 413.358.8006