WEDDING DAY
THE ESSENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
WHITEHOUSEWEDDINGPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Content
2. Hello From The Photographer
3. Why We Exist!
5. Tanning Before The Wedding
6. Important Things to Know About Eye Glasses
7. Getting Ready Tips
9 . What’s Next After Getting Ready
Your wedding day is about you as a couple and celebrating your love and commitment to each other. As your photographer, I aim to be your partner in authentically and beautifully capturing all the sweetest moments as they unfold on your wedding day. So that you will have many beautiful pictures from your wedding day for a lifetime of enjoyment.
This guide contains essential information from lessons learned over the years photographing weddings. So please take your time and read through the guide. I am confident you will find many bits of nuggets that will help you get the most out of your wedding day photo experience. As always, I am just a text or email away should you have any questions.
with love, Antonio
WHITEHOUSEWEDDINGPHOTOGRAPHY.COM whitehouseweddingphoto whweddingphotography whweddingphotography 2
White House Wedding
Photography Exist to…
Addfunandelegancetoevery couple’sDREAMWEDDING DAY byauthenticallycapturing andpreservingallthesweetest momentsofLOVE throughbeautiful photographsfortheirFOREVERJOY!
I’M FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY INCREDIBLE CLIENTS AND CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER!
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Sun Tanning Before The Wedding!
Traveling from a cold region to the tropics, i.e., Miami, Bahamas, Hawaii, etc., for your dream wedding can present some challenges for your wedding day beauty and photos. Here is how to avoid some of the most common mistakes couples make when traveling to a warmer climate for a wedding:
First, if you must get a tan, don’t wait until the day before the wedding. Get your tan at least 3 days before the wedding, and please don’t feel like your spouse must get a tan to match yours.
I highly recommend avoiding doing your tan yourself because you want to look and feel your best on your wedding day. So hire a professional who knows what they are doing.
Be sure to continue your regular skin care, paying close attention to hydration, and avoid getting sunburn!!!
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Tips For Eyelasses!
When it comes to eyeglasses, two challenges often occur.
1. If you regularly wear sunglasses, you may squint when you remove them for photographs. I recommend ditching the glasses a couple days before your wedding so that your eyes can adjust to the bright light. Remember that light-colored eyes are susceptible to light and may require extra steps to prevent squinting your eyes. Please let me know if you fall into this category as soon as possible so I can prepare for it.
2. The other challenge is with tinted prescription glasses. Tinted glasses for screen viewers will reflect a bluish purple over the eyes ninety-nine percent of the time. I recommend not wearing those glasses for the photo shoot.
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Notice the purple tint in his glasses!
Prepping For Getting Ready Shots!
Generally, your wedding day photography coverage will start when you and your attendants are getting ready. Here are a few things to be aware of to ensure that you get the best getting-ready wedding photos:
A Night or Two Before The Wedding
The night before, ensure you have everything you want to have photos of in one place. Things like your wedding dress, veil, shoes, garters, jewelry, bridesmaids’ dresses, and any keepsake such as your grandfather’s bible or kerchief. Be sure to secure one or two pieces of your save-the-date and wedding invitation cards to be photographed.
Think about whether or not you want to make a toast with your girls or boys before getting completely dressed. If you are making a toast, check that you have enough glasses for everyone.
Bride, think about who you want to help get you into that gorgeous dress. Generally, this is your mom, a sister, or your MOH.
The marrier and the best man/woman should ensure everything is ready to be photographed on the wedding day. Typically, the groom will be holding onto the rings. Make sure that they are kept in a secure location. The groom and groomsmen tux, shoes, socks, belts, and other accessories should be kept in one place, preferably in the closet.
Pinning a boutonniere on your jacket looks simple, but many grooms and groomsmen need help to pin it correctly. So I recommend Googling how to pin a boutonniere and taking a few minutes to learn how to pin your boutonniere on your coat a couple days before your wedding. I promise it will make a world of difference in the photos.
The Getting Ready Suite Marrier/Bride Getting Ready
Try to minimize clutter and keep the spaces organized. Don’t worry about styling anything. The photographer will choose the location with the best lighting and style wardrobe and accessories.
Start the day off with a HEALTHY BREAKFAST! So often times brides will skip this important meal and then crash and burn at the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception. I don’t want this for you! It is going to be a long day with emotions running high. So please ensure you have a healthy breakfast and enough healthy snacks in the getting-ready suite!
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Makeup!
Ladies, avoid high sheen and glitter for makeup, especially in a hot climate. Instead, try to keep it matte and light. Natural color lipstick that will stay on all day is recommended. However, feel free to wear what you love and feel comfortable in. My biggest suggestion here is to ensure that your makeup products are WATERPROOF . I can’t stress the importance of waterproof makeup - it is crucial! Talk to your MOH about leaving you a little makeup for touch-ups throughout the day, or get your own touch-up kit. And one last thing, blotting paper is a must! Make sure you have some excellent quality blotting paper in your touch-up kit.
Marrier/ Groom Getting Ready
Generally, the boys will have a lot of alcohol on hand and no food. So please, please start the day off with a proper breakfast. It will be an extra long day, and by the time you get to eat, you will be starving, if not dying :)! Also, ensure plenty of healthy snacks are in the getting-ready suite for everyone.
Boys, put your jacket on last. And I recommend that you pin the boutonniere on your jacket before you put it on. Boutonnieres are pinned on the broader part of the jacket’s left lapel.
The Pretty Little Things!
Bouquets and boutonnieres are usually delivered to the bride’s and the groom’s suits sometime during the getting ready phase. One key thing to look out for when these beautiful and delicate pieces are delivered is that they are prepared to stay fresh. The bouquets’ tips should be placed in water and kept in a cool place until they are ready to be used.
Boutonnieres should get sprits of water gently and kept in a cool place until they are ready to be used. For the most part, your floweriest will be on top of this, but sometimes things slip through the cracks.
What’s Next After Getting Ready?
When everyone is dressed, and all the getting-ready photos are captured, it is time for the First Look or the ceremony. If you are not doing a first look, your photographer will proceed to the ceremony location. Otherwise, the first look photos will commence.
The couple’s photo session will follow immediately after the first look. Then followed by the wedding party and family photos. It would be best to let your immediate family members know you will be doing family photos before the ceremony so they can dress and be ready for pictures.
Ceremony Photos
Your photographer will proceed ahead of the wedding party to get the ceremony detail shots and the guest’s arrival. Whenever possible, I encourage you to have an unplugged ceremony. An unplugged ceremony allows your guests to put away their cell phones and submerge them self in your marriage ceremony. It lets the photographer capture your story without your guests obstructing the shot. Here are a few things to be aware of during the ceremony:
1. Don’t turn your back on your guests. Instead, stand facing each other so your photographer can get a side profile of you and your partner.
2. Relax and smile - live in the moment! Soak it up and enjoy every bit of it.
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3. When doing the ring exchange, do it slowly to give the photographer enough time to get beautiful pictures.
4. Hold the first kiss a little longer than usual for the camera.
That is it for ceremony photos. My biggest pet peeve at wedding ceremonies is the guests blocking my view to take pictures with their cell phones! Often times your officiant will want to have a photo with the newlywed. Also, you may need a few minutes to sign the marriage license.
After The Ceremony Photos!
The COCKTAIL HOUR often proceeds immediately after the ceremony. Think of the cocktail hour as an elegant happy hour. It is a time for small bites, drinks, and social mixing. It’s the prelude to the reception party.
You could enjoy the cocktail hour with your family and friends if you did a first look, wedding party, and family photos earlier. Otherwise, the wedding party, family, and couple photos immediately follow the ceremony. Here are some tips to help you get the best images:
1. Remember that ninety-nine percent of the time, cocktail hour is only an hour long. You will want to take all the pictures and have some time to freshen up for the grand entrance. So, you must leave the ceremony and go to the selected location for photos. You will not have time to do a receiving line or be congratulated by your guests. Your planner/coordinator should be on top of this!
2. You must select a family member who knows the entire family to help the photographer gather everyone for the family photos.
3. Although you will be away from the cocktail hour, you still need a snack and something to drink. But, again, your planner/coordinator will be on top of this.
4. Ladies, hang on to those bouquets. We are
not done with them yet!
After the cocktail hour and photo session, it’s time for the grand entrance. Let the celebration begins!
Reception Photos!
The reception is the grand finale of your wedding day! It consists of several key events, beginning with the grand entrance and ending with the grand exit. The reception events generally unfold fast - back to back. Therefore your photographer must have an accurate timeline of all the events so they can be prepared to capture them.
What to Expect Next!
Congratulation, you have done it! You are now Mr. and Mrs. While you are away honeymooning, your photographer will be busy polishing up those beautiful memories and getting them ready for delivery.
Here at White House Wedding Photography, we have a 4 - 6 weeks turnaround time. However, we will keep you posted along the way. Also, when the photos are close to ready for delivery, we will contact you to set up a gallery release date and time.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your questions, comments, or suggestion.
You are our greatest asset!
XOXO
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