Wedding Day Preparation

• Planning in General
• Create a temporary email account just for your wedding plans. This helps you keep your wedding communication separate from your regular mail. Your email address will inevitably find your way on junk mail lists. Don't let this happen to your regular account.
• Location
  The location can enhance or detract from your photos. Serious thought should be given to where each major portion of your day is shot.
  • Preparation Location
    Preparation time is where solo images are made of the bride/groom as well as with their wedding party and family. This time is when the subject and company can go through many moods, from contemplative, nervous, jovial to delirious. Moods are what makes the picture special so this time is important.
    A room should be set aside for prep pictures and be clear of clutter. If it looks good it makes the photos look good.
    The room should be well lit by a large window or sliding glass door and have a nice mirror, full length if possible.
     
  • Ceremony
    Aisle poles with candles or other decorations are nice but can severely interfere with the photographer, videographer and guests. If you insist on having them, please consider using them only half way down the aisle.
    Have someone to hand your bouquet to once you get to where the the vows are done. This is usually the maid of honor.
  • Don't start the wedding processional until you check with the photographer. The photographer has a lot to do just before the procession and it is important that he/she be in place before people start walking down the aisle.
     
  • Formal location
    Assign someone from each side of the family as a photographer helper. Their role is to find people who need to have their pictures taken and bring them to where the photographer is. This person should know most of their side of the family and is not afraid to be a bit bossy. Let the photographer do what you hired them for. This plan makes formals go a LOT faster and with less "issues".
    No bridal party member should have anything in their hands except flowers, this includes purses, cameras or drinks.
     
  • Reception
    The more you do or plan during your reception the more interesting and fun pictures you will get. Some traditional moments for great pictures are: first dance, assorted family dances, cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss, line dancing, chair dance, etc. If you have cultural specific backgrounds it is great to bring those into the reception. This would include traditional dress and cultural dances and traditions.

  A good photographer works with the setting presented to him/her and make the best of the situation. 
   

• Scheduling
  • Allow at least an hour for formal shots especially if you have a large wedding party and family
  • Allow for travel time to and from the formal shooting location.
  • Receiving lines can eat up a lot of time. We recommend doing your meet and greet during the reception as your guests are seated.
  • If you are having a receiving line after the wedding. Estimate about 30 seconds per guest. (One hour for 120 guests)
     
• Formals 
  Formal photo location is critical to the best possible pictures.
  • If your ceremony or reception location is not photo-worthy, scope out a special location to bring your bridal party to that is within 10 minutes of the reception. It might be a bit of an inconvenience but it is well worth it.
  • Avoid being in direct sunlight
  • Things to look for: reflective pools/ponds, water falls, old barns, fields, gardens, ocean side.
     
• Wedding Party Advice
  • During your rehearsal please remind your wedding party to not hide behind each other during the ceremony. They need to understand they are performing an important role in your ceremony and must look as good as possible and be seen.
  • In your planning, give responsibilities to others. This includes your cell phones. The bride and groom should be able to relax and think about what the day is really for as much as possible.
  • Brides maids should have their flowers with them at all times until the reception.
  • The bride and groom should dip, spin and dance as much as possible!!!! Get that dress flying, use your arms, be dramatic!! Great pictures come of this.
     
• Setting The Mood
  If you are happy, having fun and letting yourself go wild, your guests will too. Great pictures come of this.

Wedding Day Planning and Preparation

• I like to take a shot of your bouquet with your invitation and rings to make a nice setting picture so please have a copy of your invitation and have the flowers delivered to your prep location.
• Please reinforce the responsibilities of your assigned photo helper to the person you have assigned. Your day is on a schedule and often things run late. Well done formals are much better if the assigned helper is doing their job.
• Please reinforce to the wedding party that they need to be available during formal pictures. They should also be aware when they are going to be done.
• Don't forget to inform the photographer with directions to all the locations he needs to be throughout your day. Most seasoned photographer will have a scheduling form to help you out with this.
• Consider dance lessons. Photos of you dancing with your new husband/wife are full of grace, action, and love. 
• When you decide where you will be doing your bride preparations, be sure to have the room where pictures are taken as clear and un cluttered as possible.
• The bride prep room should have a full length mirror.
• Please plan to have the flowers delivered to where you are preparing and have a copy of your invitation and the rings. We set up static shots of these for your album.
   

Wedding Day Thoughts

1. It looks terrible when someone in the wedding party is taking pictures or is even holding a camera. Be sure to inform your wedding party, including parents, that they are to be "in" the pictures and not taking pictures during the ceremony and formals. You hired a professional photographer to cover your event. Help make your images better by informing key people about this
2. PLEASE TELL THE DJ TO "NOT" INVITE GUESTS TO GATHER AROUND AND TAKE PICTURES WHEN YOU ARE CUTTING YOUR CAKE!
   People taking flash pictures at the same moment I take a picture will overexpose my images and ruin them.  Other people will usually block my movement, limiting  my ability to move around to get the best shots. They also get in the shots by getting too close to the picture.
3. Keep in mind where the camera is during special moments. 
   Turning away from the camera does not make good pictures. 
   Examples:
   • At the Alter
     • Make sure there is at least 10 inches between you so we can see your hands
     • Keep you hands in the middle
     • When putting on rings, act like you are showing the audience how its done and be sure to make what you are doing visible.
     • When you kiss, make sure it is at least 10 seconds long
     • When you leave the alter to exit, take your time.
   • When cutting your cake
     • Put on a show. Make sure everyone can see you feeing each other.
     • When feeing each other, don't turn your face away from the camera
   • Dances
     • Parents shy away from the camera. Try to keep your parents aimed in the general direction of the camera.
     • When dipping please try and dip towards the camera
     • When dipping, do it slowly.

   You are the star on your day.

4. Don't mug too much for the camera (you can a little). Relax and just have fun.
5. Pictures with you dancing with a beer bottle or Coke can in your hands looks bad.
   Please use a fluted Champaign glass to hold what ever you are drinking.
6. Dance hard and with all your emotion. Express your happiness! This comes across exquisitely in pictures.
7. If there is a special moment you know about, please let the photographer know when and who it will involve so they can be ready. (They need to know if the bride will do cartwheels after the first dance).
8. For some reason, parents have an aversion to cameras. When you are dancing with them, please try and keep them facing in my general direction.

If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience eis@coolwaterstudios.com.