Getting married is one of the most significant moments in your life and you want to capture your Big Day with the help of a professional photographer. What couples don’t realise is that there are some pretty common wedding photography mistakes that they are making.
When your wedding day is over, your photos will provide lasting memories. If you don’t want to look back at your photos with regret, then continue reading!
Mistake #1: Not doing your research
Social media is a brilliant tool for finding a wedding photographer! Just remember that it is also a space for photographers to share the ‘best of the best’.
Here’s how to make sure your prospective wedding photographer is ‘the one’:
- View entire galleries of weddings they have captured. You want to see photos of the whole day, not just the highlights.
- Read reviews to see what other couples think of the photographer.
- Request to see photos of a wedding that took place at your venue or a similar venue, during the season you are getting married in.
Mistake #2: Not expressing your vision
Your photographer is a creative expert, but they do want to know what you’ve got in mind. Instead of leaving it up to the photographers to come up with the vision for wedding photos, get involved!
Here’s how:
- Share inspirational images of the feel for the day.
- If your photographer has never visited your venue, let them know about the locations on site that you love.
Mistake #3: Skipping the engagement shoot
We highly recommend at least meeting your photographer before the Big Day. When possible, say yes to an engagement shoot!
An engagement shoot will provide you with beautiful photos that you can display in your home or even use in your wedding invitations. In addition, you’ll also get to know your photographer’s style, verbal direction and personality. If you’re not used to being in front of the camera, you’ll also have some time to get more comfortable being photographed, making your wedding day less awkward!
Mistake #4: Not scheduling meetings
Whether in-person or via video call, it’s always important to meet with your photographer before your wedding day. Use these meetings to keep your photographer up to date on your plans, any must-have shots, and special moments you’d like them to capture. In addition to the logistics, you’ll have a chance to get to know your photographer!
Mistake #5: Relying too heavily on a shot list
If you have any really specific shots you’d like your photographer to capture, by all means share those! What isn’t helpful is a detailed shot list of every single moment you want captured. Your photographer is experienced and will already be prepared to document the most important moments, like your first kiss, cutting the cake, and so on. If you provide your photographer with a long and detailed list of photos, it can hinder their creativity and ability to capture all the special moments.
Mistake #6: Rushing through portraits
Your couple portrait shots will be some of the most cherished photos from your wedding day, so make sure you allocate enough time to take them.
Experts recommend assigning about 45 minutes to portraits, so you’ve got ample time to get lots of beautiful shots.
Mistake #7: Skipping prints
We live in a digital age, so it’s easy to prioritise photo downloads. It’s also easy to lose them amongst other documents and files that clutter your desktop.
Get some of your wedding photos printed and framed, or ask your photographer to put together a beautiful wedding photo album. It really is the best way to have your favourite photos in one place!
