Your wedding day represents one of the most important milestones of your life. A truly sacred event where your friends and family come together to celebrate one of the greatest testimonies of love you have ever made to another person. In your personal life story, your wedding is nothing short of epic. The experiences and emotions of this day will create unforgettable memories that will take root deep within your heart. If you have chosen a professional photographer, many of those emotions and memories will also be captured and illustrated as an exquisite visual experience that will come to life again and again, each time you view your images.
While choosing a professional photographer to capture your wedding celebration is the first step to guaranteeing a visual result that you will cherish forever, we have a few more tips that can help transform the emotions and experiences of your special day into timeless works of art:
1. Plan Time for Your Portraits
As you begin to organize the timeline for your wedding day, it’s important to remember to schedule adequate time for family/group portraits, wedding party portraits and Bride & Groom portraits.
For family portraits, start with a base of 10 minutes to get your family gathered and organized in the optimal location for their photos with the bride and groom. Then, add 3 minutes for each family combination you would like your photographer to capture.
Group portraits can easily follow up the family portraits. Just maintain your location and add an additional 3 minutes for any special groups you wish to capture with the bride and groom.
Basic wedding party portraits can typically be captured in 10 to 15 minutes. However, if you wish your photographer to get more creative and/or playful with these portraits, be sure to reserve an additional 15 to 20 minutes. This will enable your photographer to direct you and your wedding party in unique and creative ways, coming up with images that boast a little something different than the typical wedding party capture.
At least thirty minutes should be reserved for your Bride & Groom portraits. Brides have carefully chosen their dress, shoes, accessories and bouquets. They look and feel beautiful in their star-quality hair and makeup. Grooms are looking sharp in their tailored tuxedos. This really represents the time for the bride & groom to shine! Take advantage of all your hard work and preparation and let your photographer capture your beauty – an all-encompassing beauty that spotlights the love you share as a united couple. If you’re not camera shy, organize a tequila tasting or a cocktail bar for your guests and ask your photographer to whisk you away for up to an hour or more. For us at Playaloves.me, the more time we get to spend with the bride and groom, the better. Spending quality time with your photographer is what really offers the opportunity to create truly dramatic, photographic masterpieces that are unique to your wedding.
2. Be Aware of Sunset
Destination weddings on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean can boast a spectacular backdrop for your wedding celebration. Just be sure to educate yourself and know when the sun is officially scheduled to set on your wedding day. Large resorts can often host multiple wedding ceremonies in a single day, meaning some are scheduled to start later in the afternoon. Some smaller venues have strict rules and regulations about when they can transform from “beach club” into “wedding venue.” Thus, it’s very important for you to know official sunset time in order to properly judge how the natural light will look at the hour of your ceremony. No couple wants to have their wedding ceremony start at dusk!
Also, keep in mind that the sun does not set over the water in the Mexican Caribbean. Often, the warm “magic hour” glow from a setting sun can get blocked by large resorts, tall buildings and tropical trees. Depending upon the size of your wedding venue, you can expect beautiful, warm light until about 20 minutes before official sunset time. Also, keep in mind that if you are enchanted with the idea of a sunset ceremony, your portraits should then be scheduled before the ceremony. Check our next tip to see how you can plan pre-ceremony portraits but still honor that special moment when the groom first sees his bride…
3. Mix It Up with a “First Look”
The idea of a sunset wedding ceremony on the beach can be idyllic and oh so romantic. But, what about the portraits? As portraits are traditionally scheduled for after the wedding ceremony, this poses an unfavorable lighting situation. One solution is to put a spin on the traditional wedding timeline and schedule the portraits before the ceremony. “First Look” can represent the best way to
a) preserve that special “groom first sees his bride” moment
b) transition into bride & groom portraits as well as portraits with family, guests and members of the wedding party.
When a “First Look” is arranged, the groom is positioned at a chosen location with his back turned. The bride will then come out and slowly approach her groom from behind. Your photographer(s) will begin shooting as the bride approaches the groom. When she reaches the groom, she can gently touch his shoulder or she can place her hands over his eyes. We usually suggest that the bride also whispers something lovely and private into the groom’s ear. Slowly, the bride removes her hands as the groom turns and they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. The photographer(s) of course, are shooting away to catch those priceless “first look” reactions…
4. Play to the Light
Photographers are often referred to as “painters of light.” A big part of the way a photographer sees is the way he or she sees light. Where professional photographers can differ is their preference for natural light versus using more strobe or artificial light. The current trend for documentary-style wedding photography relies heavily upon maximizing the available natural light. However, there are integral parts of the wedding celebration that simply require the use of artificial light – such as the wedding reception. Regardless of whether your photographer prefers natural light or working more with strobes, being aware of where the light is optimal will only help the results of your wedding photos.
During the “Getting Ready” part of the day, for example, throw open the curtains in your room. Consider having your make-up artist work with you in front of the window. Brides, get into your dress in front of the window. Grooms, straighten your tux and tie your shoes near the window. Avoid the darkest corners of your room, where less light means less depth and interest in images captured.
During your Bride & Groom portraits always turn your face to the light. That could mean natural sunlight or artificial strobe light. Doesn’t matter… just follow the light! There are instances when your photographer will want to apply a little more creativity to his/her lighting and you as the subject actually won’t turn toward the light. But, that’s the exception, not the rule. A professional photographer will always help direct you. But, as those candid moments happen, the more you can make them happen in great light, the better. So play to the light!
5. Light Up the Night
If capturing the nighttime wedding celebration is important to you, consider all options when it comes to hiring mood lighting for your reception. The best way to create beautiful, memorable images from your reception is to incorporate as much ambient light as possible. This can mean large candle displays, hanging lights, lights strung around trees, a lighted dance floor, colorful party lights and more. Whichever style you prefer, our advice: maximize the light as much as possible.
Ambient lighting at reception
