Top 5 Tips For Flawless Wedding Day Family Portraits - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Top 5 Tips For Flawless Wedding Day Family Portraits - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding day is fast approaching and you’ve been waiting for this day your entire life. It’s safe to say that you probably want everything to go perfectly. There are so many things to consider when planning the perfect wedding day that no matter how much you try to cover all the bases…there are some things that you will miss (or may not have even considered).

Over my 16 seasons as a professional wedding photographer, the one thing that I’ve found that can derail a wedding day timeline/plan faster than you can say “I DO” is the FORMAL FAMILY PORTRAITS.

Let’s face it…in any part of everyday life, if you have 5 people in a group and you give them instructions to meet at a specific location, at a specific time, and complete a specific task…someone will always be late or show up to the wrong location or not pull their weight completing the task. So on your wedding day, trying to get 30-50 people together at one location at a specific time and expect that they will ALL cooperate…is really setting yourself up for a major disappointment!

During family photos, a key person may not be on time. Another may have snuck off to grab a bite to eat and no one can find them or get a hold of them. Someone may have forgot their tie at the hotel and disappeared to go get it. The bride may have a stain on her dress and it takes 20 minutes to get her calmed down. I’ve truly seen it all happen and no part of the wedding day photos is more difficult.

But there’s good news! You can anticipate these problems and put measures in your planning to stop these time-sucking disasters from happening so your wedding day family photos will go off without a hitch and look amazing!

So pay close attention to these tips!

1) PICK TEAM CAPTAINS

Your photographer may have a list of all of your family members’ names, but with the chaos and fast pace of the day, they will never have time to memorize everyone’s names and faces. To insure a smooth family portrait session…before the wedding day, assign a family member from each side and appoint them TEAM CAPTAIN.

On the wedding day, the roll of the team captain for each side will be to gather all family members when it’s their turn for photos and call each member by name when he/she is needed for each set of photos. This way, the photographer focus on posing the group and getting awesome photos instead of wasting time trying to figure out who is who and where they are. This is a HUGE time saver!

2) PRE-GAME PLAN

The groom’s supper/rehearsal dinner (the night before the wedding) is the perfect opportunity for you to give your families a plan of action for family photos the next day. Assign your TEAM CAPTAINS (from tip 1 above) and tell them their responsibilities.

If your family photos are scheduled to begin at 1pm…Lie to your family and tell them they begin at 12:30. It’s better to have everyone there dressed, ready to go, and have to wait a bit than have 1 or 2 people show up late when they are needed. Go over all of this stuff right after dinner but BEFORE people start leaving.

3) OUTDOORS vs. INDOORS

Whenever possible, I try to capture the family portraits outside. This isn’t always possible due to weather or the wedding couple’s wishes…but there are many key advantages to photographing the families outdoors.

More room. Sometimes there’s just not enough room inside the church or venue to get a large family photo.

Natural light- there’s WAY better (more flattering) light outside than inside a dim church or venue. PLUS…if the photographer has to use off-camera lights inside the church, it’s just one more thing they have to spend time on and worry about. Shooting outside is quicker and easier for ANY photographer.

More natural looking photos-inside a church or venue, the photos can often feel stuffy and stiff. Photos taken outside just have a more natural feel to them and you can get multiple looks from different locations as apposed to every single image being in front of the alter.

4) WHY SO SERIOUS??

One thing that helps family photos look 1000 times better is if the family ACTUALLY looks like they enjoy being close to each other. Loosen up…it’s supposed to be a fun joyous occasion.

Instead of posing everyone in stiff traditional poses with hands at the side (or clasped in front) and standing side by side…opt for more loose casual posing. Arms around each other…hands on hips (ladies)…kisses on cheeks…hugs…etc…

These more candid style poses really help show the love between family members and the results are far better (more impactful) images.

5) HIRE AN EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Let’s face it…even if you implement ALL of the tips above…if you don’t have an experience pro there to capture all of these moments, your family photos (or wedding photos in general) won’t turn out how you hope they will. Plus if something DOES go wrong, you’ll need a pro with experience to quickly resolve and issues that arise.

You’ve dreamed of this day your entire life, spent months planning it, and spent thousands of dollars on your dress, venues, food, entertainment, decorations, favors, clothes, and much more. All of that stuff is temporary and won’t last past your wedding day. Your wedding photography, however, is the ONE THING that you’ll have for the rest of your lives…so be sure to invest in an experienced professional wedding photographer who will know how to best preserve this special day for you! REMEMBER…ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS! If you have a “FRIEND WITH A CAMERA” or an “Up-and-coming” photographer shoot your wedding and aren’t happy with your photos, you can’t just do it all over again. INVEST in a pro who specializes in weddings…having that “piece-of-mind” on your wedding day is PRICELESS!!!

There you have it! Don’t leave this important moment on your wedding day to chance and luck! Use these 5 TIPS to get awesome family photos with minimal time and stress on your big day! Planned correctly (and with the right photographer)…you can get these images done while having tons of fun with your families so you can enjoy the rest of your wedding day with huge smiles and laughs.

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

Top 5 Tips To Capture Amazing Sunset Photos On Your Wedding Day - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Top 5 Tips To Capture Amazing Sunset Photos On Your Wedding Day - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding day is coming up fast and you’re looking forward to spending the most important day of your lives with your family and friends! You’ve been scouring Pintrest and Google for months looking at wedding photos to get inspiration and ideas for your big day and you absolutely LOVE the idea of capturing sunset portraits on YOUR wedding day.

Whether you’ve found the perfect wedding photographer for your big day, or are still searching for one…capturing beautiful sunset photos on your wedding night is no easy feat…so you’ll not only want a photographer who knows how to technically capture these photos, but who also knows the planning involved to get them. In most cases, it’s MUCH MORE than “Let’s go outside now and stand in front of the sunset and get some amazing shots”.

To help you formulate the perfect wedding day sunset portrait GAME PLAN, I’ve come up with these 5 tips that will get you some awesome shots while not slowing the pace of your reception and keeping your guests waiting.

Here we go!

1) TIMING IS KEY

This may seem super obvious, but to plan for perfect sunset photos…you need to know the exact time the sun will set on your wedding day. Don’t wait till last minute to do this. You can check sunset times on your wedding date months in advance by simply Googling sunset times for your city (Example: “Seattle Sunset Times”). Then just go to the calendar date of your wedding and it will tell you the precise time the sun will set. Now…you’ll want to schedule your sunset photos about 30 mins prior to the sunset time for the absolute best outcome. (EXAMPLE: If sunset time is 8:37 pm…schedule your sunset pics for 8:07 pm).

2) COORDINATE WITH DJ/BAND

Now you know the time you’ll need to leave the reception to take your sunset pics…DO NOT just think you can simply try to leave at the appropriate time. First of all, you don’t just want to disappear and leave your guests and DJ/Band looking for you when it’s time for your speeches or first dances. Secondly, you won’t be able to make it far without 20 guests stopping to chat with you on the way out.

That’s why you need to coordinate your plan to capture sunset photos with your DJ or Band. Most DJ’s/Bands formulate a timeline of events during your wedding reception to insure a smooth stress-free evening for you and your guests. Disappearing for 20 minutes without letting them know beforehand can screw up their entire timeline and leave them (and your guests) frustrated. Meet with them before the wedding day and tell them about your plans to escape the reception to take sunset photos. Let them know the exact times you’ll need so they can work it into their timeline.

3) SCOUT THE LOCATION

If you want amazing sunset photos, you need to do as much planning ahead as possible. You don’t want to wait until your wedding night, get outside right before sunset, and there’s nowhere around your venue to capture the sunset in your photos. Don’t leave this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity to chance! Ask your photographer (or you can do this as well) to go to your wedding venue on a night about a week before the wedding right around your designated sunset time to look around and see where the best possible locations will be to capture your photos on the night of your wedding.

Doing this will not only give the photographer a great idea of the lighting condition the night of your wedding, but also where to best place you and your partner. If there are no favorable locations on the venue’s property, maybe your photographer can find one within a short walking/driving distance and add it to your plan.

The key here is to do your homework beforehand to ensure the best outcome with the least amount of surprises and stress on your wedding night!

4) DISTRACT GUESTS

Remember when you coordinated your plans with your DJ/Band in TIP #2 above???? Now is when you’ll see WHY we did that!!! If you need to leave the reception for 15 minutes precisely at 8:07 pm…without a plan, you’ll find that as you make your way to the exit through the crowd of guests you’ll be stopped by literally every person you make eye contact with! They’ll want to congratulate you, hug you, or just chat your ear off for 5 minutes. It can take you 40 minutes to make it to an exit without a plan and that will ruin your chance for sunset pics.

Having previously coordinated with your DJ/Band, they can now make an announcement at the appropriate time that the Newlyweds will now be going to take some sunset photos and to let them escape without mobbing them. The DJ/Band can then entertain the guests with fun activity or few songs that engage the crowd to keep them busy until your return. Good ideas are the Hokie Pokie, Chicken Dance, Electric Slide…or a few songs just for the kids!

5) FRESHEN UP

You’ve planned, scouted, coordinated, and escaped the crowd! Now before you head out and take your sunset photos…take a minute to freshen up. Chances are, it’s mid-reception and you’ve already begun to unwind. You’ve ditched your heels for flats, let your hair down, and your make-up may be worn off. Your new groom may have ditched his jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Before taking your sunset pic, you’ll want to touch up your make up just a bit, unbustle your gown, and put your heels back on. Your groom will want to straighten his tie and put his jacket back on. These small fixes will pay huge rewards when you see your final photos!

There you have it! Don’t leave this important moment on your wedding day to chance and luck! Use these 5 TIPS to get awesome sunset photos with minimal time and stress on your big day! Planned correctly (and with the right photographer)…you can get these images done and get back to your party in under 10 minutes! Get the amazing photos you want AND spend the most time possible with your family and friends!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

HOW TO ROCK YOUR WEDDING VENUE TOUR- Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

HOW TO ROCK YOUR WEDDING VENUE TOUR- Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning (now that the proposal has finally happened!) is choosing the perfect wedding venue for your dream wedding day! Let’s assume that you already have spent hours online viewing websites of countless venues and have narrowed them down to a handful of favorites. Beautiful churches, scenic outdoor landscapes, rustic spaces with modern touches…there are so many choices!! How do you finally choose the right one?? Well, the only way you get a TRUE feel for the venue is by visiting the venue in person and taking a tour.  

The Ultimate Guide to Your Wedding Venue Tour

5 Things to Look For In a Wedding Venue:

• Cleanliness

• Friendly, organized staff

• Clear, concise answers to your questions

• Amenities - Does it have everything you’ll need on your wedding day: Parking, Restrooms, Getting ready space, heat/AC, etc…?

• The guest experience – How did it make you feel? How you felt is probably how your guests will feel.

3 Things to Consider During Your Venue Tour:

• Most importantly, can you two picture yourselves getting married here?

• Can you see yourself working with the wedding planning team?

• Does this venue fit within our budget?

Questions to Ask During The Tour:

• How long do we get the space on our wedding day?

• Is there a dressing room on site? (Or will you have to arrange a different place to get ready the morning of your wedding?)

• Who would be your point-of-contact through the planning process?

• Do they have in-house caterers or a list of preferred vendors, or can we choose our own?

• Is there anything you’ll have to provide on your own?

• Are there any restrictions? (Like noise ordinance, curfew, parking)

Other Helpful Tips To Make The Most Of Your Tour:

• You should only bring the ‘decision-makers’ to your tour. It’s fun to bring along all your closest friends, but choosing your venue is an important decision…it’s best to only have yourself, your fiancé, your parents, and/or any financial contributors at the tour.

• You should make a list of questions to ask during the tour. During the tour, you may be excited, full of emotions, and may get distracted with all the ideas swirling around in your head while viewing the space. You may easily forget any questions you may have had and regret not asking them. Come with a list!

• Ask if the person giving the tour can be the same person who will be your point of contact after your book (should you decide to book). This way you can get a feel for the person you will be working with the entire journey from booking the venue to your wedding day. Is this person easy to get along with? Do they answer all of your questions clearly? Do they seem to care about your vision? You definitely want to meet who you will be working with before you book.

The only REAL way to choose the perfect venue for YOUR wedding is to visit it! Take in all of the sights, sounds, smells, and FEEL the vibe. You’ll have that “gut feeling” when you walk into that perfect venue and that’s something you should definitely pay attention to! So take these tips, go visit your favorites, and get started on this crazy adventure of planning your wedding!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY SURVIVAL KIT - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY SURVIVAL KIT - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Your wedding is right around the corner and you are probably still right smack-dab in the middle of the planning process. Working to create a wedding day timeline is a very smart idea and hiring a wedding planner to do all of that for you is also worth it’s weight in gold…but the truth is…no matter how rock solid your wedding day timeline is…THINGS WILL GO WRONG!

A wedding day’s timeline (no matter how rock solid) all depends upon dozens (if not hundreds) of people all working together in perfect harmony with no mistakes. No matter if these people are family, friends, or hired professionals…some of them will make mistakes during your wedding day. A groomsman may get lost and show up late for photos. A florist may forget to drop off the boutineers. Your Mom may forget to grab that special item that you tasked her with bringing. Whatever it is, if you assign 100 people with tasks that all need to be completed perfectly on a strict timeline…not all will come through.

Planning for these mistakes happening will help relieve stress and keep your wedding day running on track. Enter the Bride’s Wedding Day Survival Kit! This survival kit is something you can work with your Maid/Matron of Honor on and create for you to have on hand the day of your wedding to help combat any hurdles the day throws your way. There are many items on this list and you may not need all of them…it’s up to you to choose the ones that are most likely to be useful for your specific wedding day. Purchase a bright bag, purse, satchel that is easily seen to put all the items in and put someone in charge of knowing where it is at all times.

So here are the items to arm your survival kit with:

1. Water

2. Flip-flops, flats – Weddings involve a lot of walking, wearing your 4″ heels everywhere will make your feet miserable really quick!

3. Sewing Kit

4. Nail File

5. Blotting papers

6. Sunscreen

7. Tide to Go Pen

8. Tide to Go Stain Eraser

9. Scissors

10. Lint Roller

11. Straws – don’t let the bride mess up her lipstick

12. Baby powder – Hot summers, crowded receptions and pesky nerves lead to sweat

13. Q-Tips

14. Face Mist – One spritz of a high-quality face mist or makeup setter can do wonders

15. First Aid Kit – even just a few band-aids are helpful

16. Mints – Have your maid of honor hand you a couple before you walk down the aisle for minty fresh vows and first kiss

17. Non-Drowsy Allergy Pills – Allergies happen. Especially at outdoor weddings

18. Bobby Pins – Black and/or brown to match hair colors

19. Granola Bars – Stay hydrated and well snacked

20. Dental Flossers – thanks to #19 above, you now have granola stuff wedged in there

21. Clear Nail Polish – Classic trick for runs in nylons and tights

22. Lotion

23. Chapstick

24. Aleve/Advil/Tylenol – you get the picture.

25. Hand Wipes

26. Earring Backs

27. Eye Drops

28. Safety Pins

29. Tissues – have your maid of honor handy with these

30. Deodorant

31. Dryer Sheets-For outdoor weddings…A few dryer sheets hidden in your bouquet or stuffed in your dress can ward off misquitos.

32. Hand Sanitizer

33. Mouthwash – Leave your bridal suite as fresh as can be

34. Bug Spray

35. Antacids

36. Small umbrella

So there you have it! You are now armed with the perfect kit to help you survive potential wedding day disasters. To make life easier…you can purchase a prepackaged Survival kit from Amazon that has a majority of these items. However you choose to purchase your kit…it IS essential that you have a plan for when things happen that can drastically alter your wedding day timeline! Get rid of the stress of worrying about things going wrong and be confident on your wedding day that you can handle any emergency!

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOS - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING PHOTOS - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Congratulations…You just got engaged!!! Take some time and soak in all the excitement. When you’re ready, you’ll start the search for the perfect photographer to capture your engagement photos and the precious moments of your wedding day. If you’re like most couples, you may be a bit anxious when it comes to being in front of the camera. You may have thoughts swirling around in your head like, “I’m awkward in front of a camera”, “I never know how to stand or what to do with my hands”, or even “My fiance and I are camera shy…how will we get great photos that we’ll both love?”

All of these are completely normal thoughts and the most common question I get before engagement sessions is, “We really don’t know what to do…will you be able to give us some pointers and show us how we should pose?”

Hi…I’m internationally published, award-winning wedding photographer Shawn Morrissey and I’ve been photographing wedding couples for over 15 years! During that time, I’ve created a VERY SIMPLE method of posing my couples to get images that come across dramatic, timeless, and at the same time very natural.

My simple system of posing has been narrowed down to 4 basic foundation poses…that’s it! Each one has variations and each variation can be photographed from different angles and distances to create hundreds of completely unique photographs!

So…if you are wanting to feel confident and relaxed during your engagement & wedding day photos, study this guide and even PRACTICE with your fiance.

LET’S GET STARTED!

THE ULTIMATE POSING GUIDE

As I stated before…this guide is based on 4 VERY SIMPLE poses:

• Open

• Closed (7th Grade Dance Pose)

• 45 Degrees (the V pose)

• Groom Behind Bride

3 of the 4 poses are based on what I call “HINGE POSING” which I will explain. Also…each one of these poses can be used both siting or standing…super close together, or with space in between…and each pose can be photographed close up, mid range, or wide to create a dozen unique looks from a single pose. This system is meant to be simple so you can gain confidence quickly and enjoy your session.

1) OPEN POSE- Stand side by side to your partner both looking forward with your shoulders slightly touching. Imagine you are each covers of a book that is opened to the middle and your shoulders are hinged together in the middle. This is called “OPEN POSE” and simulates an open book. A very simple concept. This pose can be used with the couple very close together or the couple is holding hands (creating the hinge) with some distance between them. It can be done standing or sitting. The couple can both look at the camera or each other. And more variations can be created by tweeking how you pose the hands or how each person stands. Very basic…but it’s the foundation for the HINGE POSES.

Here are some examples of the OPEN POSE:

2) CLOSED POSE

So…you are still that open book hinged in the middle. Now imagine that you are closing the book and the 2 covers are now completely facing each other…this is called “CLOSED POSE”…or what I like to call “7th GRADE DANCE POSE”…(because it’s basically how you looked when you would dance at school dances). Kidding aside, it’s a powerful pose and can create TONS of intimacy. The more places the two bodies touch (touch points)…the more intimacy the pose creates. Touch points of the legs, waste, and heads can create lots of intimacy and having hands touching faces can maximize it!

Here are some examples and variations of CLOSED POSE:

3) 45 DEGREES or THE “V”

Still hinged at the center…we will now open the couple up to half way between being a completely open book and a completely closed book so your bodies are slightly angled towards each other forming a small V opening towards the camera. This pose creates the most natural feel and can be used with the couple wedged close together or with a bit of space to create drama. The couple can look at camera, each other, or even off in the distance. This one is excellent both sitting or standing.

Here are some examples and variations of the 45 DEREES POSE:

4) GROOM BEHIND BRIDE

OK…the last 3 poses were based on my HINGE posing system…this pose is not. It’s a super simple pose and is basically self explanatory…but I’ll go over it because it IS a very effective pose. I call it GROOM BEHIND BRIDE but this pose does work well with same sex couples too…but one partner must be a bit taller than the other for maximum effectiveness. Basically, you put the groom behind the bride and create some touch points. My personal favorite is to have the bride look at the camera while the groom is either looking at the bride or kissing her cheek or forehead…This creates a very dramatic and intimate moment. This pose can be done sitting or standing and can look amazing from all different angles.

Here are some examples and variations:

HANDS and FEET

You’ve learned the 4 basic poses but many couples still may ask…”what should I do with my hands?”…or “How should I stand?” There are so many variations you can do with hands and stances, but here are the absolute basics when in doubt. For the bride…you can always put one hand on your hip and “pop” that hip out a bit for dramatic effect. If your other hand is free (not holding a bouquet or your partner’s hand), simple play with your hair, earring, or necklace. You can also cradle both arms or even play with your veil. For the groom…always stand up straight, with shoulders back, and feet a little wider apart than shoulder length. The groom’s free hand can go in his pants pocket or clasp his suit edges near the chest area.

Here are some examples of Hands and Stances:

There you have it!!!! Those are the 4 basic poses I use to create most of my images. I try and keep it as simple as possible so my couples quickly gain confidence and have fun during their photo session or wedding day AND come out looking like models in their images! There are so many variations of each pose that a good photographer can use these 4 simple poses to create a gallery of tons of unique images that will blow the couple away!

Your engagement AND wedding photos will be such a HUGE part of your wedding day story and feeling confident and relaxed is one of the keys to create amazing timeless images that you’ll love for the rest of your lives.

There are many other keys that go into creating amazing award worthy images of your engagement and wedding such as planning, wardrobe, hair & make up, location, etc…

If you are looking for more awesome tips, information, and guides…be sure to join my FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

If you would like to schedule a FREE Zoom Consultation to see if your date is available and learn more about my wedding and engagement photography experience…Click the button below!

701 741 1407

5 WAYS TO ROCK YOUR NEXT WEDDING SHOW - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

5 WAYS TO ROCK YOUR NEXT WEDDING SHOW - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer Shawn Morrissey Photography

Congratulations…You just got engaged!!! Take some time and soak in all the excitement. Ok…if you’re reading this, you’re probably ready to begin planning your wedding (if you haven’t already started). Where do you start? There are so many things you need to figure out, people you need to talk with, businesses you need to book, clothes you need to try on, food you need to taste, and so much more!! If you’re one of those brides that wanna have a PLAN and make this whole process as efficient as possible, you MAY wish to consider attending some wedding/bridal shows.

Wedding shows are a great way to visit with, and try out, many different wedding professional services all in one place at the same time. You can chat with venues, photographers, dress shops, caterers, and pretty much anyone else you will need for your upcoming wedding. Though this may seem very convenient, if you are attending a wedding show for the first time…it can seem crazy and overwhelming. This quick little article will hopefully give you some helpful pointers on ways to make the most out of the wedding shows you attend. So…let’s get to it!!

5 WAYS TO ROCK YOUR NEXT WEDDING SHOW

1) MAKE A LIST

Before going to any wedding show, make a list of all of the vendors/services you still need to book and put them in order of importance to you. If you know you need a photographer, dj, and a cake put them in order of how important of a role they will play in your perfect wedding day scenario. If having amazing photos of your day is more important to you than what kind of cake you have…put the photographer at the top and the cake last.

This will help you come up with your plan of action once the doors open!

2) BRING EXPERIENCED BACK-UP

This is vital especially if attending your very first wedding show. Most brides-to-be go with their maid/matron-of honor, or their mom’s. Think about also bringing a close friend who may have recently been married and just went through everything you are going to experience. This ‘seasoned pro” can tell you who/what to avoid at the shows, as well as, give you suggestions on how to make your planning process so much easier (things you may not have even considered). Having an experienced trusted friend by your side can give you that extra advantage when heading into these uncharted waters!

3) THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

You’ll want to arrive at the event BEFORE the doors open. If the show opens at noon…be there by 11:30 am. Why so early??? Do you remember the list you made from Tip #1 above?? Well, most shows provide a map of where all of the vendors are located. If you arrive early…while waiting for the doors to open, grab a map, and bring out your list. Remember that a photographer was top on your list? Well, find all of the photographers on the map. There may only be 1 or there may be 7. Either way, find one that you want to visit first. When the doors open and everyone else is piled around a table filing out registration forms, you make a B-Line right to your photographer.

Now you have their undivided attention and can have an actual conversation with them about what you are looking for for your wedding day. While the crowd is still piled up by the doors you should have a good 10 minutes to go to your most important vendors from your list before they get mobbed by the crowd. That uninterrupted 1-on-1 time can be KEY for choosing the right professionals for your wedding day. You can always go back to the doors and register, but you’ll never get such valuable alone time with these businesses for the rest of the show.

4) STICKERS

At most wedding shows, a majority of the vendors will have drawings for free items or services at their booths. To enter each drawing, you will have to fill out a separate entry form at each booth. If there are 50 booths…you do the math on how much time at the show you will actually spend filling out the same info over and over again. You will have a definite advantage over other brides AND you will save SO MUCH time if you order custom sticker labels with all of your basic info printed on them. Then when you go to a booth and they have a drawing for a prize you want, you just peel off a sticker, slap it on their form, and you’re on to the next booth while the other brides spend their time writing out everything each time.

The info each booth will require will be different but if you want to play it safe, here are the basics you should print on your sticker labels: Your Full Name, Your Fiance’s Full Name, Your Cell #, Your Email, Your Wedding Date, And Your Wedding Venue(s).

5) MAKE A DAY OF IT

A wedding show can be a bit intimidating. Knowing that you have this giant list of businesses you need for your wedding day and the thought of trying to figure that all out, let alone the money you will need to pay for everything…can get quite overwhelming. But remember…it’s all for your big day.

If you are bringing your girlfriends, your mom and your sister, or just you and your fiance…you should make it a day to remember. The morning of the show…schedule a manicure, pedicure, massage (or all of them) for yourself and whomever is going to the wedding show with you. After you are all relaxed and looking amazing…head to the show. There will usually be wine/champagne as well as food samples at the show…so be sure to indulge a bit. After the show, go out for dinner and drinks with everyone. That way, you can discuss everyone’s thoughts about the vendors you spoke with at the show. Make the day a fun adventure that you will look forward to instead of just another tedious task on your planning checklist!

There you have it! If you are planning on attending any wedding shows in the near future, you should have a “leg up” on all the other attendees and will make the most of your time at the shows. Remember that it’s part of the journey towards the most special day of your life…so why not make the most of it and GET THE MOST FROM IT that you can!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS, INFORMATION, AND GUIDES…BE SURE TO JOIN MY FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FREE ZOOM CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOUR DATE IS AVAILABLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE…CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!

701 741 1407

5 Common Mistakes Couples Make While Wedding Planning

5 Common Mistakes Couples Make While Wedding Planning

Congratulations!!!! You’re engaged and everything is so exciting in your life right now! If this is your first time being engaged and planning a wedding…this process can be lots of fun…but you’ll also find out soon enough that things can get overwhelming and even stressful. There are so many details that need attention and decisions that need to be made…not to mention all of the money those details and decisions will end up costing you.

You’re going to probably reach out for help at some point to friends, family members, Facebook groups, Pintrest, Youtube, and Google…all of which can offer help and inspiration. This blog post will let you take advantage of a very different and UNIQUE source for helping you plan your wedding. That source is ME! I’ve been photographing weddings for almost 14 years…and in that vast amount of time, I’ve seen pretty much everything. I’ve seen almost every possible way a wedding can go wrong and I’ve condensed all of that in to the 5 most common mistakes couples make while wedding planning. I’ll go over each one with the hopes of preventing YOU from making the same mistakes I see couples making over and over so you can have a fun-filled, stress-free wedding day!

So let’s get to it!

Wedding Planning Mistake #5: Inviting too many guests

This may seem like it doesn’t need mentioning, but you would be surprised how many couples make this simple mistake. When planning your guest list, make sure the number of guests you plan on inviting fits within the capacity limits of both your ceremony and reception venues! If your reception venue can fit 200 people and your guest list is 350…DO NOT send 350 invites out assuming that only 50-60% will rsvp YES. When your wedding day rolls around and you have 50 guests too many…it would be absolutely horrible to have to turn those guests away... some of whom may have travelled a great distance to be there for your wedding! Most venues simply can’t add 5 more tables at the last minute. Fire codes limit the maximum number of people allowed in the venue. A safer guideline would be to assume that 80% of the people on your guestlist will reply YES. Safer still is not sending out more invites than your venue can hold. If your venue can hold 200 people…do not send out more than 200 invites. Trust me…the last thing you want on your wedding day is to have to turn away a group of people who took time out of their lives to be with you on your wedding day because you sent out too many invites!

Wedding Planning Mistake #4: Not having a rain plan

If you are planning an outdoor wedding and simply hoping that it won’t rain…you will be a nervous wreck the entire week of your wedding (especially in ND and MN)! Don’t waste your whole wedding day worrying if it’s gonna rain or not and ruin everything you’ve been planning for the last 6-12 months! Instead…have a solid “Plan B”. If the venue you are having your outdoor ceremony at doesn’t have an option for an indoor ceremony in case of rain…It would be a smart idea to start looking into companies in your area that rent tents. You may not want to put money down on renting a tent and lose that money if it doesn’t rain and you never use that tent, but the alternative is…not spending the money renting the tent and then it rains and you have nowhere for you and your guests to take shelter. Think of putting money down for a tent as insurance and a piece of mind (which, on your wedding day, is priceless). If you are planning an outdoor event, start looking for tents to rent 6-9 months in advance so you can be sure some will be available and you can budget them in.

Wedding Planning Mistake #3: Hiring a friend instead of a pro

You’ve spent countless hours planning, not to mention thousands of dollars on your dress, venues, food, etc…and there will be no “Do Overs” on your wedding day. It’s vital that you hire professional wedding vendors, who know what they’re doing, to make sure your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Even if you are on a tight budget…your wedding day is NOT the time to let your friends “practice” their hobby. Your friend my have 10,000 followers on Instagram…but that doesn’t mean they can handle photographing a wedding. Your cousin may put together the best playlists ever and keep house parties bumpin…but that doesn’t mean they’ll make an awesome wedding DJ. INVEST money into hiring professionals for the most important day of your life and let your friends enjoy the day with you.

Wedding Planning Mistake #2: Getting trashed the night before the wedding

Your wedding is tomorrow!! Yippie! You’re so excited and to make things even better…you get to be with all of your closest friends and family at the groom’s dinner! This is where many couples make a mistake they always regret! Drinking WAY too much the night before the wedding can turn your wedding day into a disaster. I’ve seen couples that hired me for 6 hours of photography coverage show up 3 hours late because they were sick from the night before. On top of that, alcohol makes your skin flush red which is VERY unflattering for photos. (sometimes…even Photoshop can not help). Coming in 3 hours late puts all of your hired wedding vendors behind and that can exponentially slow down your entire timeline…even bring it to a halt. If you were supposed to be a the salon at 9 am and didn’t get there until 9:45…that not only puts your hair and makeup back 45 minutes…but that compounds on top of all the other events on your timeline. Now makeup starts later, which means getting dressed starts later, which then means flowers get pinned on later, and so on and so forth! It can be a total disaster and I’ve seen it happen more than once. So have fun at the groom’s dinner the night before but skip the drinking if at all possible. You will have such a better wedding day if you avoid this common mistake…and you’ll have the entire wedding evening to have drinks with all of your friends.

Wedding Planning Mistake #1: Not Hiring An Experienced Wedding Photographer

You may have been dreaming of your wedding day since you were a little girl. You’ll spend countless hours between now and your wedding day planning every important detail. You’ve spent hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars on your dream dress and thousands more on the venues, music, flowers, cake, decorations, and other key elements. It only makes sense that you INVEST in preserving all of those dreams, hard work, and money by hiring an experienced photographer who specializes in weddings!

Your dream day is not the time to hire an up-n-comer or hobbyist because you want to save a few bucks. Concerning photography, price is usually directly proportional to quality and experience (I.E…YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR). If you hand over the enormous responsibility of preserving your wedding day memories to someone who may have only photographed 1 or 2 weddings because they are super cheap…you will find out soon after your wedding WHY they were super cheap! And at that point….there’s nothing you can do…your wedding has already taken place. You can’t go back in time and do it again.

Think of it this way…you wouldn’t go to a primary care physician if you needed open heart surgery (would you?)…I bet you would search for the most experienced cardiologist around…someone who specializes in hearts and you can trust to give you the best care possible. Both are doctors, but one is WAY more qualified to help you with your special needs.

One Value that an experienced photographer who specializes in weddings offers you that others don’t is “PEACE OF MIND”…and on your wedding day….that is PRICELESS!

---

There you have it! 5 Common Mistakes that couples make while planning their wedding. Your wedding should be super special and the more you do in the preparation stage to squash any common mistakes…the more time you can spend having a blast on your big day! I really hope that these 5 tips helped in some way!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS, INFORMATION, AND GUIDES…BE SURE TO JOIN MY FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FREE ZOOM CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOUR DATE IS AVAILABLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE…CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!

5 TIPS FOR FINDING THE PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOU

5 TIPS FOR FINDING THE PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOU

Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now comes planning your big day! There’s so much that goes into wedding planning and it can definitely start to get stressful fast! This quick blog post is going to focus on hiring your wedding photographer and how to make sure you choose the right one for you and your wedding. Let’s face it…you’ve probably already searched for wedding photographers in your area via Google or Facebook and were overwhelmed with the hundreds of choices! If you are reading this, I’m guessing that you want your wedding to be the most special day of your life and that preserving those memories is VERY important to you. If your wedding photography is something you place a high value on, then finding an experienced PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer is a must.

So how can you tell if a photographer is an experienced pro who you can trust with the most important day of your life, or an inexperienced hobbyist? Many sites online such as WeddingWire, The Knot, and Martha Stewart Weddings offer articles titled something like: 20 THINGS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE HIRING THEM…or something similar. Then you read it and it’s all generic questions that really don’t help you weed through all the photographer to find the few good ones. You’ll see basic questions like: “How many weddings have you photographed?” “How long have you been in business?” “Do you have a portfolio I can view?” “Can I see a shot list?”…etc…

Couples who haven’t gone through this process before don’t really know what to ask a professional photographers so they ask these generic questions because that’s what Martha Stewart said to ask…when in reality…those questions don’t really help you at all. Let’s face it…you should be able to look at a photographer’s website and see their portfolio, how long they’ve been in business, blah blah blah. How does that help you figure out if a photographer is right for you?

IF your wedding photography is super important to you and you want an experienced trust worthy professional… if you follow my 5 pieces of advice below, you can easily narrow down your potential photographers and save yourself tons of time and stress.

So…without further adieu…

A few key tips to help you determine if you should trust a particular photographer to photograph your wedding are:

• Check for reviews  on places like Google Business, The Knot, Wedding Wire, Facebook…etc… Also check the photographer’s website for reviews and testimonials. See if past clients rave about trusting their weddings to that photographer. If there are no reviews…either that photographer hasn’t shot enough weddings to accumulate any, or the ones they DO have are negative and they don’t want you to see them.

• Ask the photographer if they have liability insurance. A photographer who has liability insurance takes their business seriously. You can be sure that they are an ACTUAL professional and that they are aware that they need to protect their clients (and themselves) from any misfortune. What happens if 2yr old Timmy trips over a lightstand and gets seriously injured?? A professional who has insurance is one that gives you piece of mind on your wedding day and that’s one less STRESS you need to deal with.

• Have they had their work published in print or on recognized wedding blogs? You can rest assured that if recognized blogs or magazines are willing to showcase that photographer’s work on their site or magazine, that they are a choice you can trust with your big day. Most publications have strict guidelines for submissions and they get thousands to choose from each day! If your potential photographer has their work published on wedding blogs or in magazines…it’s a sure sign that they know what they are doing.

• Ask to see examples of Full Weddings (at least 75 pics) from 3 different weddings they’ve done and ask that at least one of those is an INDOOR WEDDING. You are looking to see how a photographer’s work looks when the lighting is challenging. Shooting outdoor weddings is a bit easier due to the abundance of natural lighting (from the sun). There is a lot less for a photographer to worry about and it’s easier to produce high quality, smooth, flattering images. But what if your ceremony, or reception, is indoors?  Church lighting is never ideal and reception lighting is almost unworkable for some photographers who do not have the know-how to use their own “off camera” lighting. Look for shots from inside a church during the ceremony and some from the reception (First Dances, Cake Cutting). If these images are not crisp and clean, then ask yourself if they can handle your wedding day.

• Meet with them in person before hiring them to see if you “CLICK”. Whoever you decide to trust with capturing your wedding day memories will be by your side more than any other person during the day (quite literally). From hair and make-up to the reception dance floor, your photographer will be attached to you the entire time. So…this may seem obvious, but you want to make sure that person is someone you get along with, have shared interests with, makes you laugh, helps you through stressful moments, and is calm/cool/professional. Set up an in person meeting with them just to chat over coffee. If distance prevents meeting in person, set up a Skype (or Zoom) call. Think of it as a blind date. You are trying to see if this person is a good fit to invite into your life on the most important day ever! If they annoy you or butt heads with your personality, it will most definitely make spending 8 hours with them on your wedding day, miserable. AND…if any wedding vendor refuses to meet with you before you hire them, it should be a HUGE red flag! Save time, money, and stress and move on to the next possible person.

There you have it! 5 Tips For Finding The Perfect Wedding Photographer For You. Finding the right photographer for your wedding day should be fun and exciting…not a stressful frustrating hassle. Use these 5 tips to instantly narrow down the mine field of photographers to the select few that can be trusted with the giant responsibility of preserving your wedding day memories!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS, INFORMATION, AND GUIDES…BE SURE TO JOIN MY FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FREE ZOOM CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOUR DATE IS AVAILABLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE…CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!



Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer: 5 Reasons Why An Engagement Session Is A Must!

Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer: 5 Reasons Why An Engagement Session Is A Must!

If you’re recently engaged and starting the amazing journey of planning your wedding…Congratulations!!! The engagement phase in a relationship is so exciting and you’re probably going to get sick of answering the questions that all of your friends and family members will throw at you (I.E….How did he pop the question? Have you guys set a date? Can I see the ring? etc…) Let’s be honest though…Telling the story of your proposal will probably never get old!

Now, you may be the type of person who has Engagement Photos as the first thing to do on your list…or you may be the type of person who thinks, “We don’t need engagement photos because we already have tons of pics of ourselves on our phones!” You might even be somewhere in between maybe wanting some engagement photos but having so many questions in your head. No matter which of these molds you fit into, I’m going to give you 5 Reasons Why An Engagement Session Is A Must so you can document this amazing time in your lives and be able to look back decades from now and relive everything with your precious family you’ve built over the years! So here we go….

Reason Number 5: Awesome Photos

Most couples would be shocked that this isn’t the #1 reason to get engagement photos taken (more on this later)! Every couple needs amazing photos (that aren’t cell phone selfies) for save-the-dates invitations, and announcements. Most couples love their engagement photos so much that they can’t wait to show off a gorgeous piece of Wall Art or a keepsake album. Plus you can elevate your social media game with dramatic and bold PROFESSIONAL images that will set your pages apart from the pack. Hopefully, this time in your lives happens only once…so make sure you invest in a pro who will help capture your unique love!

Reason Number 4: Being Your Best Selves

You waited your entire life to get engaged! Now that you’re finally here, it’s your time to SHINE! So be sure to make the most of it! Go a little outside of your normal everyday “look” and put your very best selves forward! Wear that stunning dress and pair of heels you’ve been wanting to try out. Get your hair and make-up professionally done. Have your partner stand out in that suit and tie you love them in. You will most likely get multiple wardrobe changes, so why not use one to look (and feel) like movie stars for a short time and live it up?

Close your eyes right now and imagine it’s 10 years in the future and you’re sitting down looking through your engagement photos. Picture one of the images in your head. Do you see yourselves in t-shirts and jeans in front of a brick wall? Or do you see yourselves in a Killer black dress and black heels with your full bodied hair blowing in the wind laughing as your fiance in his black suit and tie holds you tightly as you sit in front of the beautiful sunset? When you look back 10 years from now on this very special time, how do you want to see yourselves?

Reason Number 3: Intimacy

During your engagement session, you will get the chance to cuddle, hold hands, hug, and even kiss your fiance. It’s such a wonderful experience and many couples leave their engagement session even closer than they were before! Use an engagement session to enjoy being intimate with your future partner and build an experience for both of you to remember as one of the many you will have together!

Reason Number 2: Gaining Confidence

As you look though other peoples’ engagement photos online to get ideas and inspiration, you may notice that they all look like models who have been posing for photos for years. You may get thoughts in your head like, “My photos will never look like that!” or “I never take good pictures because (insert insecurity here)!” Guess what? More often than not…those couples you’re comparing yourselves to felt the exact same way! A lot of couples are either shy or insecure in front of the camera and that’s totally OK! The last thing you want to feel on your wedding day, though, is insecure. That’s why it’s important to have an engagement session…so you can get some experience in front of the camera, and working with your photographer, so when you see your photos (if the photographer did their job) your insecurities will melt away leaving you stress free for your wedding day. Picking a photographer who is easy to work with and guides you every step of the way will help you build confidence and soon, some future bride will be looking at your photos online thinking that YOU were probably some model who’s been posing for pictures for years!

And The Number 1 Reason That An Engagement Session Is A Must: To Build Trust With Your Photographer!

You don’t want the first time you work with your photographer to be your actual wedding day! If you’re not used to your photographer’s methods or techniques, you may be distracted, or even annoyed, by them on your special day. Plus, your photographer is the one person who will be right there by your side more than any other person (even your fiance)…so it’s SUPER IMPORTANT that you feel at ease around them and even enjoy it. You don’t want to find out on your wedding day that you can’t stand your photographer’s personality…TOO LATE…you’re stuck with them for at least 8 hrs now! Consider an engagement session a “Trial Run” on building trust with your photographer. If you’ve worked with them before your wedding and know WHY they do things a certain way and get to see how awesome your photos turned out…then you will be totally at ease come your wedding day because you now TRUST your photographer. That trust is how your photographer gets the best wedding day images possible!

So…as you’ve just read, an engagement session is WAY more than simply getting photos taken. It’s an experience where you get to be your best selves, gain confidence, get intimate, build trust with your photographer, and YES…get some amazing photos of one of the most special times in your lives! So find that perfect Photographer for you (click HERE for my tips On How To Find The Perfect Photographer For You) and schedule an engagement session so you can experience everything you just read and get one step closer to having that perfect wedding day! Congrats!!!!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS, INFORMATION, AND GUIDES…BE SURE TO JOIN MY FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FREE ZOOM CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOUR DATE IS AVAILABLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE…CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!

701 741 1407

5 Tips For Better Engagement Photos - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer

5 Tips For Better Engagement Photos - Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer

Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now-a-days, engagement photos have taken on a life of their own. Couples use engagement photos for Save-the-Date announcements, wedding invitations, wall art for their homes, gifts for family members, greeting cards, photos to display at the wedding reception, photos to view in wedding slideshows, social media updates...You name it!

So...how can you make sure that your engagement photos stand apart from the rest and leave friends and family members talking about them??? Follow these 5 tips and you'll be on your way to get some truly unique and memorable photos.

1. DON’T WING IT.

For most couples, getting engaged and married is a once-in-a-lifetime experience so it’s something you should have an experienced professional guide you through. This is an important time in your life and you’ll later regret choosing to have a “Friend with a camera” take some pics for you over HIRING AN EXPERIENCED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WILL GIVE YOU AN ENTIRE EXPERIENCE.

You’ll want to find a photographer who will meet with you BEFORE your scheduled engagement session (whether in person or via zoom) to chat about your ideas and come up with a solid game plan for your session. You don’t want to spend all the time and money to hire someone to capture these special moments and they tell you, “Wear whatever you want, Let’s just meet at the park, and we’ll go from there.”

Let your photographer get to know you as a couple, learn your likes & interests, give you some valuable tips, form a plan and come the day of your session…things will move smoothly , you’ll have much more fun, AND your photos will be much more awesome.

2.       Comfort is Key

Being in front of the camera can be a little unsettling sometimes…especially when you are asked to show intimacy with your fiancé in a public place. To make this insecurity a “non-issue”, set up a consult with your potential engagement photographer before your photo session. That way, you can ask questions, talk about ideas, and most importantly…you can see if you all “Click” and will be a good fit to work together.

Hiring a photographer who you can get along with and who can make you feel calm and “at ease” is VERY important…especially if you decide to hire them for your wedding day because they will be with you the entire day!

An engagement session is WAY more than just getting beautiful photos taken of you and your partner…it’s also quality time to work with (and get to know) your photographer which will help build trust between you. This is KEY if you want to feel confident and stress-free on the wedding day!

3.       Location, Location, Location!

Meaningful places help make engagement photos all the more special…but don’t be afraid to think outside the box here. If you want your photos to be different, then you can’t shoot in all of the same locations as everyone else. If your city has a landmark that EVERYONE has their photos taken at, avoid it…plain and simple.

Talk with your photographer about ideas for a unique photoshoot. Are there places that are special to you and your fiancé that can help tell your story? Does your city have other, less known, landmarks that help define it? Look for areas with different textures and colors. A lot of photographers come from ART backgrounds and know about things such as color theory, composition, leading lines, contrast, and juxtaposition…so discuss these things with them and don’t be afraid to use (and trust) their creativity.

4.       Wardrobe, Hair, Make-Up…

If you are unsure about what to wear or you don’t have a stylish wardrobe, consider consulting with a stylist. Go outside the realm of your regular everyday wardrobe. After all…this is a one-time event (hopefully). You want these engagement photos to stand out and make an impression on your family and friends.

Spend a little extra money and splurge on that dress you had your eye on…or that sport coat and watch your fiancé has been eyeballing. Avoid anything that will make you look dated. You don’t want to look back on these photos 10 years from now and wonder why you wore those skinny jeans and lady Gaga T-shirt! Also…avoid trying to match each other’s outfit. Instead, try and complement each other’s outfit. Don’t forget to bring accessories like shoes, socks, belts and jewelry too.

As for Hair and Make-up…Get both done by a pro and you'll not only look amazing, but the extra confidence will shine through. If you are hiring a makeup artist for the wedding, they will likely want to do a practice run, and the day of your engagement photos would be a great try out. If you are doing your own makeup, consider wearing matte since it photographs best.

If you want unique, memorable photos…the key here is to pretend you are movie stars, get all dolled up, present the photographer with the best versions of yourselves, and do something different. Most photographers allow a wardrobe change or two so you WILL be able to get some photos in clothes that are more casual…but definitely take advantage of this opportunity and get some images in some formal-semi formal attire! You won’t regret it!

5.       Watch the weather…and the clock.

So…when IS the best time of day to shoot engagement photos?? Most photographers will tell you that the light is best in early morning, or late evening…and I’m sure most photographers will tell you that early mornings aren’t for them. So that golden time right before sunset is perfect.

The common misconception is that bright sunny days are great for shooting portraits. Quite the opposite is true. Mid-day, when the sun is directly overhead, causes many problems…such as harsh downward shadows over faces, Raccoon Eyes, squinting, Bright Blown-Out Highlights, and a few other troubles. So try to avoid scheduling your engagement session around mid-day, if at all possible.

If, however, it is overcast, foggy, or even drizzling outside….it can favor your photo session with soft even lighting and you can get some interesting, great looking shots during mid-day.  

For the most part, it would be safe to schedule your shoot 1-3 hrs BEFORE sunset for the most flattering natural light possible.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS, INFORMATION, AND GUIDES…BE SURE TO JOIN MY FREE VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE: VIP BRIDAL FACEBOOK GROUP

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A FREE ZOOM CONSULTATION TO SEE IF YOUR DATE IS AVAILABLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE…CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!