WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
Tips to Prepare for
Your Wedding Photography
Your wedding day moves quickly, and while your photographer will take care of documenting it, there are a few simple things you can do beforehand to make the process smoother and help us create the best photographs possible.
After more than a decade photographing weddings — especially destination weddings here in Mexico — these are some of the things we recommend to our couples before the wedding day.
BEFORE THE WEDDING
Avoid sunburn &
strong tan lines.
With years of experience photographing weddings — especially at beach destinations — we’ve learned how important it is to avoid sunburn and strong tan lines before the big day.
A few days by the pool or on the beach can leave marks that become very noticeable once you put on your wedding dress or suit. Some corrections can be made in photographs, but severe sunburn and tan lines require significant retouching and are especially difficult to correct consistently throughout a wedding film.
YOUR PRIORITIES
Tell us about your
specific photo requests.
We have our own established workflow for documenting a wedding, but we understand that you may have specific photographs or ideas that are particularly important to you.
Maybe it’s a particular family arrangement, a meaningful tradition, someone important to you, a surprise you’re planning, or a creative photograph you have in mind.
Please share those requests with us ahead of time whenever possible. Knowing what matters most to you helps us make sure those moments are documented while still allowing the rest of the day to unfold naturally.
GETTING READY
Have your details
ready in one place.
The smaller details contribute to the overall story of the wedding. If you would like them photographed, gathering everything together before we arrive makes the process much easier.
Instead of searching through bags, rooms and boxes while everyone is getting ready, we can start photographing everything immediately and then move on to the people and moments happening around us.
HAVE THESE READY
We’ll take care of arranging everything for the photographs. Having the details together simply helps us work efficiently and avoids having to search for missing pieces later.
THE CEREMONY
Take your time with
the first kiss.
Your first kiss as a married couple is one of the key moments of the ceremony, so don’t rush it.
When the officiant gives you the cue, take your time. Holding the kiss for around five seconds gives us enough time to capture the moment properly and, when possible, from more than one perspective.
More importantly, it gives you a chance to actually enjoy the moment instead of turning it into a half-second formality.
A LITTLE PRACTICE
Practice the dip
before the wedding.
We love a good dip — especially when you’re walking back down the aisle together after the ceremony.
If you’d like to do one, practice it together once or twice before the wedding. You definitely don’t need to choreograph the moment, but knowing how the movement feels makes it much more natural when you actually do it.
A little familiarity helps you feel comfortable and confident instead of trying to figure out where your arms, feet and balance are supposed to go in front of everyone.
FAMILY & GROUP PHOTOS
Give family photos
a little structure.
Family photographs can quickly become chaotic without a little planning, especially when everyone is ready to move on to cocktail hour.
We recommend assigning a responsible family member or close friend to help gather people for portraits. Ideally, this should be someone who knows the families well and can quickly find the people we need.
Share your finalized family photo list with that person before the wedding. Knowing exactly which combinations need to be photographed helps avoid confusion and keeps this part of the day moving efficiently.
THE CEREMONY
Consider an
unplugged ceremony.
Guests taking photographs during the ceremony can sometimes block key moments or step directly into the photographer’s view — particularly during the processional and first kiss.
An unplugged ceremony means asking guests to put their phones and cameras away once the ceremony begins and simply be present with you.
One idea we like is to have the officiant give everyone a few seconds to take a photograph before the ceremony begins. After that, they can ask guests to put their devices away for the rest of the ceremony.
A small sign at the entrance or a quick reminder from the officiant can also make a big difference.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
Keep cool and
enjoy the moment.
You’ve spent months — sometimes years — planning your wedding and making sure every detail is right. But the truth is, wedding days almost never happen exactly as planned.
Something may run late. The weather might change. A decoration might not be exactly where it was supposed to be. And that’s okay.
You’re there with the people you love, celebrating something much bigger than the schedule or the decorations. If something unexpected happens, embrace it and keep enjoying the day.
The little imperfections are often part of what makes the story yours.