Discover practical advice for a smooth-running photoshoot on your special day. Create top marriage photos with this handy guide.
9 Tips on How to Get the Best Just-Married Pictures
Your wedding day is a momentous occasion that you want to remember for the rest of your life. One of the best ways to capture the magic of your special day is through photographs. Sweet moments, emotional speeches, and happy tears can all be beautifully preserved through the lens of a skilled photographer.
But making your just-married pictures look like professional shots from the Depositphotos website requires some planning and preparation. This guide is full of handy tips to ensure that your wedding images are everything you’ve dreamed of. Follow them to create memorable photos to cherish for years to come.
1. Choose the aesthetic of your marriage photos
The first step to creating the wedding photos of your dreams is to identify their key visual aesthetic. You can use the style or theme of your wedding as a reference for your celebration images. However, you don’t have to stick strictly to one aesthetic. Feel free to add other styles or aesthetics that reflect your vision, personality, or interests as a couple.
Here are some options to consider: editorial, vintage, modern, classic, glamorous, minimalist, natural, black and white, light and airy, colorful, or film photography aesthetic. Yet, it’s best to communicate your vision to your photographer. They can give you more ideas and suggest ways to incorporate different aesthetics into your wedding pictures.
2. Pick the right photographer
The right photographer is paramount to your dream wedding photos. However, before you start looking for one, decide on your budget. This will help narrow down your options. Once you have a budget in mind, start looking for photography professionals in your area.
Here are a few things you should consider when choosing a photographer: their style and aesthetic, their experience with weddings, their personality, their pricing, and their availability on your wedding date. It’s also important to communicate with the photographer to see if you click.
Pro tip: have the photographer send you a full wedding gallery before booking. Their social media accounts often feature the best shots, but you have to evaluate the quality of all their work.
3. Consider the season, time, and location of your wedding
Since destination weddings continue to grow in popularity, your wedding probably won’t take place in your hometown. Chances are, neither you nor your photographer will be familiar with the venue. So, it’s a good idea to visit the location with your photographer ahead of time to scout out the best photo spots and lighting.
This step is essential because it will help you to prepare a list of must-have shots for your wedding photo album. As for your photographer, knowing the venue, weather, lighting, scenery, and potential challenges of the setting will ensure successful pictures of marriage.
4. Create a shot list for your marriage images
Once you explore the wedding venue, write down the specific shots you want to capture on your big day. First, list the ones related to your location. It could be photos near the scenic overlook, in front of the old chapel, or any other important spots at the venue.
After that, write down must-have shots related to the event itself. Any newlyweds want to have photographs of the bride walking down the aisle, the exchanging of vows, the first kiss, and the cutting of the cake. Remember to include shots with family members and friends, as well as candid moments throughout the day.
5. Learn some poses for the best just-married pictures
What is the key to natural and good-looking, just-married photos? That’s right, rehearsed poses. Practicing poses and getting comfortable in front of the camera will result in picture-perfect photographs.
However, landing the right pose isn’t difficult; finding them is. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources that provide guidance on posing for wedding photos. Look through magazines, Pinterest, or wedding blogs for inspiration on how to pose as a couple.
6. Prepare your photographer
The next critical step is to prepare your photographer for the big day. Provide a timeline or schedule for the wedding day so they know when and where to be for each important moment.
Discuss any specific shots you want captured and communicate your vision of the photos. Also, be sure to voice any of your concerns regarding lighting, angles, or the look of your clothes.
7. Schedule time for photos
It sounds obvious, but in order to get the wedding pictures of your dreams, you need to schedule time for a photoshoot or a few. Plan out specific blocks of time throughout the day dedicated to taking photos. Also, make sure to schedule enough time for taking images. Weddings are unpredictable, so it’s better to have buffer time in case things run late.
8. Discuss editing preferences with your photographer
At this point, it’s time to discuss editing preferences with your photographer. They can be based on the emotion you want to evoke in your photos. Or, you can form them based on the aesthetic of your wedding images. Another great idea is to discuss trends in wedding photo editing together and decide which ones best match your style and vision.
9. Take care of your photographer
Last but not least, remember to take care of your photographer at the wedding. Make sure they have access to food and water throughout the day to keep them energized. In addition, schedule breaks for the photographer to keep them focused.
Wrapping up
Making picture-perfect, just-married images is no easy task. It involves thorough planning, communication, and collaboration between the couple and the photographer. However, it’s worth the effort as these photos will be forever memories of your special day.