Hello. this is your photographer speaking.
THIS IS YOUR WEDDING BIBLE I realize there are many factors playing into the schedule that you are planning and many bodies influencing how & what you schedule – I am NOT here to override them. However, I am here to provide you with INFORMATION and SCHEDULING that apply to the photography coverage of your day.
decide what’s applicable for you. before we even tackle your schedule you must know... I’m not afraid to say it. I am a photographer that aims to create an: An easy breezy beautiful day. no mess. no stress. Only the good tears. I create BUFFERS to plan for the unplanned moments that WILL happen I shoot in good light because that’s what makes the best images – so I will be that girl that wants to go out in the best light of the day to shoot your portraits. Good light is 1 hour-ish before sunset (sunset calendar: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/predefined.asp ) we can spend as little or as much time as you want shooting portraits, I recommend 1 HOUR total when added up throughout the day. I will always be honest and forward about what will give you the best coverage, but then YOU make the ultimate call.
The DAY OF SCHEDULE The best way to plan a day is to look at your CEREMONY time – and then work backwards adding in how long I suggest each part of the day will take. This is an estimate and guide, adjust it to what YOUR day looks like. this is based on a hypothetical 6pm ceremony. these are ONLY timeline events that are applicable to PHOTOGRAPHY. (many other events will affect your overall timeline, this is just for us.) 1-1:30ish start // Bridal Makeup and Hair // Aim to put dress on (20ish minutes before first look...we don’t like that time rushed.) 4:00 // First look and minicouples session 4:30 // Bridal Party 5ish // Family Photos 5:30 // Bride and Groom hide 6 pm // CEREMONY and wherever applicable to your date and time of year plan for.... (30-45 minute block) Couples Portraits in the BEST light of the day. (1hr before sunset) Take a look at the schedule here and the entire wedding bible, weigh it with your ceremony time and then create a schedule of your own for your day. Send that to ME, maybe around a month out, and I’ll weigh in and give feedback. We’ll fine tune it together and make sure that everything is cohesive and wonderful. Again, this is hypothetical, depending on your day and what is most important to you, if you have a city wedding, a country wedding, want extra extra couples portraits – these are all things that impact what kind of timeline we’ll plan for you. Be honest and tell me what is most important and we’ll make sure there’s ample time for those particular things.
BRIDE GETTING READY { of course there’s more info to help with each topic. so here we go. } BRIDE GETTING READY: In the timeline you give to me, please note the time THE BRIDE’S MAKEUP will start – I will start shooting you 15 minutes into your makeup, so that you have a base on your face and they’re the pretty getready photos. GROOM GETTING READY: Not everyone has images of the groom getting ready, and that’s fine – its up to you! I love to shoot both – but please note that if you do want your groom getting ready images, its 100% helps to have you two getting ready in a semi-close or same location so we don’t eat up time of me
driving 20+ minutes to where he is. Just a tip! If he is getting ready far away, that’s fine....just know, I’ll most likely plan to stay with the bride, unless we have a 2nd shooter. If we have a second shooter, they will stay with the groom for groomsmen getting ready photos. HAIR & MAKEUP: I cannot stress to you how important it is to have legit hair and makeup. Sadly, I’ve seen one too many brides CRYING on their wedding day because they hate one of the two. It is a total downer. Hair and makeup impacts your photography more than you know, how you FEEL about yourself and will LAST all day long if you hire the right people. Just a tip from one girl to the next! I have names and recs if you need them! LOCATION: Since we’re here, I’m just going to say it – WHERE you get ready totally impacts your images. Houses, fun hotels, B&Bs (!!!) are awesome for getting ready, natural character, good light and even give us spots to shoot some BRIDALS once you’re in your dress. Some of the best getting ready locations have turned into the most unique bridal portraits in B&B hallways, cool house nooks and crannies. So its this, that I also mention, if you can have your MU & Hair team come to you – it is the best! We don’t end up shooting in florescent lit salons, and you get to stay in your jammies, with the bridesmaids and creates less driving – aka – more shooting! TIMING: If you choose to do a first look, I like to do First Looks about 30-45 minutes before we do the bridal party or family photos. This will give us time to do a mini- couples session and get the day rolling. If you have DRIVE TIME from where you are getting ready TO the location, lets allot for more time. However, I may want to shoot around the area you got ready, considering we’ll have couples photos at the venue location post-ceremony. It’s all hypothetical, we’ll figure out what’s best for you’re your day. FAMILY PHOTOS: Depending on the family you have – these typically take 15 minutes for immediate family, 20-25 minutes for a larger family with aunts, uncles, lots of setups. It helps to have the photos PRIOR to the ceremony because they can all be in one place at one time, and we won’t be searching for Uncle Bob when guests have scattered after the ceremony. Tell your family a spot and time, and even if we don’t shoot in that EXACT spot, we’ll be able to have everyone together. // I do not need a shot list, but if you want to, you can. Once again these are just suggestions and the schedule is very much up to you. COUPLES PORTRAITS: Ah, one of my favorite parts of the day! I am not ashamed to tell you I LOVE shooting portraits and I love having an hour total thru out the day to shoot you two. If you had an engagement session, you know how fast an hour goes...since we most likely shot 1-2 hours for your engagement session!
LIGHT: I would rather have less time in the best light than more time in worse light. Make sense? I can do way more, have way more freedom in the best light of the day. When planning your schedule, look at the SUNSET TIME of your date, and know that 1hr-ish prior to sunset is when I will want to go shoot photos. I tend to say 30 minutes is best, but we can do more or less. You could plan for 30min – and it would probably even be less considering natural interrupters, things that happen in a schedule. NO FIRST LOOK? If you opted out of the first look, no worries, we will still get bomb photos. It’s just going to be rearranged a bit. So this post-ceremony couples time is REALLY important and our only time to shoot you two together. If this is your case, I would suggest you plan to have minimum 30 minutes and more time if you want as many photos as other couples get. We will be creative about when we do family photos and bridal party, most likely bridal party broken up by sexes prior to the ceremony and then the big group shot before we go do your Couples Portraits after the ceremony. RECEPTION Once we’re done with the couple’s portraits – the rest of the night is CANDID baby! So you really don’t need to supply me with any information/timing past when I am done shooting your evening couples portraits – you totally CAN, but you don’t have to. Base basics are great! Dinner / Toasts / First Dance.àI will be there for it all. Also, I am your personal paparazzi, so feel free to grab me throughout the night when you want quick pics with your great-aunt who flew in from Canada, or your old volleyball teammates, etc. END OF THE NIGHT The end of the night, congrats you are a married couple! Every wedding is SO different and I don’t try to predict what it’s going to be like, before I get there. And as much as I’ve seen, even you can’t predict exactly what it’s going to be like either. Some people have 4 hours of dancing and no exit – I’ll most likely wrap up coverage once I have a hefty amount (1-2hrs of dancing...before people get sloppy), and some people have a wedding on an island with 10pm curfew and a full exit, which I will be there until the end. // Basically all you need to know is I will NEVER leave early. OTHER TID BITS (read what applies to your wedding!) If you have a city wedding: we’ll most likely just walk blocks and shoot a good variety of city things. If you would like to DRIVE to a certain area other than your wedding location, let me know ahead of time. If you have a country wedding: we will most likely drive a bit around to do your couples photos and possibly bridal party. I like to get variety, and if your
wedding is – say, at a barn – I’ll want to drive off location a bit and get some variety. Plan for 5-10min drive time in your couple’s session. If you are getting ready in a different location than the wedding: we’ll want to make sure we decide where the first look will be, there or at the ceremony site. Don’t forget to add drive time in-between the dress on time and first look. If you’re getting ready at a B&B or something, plan on me wanting 10 minutes for bridals with you there. If your ceremony and location are in different locations: lets chat about where you want to shoot the couples portraits and bridal party. Bring a cute non-plastic hanger for me to shoot your dress. Wood with groves for your dress straps work great! Frequently Asked Questions • How long does it take to get my wedding photos? The number one question I get one week after your wedding. So, to spearhead that topic, I will tell you right now. You can expect your images 4-6 weeks after your wedding. I edit and work like a dog. Hopefully on the earlier side than later. • Do you eat at weddings? I typically pack a good amount of food for the day, but absolutely plan on me eating dinner on the early-mid side of when you’re guests are eating – this ensures 1) I actually eat 2) that I’m not off eating my pasta when you are having your first dance. • How can we PAY you? Checks or Venmo are my preferred method.
Are you a TRAVEL wedding? Travel is a beautiful thing. here are a few tips and things to note for your wedding. I tend to book my own flight, car and (sometimes) hotel. • This way I have all the info, know my date of birth, schedule of when I can fly and such. • We can estimate these costs when you book, but I most likely will book 3-6 months out from your day. • The total amount will be on your final balance. • Let me know if there are particular points I should know about when I arrive,
where I stay and such. I arrive the day before your wedding. (even for weddings 3 hours drive, that’s travel to me) Remember that story of the photographers flight being delayed and they didn’t make it to the wedding? Let’s avoid that. What if you are driving to my wedding? // and its over 1ish hour drive. • Typically if it’s over 1.5ish hour, depending on when you are getting ready in the morning, I will stay there the night prior. We’ll talk about it case by case.
overall points to remember • One month before you date your FINAL BALANCE is due / you can check with me for up to date invoice if you need. • My address is 832 SW 295th St. Federal Way, WA 98023 • I need the BRIDE’S MAKEUP start time. (and address to where you’re getting ready if your wedding coverage includes it) • Your best couples photos will be 1 hour before sunset • I suggest 1 hour added up thru out your day of total couples photos • I do NOT need shot lists of normal “napkins, the kiss, first dance” type things, you should have hired me if I didn’t know that! // but DO tell me the unique stuff I wouldn’t know. • Don’t be shy about unique/special events, parts of your day that are unique to your wedding. • I aim to get the best coverage. • Expect your images in 4-6 weeks • Let’s have a ROCKIN’ TIME and celebrate and remember you’re marrying your true LOVE. Boom. // the SCHEDULE basics I need are: Bride’s makeup time, Dress on time (20 prior to 1st look) First Look & Mini Couples Session (30-45) Bridal Party (30) Family (20ish)
You made it thru. Congrats. Thanks for sticking with me.
just know. I get attached to my couples. I want to give you the most amazing images of the best day of your life!
