Planning your wedding photography is part of the mammoth exercise for your wedding day

Timing Considerations
To get your dream day right it is important to start with the basics. A run sheet of your day will be your best way to having everything you wish for go right. This will ensure all of your service providers from florist, photographer, ceremony to reception know what is to be expected. This could sound a little too organised if you want a casual wedding but if you really want to relax at your wedding and not worry about a thing, planning in advance is your best bet. In this article I will give some advice on timing for your wedding day around the needs of a wedding photographer.

Preparation Photographs
There are a few considerations that are required if you wish to have photos taken of the preparation before the ceremony. Firstly the travel times between where the bride will be and the ceremony as well as the distance from the groom’s preparation shots and the bride. It is usual to allow about an hour at each bride and groom’s home. Often the groom is happy to be photographed a half hour before the ceremony is to start.

Ceremony
The ceremony is a central part of the wedding day and it is important to capture the key photos. Even when the ceremony itself is said to only last 20 to 40 minutes, you’ll need an hour or so to cover everything from the moment the car pulls up to the moment you drive away. Therefore you should allow about 1.5 for church weddings and an hour for outdoor weddings. This is taking into consideration time for getting out of the car and preparing oneself before walking down the isle to greeting everyone and receiving their best wishes. This is also an opportunity to do your formal wedding photos with immediate family. The grounds are often another great location for photos with the bridal party so don’t rush off before exploring the potential of where the ceremony is held.

Location shots
Choosing the right location for your wedding photos can be daunting as there is so much to choose from. First thing to do is consider where the ceremony is held and its surrounds and where the reception is located and what is available on route there. Your photographer can help with suggestions where lighting and travel are taken into consideration. Once you arrive at the location of choice for your photo shoot you should allow at least 30 to 40 minutes of photography. Anything over an hour and a half tends to loose the moment. If you have a long break between the ceremony and reception it’s worth considering a stop off at a cafe or a pub. Grabbing some informal and candid shots relaxing can be a perfect way of getting capturing the unexpected. It’s also important to factor in some time for the refreshments that your car hire company may bring along. Getting your energy back up with a champagne and a bite to eat can help boost your energy levels for the photo session.

Reception
When it comes to your reception you might consider from one of three options to cover your needs. The first being the whole evening so you don’t miss a moment. It’s all there from the time you are greeted by your family and friends to waving to them from the car window driving off into the distance. Secondly, you might prefer to just have the formalities covered up until the bridal waltz. Generally speaking the bridal waltz is about 3 hours into the evening, unless you have a speech that goes on for a bit longer than you expected. This option is probably the most popular coverage amongst brides as all the most important events are covered. Finally a coverage with just the introduction into the reception. Here the couple might be asked to do a mock cutting of the cake and the photographer will capture the room’s settings before heading off.

Getting Your Wedding Photos and Planning Your Album
In most cases your wedding photos should be ready to collect a week to 10 days after the wedding. Once you have your photos you will need to choose your favorite ones and let your photographer know which ones they should use in your album. You’ll find each photographer has a different method to designing the album but nothing can be started unless you choose your favorites. Once you are happy with the design and it has been approved then a production time of 6 to 8 weeks is often required for bookbinding, printing and assembly.

Pre-Wedding Photo Sessions
Many couples choose to have a pre-wedding photo session before the wedding day. This will enhance the rapport that you have with your photographer and also help you feel more relaxed in front of the camera. The pre-wedding shoot consultation usually last a bit over an hour. Studio shoots aren’t as long as going on location for the photo session. Photos taken from this can be a nice gift for your parents and be enlarged and placed at the reception before you enter. Asking your guests to sign on a matt board surrounding the photo can also be a nice touch. This shoot should be planned at least 6 weeks before the wedding day if you wish to use the photos at your wedding.

Working Together
Your wedding photographer will be working closely with you so it’s important they understand what you need and want. You don’t want them to be in your face but you do want them capturing the special, quirky and beautiful moments you miss.

That can come with experience. A professional, experienced wedding photographer is best placed to give you the results you want.

If you have any questions about your wedding photography choices or needs please just ask. We’ve been wedding photographers for 20 years and have adapted to changes in photography style over that time. We love working with brides to make their dreams come true. Ask us how we can help you.

The ipad wedding album is one of the most exciting innovations in wedding photo albums. It allows for a unique fusion of still photos and video. But possibly best of all you have control at your fingertips. Zoom in, zoom out and skip through to your heart’s content.

One fantastic benefit is the ipad is such a lightweight, easy to carry around album that is possibly the best way to share your wedding photos – if you can get it back out of people’s hands that is.

If you have any questions about the ipad wedding album just ask.

Wedding Photography and Video Highlights

There is no stopping advances in technology and cameras are now getting more and more sophisticated with features. Now professional cameras have HD video capability and many television and professional videographers are using our cameras to shoot their footage. So our step into video production is a simple one since this facility is inbuilt in the camera that we are using. At PM Photo we’re not aiming to replace a videographer all together, at least not yet but what we offer is a highlight. What we have noticed is that many people are sitting on the fence as to whether or not to have the full video production. There are parts of every wedding that are best captured on video and these are the moments we highlight in our short video. Currently our videos are a fusion of photo moments and stills that are taken. In other words all the best bits are put together in one place. What we offer you is the ability to share your video highlight online and play it on your smart phone, iPad, laptop, computer and TV. Now everyone can see your beautiful images and video effortlessly at home, work and overseas.

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Preparation is Key to Fantastic Wedding Photos

Put in the hard yards early for your wedding preparations so you can relax and enjoy yourself in the lead up to your wedding. The more calm and relaxed you are on the day, the more fun you have. The more fun you have the more beautifully you will glow in your photos.

Trial your hair and makeup. They need to know what you want and you need to kno what they will do. The better you look the more confidence you’ll have and your photos will reflect this.

Speak to your photographer to plan your wedding photography timing. You don’t need to feel stressed or pressured because you are running out of time, Your wedding day is one that flies by without you feeling rushed as well.

Choose a dress that you love and feel confident and comfortable in. Your wedding day is one to glide through beautifully not worry about how you look in the dress. Work with your bridal party to find outfits they are comfortable and confident in too. The better everyone looks and feels the happier everyone is and the more relaxed and natural your photos will be.

Prepare with your photographer to get the right types of photos you want in the locations you want. Shows them and talk to them so they know exactly what you’re after and you have peace of mind on the day that everything will be taken care of.

Have Fun

Have fun being photographed. If you want to play around, pull faces and make some photo mischief your wedding photographer will most likely be relieved and enjoy it immensely.

You’ve done all the planning so relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour. This is one day where anyone other than you can worry.

A little bubbles can help relax everyone and they are a benefit of celebrations. if you need to unwind or relax for your photos have a glass of champagne at hand.

Smile!

Standing Up Tall

Look after your posture. Keep shoulders back and chest out but be relaxed. A slight stance side on can make you look slimmer.

When you are standing so elegantly be careful not to hold the bouquet too high. Your photographer will want to capture the detail of your dress. You don’t want to tire your arms or look tense so lower the bouquet to a comfortable level and take the photographer’s directions if given.

If you are worried about a double chin organise to have some photographs taken above eye level which are more flattering and conceal a double chin

Relax and enjoy yourself – it is your day so feel free to enjoy and have fun doing so!

Our gallery includes some beautiful photos.

Contact us to discuss your wedding plans.

PLANNING CHECKLIST

I’m going to make the assumption that your wedding will be planned over a period between 12 to 18 months in advance. The first boxes to tick during this period are the following.

A year ahead

Set your engagement date

Decide on a wedding date

Meet the in-laws

Set a budget

Discuss how many people to invite and prepare a guest list

Book your reception and ceremony locations

Choose a Celebrant

Select a colour scheme for wedding

6 to 12 months

Decide on who will be in your bridal party

Book a photographer

Visit bridal wear shops for clothing and accessories

Find a florist

Book a Videographer

Book musicians or DJ for Reception and Ceremony

Register with a Bridal Registry

6 to 3 months

Finalise guest lists and set deadline

Decide on your wedding rings

Compile lists for bridal shower guests

Get transportation for the bridal party organized

Start thinking about where place to live if you aren’t already together

Order Wedding Invitations and stationery

Have your honeymoon arrangements organized

2 months

Send out invitations 6 weeks before

Purchase gifts for bridal party

Purchase or reserve groom’s clothes

Decide on where to get ready

Make a playlist for music at ceremony and reception

Have all floral arrangements and flower finalised

Set the menu with caterer

Wedding cake style decided

Make or buy bonboniere

1 month

Arrange a meeting with photographer &videographer

Engrave your wedding rings

Start to write thank you notes

Have Matron of honor and best man organize the parties

Have a hair and makeup trial and beautician appointment

Schedule wedding gown fitting

Decide on a Master of Ceremonies

Plan how you will be arranging banking and other financial matters

Make sure all your travel documents such as passport and transportation tickets are all in order. Plus you have checked all travel warnings and done vaccinations.

Have order of service printed

Fill out any government marriage requirements

Alert any registries if your name is to be changed

The last 2 weeks

Talk to all suppliers and confirm everything is in order

Let caterers know of final number of guests

Try wedding dress with accessories

Write your speech

Do the seating arrangements

Prepare your suitcase for the honeymoon

Make sure the bridal party has their gifts

Ceremony rehearsal

Take time out to relax with your partner

Spoil yourself with some beauty treatments

The Day Before

Get your nails done

Have your overnight bag packed

Last call to each other

The Wedding Day

Have a good night sleep

Eat a decent breakfast

Sit back and enjoy being made up

Have fun

We value your input, so please write your comments at the bottom of this article.

A Practical Guide To Get the Best Church Wedding Photos

With twenty years experience photographing weddings I have put together a guide on how to get the best church wedding photos based around how most church ceremonies are organised.

The First On The Scene

The groom usually arrives at least half an hour early to be able to greet guests and make sure the church is properly set up.

It is common for grooms to choose to have their pre ceremony shots taken at the church rather than at home. This is a great option time wise as it allows your wedding photographer to take the bride’s photos and leave the bride thirty minutes before the ceremony begins. This gives adequate time to get to the church and take some great shots of the groom and his men!

There are many other photo opportunities in this option such as candid shots of guests arriving, detail photos of the church decorations and the order of service. Nervous groom photos are classic, checking the time, pacing.

For a photographer an early church arrival also ensure the photographer is prepared for the photos of the bride arriving. The lack of parking at some churches means that a photographer leaving the brides home with the bridal party or only moments before may be parking and unloading when the bride arrives – missing the moment.

There are some beautiful photo opportunities of the bride’s arrival and the bridal party’s preparation to enter the church. Photos looking out of the car’s window, photos of the veil being placed over and capturing the wait before entering the church.

When the music starts the bridal party enter beginning with flower girl, pageboy and bridesmaids. Then it is the bride’s big moment. These are important photographs to capture which is why it’s important guests don’t get in the photographer’s way during the procession down the aisle.

Hiring a second photographer for the period of the ceremony is a greta option to consider just to ensure the shots of the bride walking down the aisle are captured from both the groom’s perspective at the front of the church and from the back of the church.

Essential wedding ceremony photos include the declaration of intentions or wedding vows, the exchange of the rings with the blessing and readings and the first kiss as husband and wife. Once the minister pronounces the bride and groom husband and wife the marriage is official and there is the signing of the register. It is also customary that the couple kiss and then turn towards the guests.

Many ministers prefer to allow all the signing to be done before official photographs are taken of the signing. There are still many candid shots that can be done as each person signs. There are always beautiful moments as the bride and groom stand together watching their witnesses sign.

As the newlyweds set off down the aisle into their married life together there are beautiful photos of joy and happiness. Outside is an opportunity to capture congratulations from guest – candid, natural and happy shots of friends and family.

A group shot in front of the church is a fantastic way of seeing all of your friends in one photo. Natural light against a church backdrop can create great family wedding photos. The light is much kinder and the backdrop more beautiful often than if these photos wait until the reception. If this is the desired option the bride and groom should let anyone they wish to have photos with know the formal photos will be taken straight after the ceremony.

The Last To Leave

It’s a good idea to allow an hour and a half between the ceremony start time and the time the bride and groom leave the church grounds to go to their location shoot. Even if the service itself is thirty to 45 minutes long there is always some time before and after the ceremony that is taken up with preparation and congratulations. There are so many beautiful candid and joyous shots at this time it would be shame to miss them by not allowing sufficient time.

The bonus when using a professional wedding photographer is their experience.

There is more to shooting weddings than just having a passion for photography, or people. The current more photojournalistic style of wedding photography is challenging for photographers because it relies on your ability to capture people and emotions as moments unfold before your eyes.

This style of photography is very different to taking holiday photos or beautiful landscapes. It is also very different to set-up shots and posed photos. It requires a great deal more skills and experience. That is one of the bonuses when you choose a professional wedding photographer.

A professional wedding photographer will not only know how to frame great photos, but also to work with people, pose people and capture moments as they happen.

The other bonus a professional photographer brings is their wealth of wedding knowledge and experience they can be one of your best wedding planing resources. They know about timing, procedure, locations, lighting, traditions and all sorts of other wedding day tips.

The best way to know if a professional wedding photographer is the best wedding photographer for you is to meet them, talk with them adn view their work. When they tick all your boxes you know you’ll be happy with the results.

Please click on any of the links to the right to view helpful wedding planning articles.

If you’d like to discuss your wedding photography needs please call 9181 3070 and speak to a photographer.

A wedding fueled with love and style. An elegant wedding with perfect settings for the wedding photography. Read more about Jonathon and Kobe by clicking here. Ceremony at Kings College and reception at the Park Hyatt.

This article will take some of the stress out of planning your wedding day. It has an easy step by step guide in to what to do and when. Click to read the full article.

You can drive past these harbour island locations and wonder what it is like being there. Well now you and your friends can all find out by having a Sydney Island Wedding. Read the full story by clicking here.