Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

Tips for Choosing Your Getting Ready Light

Friday, August 26, 2011 Posted in Tips and Tricks

Photography is all about light. As a photographer, I have two choices: I can work with ambient light (sunlight, lamps, etc.) or create my own light (using flash or video lights). My personal preference is to use natural, ambient light, which means the sun. Given the right conditions and the right time of day, it creates the gorgeous, soft, romantic lighting that I like best. However, when shooting weddings, I usually don’t get to pick the lighting conditions. For ceremonies and receptions, I welcome the challenge of figuring out how the light will work best; that is my job, after all. But what I want to discuss today are the getting ready photos.

Some of you may not have many options on the location where you get ready. There may be a designated place in your venue, and it may be void of any light other than the florescent kind. But if you do have a choice, it’s best to pick the location that lets in the most sunlight.

Here’s a few examples of different lighting scenarios for the getting ready shots:

Ambient, florescent lighting only
Nashville Wedding Photographers

Ambient, florescent lighting with flash (flash was placed at a 45 degree angle to the right of the bride)
Wedding Photography Nashville

Ambient, florescent lighting with minimal sunlight (unfortunately, the getting ready room windows looked over the parking lot so we couldn’t open the blinds, but you can see it is coming from the left and shining on her face)
Wedding Photographer Nashville

Sunlight only
Nashville Wedding Photography

And let’s not forget the guys! Both of these grooms were lit solely by sunlight coming in from a window:
Nashville Wedding Photographer Wedding Photographers Nashville

So, if you have a choice, where should you get ready? Hotel rooms are typically ideal because they usually have very large windows and are high up enough that we can keep the drapes open without anyone being able to see in. Bedrooms are also good, with bigger windows being better. The places with the worst lighting? Usually the assigned getting ready rooms in churches, although I have seen a few with nice, big windows, so make sure you check out the room when choosing your ceremony venue.

To First Look or Not to First Look

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 Posted in Tips and Tricks

At some point during your wedding planning process, you will be asked by your photographer if you want to do a first look. I find that most couples are initially adamant that the walk down the aisle be the first time they see each other, as that is how they have always pictured it. But there is another option, and it can actually be more romantic, more intimate, and more memorable (in addition to several other perks!).

Wedding First Look Wedding First Look

The moment right before the wedding ceremony is pretty nerve-wracking. You aren’t nervous because of cold feet but because the day you have been planning for the past year is here and you are standing at the pinnacle. A lot of the time walking down the aisle is spent thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s finally here! I’m actually doing this! Look at all these people who came to witness this great moment in my life!” It’s overwhelming. And because of that, the memory can become quite a blur because your mind is racing so much. Most every bride and groom I know talks about just how FAST the whole day went. It’s important to savor the moments that really matter.

First Look Wedding

One way you can do this is by having a first look. What exactly is a first look? It’s private time between the two of you to see each other for the first time on your wedding day. Without anyone else around. Without feeling overwhelmed or nervous. You can hug, talk, laugh, or exchange gifts; it’s up to you. Most couples reported feeling more relaxed afterwards, and, while I have heard people say, “I wish we had done a first look,” I have never heard anyone say that they wish they hadn’t.

So why do photographers like first looks so much? First of all, the reaction to seeing each other in private is usually a lot more true than the reaction to seeing each other in front of a crowd of people. So the emotions are much more rich, and the images will show more of how you actually felt when you saw each other. Second, it gives us a lot more time to capture portraits of the two of you.

First Look First Look

Who do I suggest do a first look? While I think everyone can benefit, I think it’s most important in these situations.
(a) If your ceremony begins anywhere near sunset, it’s best to get as many photos done ahead of time as possible to take advantage of the sunlight. This way, if the ceremony starts late or the family portraits afterwards run over, we won’t have to sacrifice the portraits of the two of you.
(b) If you do not want your wedding party to join the reception until they’ve been introduced by the emcee, then it’s best to do a first look. That way, they are not waiting around for us to finish portraits so that they can eat.
(c) You want to attend your cocktail hour. If you do not see each before hand, the cocktail hour is typically when we will do your portraits.
(d) The couple portraits are extremely important to you. We don’t want to feel rushed to get to the reception, and we can take more time with the two of you before the ceremony.

What are your reasons for wanting or not wanting to do a first look?

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7 Tips for What to Wear for your Photo Session

Thursday, October 21, 2010 Posted in Tips and Tricks

“What should I wear?” is a common question most photographers hear. I typically email a short list of tips before most of my photo sessions, but I figured it might be easier to point people to a blog post! So here we go!

1. Colors are good!
Applies to: anyone.
Except for newborn portraits (where I take lots of black and white shots), I typically will provide you with mostly color images. I love color! Therefore, feel free to be colorful with your choice of attire! Do stay away from solid white shirts, as they will reflect light and be easily blown out, especially in sunlight.

Nashville Child Photography Nashville Child Photographer

2. Wear black.
Applies to: parents wanting to appear in newborn photos.
This is a tip I only give to parents who want to be in portraits with their newborn. Wearing black will show the contrast between you and your baby’s skin better!

Nashville Newborn Photography

3. Complement but don’t match!
Applies to: couples and families.
You’ve seen the photos where couples and families are wearing the exact same thing. It can be cute, but it mostly looks cheesy (especially ten years later). The better tip is to complement each other. You can do this in several ways! First, make sure you are wearing the same level of dressy. It’s kind of odd for one person to be in business attire, while everyone else is in jeans. Second, wear complementary colors! For example, you can choose for everyone to wear different shades of blue, or all pastels, or choose colors that are opposite on the color wheel (e.g., one person wears purple and the other wears yellow). All of these combinations look great!

Nashville Family Photography

4. Outfit changes can be fun!
Applies to: individuals, couples, and babies.
During our session, there is typically enough time for one or two outfit changes, so take advantage! Do half of the session in jeans and half in a flowy dress! You’ll get even more variety from your photos this way. However, I don’t recommend this to families with younger children.:)

Nashville Maternity Photography Nashville Maternity Photographer

5. Be comfortable!
Applies to: everyone.
You never wear dresses or button-up shirts? Then don’t wear one to your photo session. You’ll feel like you aren’t yourself, and it will show in your photos.

Nashville Senior Photography

6. Ladies, bring flip flops!
Applies to: anyone with uncomfortable shoes.
I direct this to the ladies, but it works for men as well: if you plan on wearing uncomfortable shoes, bring a pair of flip flops that you can slip into while we are walking around. You’ll thank me later.

Nashville Engagement Photography Nashville Engagement Photographer

7. T-shirts with logos are a no-no.
Applies to: everyone.
I’m sorry that was so cheesy, but I couldn’t resist! Shirts shouldn’t have legible writing on them (unless you’re on a sports team and want to wear your jersey, and other exceptions like that). If you’re in a shirt with “GAP” written across the front, that’s the first thing you’ll notice in your photo instead of your gorgeous face!

Nashville Baby Photography

Hope this helps out!

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