Is photography one of your wedding day priorities? Then keep reading to discover the 10 biggest wedding photography mistakes and how to avoid making them for your own wedding!
Mistake #1: Not budgeting enough for photography, or choosing a photographer based solely on price
According to surveys, one of the biggest regrets couples have about their wedding is not spending more on their photographer. They budget for favors that get left behind or an overabundance of cake that goes uneaten while skimping on the photos that will be the only thing left when the wedding is over.
When gathering quotes from photographers, the temptation many couples have is to compare the things that are included in a package without considering the intangible benefits one photographer might have over the other. These things include experience, style and consistency, communication, personality, and more. (Read more: Finding Your Perfect Fit Wedding Photographer)
A good wedding photographer knows that putting together a wedding package and providing photos are just the tip of the iceberg: a photographer worth your investment will listen to your photography needs and create a collection that works for you, help plan timelines, answer questions in a timely manner, connect you to recommended vendors, provide education and resources to help with wedding planning, give insight on venues and advice on wardrobe and portrait locations, and more. Helpful photographers will begin this process even before you book with them, because they want to make sure you have all of the information you need and that they are a good fit for your wedding. They know that you are not just investing in photos, you are investing in a guide who has been through this process many times before and will provide a positive experience from start to finish. (Read more from Junebug Weddings: Searching for a Cheap Photographer)
Mistake #2: Not knowing what to look for in a photographer’s work
Most engaged couples are not professional photographers, so they may not know what to look for when determining the quality of a photographer’s work. Red flags to avoid include: too-dark or too-light exposures that make it difficult to discern faces and details, harsh shadows on faces, over-saturated and/or unnatural skin tones (such as blue or orange), photos taken from unflattering angles, inconsistent photos with multiple different filters, “crooked” photos with tilted horizons, and portraits with stiff, awkward, or forced poses.
Before choosing your wedding photographer, ask for a complete gallery from a real wedding. This will give you a chance to see the quality and style of their work throughout all aspects of a wedding day. You only get one chance at beautiful wedding photos, so being aware of what to avoid can save you from future heartache and regret.
Mistake #3: Not planning enough time for photos
You are investing a lot of money in photography, so you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not plan enough time for photos. Things ALWAYS take longer than you think, so listening to what your photographer recommends and buffering extra time will ensure that your portraits will be relaxed and your images will be gorgeous. I personally recommend a MINIMUM of 90 minutes for bride and groom and wedding party portraits (not including travel time) and 30-40 minutes for family formals. (Read more: Planning a Successful Wedding Day Photography Timeline)
Mistake #4: Not doing a hair/makeup trial before the wedding
Most hair and makeup artists include this is their service, so please take advantage of the opportunity to work out any kinks ahead of time. Take photos of your finished look in natural light to make sure you are happy with the way you will look in portraits.
Mistake #5: Not taking photos in your altered wedding dress before the wedding day
I recommend having someone snap pictures of you in your dress from all sides and angles so there are no surprises when you receive your wedding photos. Do this with enough time for additional alterations if something does not look the way you want it to.
Mistake #6: Not taking the light into consideration when making plans
While experienced photographers can work in any lighting condition, they know that not all light is created equal. To achieve the absolute best quality photos, be mindful of the light when making plans. This includes everything from choosing your getting ready-room (the more window light the better), to the time of day to have your outdoor ceremony (NOT at high noon when the sun is directly overhead), to planning for portraits (natural light is always best), to reception lighting (up-lighting for the win!).
Mistake# 7: Sacrificing natural-light portrait-time for the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding
Did you know that the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony comes from the time of arranged marriages when the practice was put into place to prevent a groom from running away if he did not like the look of his bride? Not exactly romantic.
While flash photography has it’s advantages and can be stunning and dramatic, natural light is hands-down the most flattering light for portraits. And for a film photographer like myself, natural light is key to achieving a dreamy, painterly aesthetic. (Read more: Why I Shoot Film). If your ceremony ends close to or after dark, you may want to consider nixing an outdated tradition in favor of gorgeous daylight photos. (Read More: 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider a First Look on Your Wedding Day)
Mistake# 8: Choosing photo location quantity over quality
I always caution brides who request multiple portrait locations. Choosing one high quality location with multiple options is usually better than traveling to many different sites. Traveling often takes up much more time in the schedule than people think due to traffic, parking issues, and the time that it takes to load and unload everyone from vehicles. Most brides and grooms don’t want to spend their wedding day driving around, and by the time they get to location 3, everyone is tired of taking photos anyway. Do your photographer (and yourself!) a favor by removing the stress created by trying to hit a list of locations, and instead allow her to settle in and get creative in one amazing place.
Mistake# 9: Over-reliance on Pinterest for photo ideas
I am in no way a Pinterest-hater. I planned my own wedding using ideas found on Pinterest, and I have an entire board dedicated to Wedding Inspiration so I recognize the value of pinning the wedding of your dreams. However, I will caution against creating a large must-have shots list. Professional photographers are creatives, so suggesting they copy the images and ideas of other photographers slowly kills their souls (not to be overly dramatic).
Think about the portraits that will forever represent who you are as a couple. Do you want your wedding photos to look like everyone else’s viral Pinterest images? Choose a photographer you trust and whose style you love. Most photographers will not mind if you suggest a few must-have shots, but for the sake of both your sanity, please do not pin the images of 50 different photographers and ask your photographer to spend the entire day recreating your Pinterest board. Trust me, you will love your photos more if they are unique to YOUR wedding.
Mistake# 10: Not smiling and/or enjoying your day
I totally get it. You spent a LOT of time and money planning your dream wedding and you want everything to be perfect. But the day of the wedding is NOT the time to stress out. Expect that not everything will go to plan and that’s OK. Things happen and worrying about it will only steal away the joy of your wedding day. Hire a wedding coordinator and/or assign a non-wedding-party assistant to help with last-minute details so that all you have to do is relax and live in the moment.
And lastly, don’t forget to SMILE! Your photographer will be taking photos of you during all moments of the day, so remember that it’s completely OK (and greatly encouraged!) to show how happy you are to be marrying the love of your life!
