Listed below are a few essential ideas for wedding photographs designed to spark your interest in what photo's you may wish taken during your special day to capture the beauty, romance, character studies and emotion.

At the venue prior to ceremony:

Close ups of everything flowers, shoes, rings, cake ....
Car/Transport : Lights on car / Bouquet on/in car
Route of the Car/Transport between venues,
must be made clear to photographer.

Tip : Photograph young children as early in the proceedings
 as possible (before boredom, tears and scweems)
Tip : Wear waterproof mascara (Brides Mum)

During Ceremony: Ask Officiate what is allowed:

Marriage licence: a license authorizing a man and a woman to marry
Licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something.
All marriages, statutory and common law, are based on a contract. In the case of a statutory marriage, the contract is between three parties.

When booking your Wedding reception leave as much time as possible between the Wedding Service and the Reception/Meal for photographs.

Fact. Most people do not like having their photograph taken.
Some Brides and Grooms tend to think photographs just appear and are often unaware of the working collaboration necessary between wedding party and photographer. After the ceremony the photographer is often the only person with any idea of what is supposed to happen when and where and give gentle reminders to the wedding party.

Let your photographer know about your family structure, i.e. divorces,  family feuds!!    I have photographed a Wedding with FOUR sets of parents.

Most photographs which appear in Wedding magazines are posed using stylists, hairdressers, professional models, studio lighting.

Many Brides have had an idealised Wedding Photo in their heads for many years. They will never get this image in reality.
One Bride asked me for a romantic shot of herself and Groom in a small boat.
I built up a picture in my mind, of heather covered hills, mist and setting sun.
As it happened the weather, torrential rain, stopped any boating that day. When I saw the actual boat, it looked like a tractor and not the clinker built wooden rowing boat I had envisaged.

Brides & Grooms MUST make the photographer aware of what groups and groupings they require. A photo with a favourite aunt or special friend...

BRIDESMAIDS DUTIES
Among the Bridesmaids many duties is to have one delegated to look after the flower girls - pages boys, all Bridesmaid should check that the brides dress/train is sitting attractively, all should keep an eye on each others tiaras, necklaces, etc. see they are hanging correctly and that the clasps are hidden. Check each others bra straps, hair ......
When the Bride arrives at the alter, make sure the train or back of the dress is sitting elegantly.
Bridesmaids often, during the wedding service, have a glazed look, perhaps thinking of their own nuptials .... but this can look like a vacant mind. Look interested in the proceedings girls.

Brides & Grooms from the moment they are married should walk down the isle ARM in ARM .. and never let go.

Black & White Shots: Sepia, duotones, monotones, spot colour, vignette, montage etc. Photo manipulation in Adobe Photoshop.
Newspaper Photos: Note all your local newspapers.

Tip : SLOW DOWN don't hurry up the aisle ~ I repeat SLOW DOWN ~ walk regally, hold poses, kiss slowly ~ giving your guests (and me) time to take photos of you both.

Tip : DO NOT OVER TAN or you will look like a bar of CHOCOLATE and the Groom will look like a milk bottle.

Tip: Confetti - Make everyone throw the confetti AT THE SAME TIME,
more effectual.

Tip : Kissing for the camera is different from your everyday kissing, couples are advised to watch romantic films to see how the professionals kiss. Practice before a mirror.

The hawthorn branches have been regarded as the emblem of hope, and its branches are stated to have been carried by the ancient Greeks in wedding processions

Be aware that some small tiny thing always goes wrong at a wedding and that the Brides dress always gets a little dirty or drink spilled on it!

After the Ceremony:

Gardens:

Alone Time: Since the couple have had months of anticipation and build up to the exchange of vows, this is the time when they may experience the psychological emotions of being a newly married couple.

At Reception: