If you haven't considered it, it does offer itself up for many tender organic moments both between the couple + their people!
One time I almost missed the first kiss because it happened at an unusual point in the ceremony and I had no idea! I have to ask every couple this now because I'm scarred for life!
If you want to do a first look, this is the time to start dreaming it up! Do you have a vision in mind for this moment? I highly recommend First Looks for weddings in the fall and winter, due to how early we lose the sunlight.
If you have specific locations that you want your photos to take place in, this is the place to share what they are so that we can make necessary travel plans and account for travel time.
Please use this space to share with me the timeline you have going at this moment! If you need help with your timeline, please don't hesitate to reach out! If you're timeline is better sent via email, or you're working with a wedding planner, go ahead and drop it into my email! ( heybamphoto@gmail.com ) Once I've taken a look at that, we can set up a phone call to hash out the final details together!
I do NOT want to have to ask you about my meal, and I do NOT want you wondering about if I've eaten on your wedding day. Photographers + other vendors are infamously treated poorly at weddings because we are the first to ask when we're eating. I think it's important for our couples to understand that caterers believe the vendors should be fed only after the final guest has been fed (some don't believe we should eat at all!!!) and the reality is that this is such archaic thinking. They treat us as though we are greedy little beggars, when in reality we just want to eat at the same time as you so that we can be done eating when you're done and be ready to take photos when things are happening again. I now have to write this story out to ensure full understanding of this situation so it can be handled in advance with the caterer, so as to avoid any blips in service. Cool?
The wedding industry is a close knit one! I try to make sure that all vendors get properly tagged and credited anytime their work and art is being represented on social media! Could you let me know who you're working with? Florals, Cake, Planner, DJ, Videographer, etc. Bonus points if you know their handles on socials!
This sort of helps me figure out what facets of my personality I'll be bringing to the party to help your people feel more at ease with me. Having a camera pointed at you when you're in a vulnerable space at a wedding can be made less uncomfortable/intrusive, and more respectful if they feel a bit more connected to me.
Divorces, Deaths, or Dramas?
I'd love to know their names, and anything you think might help paint a picture of what you love most about them!
I'm a real fan of (not too) embarrassing stories, just sayin'!
Are there any special guests coming to the wedding that you would like to be sure and get a photo with?
This is a part of the day where a lot of time gets eaten up. You can expect that every photo could take from anywhere up to 2 or 3 minutes to get set up, and get everyone into position where they can be seen. Sometimes (a lot of times) this time is eaten up by looking for a missing family member. Please let all family know in advance, that they will be needed at this time, and where specifically to be.
Here's an example to use as you create your own list. Please include the family member's names as I will print this list exactly as it is and use it to direct everyone into their groupings by name. This helps everyone not feel like they are guessing who I'm talking to!
– COUPLE with both immediate families (parents, grandparents, and siblings)
– COUPLE with Partner 1's immediate family
– COUPLE with Partner 1's Mother and Father
– PARTNER 1 with Mother and Father
– PARTNER 1 with Mother
– PARTNER 1 with Father
– COUPLE with Partner 1's grandparents (maternal)
– COUPLE with Partner 1's grandparents (paternal)
– COUPLE with Partner 2's immediate family (parents, grandparents, and siblings)
– COUPLE with Partner 2's Mother and Father
– PARTNER 2 with Mother and Father
– PARTNER 2 with Mother
– PARTNER 2 with Father
– PARTNER 2 with siblings
– COUPLE with Partner 2's grandparents (maternal)
– COUPLE with Partner 2's grandparents (paternal)
The best thing you can do for this portion of the day is nominate an usher/friend/bridesmaid etc (or 2!) to help corral the people for the above photos and to help keep things as smooth and quick as possible on the day. Ideally this person is in your circle who knows most of the key people and someone happy to shout and organize people! Often I'll reach out to them before the wedding to say hello and make sure they've got a copy of a list of the images we need. If you could list the ideal candidate here and also their email/phone numbers - that would be great!
If you're interested in sunset portraits in that ooey+gooey golden sunlight, you'll want to have time for it carved into your timeline. I think 10 mins is a good enough amount of time, but if it's a part of the day where you intend to have the majority of your couple portraits take place, then you'll want to allow up to 25 mins for this.
I know this question is loaded and how could you possibly choose? But this really helps me get a deeper sense for where your photographic priorities rest. Knowing this really helps me richen the story I'm telling because its a reflection of what you value most
When people open their eyes the next morning, what do you want them to be talking about?
For example, it was important for me to let our photographers know that I come from a very broken family, and that my friends became my family in my real life. Because they knew that, they placed heavier emphasis on those relationships in the photographs, and I have asked every couple to let me know if there's anything like this that I should I know since the day I got my own wedding photos back. I couldn't possibly learn about all the intricacies that exist in all of your relationships, so this feels like a perfect moment to give you space to share anything that you might feel is insightful or helpful in making sure that your photos are everything you hope for.