You have plenty to stress over…your wedding day photography shouldn’t be one of them. So, to help ease the process and ensure that your memories are photographed to your liking, here are a few tips.

1. Determine your style – There are two main types of photographs that can come out of a wedding: candid or posed; what do you prefer? Of course, you’ll probably end up with some of both, but it’s important to decide on what you envision for a majority of your images. For instance, I love candid photos, as they tend to capture the feelings of the bridal party and guests. Images of your groomsman laughing together minutes before the ceremony, your groom smiling as you walk down the aisle and your parents crying tears of joy as the two of you depart the reception. On the other hand, some brides enjoy many posed pictures that include all of the bridal party, family and close friends. Both styles are beautiful – it’s up to you to decide which one you want the photographer to really run with.
2. Create a timeline – Decide when you want to take your posed photographs. Even if you primarily want candid photographs taken, you are likely going to want some posed of you and your groom, as well as your parents and a few of the bridal party, at the very least. If you choose to have a lot of these, you should consider some before the ceremony (those that don’t require you to see the groom, such as pictures of you with your bridesmaids and him with his groomsman) and some between the ceremony and reception (those that require you to be with the groom, such as couple pictures and those with your immediate families).
   The timeline should also include the time that your photographer will arrive and depart your event. Because your photographer has allotted your event a certain number of hours (depending on his/her charge and fees), this timeline will eliminate any time conflicts and confusion. Also note the time and location of all events that your photographer will be expected to take pictures. For instance, your ceremony and reception may be at separate locations. In addition, it’s helpful to include in your timeline the order of events of such festivities as the bouquet toss and cake cutting. This ensures that you and your photographer are on the same page. Note, however, that whomever you hire for the job should be flexible and patient with you – you’re the bride and it’s YOUR day!
3. Make a list – It’s important that you convey what you want to your photographer. Make a list of what moments you want captured, as well as who and what you want to be photographed. For instance, if the cake and flowers are your favorite aspects of the event, put that on your list. Or if you have specific family members and friends that you want to be sure to be pictured with, note that on your list. Your photographer is a professional and should be able to create beautiful images surrounding your preferences. Plus, the list will come in handy when you are doing your posed photographs. This process is typically very tedious and will benefit greatly from your pre-wedding organization.
4. Meet with your photographer – Prior to the wedding, sit down with your photographer and discuss exactly what you want. Share with him your answers to the three points listed above: your style, your timeline and your list.
5. Relax – After you’ve been clear about your expectations of your wedding photography, you can focus on other aspects of your big day. Then, once your wedding is over, you’ll wait several weeks to receive your images. From the hundreds, even thousands, you’ll select your favorites and choose from various styles of printing. Lastly, enjoy your photographs for a lifetime!