5 Tips For Better Getting ready Photos!
1. FIND THE LIGHT!
The secret to incredible images on your wedding day, is great light, though not all light is created equal! When you arrive wherever it is that you’re going to be getting ready on the day, have a look around and figure out which room or space within a room has the best natural light. This is typically going to be from windows or doors and could end up being a bedroom, hallway, living room or kitchen. If you are getting ready in a hotel, this may even end up being a common hallway or lobby!
Once you’ve chosen the a space with the best available natural light, let everyone know that you’re keeping that area free for photos.
PRO TIP: No natural light to speak of? That’s ok, let’s head outside! Often courtyards or shaded balconies make excellent options for getting ready photos.
2. CLEAR CLUTTER
With wedding preparation comes people and with people come things! Think makeup, clothes, champagne, shoes, food, water bottles, mobile phones, gifts, bags. You’ll be surrounded by all number of things on the morning of your wedding day and these things tend to sneak into the background of your photos in the form of clutter, which isn’t beautiful.
Communicate with those around you that you’d like to keep the space that you’ve kept aside for getting ready photos tidy and clear of clutter.
PRO TIP 1: Replace plastic water bottles and their brightly coloured lids with nice glassware. That way, if a drink happens to find it’s way into the background of a photo, it’s not going to be a distracting element.
PRO TIP 2: Make sure that beds are made. If you’ve stayed in a hotel room the night before, have housekeeping come up in the morning to make the bed and give the room a once over.
3. PLAN AHEAD
First, organise all of the details that you want photographed, which are a part of your preparation, into one place. This can either be the night before or the morning of, before I arrive, though I recommend the evening before. This ensures that nothing gets missed on the day, it saves time and means that everyone can relax, enjoying themselves instead of treasure hunting for items to be photographed on the day.
What you might include:
Dress, Suits, Rings, Veil or Hair Piece, Shoes, Jewellery, Accessories, Family Heirlooms, Traditional keepsake, Vows, Invitation Suite, Florals, Perfume, Cologne, Special Gifts, Purse or Clutch, Wedding Party Gifts
Secondly, if there’s anybody that you’d like to be a part of your getting ready photos, perhaps the wedding party or a parent, prep them so that they know to be ready. Ensure their hair and makeup are done and they’re dressed and ready for photos.
PRO TIP 1: Liaise with your florist to ensure that bouquets and buttonholes will be delivered before your photographer arrives at preparation.
PRO TIP 2: Guys, make sure shirts are ironed or pressed the day before, suit jackets are unpicked & laces are in any new shoes.
4. FINISH HAIR & MAKEUP 90 MINS BEFORE YOU’RE DUE TO LEAVE
Keep things as relaxed as possible and plan to finish hair and makeup 90 minutes before you’re due to leave for your ceremony. That will generally end up being 20-30 minutes after I’ve arrived and started photographing your details and means you’ll be able to get photos of your hair and makeup/ finishing touches, as well as give you plenty of time for getting ready photos without rushing. It’s always nice to have a little time up your sleeve on the day in case things run a bit late.
Guys, aim to be showered, shaved with your hair done etc. before your photographer arrives so that you’re not rushed on the day.
PRO TIP: Put your photographer and hair and makeup artist in touch early, so that they can coordinate times for the morning, which saves you needing to go back and forth between the two. As soon as you know your ceremony start time and any addresses, or at least suburbs, that you’ll be using on the day, your photographer will be able to confirm the days timeline for you.
5. HAVE FUN, IT’S YOUR WEDDING DAY!
You’ve put a lot of hard work in to get to this point and the day will go by in an awesome flash, so take some time and enjoy it! Celebrate with Champagne, listen to your favourite music, laugh with your wedding party, share a moment with your family, be present and go with the flow.
PRO TIP: Delegate somebody to be responsible for taking care of little things as they pop up through the day.
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