I’ve recently redesigned the website into a new template, and with this I have done an over haul of my portfolios. There is still the main portfolio of my favourite images, but now sectioned galleries of different stages in the wedding day as well. This way, I can show my clients how images may flow together as different parts of the day, whilst also showing what clients get when they bolt on those extra few hours for wedding prep or late night dancing. There are also a few tips on how these are photographed and what styles work too.
The new portfolios can be found here:
The getting ready shots are the ones that most people do want captured, but getting ready shots are not for everyone. Depending on what kind of bride (or groom!) you are will depend on how your getting ready is, sometimes it’s a girly morning of champagne, chocolate & giggling whilst getting ready and other times it’s more intimate, maybe just the bride, her mum and children as well. These shots are always great, no matter what the subject, but some people don’t want a photographer involved which is fine. They’re nice moments to capture, and it’s a great ice breaker if you’re feeling a bit nervous about your wedding photography.
The main event, the wedding ceremony! These shots are always very intimate and the reportage style works very well here. Some formal shots can also be taken shortly after the ceremony as well as some portraits. Photographs of the ceremony can be subject to the venue and the person conducting the ceremony (Priest, registrar, etc..) so check what is allowed or restricted. Most wedding venues are quite relaxed, but some places will have rules and will want you and your wedding photographer to respect them.
The bride & groom portraits are the photos you will treasure the most. Some people have relaxed portraits or some things that are mush more fun, and this will depend on the style of your wedding. It always helps to have your own input here, how do you want to be photographed? Most photographer’s will do their own thing and know what looks good but a suggestion of what’s important to you makes a portrait session much more of a collaboration, which can usually result in better photos!
The reception photographs are often a time to get more portraits and shots done that weren’t taken at or after the ceremony, but the reportage style works well here too! Make sure there is time to get photos of all the details of your reception and you’ll want shots of everyone laughing at the best man’s speech! The reception is always a time when people start to relax and have fun, so activities and games are always fun to photograph here too. Often the reception happens when there is the best light in early evening, which works really well for some great images.
Finally, the party portfolio is based on getting all those photos of your first dance and the evening. The first dance should definitely be photographed, and is usually the time when a photographer will clock off. However, if your photographer sticks around for a couple of hours, they can cover all your friends going wild on the dance floor and some even set up photo booths for the evening as an activity in it’s own right! These shots are always hilarious; as are some other evening events such as the tossing of the bouquet, and I’ve also seen some human pyramids, limbo, tug of war, the Horah (A Jewish tradition), Bhangra dancing, ceilidh bands & breakdancing.
