8 Tips To Make The Most Out Of Your Wedding Photography

Let’s talk wedding photography: You’re engaged, you’re planning a wedding, you’re looking for a photographer (or you already have one, HI!) and you’re now being faced with the reality that you’re about to have a camera pointed at your face for HOURS ON END.

Being photographed is always, ALWAYS nerve-wracking. I can’t really speak for supermodels, but for us average joes, it’s scary as shit! But the good news is… it doesn’t have to be, baby! Full disclosure, I’m always preaching this to my clients and yet, even when it was my turn to be photographed around our wedding day, I WAS PETRIFIED. I might have even overdone it with the wine during our engagement session–I cannot confirm nor deny this.

ANYWAYS… your wedding day is and should be the best. motherfucking. day. ever! Being present with your spouse, your family and friends, and enjoying every moment is so, so important. So how do we subside the photo-taking nerves and ensure that we’re prioritizing kick-ass photos all day? Keep scrolling to read 8 tips that place quality wedding photos and authenticity at the forefront.

Make Sure Your Wedding Photography is in Good Hands

Trusting your photographer (aka me, hi) is always my #1 advice when it comes to getting good photos ANYTIME (not just weddings!). You have to be tooootally comfortable and certain that you’re in good hands, and that your wedding photographer will be able to bring your vision to life.

This trust is established through constant communication, understanding how your photographer works and the information they need, and working together to make sure you’re on the same page! I have scheduled check-ins with my wedding clients prior to their special day to provide timeline assistance, discuss ‘must-have’ photos and shot lists, and make sure our timelines look EXACTLY THE SAME.

That way, you don’t have to wonder where I am throughout the day. You trust that I know what’s unfolding throughout the day, and that I GOTCHU. Decor photos? I GOTCHU! Candid images of your cute grandma during cocktail hour? I GOTCHU! The sweet little moments between you & your partner when you think no one’s watching? I GOTCHU!

Schedule in Downtime on Your Wedding Day

When we discuss timeline assistance, I will always add some ‘buffer time’ into your schedule. Sure, this buffer time takes into account traffic, parking mishaps, your late uncle, etc, but we should also be intentional with our buffer time! Schedule in time for you and your partner to have some private moments together.

I know everyone says this, but there’s a reason for it: the day moves by SO QUICKLY. Schedule some time for you & your partner to have some private moments together with no one else except… you guessed it: ME. This gives us the opportunity to get some beautiful shots of you two, with no distractions, in a moment where you’re taking it all in. You will love the natural photos that come from you not feeling rushed and stressed!

Be OK with Things NOT Being OK

No matter how many check-ins we have before your wedding day, no matter how colour-coded your Google doc’s are, no matter how great your wedding coordinator is, things can ALWAYS go sideways. If you’re a type A queen or king (like me) who tends to get caught up in the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ when things go wrong, it’s time to adjust those expectations!

When and if the timeline goes off, or something goes wrong during the wedding, keep your cool, and remember what your priorities are on the wedding day! The energy you bring to your day is what will be captured, so we always want you to be joyful, happy and CAREFREE! So your photographs can reflect exactly that. *Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ playing on a constant loop in your brain*

Select Your Toronto Wedding Venue with Your Photos in Mind

I can write an entire blog on this alone so I’ll try to keep it nice and CONCISE with 3 main points. Obviously, first and foremost when selecting your venue is whether it fits your vibe and vision. Photography is incredibly important on your wedding day but it shouldn’t be leading this decision, IMO!

That said… there are some important questions you should ask your venue before booking to ensure that your photographer will be able to work seamlessly and get you your dream photos! First, is your venue able to host more than one wedding a day? If so, make sure you understand what spaces you have access to and at what time. Running into another bride and competing for photo locations is… NOT FUN! I mean I’ll try to make it fun even if it happens (duel to the death, anyone?), but you know… better if we avoid it.

Second, what’s the surrounding area like? The more photo location options, the better! Would be wonderful if we could step out during dinner and grab a few sunset photos, and if we can get you a variety of spots throughout the day!

Third, does your venue reflect your style and your vision for your photographs? If you’re a timeless, classic couple that gravitates toward bright, clear images, make sure your venue has a TON of natural light! Some gorgeous wedding venues are more moody and dark, so it wouldn’t make sense to book a venue like such when you’re hoping for bright images. It seems like an obvious point, but make sure the venue you’re locking in is aligned with your inspo images!

Have a Solid Plan B in Place for Your Wedding Portraits

This advice is mostly for couples who are opting for an outdoor wedding. If you’re getting married in a climate that could very well call for rain at any moment, be mindful of this! My advice always is to have a plan B indoor option. There are some beautiful furnished studios around the GTA that we can look into renting.

The best bet is to book them anyway, even if we don’t end up using them! This will be an extra cost, but we can always look into the studio policies and inquire about receiving a credit if we end up not using the space for the time we’ve booked it. The worst case scenario is you lose that money, BUT it’s worth it in my opinion to have a safeguard in place!

Be Selective with Your Getting Ready Location

This is a big one. I feel strongly for this one. Please, please, for all that’s good in the world, do NOT get ready in a Holiday Inn 😣. I know their prices are great and maybe their beds are comfy, but as much as I try, I’m no magician, and I can’t possibly make a Holiday Inn suite look like a modern cool space, YOU KNOW?

Natural light is a PRIORITY when selecting your getting-ready location. If your home, your parents’ home or any other space you deem acceptable to get ready in isn’t ideal for photos, then get imaginative! You can ask a close friend with a cool loft if you can use their space, you can rent an awesome AirBnB for you and your friends nearby, OR you can rent a studio!

Some lovely furnished studios, like this one in Toronto for example, are available for rent for multiple hours on end, so you can make yourself at home, AND guarantee some dope ass photos.

Hire a Videographer Your Photographer Has Worked With

Your videographer and photographer will be working SO closely on your big day. If you have a dream wedding videographer who I haven’t worked with, make sure you get us in contact before the wedding day! It’s so important that we both see eye-to-eye when it comes to wedding coverage, so that we have similar approaches, and we won’t be in each other’s way the entire day.

If you have a photographer, like myself, who prioritizes candid moments and will NEVER fabricate a fake moment for photos, make sure you’re not hiring a videographer who (no shade), treats your wedding day like a movie trailer! Otherwise, we will be butting heads allllll day (been there, and it’s very unfortunate). I have worked with so many wonderful Toronto videographers in past weddings and would be more than happy to send you a list when you’re hunting!

Book that Engagement Shoot!

I’m saving the best tip for last, baby. This one goes without saying! BOOK THAT ENGAGEMENT SHOOT! There are one thousand pros to booking an engagement session, but in this context, the biggest pro is that we get to work together beforehand! You’ll already be familiar and comfortable with me, and this will make the wedding day go by thaaaat much smoother.

Nail Those Wedding Photos, Baybay!

It’s your big day, and you want to feel confident that your wedding photography is HANDLED. If you follow these tips, you can trust that they will be!

Looking for a Toronto Wedding Photographer to capture one of the most epic days of your life? Your photos are in good hands with me! Let’s see if we’d be a good fit—reach out to me today.