Your
WEDDING GUIDE
Thanks so much for being here. It means you’ve locked me in as your wedding photographer!
Finding a photographer whose work you love is very important but it’s the connection, communication and preparation you have with them that really leads to capturing the most beautiful wedding photographs. In this guide I will share with you my top tips on how to get the most out of your wedding images…
What to expect
This guide is a resource to help you create the groundwork for amazing photographs from your wedding day and elevate the stress of planning an event to remember. It’s not meant to be something you need to follow word-for-word but as guidance if you are seeking it. Remember that all weddings are unique and there is no one right way to do things. All of these tips are from my experience of being both a photographer and a bride. If you have any other ideas, please let me know. I would love to hear them!
First up
YOUR WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
I will work with you to create your ideal wedding photography timeline, providing my years of experience, knowing how long is needed to cover certain aspects of the day. We work on this document around 4-6 months prior to the wedding day, go through it at your pre-wedding session, or earlier if you need it done sooner.
To help plan the day out until we create your own, I’ve created an example photography timeline for you to download below. Coverage is based on the Notebook package of 6 hours. You might like to add on time for more reception coverage, sunset photos, or if there is significant travel from your preparation/ceremony/reception venues.
Some extra info in planning your timeline…
When should the bride have her hair and makeup done by prior to starting photos?
It’s good to make sure your make-up and hair is finished at least 30 mins before I arrive in case they/events are running behind. I recommend giving yourself and your artist extra time so you aren’t rushed or stressed. You can also have something to eat, go to the toilet and get your spanx on here!
Typically when I arrive for your getting ready photos, I will capture candid shots of you and your bridal party in PJs & we can do a champagne pop if you like here. Suggested time for bride’s getting ready photographs is 1.5 hours (includes candids, detail shots, family portraits, bridal party portraits).
What about the Groom?
I’ll typically pop by to see the groom before the bride for about 30-45 minutes to get plenty of relaxed getting ready shots of him and the boys, and any family present. Sometimes to save time, I can meet the groom at the ceremony location for these photos if you’d prefer.
What kind of ‘details’ do you need to prepare for?
Wedding details for the couple include the dress, veil, shoes, bouquet, rings, invitations, bow-tie, jewellery, perfume/cologne, etc. As well as shooting any other moments happening. I suggest having details ready to go in a naturally lit room and dress hung. After I have met everyone on arrival, I will ask if I am able to move things around and touch the dress (with clean hands of course!) as I shoot the details.
Group Photo + Traditional Family Portraits
Straight after guests have congratulated you, this is a nice time to have the celebrant (or sometimes me!) ask everyone to gather in a spot for that group photo of all your guests.
Straight after this, we’ll do family photos, which I believe are such an important part of the day. It’s a good idea to create a list of the groups of family members you would like shot so we don’t miss anyone. Give this list to someone on both sides of your families so they can grab people as we’re going and keep it running smoothly. Suggested times: 15 mins for 8 groups or less / 15-25 mins for groups of 8 or more.
Bridal Party + Couples Portraits
I suggest 1.5 hours for this time, which includes any travel to extra locations. 20-30 minutes for the bridal party and 1 hour for the couple. We can chat about possible nearby locations for these photos if the ceremony location doesn’t have a great backdrop, or enough space.
Sunset Portraits
SUNSET! I highly recommend we pop out again between speeches and capture 10-20 minutes of golden hour sunset images. Most often these are my couple’s favourite shots of the day, and it gives you that quiet moment together.
Considering a First Look?
If you're looking for a non-traditional approach, a private first look for the bride and groom is a great option. I recommend allowing at least 30 minutes for this, so you can relax together before the ceremony starts. During my location scout, I will find the perfect setting for this intimate moment, and be sure to give you the space you need to enjoy it. Afterwards, you may want to take the opportunity to tick off your bridal party and/or portrait session before the ceremony begins. This means you can enjoy cocktail hour with your guests without having to rush off for photos. And if you're feeling nervous about the ceremony, a first look can be a great way to alleviate those nerves.
The one thing I will mention here, is that it’s important to be mindful of the sunlight at this time. If it’s 1pm in the afternoon, remember that the sun will be bright, casting shadows over your faces. If you have a wedding (or preparation) venue that is indoors with great natural light, or nicely shaded areas, that is preferred.
Preparing for Your Pre-wedding Photo Session
As part of all my wedding packages, you’ll see I always include a pre-wedding/engagement session. I want to get to know you both, hear about the way you met, proposed, what your plans are to make your day just right for you. We’ll also work through your timeline if we haven’t already done so.
And the best part is, if you’re nervous about being in front of the camera, this will be the perfect pre-wedding warm-up! I’ll give you some tips on posing naturally, how to relax, and enjoy the moment, and you’ll get to see how I work so you know what to expect on your wedding day. You’ll come away with some beautiful photos that you can use for your save the date cards, invitations or guest book as well as an opportunity to test your make-up and hair artist’s handiwork on camera if the date works out!
You can book your session in for any time - 12 months before, 6 months, 2 weeks if you like. These sessions are held within the Goulburn Valley (up to 20 mins out of Shepparton) on a weekday (as weekends are for events), but if you are from out of town and need a weekend date we can make something work for June/July/Aug. I generally like to have a date locked in for this around 3-4 months prior. When you’re ready, send me an email and we’ll pencil it in!
YOUR WEDDING A-TEAM
We are lucky enough to have some INCREDIBLE wedding vendors in the Goulburn Valley. Here is my constantly growing list to help you in your planning!
-
(I have worked weddings at all of these venues)
Euroa Butter Factory, Euroa
Harvest Home, Avenel
Trawool Estate, Trawool
Northern Republic, Euroa
The Dookie Quarry, Dookie (ask me for the owner’s direct number!)
Olivehouse Restaurant, Kialla
Brown Brothers, Milawa
The Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort, Merrijig
Lancemore, Macedon Ranges
The Woolshed at Emerald Bank, Kialla
Cactus Country, Strathmerton
Yackatoon Gardens, Undera
Moira Station, Mathoura
Mitchelton Winery, Nagambie
Tahbilk Winery, Nagambie
Byrchendale, Murchison (ceremony only)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Matty + Jamie Duo - Husband and wife duo and MC
-
-
Stll putting this together!
-
Some things to let your guests know…
Whether it's in person, on a wedding website, as a wedding invitation insert, or even on the wedding invitation itself, there are some details you'll want to make sure to share with your guests leading up to the big day.
The Official Wedding #Hashtag
Will you have a hashtag at your wedding for guests to use so you can see all of the social media posts just by typing that tag in? I’ve seen some creative hashtags in my time - google some ideas! The other idea I love is using a QR code at the wedding that guests can log into and add their own phone photos to for you. I think it also encourages guests to take meaningful photos for you behind the scenes and on the dance floor!
Directions to the venue and info on accomodation/transport options
Whether it's simply clear directions to the venue and parking information, or the specifics about the shuttles you'll be providing, let guests know about transportation well in advance so they don't make any unnecessary plans.
Put down a 15-30 min earlier commencement time for your ceremony so everyone is there before the bridal car.
Also be sure to include a dress code on your invitations if you want one!
Ask certain guests to give toasts or readings
Toasts and readings are a sweet way to include people you care about in your celebration, and anyone you invite to give a toast or deliver a reading will appreciate the advanced notice so they have time to prepare. If they're being given this honour, they are probably close family members or friends and will take the role seriously. Don't wait until the last minute to announce that you'd like them to participate—it puts more pressure on them than is necessary. Also, be sure to tell them when during the wedding they'll be speaking. And since speaking at a wedding is such a special role, this is the type of information you should share via phone call—or even better, over a cup of coffee in person—so you can discuss all the specifics.
CEREMONY IDEAS
An Uplugged Ceremony
Have you considered an "unplugged" wedding? It's a simple concept – asking guests to be present in the moment during your ceremony by turning off their phones and cameras. It's a great way to ensure the ceremony is the main focus of attention and avoid having phones and cameras detract from the experience. Many couples don't think about this aspect until after the wedding when they see the photos with phones scattered throughout, but it's worth considering. If you do decide to go unplugged, ask your officiant to make an announcement before the ceremony begins to ensure everyone is on the same page.
We live in a digital age where all of your guests can access all the photos I capture. I send you previews of your wedding day to share with your friends and family right after the wedding day so they can share it as well. Another idea to make sure people get all the photos they want of the day is to have a Polaroids, disposable cameras or a photo booth for guests at your reception to hop in and get photos together to remember your day.
Keep the momentum going
The other thing to think about is whether you will walk straight down the aisle after being announced as man and wife, or stop to greet your parents/grandparents on the way. Either way is totally fine with me, but it’s good to have a plan of what you will do and to let me know your decision prior to the day (to avoid confusion with you both, and with where I will stand as you walk back down). Will you stop half way down the aisle for a kiss as everyone throws their confetti, dip the bride at the end of the aisle, or simply fist-pump that you made it?!
When to feed your photographer…
Wedding photographers and videographers, along with the other vendors are commonly served their meals after guests have been served. Unfortunately, that is often when the action has started again and we won’t have time to eat or we will miss a potential moment. The trick is to tell the kitchen to serve your photographer at the same time as the bridal table. That way, the photographer can eat when you are eating and then get back to shooting when things such as the speeches start up again.
Wedding Photography Questionnaire
Don’t forget to start filling in the questionnaire I sent you in your official booking email as soon as you can. You can always click the link later down the track and continue adding new details.
Having the basic info like addresses, will help me to start on your timeline when the time comes, and also help me to work out whether I will need to book accommodation for myself. If you get stuck with anything you can always send me an email for guidance.
Social Media Etiquette
I know you will be hanging out to see some photos after your day, but of course it takes time to download, backup and choose these for editing. I aim to get you a handful of photos within the first week of your wedding.
On sharing these images with you, I will also share on my social media accounts (if you are happy for me to do so) and tag you and your other vendors to share the love. I’d appreciate if you could also tag me when sharing the images as it’s always nice to be credited for my work.
Your full online gallery will be delivered within 6-8 weeks. If you are purchasing products, these will arrive roughly 4-5 weeks after the order date.
Your gallery will remain online for at least 2 years. It is during this time you can download, share and print your images.
PRINT PRODUCTS
You’ve invested in these gorgeous memories of your day, so please ensure you create something physical to remind you of it!
The tactile experience of holding your wedding photos in your hands adds a dimension to your images that digital copies can't possibly replicate. Whether you choose to adorn your walls with fine art prints or craft a gorgeous wedding album, these tangible keepsakes allow you to revisit and pass down the memories of your special day year after year. Top tip here is to leave funds in your wedding budget to ensure you get an album.
I offer the highest quality professional print products that you can purchase straight through your online gallery, or by chatting directly to me with what you’re after. Here are just some ideas!
The quality of my Fine Art Wedding albums are next level. Hand made in Melbourne and the perfect keepsake of your day.
Whether you have this included in your package, or you want to add it on after the fact, we will work together to create something beautiful for you.
After viewing your gallery, I ask you to pick 40-50 of your favourite images by ‘hearting’ them in the gallery. I use a special software to design your album, and use an online proofing system for you to check over each page, ensuring you are happy with the design, where each image is, etc. It’s at this stage you can swap images in/out, by commenting on each page in the online proof. You’ll get 2 proofs of your album before you approve it and I send it off to my printer.
You’ll also get to choose the cover fabric (leather/linen is included but there are also some other options), cover colour, font and font colour.
Your Wedding Album
What’s the most important thing I need to remember?
THIS IS YOUR DAY, GO WITH THE FLOW
Welcome whatever moments unfold. On your wedding day, there's no need to stress, especially about things beyond your control. Perfection is elusive, and that's just a part of life. Don't exhaust yourself trying to make everything flawless. Instead, embrace laughter, and everything will turn out just fine.
ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR DAY
Simple but it’s true and needs to be remembered. Yes, it is important to honour your family members and include them in certain aspects but this is ultimately your day. Do it for yourselves and infuse it with as much personal meaning as possible. Often couples will get too caught up in trying to make their mums happy and they realise their wedding is something that is more meaningful only to their parents rather than them. This will be the day you remember for the rest of your life and you should make it as authentic, comfortable and fun for you two as much as you can!
PRIORITISE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
Take time to sit down and prioritise what matters most to you, then tailor your budget accordingly. If a grand celebration is non-negotiable, allocate funds for an exceptional band and an impressive drinks selection. If styling takes precedence, consider hiring a wedding stylist, and I'll be there to capture every beautiful image of it. Whatever your priorities, invest in the aspects that hold the most significance for you. Lastly, have fun and do whatever it is that makes the day yours. So many couples get wrapped up in caring for the perfect details, who is sitting where, colour schemes, and other things that in the long run, do not really matter. Remember that you are not putting on an event for your guests, they are coming to celebrate your love. The magic lies in the intimate moments shared between you and your partner, the unexpectedly warm hugs from usually reserved siblings, the sweet kisses on your cheeks from grandparents, and the profound connection you sense with everything and everyone present.
