Welcome to the planning stages of your wedding!
The wedding planning tips provided to you by Lasamoa Kathryn Photography are tried and true. After spending eight years in the wedding industry there are a few things that all of your vendors will be able to attest to.
Most of us get the same questions and we have to creatively help you come to the best solution to ensure your wedding goes as planned to make it the day you’ve always dreamed of!
From the photography perspective, there are a lot of things that photographers must know alongside your planner assuming you choose to hire one.
This post will go into one specific question I have helped a lot of couples plan around:
How many hours of coverage do we really need?
The answer lies in this truth- which parts of the wedding photography will resonate with you years after the big day? Here are a few points to consider when meeting and discussing your coverage with your photographer.
- Photography Coverage Saved: Getting Ready Photos
There is no doubt getting ready photos are a very intimate and raw experience for you, your wedding party, and your family members who get to partake in the getting ready process. This is the first time you’ll put your dress or suit on with your hair, makeup, and posse. Capturing moments like this is incredibly important for a lot of couples far and wide.
From a photographer’s perspective, the reality is, that the moment of putting on the dress, putting on the suit jacket, shoes, tie, and makeup don’t require attention for a straight hour. The moments are paused in the camera and so a lot of times the moment is as fleeting as they all say.
However, something to consider, your photographer will need time to take photos of stationary layouts, the dress without you in it, attire details, and all the intimate things you will appreciate are captured and in your gallery.
When planning out the time you need to get ready with everyone will only require a fraction of photography.
2. Photography Coverage Saved: Reception Partying Photos
This is the most flexible moment of photography that all couples will have when figuring out how much the photographer will need to cover.
This is a transparent truth that after eight years I can confidently tell you that partying photos ALL LOOK THE SAME. From a photographer’s point of view in post-production we often can’t tell what music you were dancing to from just the appearance of the photos.
Yes, even with the notorious line dances that people typically cringe at, can’t be recognized after the moment has passed.
So it’s highly suggested to consider how much of the partying photos you need.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m probably one of the few photographers out there who like taking photos of people dancing, letting go, and having a great time, but I also know how many photos will all start to look the same after a while.
When planning your partying portion of coverage in your timeline be mindful of how many of these photos you will enjoy having and how many will make it when you share them publically.
3. Photography Coverage Used: Formal Family Photos
This is a huge MUST for most couples that host a traditionally structured wedding. If you invite your family to your wedding it must be said that more than likely formal family photos will be taken. Despite different family dynamics, your family members will want at the very least a photo taken with the newlyweds.
Everyone is dressed nicely and finally together in good circumstances- this is everyone’s opportunity to take those nice printable photos. It makes the most sense to allow enough time to collect family members, group them up, and snap those formal photos.
When planning with your photographer it helps if a list of names and groupings are provided to the photographer during meeting with them to confirm there will be enough time to take all the photos.
4. Photography Coverage Used: Couples Photos
This is where the couple gets to shine! This is where you get to display your love and take a while away from your guests and the rush of your wedding for the two of you.
Most photographers ask for one hour with the couple alone to capture the details of their attire, and floral arrangements, and to capture the love shared between the couple.
However, I would be wiser to share this common factor with anyone reading. After the ceremony ends, the pressure of the wedding suddenly fades away and couples finally get to breathe. A lot of times the couple will want to catch up with friends and family over a drink during cocktail hour.
When planning with your photographer this is something to consider. If it makes sense to take photos immediately after your ceremony or after your dinner these are things to consider. Your photographer and event planner will be the best to bounce your ideas off of to find the best solution for your timeline.
After all, no one blames you for wanting to celebrate your wedding day with your guests and taking pride in a job well done.
5. Photography Coverage Saved: The First Look
A lot of couples opt to do a first look for a plethora of different reasons. Whether that is to have an intimate and private moment together as fiancés for the last time or to minimize the pre-ceremony jitters all of the reasons are valid.
What a lot of couples will commonly do is believe their first look will need an hour of photography coverage. Realistically, the moment comes and goes within ten minutes. However, some couples arrange for a first look and then use that opportunity of time in the timeline to take their couples photos so they can celebrate with their guests right after their ceremony and enjoy their cocktail hour.
6. Photography Coverage Saved: Reception Traditions
More recently the wedding industry has been doing away with garter and bouquet tosses and cake cutting. These are things to consider in your wedding timeline and how much coverage needs to be allotted to these specific things.
What is happening more and more throughout the wedding industry is couples are hosting more private traditions that they creatively have come up with throughout their relationship and want to share with their guests, but other times reception traditions are completely abandoned allowing for photography time to be spent in other areas throughout the day.
Planning your timeline
Now that you have a few things to consider reach out to your photographer and plan out how much photography time you will ideally need to capture all the moments you will treasure for years. After all your gallery is what you will look back on the most for generations to come.
0 Comments