Organization and preparation are key to getting great photos at your wedding ceremony. Follow the tips below to help your wedding photographer get the best wedding ceremony photos possible.
Host a rehearsal lunch or dinner and enlist the assistance of your wedding photographer(s)
If attendance at the wedding rehearsal is not part of the wedding package, you may need to spend a little more to have your photographer at the rehearsal, but this is money well spent. At rehearsal, decide where the officiant, couple, and wedding party will be located during the ceremony. Get your photographer’s opinion on this. It’s a good idea to invite your photographer to join you for dinner. This is a good opportunity for the photographer to get to know your bridal party and for them to feel comfortable with their photographer.
the processional
Don’t send your entire bridal party down the aisle together. If you do this, your photographer will take good shots of the person walking down the aisle first, but may not have enough time to get good shots of the rest of the bridal party. Instruct your coordinator to space each member of the wedding party. For example, send the bridesmaid, wait until she is near the altar before sending the next bridesmaid. When it’s time for the bride to walk down the aisle, a little pause isn’t a bad thing; After all, you want all eyes to be on the bride and her parent or date. The coordinator should remind each member of the wedding party, especially the children, to walk slowly, look up, and smile at the camera and at the guests.
The ceremony
Many couples incorporate special touches like lighting a unity candle into the ceremony. In Hawaii, where I live, it is common to give leis to family members and special guests during the ceremony. Instead of the bride and groom presenting the flower necklace simultaneously, let the bride present the flower necklace first and then the groom.
Couples who have children often include children in the ceremony, either by acknowledging them with a simple hug, giving them a gift, or reading a special vow to the child. If you plan to do any of this at your ceremony, be sure to let your photographer know. The more prepared your photographer is, the better shots you’ll get at the end of the day.
the votes
Many couples today choose to write their own vows. This gives a very personal touch to the ceremony. It is also something that you can include in your wedding photo album. It’s okay to cry when preparing your vows (remember to wear waterproof mascara and have a Kleenex handy!) The more emotion you show, the better the pictures will be.
The Rings
When placing the ring on the finger, remember not to cover the ring. Slide the ring from below instead of over the finger.
The kiss
When it’s time to kiss the bride, make it last! It’s her first kiss as a married couple – take your time and savor the moment. Hug, move the girlfriend, follow your heart.
the recession
Couples tend to run down the aisle after the ceremony. This is your moment, enjoy it, walk slowly, there is no rush. Some of my favorite wedding photographs are of couples walking down the aisle with flower petals in the air or bubbles around them. Nothing beats the genuine smiles and happy aura of newlyweds. Give your photographer time to capture that.
two photographers
A photographer cannot be in two places at the same time. A photographer has to move a lot to get different angles and this can be distracting during the ceremony. No matter how small and simple your ceremony is, having two photographers is a huge advantage. But make sure that the two photographers work together regularly so that each knows which angles to cover. I shoot weddings with my husband, who is the lead photographer for AinaKai Photography (http://www.ainakai.com), and brides can usually recognize our different styles of photography. With two photographers you will get twice as many “amazing photos”, a greater variety of angles and two different perspectives.
