Remember to tell your Wedding Photographer

Tell your Wedding Photographer

1. Make a list of essential HIT-LIST of must have shots
Which shots are a must have for you?

Make sure your photographer knows. If you will be devastated that you didn't get a special moment with your paternal grandma caught on camera, make sure to tell them! This includes special bride only shots, or poses with a pet, a specific location. Lots of people have something particular in their mind and are sad afterwards that they forgot it amid the excitement. 

As a photographer, I literally bring the list with me. ​

This engagement photo pose was requested by the Bride-to-Be's Mom—she had seen it somewhere and thought it was cute and of course we agreed! || Photo by: Mj Falk Photography

​One of my former roommates has been married for more than five years and she still talks about how upset she is that she never got a photo of just she and her mother on her wedding day. That was the ONE photo she really, really wanted and in the bustle of the day she forgot and so did the photographer. 

I recommend that couples give their photographer an essential hit-list prior to the wedding with must have photos on it so that you get everyone in there. ​​

2. Itinerary
It is very helpful to give your photographer a schedule of the days events with maps, locations, what is happening when and where people will be. 

3. Contact Information
Give her/him a list of phone numbers so that if they get separated from you they can track you down. OR if someone from the bridal party is missing they can also help find them. 

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding years back where, we waited half an hour for the mother-of-the-bride to reappear for family photos. She was off celebrating with her out of town family, not realizing she was needed for photos. At $200/hour that was a pricey detour for that mom to take. 

Let the photographer know who they should contact if they run in to any problems. It probably should not be the bride. At one of my friend's wedding's the photographer had her gear confiscated at the American boarder (she was  US citizen and did not have a work visa to take wedding photos in Canada). The father-of-the-bride managed to get her to the wedding and arrange for someone else to bring her equipment without the bride hearing a word of it until after the whole ordeal was over. 

4. Family Relationships 411
It's just better for the photographer to be in the know, in advance. 

Most families are complicated, in their own special way.  It's not the photographer's job to mediate family-drama but it's night to have a heads up if you need two sets of family photos for the brides side to avoid unnecessary discomfort. 

I ask my couples before-hand what are the dynamics of their parents relationships and it's good to know that of siblings too. Many couples parents are separated and there are step-parents and step-grandparents, dad's unwanted young girl friend, half brother's that are sloppy drunk, and the cousin who chooses your engagement party to announce her pregnancy, etc.

Photo by: Mj Falk Photography || Bridal Gown provided by: Novia Bridal Boutique, Red Deer.