Photography

Below are some of our favorite ideas for photography - we'll be adding more
ideas soon.

• Choose a photographer as soon as possible.
• Ask friends and family for personal recommendations.
• Ask for referrals from wedding professionals such as caterers, florists, DJs, etc.
• Attend bridal shows to meet wedding photographers.
• Call at least 10 wedding photographers and ask them to send you their wedding package information.
• Make appointments and meet with at least three of the photographers on your list.
• Consider the photographers personality.
• Ask to see sample wedding albums and proofs. Look at the lighting they use, creativity, etc.
• Have every detail written down on the contract - name of actual photographer, date and time of wedding, date and time of photo session, exact numbers of exposures, proofs and prints, payment schedule, cancellation and/or postponement policy, etc.
• Meet with the photographer again a few weeks before your wedding to go over any final details.

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1. What is your approach to wedding photography?
2. Will you be taking the pictures personally or will someone else do it? (If someone else, insist on meeting this person.)
3. Will you work with an assistant and bring back-up equipment in the event of a problem?
4. Are you familiar with the ceremony and reception locations?
5. What is your shooting schedule during a wedding?
6. What is the balance between posed and candid shots?
7. Do you mind if I give you a list of special people with whom I want pictures?
8. How many hours does the price include?
9. What's the charge, if any, if the reception should last longer than planned?
10. Will you stay through the cake cutting and garter toss?
11. How much time will we need to allow for the formal wedding photos?
12. What are your package prices?
13. What are the individual picture prices?
14. How many exposures will you take?
15. What about parents' albums?
16. When will the proof pictures be ready?
17. How long will the prints take once they have been ordered?
18. Will you sell the album or negatives?
19. How many years do you keep the negatives?
20. What do you normally wear when photographing a wedding?
21. Will you wear a tuxedo or other specified attire?
22. Can I see a complete album from a wedding you have photographed?
23. Can I see a proof book from a recent wedding?

Before the Ceremony

• Bride alone in dress
• Bride touching up makeup
• Bride with mother
• Bride with maid of honor
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Bride with her parents
• Bride with grooms parents
• Bride putting on garter
• Bride with father
• Groom alone
• Groom with best man
• Groom and ushers putting on boutonnieres
• Groom with his parents
• Groom with brides parents

At the Ceremony

• The altar and decorations
• Guests arriving
• Seating of mothers and grandmothers
• Ushers escorting guests
• Groom, best man and minister at the altar
• The processional
• Bride and father walking down the aisle
• Father giving bride away
• The kiss
• The recessional
• Bride and groom outside with guests
• Bride and groom getting into the car
• Bride and groom in the car, looking out one of the windows

Before the Reception

• The newlyweds together
• Bride and her attendants
• Groom and his attendants
• Bride and groom with entire wedding party
• Bride and groom with honor attendants
• Bride and groom with child attendants
• Bride with her immediate family
• Groom with his immediate family
• Both families together
• Bride and groom with officiant
• Bride's and groom's hands

At the Reception

• Bride and groom getting out of car
• Bride and groom's entrance
• The receiving line
• The newlyweds greeting guests
• Guests signing the guest book
• Bride and groom's first dance
• Bride dancing with her father
• Groom dancing with his mother
• Bride dancing with her father-in-law
• Groom dancing with his mother-in-law
• Both sets of parents dancing
• Bridesmaids and groomsmen dancing
• Guests dancing
• The cake table
• Bride and groom cutting the cake
• The newlyweds feeding cake to each other
• Bride and groom receiving toasts
• Buffet tables
• The bridal party's table
• The parents' table
• The guests' tables
• The musicians or DJs
• Bride tossing the bouquet
• Groom tossing the garter
• Bride and groom saying good-by to parents
• Guests throwing birdseed or blowing bubbles
• Bride and groom getting into limo or decorated car
• Bride and groom leaving in car
• Guests waving good-bye
• Bride and groom waving good-bye from car