A professional photographer knows exactly what to do on your wedding day. However, great photos depend on many factors, including some that are within your control.
What can you do to ensure you have even better wedding photos? Keep reading for some tips! :)
What Can You Do to Get Better Photos During Your Wedding Preparations?
The main issue on this day is poor time management. Couples often don’t plan their day step by step and have no idea how much time to allocate for each task.
Another mistake is assuming that once the plan is made, everything will go according to the minute. Nothing could be further from the truth!
So, my first and most important piece of advice for you is to plan everything with a time buffer. That way, you won’t add extra stress if something doesn’t go as expected.
Plan everything so that you don’t feel like you're racing against time but can let the events unfold naturally at their own pace.
For the best photos, we need a positive atmosphere, free from arguments or rushing. Working under pressure is extremely difficult. I’m not saying it’s impossible—I've had plenty of opportunities to work under time constraints (not just at weddings).
However, when I’m not feeling rushed, there are more creative shots, and I’m more inspired because I’m not constantly thinking, “In 10 minutes, I have to head to the ceremony.”
Plan everything to avoid unexpected situations and delays. Minimize logistical problems as much as possible.
Preparations – Choosing the Location
The most convenient solution for the couple is to get ready at the same location. This could be your family home, apartment, or hotel. If you prefer not to see each other during this stage, you can prepare in separate rooms.
Arranging makeup and hairstyling at the preparation location is a huge convenience. This way, you have more peace and freedom. You’ll feel more relaxed because you won’t have to move from one place to another. If you don’t have this option, photographing these moments often becomes pointless. Why?
In many salons, the lighting isn’t ideal—it may have a strange color dominance and is often highly contrasting, making your faces not look their best. Also, keep in mind that, during the service, you’re likely not the only ones in the salon.
Often, other clients don’t want to be in the frame, so right from the start, I have limited opportunities for photographing, and I can’t work in 100% accordance with my preferences.
There’s a common belief that photos of the whole process—while having your hair or makeup done—are an absolute must-have. I think that’s nonsense. Ask yourselves—do you really need 20 photos of your hairstyle or makeup being done? So many amazing moments happen throughout the day that are worth showing! After all, we’re not making a tutorial for the makeup artist or hairstylist, right?
These moments can be limited to a few shots at the end, when you’re already looking stunning and showing off the results! I also always take portraits of you that highlight the artistry of the makeup artists and hairstylists, and these photos don’t need to be taken while they’re working.
If you’re getting ready at home, you’ll feel much more at ease because you're in your own space, and that shows in the photos. Often, your loved ones are with you, which allows me to capture interesting moments and interactions between you. If you also have pets, they should definitely be part of your wedding story. You can trust me, these shots will likely become some of your favorite wedding photos!
space for photos
If you’ve decided to hire both videographers and photographers, and there will be more than two people involved, try to organize your preparations in a spacious area. There's nothing worse than being cramped in a small room with no room to move around.
This also applies to the blessing. If you choose to have it on your wedding day, try to arrange it in the largest possible room. Invite only those closest to you—ideally just those from whom you want to receive a blessing. Too many people can negatively impact the shots that will be taken during this emotional moment.
Often, parents have the idea of bringing towels, cushions, or small rugs for you to kneel on during the blessing. Don’t do this! I know it’s out of concern for your comfort, but trust me, it never looks good. The exception is if there’s a rug already in the room as part of the décor.
ORDERLINESS – THE RECIPE FOR BETTER WEDDING PHOTOS
Sometimes, during preparations, your space can be a bit messy. Make sure there are no unnecessary items in the room. Often, in the background of photos, you’ll find a plastic water bottle or shoe boxes. If you’re thirsty, prepare something to drink in a cup or glass and leave the bottles in the kitchen. This advice applies to any room where photos will be taken.
Clean up any bags, clothes, boxes, or other items that could distract from the photos. Try to choose rooms that have at least one window.
Rooms that are bright, have many windows, and feature neutral-colored walls work best. If you have a choice between a room with a patterned wallpaper in bright colors and one with simple, light-colored walls, always go for the second option.
Think about what you’ll wear during the preparation photos. For brides, robes work wonderfully. It doesn’t have to be a "Bride" robe—solid-colored or floral print robes also look beautiful. You could also wear a tunic or dress, which will look much better than a tracksuit and a stretched-out T-shirt.
For grooms, it’s much easier—pretty much anything works, except for a tracksuit! ;) It may seem like these details are insignificant, but trust me—these small elements will really make your wedding photos even better!
If you choose to get ready at home, you can highlight items that hold sentimental value. Think about whether there are objects in your home that bring up warm memories, interesting stories, or are simply beautiful. If so, prepare them in advance for photos.
TAKE CARE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
I can imagine the immense stress that comes with your wedding day. So many preparations, huge expenses, and a million questions – will everything go as planned? I suggest that, in the final stretch, about a week before the wedding, you try to unwind even a little and take a brief break from wedding planning.
Spend this time doing something that brings you joy. Relax, and allow yourself some rest. Though it may seem hard, try to get a good night’s sleep before the big day. All the stress and exhaustion will be visible in your photos. Don’t allow any negative emotions or dark thoughts to take over. Keep your mindset positive and focus on the excitement of the day ahead.
BEAUTIFUL DETAILS
During your preparations, play your favorite music, try to relax, and create an atmosphere that feels as calming as possible. Enjoy your favorite coffee or tea in peace in the morning. These small elements will significantly impact how you feel.
For us, as well as many couples who choose our services, details play a crucial role in the wedding reportage. I absolutely love photographing all the accessories you've carefully chosen for your big day. Your clothes, shoes, jewelry, invitations, cufflinks, bouquet, and boutonniere – all of this is important to me.
Try to gather these items in one place in advance. When possible, I enjoy taking your items into nature, searching for interesting backgrounds, textures, and stunning light.
Sometimes, I hang your clothes on branches or place them in seemingly unusual spots. It's all part of the fun and an attempt to find the most interesting space to showcase the details. All this is done to make your photos as beautiful and unique as possible.
I love it when you prepare additional items for photographing – old books, fancy mirrors, or beautiful ring boxes. These things add an incredible atmosphere to the photos and make them even more personalized.
The "First Look" – the magic of the first meeting
If possible, I always encourage organizing the first look outdoors, whether in your garden or somewhere nearby. There’s always a way to find a bit of greenery – even during your preparations in an apartment building.
I arrange it so that the groom arrives at the agreed spot first, and the bride walks towards him slowly, while I capture your reactions. These are incredibly intimate and emotional moments, so try to make sure you’re alone during this time, without extra eyes on you. If it’s not possible to have the first look outside, there’s no problem in having it inside your apartment. There are no restrictions on this, and the results are just as beautiful – see for yourself!
photos with loved ones
Once your preparations, blessing, and possibly the first look are done, I recommend setting aside about 10-15 minutes for photos with your loved ones. While posed photos can certainly be taken during the wedding, I believe this specific moment is a perfect opportunity for better photos.
Your loved ones are incredibly excited, and their emotions are written all over their faces. They’re dressed beautifully and haven’t yet worn themselves out from dancing the night away. During your blessing or preparations, you’re likely surrounded by the people closest to you, so it’s a great time to capture some group photos.
The preparation time at home offers a fantastic opportunity for emotional, intimate portraits, especially with parents, grandparents, and siblings. I encourage your loved ones to get involved in the preparations, whether they’re helping with the dress or jacket. Don’t let them hide away in the kitchen – let them be a part of your story!
Family, Friends – Helpers During Preparations
It’s very common that when I arrive at the preparation location, your loved ones are not yet ready to leave. They tend to hide away and don’t want to be photographed. This situation especially applies to brides – your mothers, grandmothers, sisters, or bridesmaids may not want to be photographed without their flawless makeup and stylish outfits they chose for this special occasion.
To avoid these situations, I advise that your loved ones get ready much earlier. Additionally, if you’ve chosen bridesmaids and groomsmen, the preparation time is the perfect opportunity for group photos – both candid ones where they help you get dressed and lighten the mood, as well as more posed ones.
If your wedding takes place during months with early sunsets, the preparation time is essentially the only chance to get beautiful posed photos with all your loved ones. Make sure to consider this!
Luxurious Wedding Car
If you've decided to rent your dream car for the wedding, it's worth setting aside an additional 10-15 minutes for a quick photo session on the way to the ceremony. There's always a spot along the route that's worth capturing, providing a beautiful backdrop for your photos. I often spot these places on my way to the ceremony.
Renting a car is an extra cost, so it's a good idea to plan everything so you can carve out a few minutes for those unique shots with your dream car. This quick action won't cause any delays.
Together, we’ll choose a location that won't require an extra hour of travel, and you’ll be able to enjoy amazing photos for years to come!
Better wedding photos in a nutshell
To summarize all the elements, the most important factor is good organization. You need to create something like a schedule for the day, keeping in mind that everything should be planned with some time buffer. This way, you’ll avoid unnecessary stress and the feeling that certain photos were missed.
Of course, the plan is always flexible and can change — that’s completely normal! The important thing is that you think about which photos are crucial for you and understand that to capture them, you need to prepare accordingly, but most importantly, allocate time for them.
You need to organize the stages of the day so that there’s time for everything. That’s the best way to ensure even better wedding photos.
The next stages will be discussed in the following post. I hope my advice has been helpful and will contribute to creating the most beautiful photographs.
Please let me know if my tips were useful to you, or if you’ve learned something you hadn’t considered before. I’d really appreciate your feedback. I’m preparing the second part of the guide covering the wedding, reception, and outdoor session, but without your support, there’s no point in creating new content. I’m waiting for your reactions!