Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wedding Advice: Key Photos and How many pictures should you get from your wedding


There are 3 very important questions you should ask your photographer. 1: How many pictures should I expect. 2:  Key moments you want to capture 3: When/how will you receive your images.

I agree with those who value quality over quantity.  On average we shoot around 2000-3000 images for an 8 hour wedding.  Our brides were getting really overwhelmed with that many choices so we edit the images down to the best selection possible. Most couples don't really need 6 of practically the same shot.
We brought the number of images available for preview down to 600-800 confident that the images they receive is going to showcase their wedding at it's best. It also means the couple receives their photos much sooner as it now takes less time to edit, so this is a win/win for all parties. Sometimes, and I hate to be cliche, it really is more important to have quality over quantity My suggestion is to ask prospective photographers to see a partial wedding/ not just 20 of the best pics.. ask for about 50-100, so you can note their style and consistency and whether it matches the expectations for your own wedding.
The amount of images we provide for a 4 hr wedding is about 100-400 and an 8 hour wedding 600-900.

One thing that always surprises me is the number of brides/photographer that don't plan ahead what pictures they want to take. I came across this list here: must have shots. I've been shooting enough weddings now that this list is automatic, but it is a very good place to start for brides trying to figure out the flow of their wedding day pictures. Depending on the amount of time you have booked your photographer for this list may be shortened or added to, but as I mentioned it definitely serves as a good starting point.

  1. Prep Shots – Bride & Groom
  2. The Dress – Hanging or Draped
  3. The North Window Shot – Bride facing out northern most window
  4. Bride walking down stairs
  5. Bride looking out (window or door)
  6. Maid of Honor & Brides Mom – Zipping Dress
  7. Bride Applying Make Up
  8. Groom Fixing Hair
  9. Grooms Father & Best Man – Attaching Boutonnière to grooms lapel
  10. Groom Checking the Time
  11. Groom with Grooms Men & Fathers
  12. Bride with Bridesmaids & Mothers
  13. Bride with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
  14. Groom with Mother & Father (also grandparents)
  15. Bride Limo – Groom Limo
  16. Bride & Groom – Exiting Limo (Bride being helped out)
  17. Groom waiting at altar
  18. Church Wide Shot (with & without guests)
  19. Bride walking down aisle ( Side Profile & Front )
  20. Father giving away bride
  21. Groom over the shoulder shot of bride ( & Vis Versa)
  22. Holding hands – Bride and Groom
  23. Bride & Groom Kiss
  24. Bride & Groom Leaving Church ( Receiving Line)
  25. Bride & Groom – Inside Limo Shot
  26. Reception/Banquet Hall Outside shot
  27. Food Shots (Cocktail Hour, Drinks, etc.)
  28. Shot of each table full of guests
  29. Shots of Bride & Groom with & without family
  30. Bride and Groom Portraits
  31. Bride & Groom with Bridesmaids & Groomsmen
  32. Bride and Groom Hand & Ring Portraits
  33. First Dance
  34. Bride & Father Dance
  35. Groom & Mother Dance
  36. Bouquet Toss
  37. Guarder Belt Toss
  38. Cake Cutting, Bride and Groom Feeding each other
  39. Misc. Guests Dancing
  40. Bride & Groom Eating
  41. Best Man & Maid of Honor Toast/Speeches
  42. Bride & Groom Toast/Speeches
  43. Centerpieces & Flower/Decorations
  44. Guestbook Signatures
  45. Small Children Dancing with Bride & Groom
  46. Bride & Groom’s Parents Dancing (Plus Grandparents)
  47. Venetian Hour Photos (Coffee, Ice Cream, Etc)
  48. Bride & Groom giving away wedding favors
  49. Groom Giving Coat to Bride
  50. Bride & Groom “Just Married” Vehicle – Driving Away
If you are a bride and know how your want your day to flow, what pictures you want and how/when you want to receive your images it makes the job of the photographer a lot easier. So don't be afraid to do your research before selecting a photographer, and ask plenty of questions!

2 comments:

  1. There are a lot of suggestions here that my couples have never ordered.

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  2. This is a very common list of "must have shots" that I thought other photographers might like to have. I wish I had come across this list years ago instead of learning on my own, but everyone is different... this may not apply to your photography style, as all brides have different expectations, but as a photographer I feel these are great suggestions to offer any couple interested in working with you as their wedding photographer.

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