Every bride that I meet with has so many questions about their wedding photography. Here are a few of the most frequent questions with answers, or suggestions for you to make everything go just right for your wedding day!
What style of photography is important, and what style of photography do I want for my wedding? Each bridal couple will definitely find photographic styles that are more pleasing to their eye. It is so important to know what you like visually, but it is also very important that you know what is going to be important to you in the future when you are pouring over photographs of your wedding day. We suggest a photography style that will combine photojounalism of all those candid moments with a photographer that is also a professional portrait photographer so that you get proper group shots as well. While the group portraits can be fun and outgoing (not just stand up in a straight line), you want a photographer that can photograph with proper lighting to make everyone look their best too.
Black & White vs. Color? While most of my wedding clients come in wanting the photojounalistic b&w images that look fine art… when I poll them after their wedding I have had about 90% return feedback that although they still loved some b&w images for their wedding album, they actually preferred most of the images in color. Many bridal couples love the b&w artistic looking images… but when you have spent all of your time planning your wedding & decorations… picking your colors… and venue – it is very important to have a good representation of that. This isn’t coming from me as a photographer – this is what I have received in feedback from actual wedding clients year after year.
Is liking your photographer important? MOST DEFINITELY! Although it is just as important to find a photographer that is good at what they do… natural expressions don’t always just happen. When you can smile and laugh with your photographer and feel comfortable being with them it is going to make it so much easier on your wedding day. If your photographer will fit in well with family and friends they will be able to get all of those candid moments much easier giving your images a more “insider” feel.
I don’t really need a wedding album do I? Many bridal couples will pass on a wedding album thinking that they will have a DVD of images and put something together themself. Most of the time, unfortunately, those images sit on DVD and never make it to an album at all. Professional wedding album layouts can really tell the story of your wedding day and is something that becomes an heirloom for future generations. We have a 99% return of clients that didn’t order album within 3 years coming back to ask us to do an album for them for this very reason. Our suggestion… do an album with your wedding photography package, it will save you money in the long run.
What time of day should I do my wedding? Many clients see album/photography samples and fall in love with the photographers’ work. Then they plan their wedding only to get their images back and wonder what went wrong. If you tend to enjoy images with soft lighting and scenic panoramas, then plan your wedding time with your photographer to capture these images. The same goes for the wedding reception… if you don’t want dark images, it may be a better plan to do your wedding earlier in the day. Sunset photos? The same applies…. while official sunset time may be 7pm on a given day…. that doesn’t mean that is the best time for sunset shots. Typically for the photographer, sunset images are actually better captured and hour or two before sunset – so plan your wedding accordingly if that is what is most important to you.
Backing up files – what is important? Digital photography has made leaps and bounds and is definitely the choice of most photographers as well as clients as you get so many more images and coverage of your wedding day. Make sure your photographer is protecting your investment. Backing up files on-site before leaving the wedding site is very important… it puts you and your photographer at ease. Then knowing that images are also backed up off-site from the photographers location is another really good idea… the more places they are the more assured you can be that your images are safe!
More questions? leave us a comment and we will be happy to answer all of your wedding planning & photography questions!!!
And, while I typially put a few images of the bride and groom up… I know they won’t mind that I had to put more photos of their food… well, because it wasn’t your typical wedding. Brian was there with his brother even before I arrived for getting ready photos as they have 
just started their own catering business and so of course catered their own wedding. Needless to say, you know the food will be spectacular when you have the most descriminating clients (themselves).
What a start to the wedding. Jorge and Heidi’s wedding events at Azul Sensatori Resort are starting out with a… BANG, including a Burro(donkey) at their rehearsal celebration. Together for about 6 years now, this is a very special event for the beautiful couple – that includes their families and close friends. Heidi has nailed the details too… with the beautiful green accent color for her wedding she has personalized all the details with her wedding coordinator Karyn Gueck. With a smile on couples’ faces at all times – you can see how excited they are for their wedding day! Wedding images will be on the way too… but couldn’t resist posting some of the rehearsal images. If the day before the wedding was this much fun, how can we not be excited to be a part of the wedding day tomorrow.
I wish them a long life of 
happiness and love –
Jeanine Thurston 