One of the best parts of my job is taking something ordinary and making it look absolutely amazing! This happens most often when it comes to picking portrait locations! If there is one thing that I love and appreciate about my couples, it’s that they trust me! Sometimes I select portrait locations that most people wouldn’t consider attractive. But even if there isn’t anything particularly special about a location, if the light is just perfect, the images will look magical! So when we’re walking along and I suddenly stop mid-sentence and squeal in delight, I love that my couples understand that it’s because I just saw something with incredible potential and they trust me to create that magic for them!
portrait tips
- Bride/Groom with Officiant (if wanted)
- Bride with Dad
- Bride with Mom
- Bride with Mom & Dad
- Bride/Groom with Bride's Parents
- Add Bride’s Siblings
- Add Bride’s Siblings’ Spouses and Kids
- Add Bride’s Grandparents
- Bride/Groom with Bride's Grandparents Set 1
- Bride/Groom with Bride's Grandparents Set 2
- Bride/Groom with Bride’s Siblings
- Bride with Bride's Siblings
- Bride/Groom + Both sets of Parents
- Groom with Dad
- Groom with Mom
- Groom with Mom & Dad
- Bride/Groom with Groom’s Parents
- Add Groom’s Siblings
- Add Groom’s Siblings’ Spouses and Kids
- Add Groom’s Grandparents
- Bride/Groom with Groom's Grandparents Set 1
- Bride/Groom with Groom's Grandparents Set 2
- Bride/Groom with Groom’s Siblings
- Groom with Groom's Siblings
sample family photo list:
I absolutely love meeting my couple’s families on the wedding day! Family formals are normally my first interaction with them and so I love to have a game plan for this part of the day! 6 months before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from me that will ask you about your family members that I'll use to create the base of your family portraits. Here is a sample family formal list (and of course, each family has unique dynamics and we will adjust these based on your individual families).
family photos
If parents are divorced, especially if step families are involved, I'll ask for the specific groups that you’d like since the dynamics of every family is different.
Large extended families, college friends, work friends, etc are best left for during the reception.
If you are doing a first look, then as soon as the family formals wrap up is when everyone can head into cocktail hour!
Another option if you are not doing a first look is to extend your cocktail hour from 60 to 90 minutes to allow additional portrait time.
If you opt out of a first look, we need to limit the family portrait time in order to ensure we have time for your wedding party and newlywed portraits.
Please take some time to think about which group shots are very important to you, & which ones really aren't needed.
Pulling people in & out a lot can create stress for your family members, especially if there are any mobility issues.
If we’re being honest, all of the wedding day images are important, but the real favorites are almost always from my time with the newlywed couple! These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle, and they will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are always some of my favorites, not only because of their beauty, but because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment in time, you will be alone with your partner on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and really connect! Romantic portraits are normally done before the ceremony (following the “First Look”) and then I LOVE shooting a few “just married” portraits after the ceremony (following the family portraits) if there is time! This is when the light is typically softer and it’s such a romantic time for couple's portraits!
If you’re not interested in a first look, we will need to be sure to include enough time after the ceremony for all of your family portraits, wedding party portraits, and newlywed portraits. If this is the case, I recommend extending your Cocktail Hour to 1.5 hours to allow time to create all your portraits before the reception without rushing.
romantic newlywed portraits
Let’s chat about your wedding party! This is when the fun REALLY begins! I know from experience that all couples want their closest friends to have an AMAZING time during their big day, and I will do my part to make sure that happens! Wedding party portraits should be tons of FUN! After you share your first look, depending on the locations and the timing of your day, your wedding party will join us for portraits! If all goes well, we will be able to accomplish ALL of your wedding party portraits BEFORE the ceremony. This means that your guys and gals will be free to mingle at cocktail hour if they wish! If there are flower girls and ring bearers involved, they can either join us for the pre-ceremony portraits or we can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before or after family portraits. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres on, and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets!
your wedding party
1. All I need to create natural light portraits on a rainy wedding day is a porch! Just one porch.
2. I have all the equipment and knowledge to create all your portraits indoors if need be.
3. Let me worry about the pictures. You have enough to think about. If there is a chance of rain, I’ll be sure to do some extra scouting around to find locations to use.
4. Take one step at a time. Don’t think about your entire day and what will happen if it rains. That will only overwhelm you! Definitely have a rain plan for your venue, but then let your vendors do the work of handling the rest of the day if rain is in the forecast.
5. Think about your options beforehand. I’ve had a lot of brides who just decide to have fun with it if it rains! I have a dozen clear umbrellas if you need them. Sometimes couples give everyone a heads up that the rain isn’t going to derail their plans of outdoor portraits (and tell the wedding party to bring rain boots), and then they go with the flow and enjoy the day and the story that comes with it!
One of the questions that always comes up is “Soooo, what do you do if it RAINS?!”
I want to assure you that even if it rains, you will still have beautiful portraits and bright colors in your images! Overcast skies mean vibrant colors! I know that rain isn’t ideal, and no bride would wish for rain on their big day, but if it happens, it happens… and it’s going to be JUST fine!! Some of my most fun weddings have been on rainy days.
Here are a few things to remember:
In Case of a Rainy Wedding Day...
I'm here to help you with anything I can as you plan your wedding! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns along the way:
inspired@photographybyerinleigh.com
570.529.1603
I can't wait to celebrate you on your wedding day!
Hakuna Matata