A simple guidebook to your wedding day approach

overall tips-

Shoot portrait mode for portraits/groups/details
Shoot landscape for documentary//story moments/big compositions
Capture the story. Not just the portraits.

YOUR CHEAT SHEET SHOT LIST

INTERNAL SHOT LIST

B-roll (destination/scene-setting shots) - What is the weather? How does it feel? Where are we?
Rings
Shoes
Dress/Veil - On the bride, or hanging. (If hanging do not put it outside)
Invitation suite
Jewelry
Getting dressed - Minimilst, well lit, clutter-free area,
Bridal portraits ◊ Full length (make sure you get the FULL LOOK/Bouqet, Train etc.)
◊ Headshot
◊ With veil
Groom getting ready
Groom portrait (A gentlemen’s portrait, not “wedding like” think more GQ/Editorial) No holding lapel.
◊ Inside and outside
Portraits of couple (help on these below!)
Bridal Party
◊ Group
◊ Girls
◊ Guys
◊ Individuals
Individuals with parents alone
Parents couple shot (they’ll love it!)
Parents and siblings
B+G with siblings
Grandparents
Pet portrait
Ceremony decor — Please shoot details thoughtfully!
Cocktail Hour decor
◊ Food shots - Portrait mode, clean compositions.
Reception decor
◊ Cake
Signature drinks/cocktails/appetizers
Details of decor at all events
Fashionable guests at cocktail hour, full-length
Dancing
Night shots

EXTERNAL SHOT LIST

• Family formal
• All requests from client and planner

PREP OVERVIEW

DETAIL SHOTS - CLEAN, SIMPLE, AND MINIMAL. - THINK MINIMALIST/NOT BUSY
STORY SHOTS -ESTABLISH THE SCENE.
1. PORTRAITS - LIGHT YOUR SUBJECT FROM THE WINDOW OR OUTSIDE, PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIGHT.
  PREP DO’S
  STYLE A FLAT LAY, AND PULL FLORAL ELEMENTS TO CREATE DEPTH & INTEREST. THINK OF THE COMPOSITION. SHOOT STRAIGHT LINES. KEEP IT SIMPLE. If you haven’t purchased any flat lat mats - I would highly encourage you to! Something neutral/simple. If not - try to find a very clean/simple place to style their details, also be thoughtful as to what color you're photographing them on. If the whole day is super modern & white, don’t style their flat lay on rustic wood or something that doesn’t fit. Think about the gallery & how everything will flow together.
  MOVE THE BRIDE INTO GOOD LIGHT FOR FINAL TOUCHES (ZIP, EARRINGS, SHOES - YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF WHERE THIS HAPPENS, EVEN IF SHE WANTS TO “GET IN IT” SOMEWHERE ELSE IN BAD LIGHTING - JUST SHOOT THE SHOTS IN A SPOT THAT YOU CHOSE FOR LIGHT & SIMPLICITY. OUR BRIDES EXPECT THIS FROM US BECAUSE WE PREP THEM FOR THIS SPECIFIC SCENARIO.
2. THINK ABOUT CONSISTENCY KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS THE START OF THE GALLERY, WHAT YOU DO HERE MATTERS IN HOW THE GALLERY WILL UNFOLD. THIS PART OF THE DAY SETS THE TONE. KEEP IN MIND HOW YOU SHOOT THINGS WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PARTS OF THE DAY.
  THINK ABOUT SIMPLICITY & TIMELESSNESS - WHAT WILL THIS IMAGE LOOK LIKE IN 100 YEARS? WHAT IS THE MESSAGE? CANCEL THE NOISE - AND THE CHAOS AND JUST SIMPLY THINK ABOUT THE IMAGE, THE PERSON, AND THE DETAIL IN THE PHOTO. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A DISTRACTION.
  PREP DONT’S
  SHOOT IN WARM OVERHEAD LIGHTING - LAMP LIT IS OKAY IN SOME SCENARIOS (when below the bride’s face). WARM OVERHEAD LEDS ARE A HARD NO. PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIGHT.
  DON’T GET OVERWHELMED BY HMU RUNNING LATE - CHECK IN FOR UPDATES AND ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS - YOU CAN ONLY DO, WHAT YOU CAN DO. REMEMBER - WE ARE NOT WEDDING PLANNERS, WE ARE SIMPLY THERE TO DOCUMENT. LET THE DAY UNFOLD. DOCUMENT! You are protected through the contract that we cannot assume the responsibility of wedding planners & I encourage brides to hire one. So don’t try to control everything. Let the day unfold. Let the story happen. If the grooms are struggling with boutineers? Let them. Capture it. If the bride has 800 buttons, find a way to create an incredible portrait of all of her girls helping her button them. Do not interfere with these moments. This is the story — you are are the storyteller.
  Another we reason we do this;
  IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PHOTOGRAPHY - IT CAN AND WILL FALL ON YOU AS THE “PERSON MANAGING THINGS”. THIS BEHAVIOR CAN & WILL CONFUSE PARENTS, MOH’S, FRIENDS & FAMILY ABOUT WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WHICH CAN END UP BACKFIRING. SO DON’T BE A HERO, HELP OUT WHEN NECESSARY, AND SPEAK UP WHEN YOU NEED TO IF THE TIMELINE IS GETTING THROWN TO THE WIND.
  one of my biggest requests!
  
  TRY TO AVOID CLICHES
  WEDDING DAY PREP CLICHES INCLUDE:
  DRESSES IN TREES - UNLESS THE TREE HAS MEANING, OR IT IS INTENTIONAL IN THE STORY. OTHERWISE, NO TREES.
  TRY NOT TO SHOOT ANY OBJECTS/DETAILS OUTSIDE.
  
  IF YOU SHOOT THE DRESS, ACTUALLY SHOOT IT! THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO CAPTURE, IS IT THE LACE DETAIL? IS IT THE THE TEXTURE OF THE TULLE? REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF YOUR IMAGE. NO RANDOM DRESS SHIT MY PPL!
  SHOOTING THE BRIDESMAID’S DRESSES JUST HANGING - UNLESS IT WILL LOOK STUNNING Instead get a fashion-focused shot of just the bridesmaids dressed
  
  JEWELRY & RINGS IN THE BOUQUET instead clean, simple backdrops that actually draw your eye to the details of the jewelry
  
  BOUQUETS LAYING FLAT ON THE GROUND, COUCH, OR CHAIR. THIS RARELY LOOKS GOOD! Instead, Shoot the bouquet in her hands, with a human element.
  SHOOT THE BOUQUET AS ITS OWN CHARACTER, IN SOMEONE HANDS, IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY.
  LET THE BOUQUET HAVE SOME ICONIC MOMENTS, DO NOT JUST SHOOT IT LYING ON THE GROUND, OR COUCH.
  SUPER STAGED BOUTINEER SHOTS UNLESS REALLY MENTIONED BY THE BRIDE OR PARENT

CEREMONY OVER VIEW

DOCUMENT HONESTLY
STORY SHOTS - WHERE ARE WE? HOW DOES IT FEEL? WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE? ESTABLISH THE SCENE.
1. ANTICIPATE MOMENTS, ANTICIPATE REACTIONS, ANTICIPATE A RELEASE FROM TENSION
  CEREMONY DO’S
  STAY OUT THE WAY THIS IS A GIVEN OF COURSE, BUT TRY TO KEEP YOUR SHOOTING TO THE SIDES ESPECIALLY IN A CHURCH.
  FIND THAT ICONIC CELEBRATORY SHOT USUALLY, ON THEIR WAY BACK DOWN THE AISLE. THIS IS A TIMELESS IMAGE OPPORTUNITY
  PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO PARENTS / VIPS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORY OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, THEIR SMILES, HUGS, TEARS AND WHISPERS.
  LOOK FOR INTERESTING COMPOSITIONS, OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOTS, BALCONIES, NEW PERSPECTIVES
  DONT’s
  NOT GET ENOUGH REACTION SHOTS OF THE GROOM- THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SHOTS OF THE DAY. ALTERNATE VIEWPOINTS - BUT MAKE ARE YOU ARE BURSTING AWAY WITH THOSE SHOTS OF THE GROOM AS THE BRIDE APPROACHES. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO EVERY SINGLE BRIDE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN MANY CASES.

DECOR & DETAILS OVER VIEW

SHOOT PORTRAIT ORIENTATION
ESTABLISHING SHOT, LONG SHOT, MEDIUM & CLOSE UP
MAKE SURE TO GET DETAILS IN THE AMBIENT RECEPTION LIGHT THAT THEY WILL REMEMBER IT FELT LIKE
ALLOW FOR STORY ELEMENTS, LIKE THE CATERERS POURING CHAMPAGNE, THE PLANNER PLACING THE STATIONERY

GROUP PORTRAITS OVERVIEW

NO GAPS, GET EVERYONE AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE.
PLAY IT SAFE WITH LIGHT, OPEN SHADE IS BEST. DON’T SHOOT HARSH LIGHT.
SIMPLE BACKGROUND/NOTHING TOO BUSY/NO RANDOM OBJECTS IMPALING YOUR SUBJECTS/CLEAN
KEEP IT CLEAN WITH HANDS IN POCKETS, AND EVERYONE ANGLE TOWARDS THE COUPLE WITH BALANCE ON EACH SIDE.
COCKTAIL HOUR OVERVIEW
1. PORTRAITS OF GUESTS, STYLISH ELEMENTS (NOTICE ANYONE LOOKING FASHIONABLE, WITH A SIGNATURE DRINK IN HAND)
  CAPTURE THE ENERGY/BUSY NATURE/GUESTS MINGLING
  CHECK IN THE RECEPTION AREA BEFORE THE COCKTAIL ENDS TO RE-SHOOT WITH CANDLES LIT
  
  DELIVERY
  WETRANSFER.COM
  log in | bootephoto@gmail.com pw 121314Bb
  Please label your folders
  RATES
  second shooting | $50/hr
  nonwedding event coverage | $75/hr
  lead shooting | $100 to start
  lead shooting after 1 year | $125 with culled images
  
  CULLING - We deliver very tight, story-focused galleries.
  Culling tips - One photo per group (If the groom got a photo with each guy, we dont deliver multiple versions)
  Tell the story - Look at each image and think “Does this image tell a piece of the story?”
  Establish the scene, capture the energy, and document the portraits. Simple!
  
  epic gallery = $100-$500 bonus opportunities
  
  IF ASKED TO STAY OVER TIME - To avoid these things happening - make sure to head over to the Bride/Groom/Parents and check in before coverage wraps
  "Hi! I wanted to make sure we didn’t miss anything and you guys feel great before we start wrapping up coverage at XX o’clock” If they ask if you can stay for an additional hour, (not 30 minutes, everything is by the hour) they will be invoiced the following day. We are VERY firm on end times! If they do not agree for you to stay, and you still stay I cannot invoice them & subsequently won’t be able to then cover the time you stayed.