Congratulations, the day you've been planning for months or even years has finally arrived!!
While some might not prioritise getting ready photos as much as other parts of the day, I believe they are just as important. Capturing these moments with your closest friends and family is a precious memory you'll want to cherish for generations to come, and it's also an essential part of telling the complete story of your wedding day. As a storyteller, my goal is to capture every moment from the beginning of your day until the end.
In this blog post, I've compiled some tips and suggestions for your getting ready time that will help you get amazing shots for your wedding photography and videography. By following these tips and putting in a bit of extra effort, you'll be rewarded with photos and film that you'll love for years to come.
Wedding Stationery
Don't forget to bring your wedding stationery with you! It might not seem like a big deal, but incorporating your invitation suite, save-the-date cards, and other paper details can add a personal touch to your getting-ready photos. These shots can also serve as a great way to document all the little details that make your wedding unique.
The Bridal Room
No matter where you get ready, whether it's at home or in a hotel room, I'll take beautiful photos. But if you want that 'wow' factor, I recommend taking a few steps to make it the perfect getting-ready space.
Look for the room with the biggest windows for you and your bridesmaids to get ready in. Natural light is the best for pictures, and that's especially true on wedding mornings in dark hotel rooms. Trust your professional wedding photographer and videographer to transform the lighting and make it work, no matter the room.
However, one thing to be aware of is the camera white balance. Artificial lighting can make your skin look green, orange, or other colours, and ruin the beauty of the moment. So, if you want to avoid that, make sure to choose a room with as much natural light as possible, and avoid turning on any artificial lights as it will create mixed lighting sources and difficult for cameras to find the right colour temperature. Your wedding photographer and videographer will take care of the rest, ensuring your skin tone looks beautiful and natural in every shot.
The Morning Clutter
Clutter can be a real problem when it comes to your wedding photos. It's easy to overlook the mess when you're in the midst of getting ready, but a tidy space is essential for capturing beautiful, timeless photos that you'll cherish forever.
To ensure that you get the very best from your wedding photos, it's important to keep your getting-ready space as tidy and clutter-free as possible. Busy backgrounds can take the focus away from you and your bridal party, so take the time to clear the space of any unnecessary items.
If you're getting ready in a hotel room, take some time to hide away all of the usual hotel things like notepads, pens, and brochures. Try to keep all the food and drinks in a designated area away from where you're getting ready, it will help to keep the space tidy.
If you're getting ready at home, tuck away anything that's non-wedding related. It's always a good idea to allocate one room to keep all the clutter in so that it's out of sight and out of mind.
Remember, a clutter-free space will not only result in better photos but also help to create a more relaxed and calm atmosphere for you and your bridal party to enjoy as you prepare for the big day.
Your details
Have all the wedding details ready, including your shoes, jewellery, bouquet, and any other important elements or family heirlooms you want to feature. Be sure to remove any tags and take your earrings out of their box/holder ahead of time, so I can efficiently capture these special items according to your preferences.
While I believe the dress looks best on you, if you'd like a photo of it hanging, consider using a nice-looking hanger such as a classic wooden hanger or a custom-made one for the day. This will add a special touch to your photos and help them stand out.
Morning Schedule and Preparation
On the morning of your wedding day, you want to make sure you have enough time to get ready without feeling rushed or stressed. It's important to make sure that you're almost ready for your photographer and videographer's arrival. This way, you'll be picture and film-ready without the stress of being on a tight schedule. I suggest doing hair first, followed by makeup, you should NEVER go last, I find second to last is the best. It's been said that around 80% of weddings end up behind schedule before hair and makeup are finished, so be sure to account for that as well. The more time you have to get ready, the better.
Your photographer and videographer should work with you closely on a timeline for photos and videos and will most likely request that you're ready to get into your dress at a certain time. Allow at least an hour to get into the dress before you leave. This hour will prevent you from feeling rushed and allow you to take some pictures in your dress with your mom, dad, and bridesmaids. It's also important that everyone else that needs to be in the picture with you putting the dress on is ready before you put on your dress.
You may also want to consider any special moments you want to capture during the morning. This could include popping a bottle of champagne with your bridesmaids with those cute matching robes, having a first look with your dad, reading notes, exchanging gifts or simply taking a moment to soak it all in before the day gets hectic. Discuss these moments with your photographer/videographer ahead of time so they can plan accordingly and ensure that everything is captured. It’s also important to communicate with your hair and makeup artists to make sure they know the timeline and schedule. This will allow them to plan accordingly and avoid any delays.
If you are having Bride & Bridesmaid gift, wait for me to be there to open them up. Great candid opportunity. The same goes with Bride & Groom gifts, wait for me to be here to open them up :D
Some couples will also leave each other a special note for their partner to read in the morning. If you do so please wait for me to be around, those moment makes such wonderful memories, especially on video.
Remember, your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so make sure you take the time to enjoy every moment of it. By planning ahead and allowing enough time for each part of the morning, you can start your day off on the right foot and ensure that you have beautiful memories to cherish for years to come. Consider adding an extra hour or two to your schedule just in case anything unexpected happens. This will give you more time to relax, enjoy the moment, and take some extra photos.
Do we forget someone?
The guys are generally getting ready in under an hour but like I said it’s so important to get all details of your story!! The time the groom spends with his mates is always a fun time to remember, heading to the bar for a drink, playing pool etc...
Everything about light and clutter applies to them as well. And the same for the details such as cuff links, watch, tie etc...
Gentleman, you’re an important part of the day so I want to capture you getting ready as well. I want to capture photos of the best man helping the groom with his tie or father and son sharing a drink.
Relax and Have Fun
Finally, the most important tip of all: relax and have fun! Getting ready should be a time to enjoy the company of your closest friends and family. Laugh, joke, and have a good time, and your photos will reflect those happy moments.
Remember, the effort you put into your getting ready photos will pay off in the final result. Trust your professional wedding photographer and videographer, and follow these tips to ensure you get the most stunning and meaningful photos of this special moment in your life.
I really hope this list will help you with your wedding photography and videography in Cairns to Port Douglas or Palm Cove. As a wedding photographer and videographer, I am always happy to help so do not hesitate to ask me any questions you may have HERE.