Mapping out your timeline for wedding photography...

Greetings to all my lovely blog readers! As some of you know, occasionally I will post little tips regarding weddings. Here is a time line that will help you know what you should expect regarding your wedding photos.

As soon as you've set a date:
*Decide on the style of photography you would like for your wedding, whether it be traditional, formal, photojournalistic, etc.
*Start checking into finding wedding photographers for your date. I can't tell you how many weddings I turned down for last summer because I had the dates booked early on and a few too many brides waited till the last minute! Don't do this!
*Meet with the photographers to go over information, pricing, styles, what is included in your wedding package, contracts, any important information. Your photographer should know what to do!
*Decide and book your photographer!


As soon as you've booked your photographer:
*Discuss a time line for your portrait sessions.
*Schedule your engagement session. That way you can get your announcement in the paper!
*Discuss pertinent information with your photographer as soon as you know it. Also, information regarding the ceremony, candle light, outdoor sunset, outdoor full sun, all this is very important to the photographer.

2-4 months prior to your wedding:
*This is the time to nail down any detail regarding attendants, family, location, what the schedule looks like, etc, for your wedding. Knowing how many attendants, family and such you will want photographed, will help the photographer come up with a realistic idea of how long your portraits are going to take the day of the wedding. Also, telling the photographer about any personal family issues, like divorce, might help. It makes it hard when a divorced couple refuses to cooperate for portraits, especially if the photographer didn't know about it! (*Personally, I like to schedule as many of the formals before the wedding as possible! This takes so much time off the amount of portraits taken between the ceremony and the reception!) Be realistic when discussing a time line. You don't really want to schedule too little time for portraits, only to be disappointed that you didn't get a picture with Great Grandma!
*Schedule your bridal session as soon as you have your gown! Don't wait till 2 weeks before your wedding to do this!

1 months prior to your wedding:
*Go over all the details again with your photographer.

1 week prior to your wedding:
*Go over all the details again with your photographer. I can not express this enough! Careful planning makes everything go so much smoother! Confirm all the information regarding the wedding day: location of hair salon or where you are getting ready if your photographer covers this, location and directions of wedding site and reception site.
*Get and give photographer emergency numbers. I tell my brides to never hesitate to call me any time day or night. I have gotten a call at 2am before from a bride who couldn't remember if she told me where the salon was (4 times in fact). But it's okay, we are here to make your day smoother!

During the week prior to your wedding:
*Get plenty of sleep!
*Hydrate!
*Relax!

Day before your wedding:
*Call your photographer to see if they have any questions. Hey we may be as concerned about you and just haven't had a chance to call you yet!

Hope this helps a little with your wedding planning!

Angie