experience THE WEDDING
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“you have bewitched me body and soul” - JANE AUSTEN
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welcome
I could not be more excited that you’ve chosen me as your wedding photographer! As you plan your wedding, my hope is that this guide will make it a little bit easier to understand the photography side of the day. It will take you through sample timelines, the best time of the day to capture those dreamy sunset pictures and so much more!
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contents 4 6 8 10 14 18 20 22 24 27 28 30 32 35
Welcome Your Engagement Session Engagement Session Prep Best Photo Times Sample Timeline Getting Ready Morning Tips The Ceremony Lighting/Order of Service Family Photos Romantic Portraits Portrait Locations Online Gallery Thank You
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your
ENGAGEMENT SESSION Now that you have the big decisions sorted out for your big day, it's time to celebrate the two of you as a couple! During your engagement session, you'll have the opportunity to do just that. An engagement session isn't just about getting beautiful images, it's also about learning how we work together Think of the engagement session as a practice run for your wedding day. I'll be able to gauge how the two of you interact with each other, the best poses to put you in, as well as getting to know your preferred angles so we can maximize our time together on your wedding day! Your engagement session can be booked anytime you would like before your wedding day. I typically suggest booking your session anywhere between 4-10 months before the wedding. I book engagement sessions on weekday evenings as my weekends are reserved for weddings! One other important aspect of your session is choosing a location. There are a few things to consider when choosing
your ideal location. First and foremost, I always tell my couples to choose a place that holds a special place in their heart. Whether it be the spot of your first date, where you got engaged, or simply your favourite hangout spot, these are the places that you want to remember and therefore (I think) deserve to be documented! As long as there is light, any location can be a beautiful backdrop for your photos. The second thing to consider when choosing a location is whether or not that spot has a photo permit. Photo permits are fees paid to the city or property owner in order to take photos in a certain place. These typically pop up in larger cities and popular areas and can cost anywhere between $75-400 for a few hours of shooting. Lastly, if you're really at a loss for an ideal location, I'm happy to offer suggestions!
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ENGAGEMENT
prep
- Don't try to match, but rather, coordinate. We don't want your pictures looking like your mom's family photos from the 90s (ahem, white t-shirts and jeans anyone?) - Patterns can be an excellent way to add interest and texture to your photos. Graphics, however, aren't a cute look for photographs. - Empty those pockets. Keys, wallets, phones, it's all got to go. This keeps lines looking clean and ensures there are no bulky distractions. - Prepare two outfits; one more casual and the other a bit fancier. This way you get a more variety in your final gallery! - Clean your ring. I love a little sparkle and a quick clean of your ring will go a
long way in photographs - Treat yo'self. Go ahead and get that manicure, it will look fabulous in photos and of course all of those ring selfies will look more polished (pun intended) with a fresh coat. - Show up on time. There is only a limited time in the evening when the light is at its best and you don't want to miss out on it! - Wear something you feel both amazing and comfortable in. If you feel both of these things, it will certainly translate in your photographs - Don't fret. My job is make you look your absolute best, your job is to simply have a blast with your fiancĂŠ
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engagement session
APPROXIMATE START TIMES SPRING
SUMMER
March + April + May
June + July + August
4:00-7:30
6:45-7:30
FALL
WINTER
September + October +
December + January +
November
February
3:30-5:30
3:00-4:30
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wedding DAY
YOUR
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THE
timeline details
ceremony
1:00-2:00
The first thing I like to do upon arrival at the getting ready location is to gather the bridal details and photograph those. I love documenting the little details of the day and typically, the bride loves having these photos as well. It is ideal if the details are collected and set aside for when I arrive. This way I can shoot the details in a timely manner.
3:00-3:30
This is the part of the day where you (the bride) are slipping into your gown, getting finishing touches on your hair and makeup, putting on your shoes and jewelry and heading out the door.
Arguably the most important part of the day. The average length of a ceremony is 30 minutes but of course adjustments can be made to the time line if the ceremony is to last longer!
bridal prep 2:00-2:30
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The best time in the day for family formals is directly following the ceremony. If your officiant can announce for immediate family to go to said location immediately after the ceremony, it can save a lot of time (and tears) trying to gather people for the shots. An outdoor location is preferable for these photos if possible. Another fantastic tip to tackle family photos is to have a point person to stick with me who is familiar with both sides of the family to help with organization!
family formals
bridal party 4:10-4:50
This will include both photos of just the girls, just the guys and everyone all together. Typically this will take less than 30 minutes but I like to add in a bit of extra time just in case we have some unruly groomsmen!
One of my favourite parts of a wedding day. I absolutely adore getting to spend these moments alone with the newlyweds. I think the two of you will enjoy it too, it will be the first time in the day that you will have a breather away from the crowd and spend some time 'alone' as husband and wife. Part 2 to follow .
bride + groom 4:50-5:15
3:40-4:10
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reception details
sunset photos
5:20-5:45
This will be the first time in the day that I'll be able to sneak away from the wedding party and I use this time to capture the details of your reception room. If possible, I ask that the cocktail hour be held outside of the main reception space as I love to be able to capture the space untouched!
8:00-8:25
At this time I'll be capturing as many candid moments that I can get my camera on! This includes photos of introductions, speeches, reactions, kissing games and everything in between
entrance / speeches 6:00-8:00
If your wedding is taking place in the summer, this is the ultimate time to sneak out of your reception to get those killer sunset photos that are so near and dear to my heart. Leaving the party can be hard, but I promise it's always worth it! I also find that splitting up the portrait session into two smaller chucks can be a bit more manageable.
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This is the time of the night where I'll be busy capturing first dances, the bouquet + garter toss and guests dancing. I always suggest having me stay for 30 minutes from the time the dance floor opens. I find that anything over that, the dancing photos can become repetitive and there's no need for me to stay!
approximate times Details + Prep: 1.5 hours Family Formals: 30 minutes Bridal Party: 30-45 minutes Bride + Groom: 25 minutes Reception Details: 20-30 minutes Sunset Photos: 20-30 minutes
dancing 8:30 on
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getting READY
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The biggest day of your life is finally here. Hopefully all of the details of the day are taken care of and in place and you are able to relax with your girls. There are a few thing to consider when planning out your morning. Do you want to set up a first look with your dad? Are their gifts you are wanting to exchange with your groom in the morning? Who do you want to help you get into your dress? These are all little details that are nice to have prepped before the day so everyone knows where they are supposed to be, and what they are supposed to be doing.
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morning TIPS - I love being able to take pictures of you putting on your jewellery so try to hold off putting your accessories on until you are in your dress! - A clean room can go a long way in your getting ready photographs. A clean, bright room can work absolute wonders for the feel of your photos. - if possible, pick a room with a great, natural light source. The more windows, the better! - setting aside your details for me before I arrive helps me to be the most efficient once I arrive. Here is a list of things that I would be so grateful for if you could gather them, and set aside for me: the dress, veil, hair accessories, rings, shoes, bouquet, jewelry, perfume, invitation suite and your borrowed and blue. BONUS TIP - ask your florist to deliver any extra flowers and greenery clippings so I am able to use these bits to help style all of your details. This helps to tie in your theme and makes for some beautiful, cohesive imagery. 20
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ceremony THE
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The moment that everyone has gathered for today, to watch you get married! I can’t stress how important it is to be present in this moment and not forget its significance. It’s so easy to get caught up in the other details of the day, but don’t lose sight of what it’s all about – marrying the love of your life! Take in as many moments as you can, in a few short minutes, you’ll be husband and wife!
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lighting There are a few important details to your wedding ceremony that are often overlooked. If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, there are a few lighting situations to be aware of. If the ceremony is planned for noon, keep in mind that the lighting can be quite harsh at this time of the day. Planning an outdoor ceremony in the evening, closer to sunset, is the best option as the lighting will be far more flattering. If your ceremony is inside, something to consider is the evenness of the light. Try to avoid having a spotlight on the alter as your images will not be consistent in light (think really bright areas, and really dark areas).
order of service
There are so many amazing bespoke elements you can add to your ceremony. Think things like sand ceremonies, unity candles, feet washing, communion, and the list goes on. You can make the ceremony as personalized as you would like to accommodate the two of you as a couple. 24
take it slow I’m guilty of this one, walking down the aisle way too quickly. Let’s face it, a bunch of people will be staring at you and your bridal party as you make your way down the aisle and our first instinct is to walk a little faster. My best advice for walking down the aisle is to simply take it slow. Yes, it feels unnatural, but it gives me time as the photographer to capture the best moments as you come to meet your groom. This advice isn’t just for the bride either, it goes for your whole bridal party. Also take the ‘slow’ advice and apply it to your first kiss as well. Linger, go in for a second one, do anything you can to make that kiss last longer than 1 second!
coordination
This is a big, important, detail that can often go overlooked. There are so many things that need to be coordinated to ensure your ceremony goes off without a hitch! The timing of the music, flower girls, mothers lighting the candles and everything in between is smooth sailing when a coordinator is in charge of getting people where they need to be, when they need to be there. A coordinator not only helps during the ceremony, but throughout the rest of the day as well to ensure everything is running on time.
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SAMPLE LIST OF
family photos The most enjoyable family photos, are the organized family photos. It is vital to provide a list of family photos that you would like taken so nothing is missed! Often on the day of, things can get overlooked if they are not written down and you don’t want your family photos to be one of them. Here is a sample list of family photos to help you plan which photos you would like taken! If possible, please provide the list in the format shown below as well as the names of each person. This will make family photos quick and painless!
B with Bride’s Mom and Dad B with Mom B with Dad B&G with Bride’s immediate family B&G with Bride’s Mom and Dad B&G with Bride’s immediate family + spouses B&G with Bride’s immediate family + spouses + nieces + nephews B&G with Bride’s Grandparents B&G with both sets of parents B&G with both immediate families G with Groom’s Mom and Dad G with Mom G with Dad B&G with Groom’s immediate family B&G with Groom’s immediate family + spouses B&G with Groom’s immediate family + spouses + nieces + nephews B&G with Groom’s Grandparents 27
romantic PORTRAITS
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Although all of the photos from your day are important, the images with just the two of you are my absolute favorite ones to capture. These are the pictures that will be framed, shared and remembered. It's the first time of the day when the two of you are alone as newlyweds (okay, alone plus me, I'm your awkward third wheel for the day). This time for photos not only allows us to capture the two of you in all of your gorgeousness on the best day of your life, but also allows me to capture the two of you in an artistic and beautiful way so you'll be excited to share these pictures and display them all over your house. As you saw from the sample timeline, I prefer to break up these portraits into two small time frames. One right before the reception and the other as the sun starts to set. This allows for a bit of a break from picture taking and creates a better variety of images for your final gallery
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portrait LOCATIONS
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One of my favourite parts of the job is making a seemingly normal setting into something extraordinary. I love hearing suggestions on your favourite places for photos but ultimately, I love it when my couples trust me when deciding on where the best location is. Sometimes really beautiful settings have really terrible light and sometimes unconventional spots have the most spectacular light. Keep in mind that it is light that makes a beautiful photograph, and not necessarily the location. So if I ask you to stop in front of a weird spot, or pull over on the side of the road, know that it is with your best interests in mind and I'm doing it to create a magical photograph!
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ONLINE
gallery
This is one of my most asked about topics. The online gallery is the 21st century version of a 'disc of images.' This is where both your engagement session and full wedding gallery will be delivered. It's a simple platform where you’re able to browse through your images, download them directly onto your desktop, as well as share them and even order prints.
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downloading Your gallery is both password protected to view the pictures as well as having a PIN to actually download the images. You will have the ability to save the images in web size, high resolution, as well as original resolution. You are also able to download both the full gallery as well as individual images!
ordering prints
Ordering prints from your gallery is a super simple process. Just select the photo or photos you'd like printed, select the size of print, order, and have the prints delivered directly to your house from a high quality lab. Of course, you have the option to print anywhere you'd like, this is just one of the features of your gallery.
sharing Your online gallery makes it simple for you to share your images with family and friends. You have the ability to share the gallery through email and social media. Your gallery is also optimized for viewing on your mobile device, tablet and desktop, and you're able to share through any of these devices but keep in mind you can only download the images onto a desktop or laptop!
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thank you A BIG
Last but not least, I want to thank you for choosing me to capture your big day. I absolutely love what I do and I’m only able to do it thanks to couples like you! As you continue to plan your day, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have along the way. I so hope this guide has been helpful for you as you plan. I can’t wait for your wedding day! Much love, Chantelle
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