Ellie Gillard photography - planning you wedding photography 2017 by Ellie Gillard

planning your wedding photography A HANDY GUIDE 2017

Congratulations; you can tick somthing pretty big off your wedding to do list, and give yourself a pat on the back. You have a photographer. Whether you are working with me, or with Libby my associate photographer, I want this to be one of the best experiences you’ll have throughout your wedding planning. I have pulled this guide together to give you a bit of an overview for what it might be like from a Photographic point of view, and some things to consider to make things run a bit more smoothly, and to get the photos you want. I also wanted to inspire you, and give you something tangible too - I’m sure you’ve been bombarded with stuff from mainstream wedding magazines - well this is my own version - a little fanzine; like the kind you might pick

up in a little music shop or boutique.

Feel free to disregard anything that’s not relevant to you - every wedding is unique and there’s no cookie cutter approach here. I do hope this answers more questions than it raises, but should it be the other way round then don’t hesitate to get in touch. About 4-6 weeks before the big day I will also send you a brief questionnaire about the runnings and timings of the day, and this will provide the basis for a chat to cover everything so that I’m fully prepped to be awesome on your wedding day. I can’t wait to work with you in 2017!

Ellie xx

CONTENTS E N GAG E M E N T S H O OTS

G E T T I N G R E A DY

THE CEREMONY

G RO U P S H OTS

CANDID MOMENTS

PORTRAITS

THE RECEPTION

F I R S T D A N C E & PA R T Y T I M E

LITTLE BLACK BOOK

AFTER THE WEDDING

ALBUMS AND PRINTS

ENGAGEMENT SHOOTS

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

This is one of the areas that I get most questions about, so I thought it would be good to include a handy guide and some hints and tips in here. Lots of people often feel they don’t need or want a pre-wedding shoot, and that’s fine but if your budget does allow for it, or the collection you’ve chosen includes an engagement shoot, then I love doing them.

Colourful outfits work better on camera than head to toe black and heels can be leg lengthening. If you’re going to bring a bag ensure it’s small or you don’t mind popping it on the ground so you can be hands free for the shoot.

I see it as a way for us all to get to know each other a little better, you get to have some fun together, some extra images and the chance to use a location that might not be available to you on your wedding day. If you’re a confirmed city dweller but getting married in a rural setting, it could be about incorporating a location you love. Lots of people arrive nervous but (hopefully) go away feeling like they’ve had lots of fun, and maybe even learnt a few tips for the wedding day and it does help me to find out what makes the two of you tick. I do pre-wedding and engagement shoots Monday-Thursday and can gladly fit this into a day off you might already have for wedding planning, or during the summer when we have long, beautiful evenings, after work shoots can work well too. We might have already discussed whether there are any limitations on location when you booked. I am now based in Norwich, in the beautiful county of Norfolk and surrounded by fields, woodland and beaches as well as some pretty awesome urban areas, so let me know if you fancy a visit! PICKING A LOCATION Start by considering things and places you love - it could be somewhere like the pub you had your first date, woods you love to explore, a museum you like to while your weekends away in. Some of my favourite locations have been the least expected

ones; a shabby but charming den of iniquity in Brixton and multi story car park in Peckham. What about incorporating your personal space into the day and having it at home? or bringing your beloved dog along? WHAT IF THE WEATHER’S BAD? If there’s time, the weather’s terrible and you have you heart set on an outside location then we can look at rescheduling, but especially in a city like London there’s lots of opportunity to take the shoot inside instead - check out ‘picking a location’ for some ideas’. The same rules apply to a wet wedding day; sometimes you can make use of the rain – it brings a whole new photographic vocabulary – pavements that reflect the light, ethereal overcast skies and puddles that work as mirrors. WHAT TIME OF DAY If it’s the summer, or forecast to be sunny, you really want to avoid the midday sun as it’s no-one’s friend. A few hours before sunset always works well, but if you’re an early riser, the morning can be good too. In fact early mornings when the light is buttery and there’s still mist are so incredibly beautiful. Ifit’s overcast, the sky is like a giant softbox making the natural light soft and flattering and any time of the day works. The shoots shown on the other pages are a real mix of weather conditions – if we’ve had gorgeous evening it tends to be a real stroke of luck but if you are lucky enough to get that, then exploit it! WHAT IF WE’RE CAMERA SHY I can help guide you and give you some natural direction that will help you relax and enjoy the shoot but if you’re naturally not very touchy feely, and are worried you might be self conscious

I like to leave this one up to you ultimately but I think it gives you a good opportunity to dress up - wear your favourite clothes and great shoes and you’ll feel more confident in front of the camera.

For girls, it’s great to combo it with your hair and makeup trial - you can seewhat it will look like on camera and you’ll look gorgeous. Make sure you’re still you though - if you live in yourjeans then it makes sense to wear them. The most important thing is to look and feel like yourself. To see some more images from engagement shoots head to http://www.elliegillard.co.uk/category/engagementsessions

GETTING READY This is the part of the day some people are often not sure if they want covered but it’s one of my favourites and helps to tell the whole story of the day. The time you spend with your family and friends before saying ‘I do’ is, without wanting to sound too twee, really precious and it will fly past. I normally recommend you have me arrive 1-2 hours before the ceremony starts depending on travel time. If you’re getting ready at the venue, early arrival is a good chance for me to spend some time photographing the details at the venue, leaving more time for other photos later.

From a photographer’s point of view, the ideal space would be spacious, light and tidy (although I know with lots of people getting ready in a small space it often isn’t, and that’s fine by me as long as you don’t mind a little bit of mess in the pictures – I think it helps tell the true story). In an ideal world, the makeup artist would place you with light coming from the window onto your face, this is what works best, especially in a dark hotel room. When considering booking a hotel room for this part of the day consider whether it has lots of natural light and whether you are happy to have those fixtures and fittings in your photos. I have also shot in rooms provided by the venue – windowless boxes with no natural light and downward halogens lights – these are a nightmare so if budget allows, choose somewhere else or even set up in another part of the venue.

With regards putting on the dress, some people are shyer than others and I’ll only appear when you want me to. Remember though I’m a girl too (and fortunate enough to be blessed with a modicum of common sense) and I won’t take photos of any wobbly bits, Spanx, boob tape or anything else I wouldn’t want photographed and I’ve worked with, and photographed, all kinds of body shapes. For guys things like doing up cuffs, and putting on ties work well - it’s all about the finishing details. If the two of you are getting ready nearby or i n the same house or hotel, I can factor in some time to visit both of you*, or if not, and you’d still like this covered then I can commission a second photographer for you. Just let me know and we can chat more about this. * factor this into the total amount of hours on the day We’ll discuss travel as part of the plan of the day – if your wedding is urban (especially if it’s in London) I’ll probably arrive by public transport, and can share transport with members of the wedding party to the actual wedding venue. Some of my favourite shots have been in the car (bus/camper van/walking crocodile) on the way. If not and the venue requires driving I’ll need to leave before you (especially as I’ll often be driving a route I’ve never driven before) and would be appreciative if you could check the availability of parking for me at the venue as I’ll have all of my gear with me, and need to move quickly once I arrive. In this case we’ll talk about making sure we have some time to get some shots of you putting on your dress before I leave.

WHEN I ARRIVE, RATHER THAN STARTING TO POINT MY CAMERA AT EVERYONE STRAIGHT AWAY, I’LL START BY PHOTOGRAPHING DETAILS LIKE THE DRESS, SHOES, INVITATIONS, FLOWERS OR WHATEVER YOU’VE CHOSEN FOR YOUR DAY SO IF SOMEONE COULD SHOW ME TO WHERE THESE ARE I CAN SNAP AWAY MERRILY UNTIL PEOPLE FEEL A BIT MORE NORMAL ABOUT BEING PHOTOGRAPHED. AFTER THAT I’LL WORK AT CAPTURING THE NATURAL MOMENTS AS THEY UNFOLD.

HINTS & TIPS G et ready with your nearest and dearest - ban anyone attention seeking or difficult or likely to cause you stress. Even if they are a close relative. This is your day.

Have your bridesmaids get into their dresses well ahead of you - that way they can help you and they will look good in the photos too. Be in your dress at least 15 minutes before I need to leave, which allows time for some portraits beforehand.

Assign someone to show me your dress and shoes and don’t panic if I move it to a prettier location. For DIY weddings, it can be great to also shoot friends and family setting up the day. Have your invites etc available if you want to include them in your photos. Think about where you want to get ready - if it’s at home I love to be able to include elements of your personal space. If it’s a hotel ask for the lightest room and make sure the curtains are open. Relax and enjoy yourself - take time to make yourself feel (as well as look) gorgeous. This is your day, enjoy it! Breathe, eat, have a little glass of fizz and remember that the day you’ve planned for months is here – don’t stress over things you can’t change. Stuff will go wrong, and no-one will notice.

THE CEREMONY THE REASON WE’RE ALL HERE.... The ceremony, be it a civil, humanist or a religious service, is pure documentation. I want to catch the looks on your faces when you first see each other, happy smiles in the crowd, tears and the first kiss. Check with whoever is conducting your ceremony that they are happy to have me present, reassure them that I never use flash during the ceremony (with one or two exceptions in very dark rooms like cinemas!) or get in their way. Nevertheless, some will banish me to the back of the room and some put a ban on photos altogether and it’s definitely best to be aware of any restrictions before the day so that you’re not disappointed afterwards. If this does happen there is usually nothing that can be done about it. Most London registrars are the most relaxed and friendly people I have ever come across but the further you get away from the capital, the more restrictions there may be. Church of England vicars can also be particularly tough, and there are some boroughs e.g. Warwickshire which REALLY dislike photographers and will put heavy limitations on what can be taken. If photos of your ceremony are particularly important

to you it is important to clearly check any restrictions beforehand. During the signing of the register, lots of registrars will take great pride in setting up a posed ‘signing of the register’ shot with a stunt pen and the such. Unless you fancy hamming it up, I prefer to snap secretly whilst you’re signing for real – it’s so much more authentic. If you would like a ‘formal’ shot of this – please let me know. After the ceremony there’s lots of happy hugs and kisses – enjoy it. Do let me know if you’re planning confetti, I can get everyone to throw it at the same time and some beautiful photos. If everyone throws seperately it can be a bit underwhelming on camera. Some couples choose to have an unplugged ceremony – in short one where you ask your guests to put down their cameras and smart phones and to watch the wedding with their eyes and feel it with their hearts. If you’re considering an unplugged wedding you could use some wording like this:

SEE MORE See more from the ceremonies of all the weddings I’ve shot over on my blog http://www.elliegillard.co.uk/category/ weddings/

AN UNPLUGGED REQUEST “We want you to be able to relax and have fun with us today! This in mind, we invite you to put down all your f avourite devices and just be present in the moment with us. We want to see your smiling faces as we walk down the aisle, and not your gadgets. Please leave your camera in your ba g (we’ ve got photog raphy covered!), and put your mobile on mute (we promise they’ ll call back!). We’ re happy to share our professional wedding photos later, but the g reatest gift you can give us today is just being fully here with us in this special moment.”

w i s d o m f r o m s o m e o n e w h o ’s s e e n i t a l l b e f o r e . . . .

Trust me on this one... Break in your shoes – nothing worse than sore feet! Try on your underwear with your dress or suit – make sure it doesn’t show through – don’t leave it until the day. Girls – if you’re planning on a cathedral length veil consider taking it off after photos – if it trails on the floor people WILL stand on it, especially if they’ve had a drink, and it is attached to your hair… And another one - if you’re considering a second ‘look’ for the evening - substituting a veil for a cool headpiece and red lips etc, consider which one you want for your portraits - or a mixture of both. Give your guests something to do between ceremony and dinner - most of them will be happy enough drinking and chatting, but if they’re really engaged it will make for better photos of them. Be realistic about your timings - as a photographer one of the few things I can’t conjure up is more time

GROUP SHOTS THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE BORING....

I’ll discuss with you a suitable point to do the group shots - sometimes it can work well to get these done at the ceremony venue if the space works better than the reception venue which can be true of urban weddings. Sometimes the day flows better if these are done at the reception venue after a drink. Location is also weather dependent. I also recommend keeping it to no more than 8 as the more time group shots take, the less time there is for beautiful candid images and other, more natural shots. This is where I have to put my cheesy cheery photographer hat on; I like to work quickly and keep the shots quite informal and relaxed – no one crouching with their hand under their chin or arrangements based on height (unless it’s some kind of injoke of course!) Group shots don’t need to be boring - they should include all of your favourite people, so feel free to share hugs and big smiles. if doing the shot of everyone, it’s worth having a friend with a loud voice who can help move your guests into the right location & it tends to work better with less

than 70 or so guests. We can have lots of fun with the photos of the wedding party, so feel free to be creative with location or including props etc. Light is also a key factor for these – direct sun overhead will result in everyone squinting and dark shadows under the eyes. So, in this case I would tend to move everyone to shade, or even head inside. This might seem mad to people who say ‘it’s a perfect day for photography’ but trust me, you’ll all look much better with even light on your faces. In a nutshell, let’s keep it short and everyone can get on with having a good time. You two are the ones that will have to stand there smiling throughout and the more time I spend on group shots the less time I have to capture the action, or even for portraits of the two of you. This is the kind of stuff you saw on my website and what you’ve hired me for.

E V E RYO N E ’ S FA M I LY I S D I F F E R E N T A N D M Y C O U P L E S I N C LU D E T H O S E W I T H D I VO R C E D PA R E N T S WHO H AV E N ’ T S P O K E N I N Y E A R S - T H E B E LO W I S I N T E N D E D TO G I V E YO U S O M E I D E A S B U T T H E R E ’ S N O R I G H T O R W R O N G . ..

1 . E V E RYO N E 2. CO U P L E PERSON A’ S

AND BRIDE OR C LO S E FA M I LY

3 . CO U P L E A N D B R I D E O R P E R S O N A’ S EXTENDED FA M I LY E .G . G R A N D PA R E N T S AND AU N T S / UNCLES OR PA RT N E R S O F S I B L I N G S 4. CO U P L E AND GROOM OR PERSON B’S C LO S E FA M I LY 5. CO U P L E AND GROOM OR P E R S O N B ’ S E X T E N D E D FA M I LY E .G . G R A N D PA R E N T S A N D AU N T S / U N C L E S 6 . CO U P L E W I T H W I T N E S S E S / C LO S E FRIENDSHIP GROUPS 7. BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS 8. GROOM AND BESTMAN/USHERS 9. BRIDE/GROOM USHERS/BEST MEN

BRIDESMAIDS/

CANDID MOMENTS QUITE SIMPLY - THE HEART OF THE DAY

Whilst I’m not shooting any other ‘major event’ I’ll be unobtrusively moving through your guests, taking shots of laughter, hugs, smiles and kisses and capturing photos of the bits of your day you won’t get to see. Taking photos of the selfies, the dance offs, the crazy expressions and all kinds of other super fun and natural goodness. This is the crux of my coverage and I could devote a whole magazine to shots of that alone – it’s your friends having fun, your Mum getting squiffy, your best mate’s baby at their first wedding, the moments in between – it’s everything. Suffice to say there’s not much I can say about this other than I’ll be on hand to document whatever happens on the day, keeping an eagle eye on goings on.

During the drinks, between the ceremony and everyone sitting down is often a really good time to get lots of these shots so why not give your guests something to do – it doesn’t have to cost money – what about a treasure hunt, with a round of drinks for the winner or how about hiring my photobooth and busting a few moves? It’ll also give you lots of time to catch up with those guests you haven’t seen for far too long. I could fill pages and pages and pages with these sorts of shots but it’s probably best to see them as part of ongoing wedding stories over on my blog http://www. elliegillard.co.uk/blog/

Let’s get a little crazy!

PORTRAITS

oh man, is this the beginning of something fun....

This is my absolute favourite time of the day, but one that can sometimes be difficult to fit in with everything that’s going on, and not wanting to be away from the party for too long but a lot of what you see in my portfolio is shots taken during this time. I try and keep it short, 20 minutes is enough to get some amazing photos, but if you can spare 40 minutes over the course of the day then that works perfectly. Almost all of my couples have said how much they enjoyed spending a few moments together. I like to find somewhere away from prying eyes and ask that it’s just us so that you can really relax. We will talk about the best time to nip out and do this, but if it’s bright then the evening light will be much more flattering, or if there’s a passing shower, It could be better to wait until later. We can provisionally plan the time beforehand, but nothing beats going with the flow on the day.

Light, and the opportunity to relax, are probably the most important factors. If you’d like to bring along and incorporate some props then please do. Natural light is my absolute favourite, be it indoor or outdoor but I can work with a little bit of trickery too and we can work together to decide on the best time and location for these photos.

If you’re getting married late or if you have a really busy schedule you If the light is absolutely beautiful might want to consider the concept later on or I spot an amazing sunset of a first look – very popular in the I might ask to borrow you again, states – they can really help if it will maybe between dinner and dessert to be dark by the time your ceremony do something creative. finishes. Basically, it’s a chance to see each other in all your finery before the ceremony. It’s not for everyone, but it can be a fab opportunity to capture some gorgeous portraits at a special time.

See more over on www.elliegillard.co.uk .com/blog

IF I SUGGEST A LOCATION OR BACKDROP THEN JUST GO FOR IT – I MIGHT HAVE A REALLY SPECIFIC IDEA OF WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE AND I’M NORMALLY LOOKING FOR THAT SHOT THAT’S A TEENY BIT DIFFERENT FROM THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AT THE VENUE TIME AND TIME

Your photos are a bit of a collaboration, Give me 20 minutes of your time and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have some stunning and artistic shots of you on your big day. Trust me, relax, take a deep breath and give it your all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be worth it. I promise. None of the couples I photograph are models, they are often camera shy too (or tell me they are) but the key factor is being prepared to give it a try.

I F I T R A I N S - B E B R AV E - YO U R W E D D I N G O N LY H A P P E N S O N C E A N D G E T T I N G A L I T T L E D A M P ( N O T T O R R E N T I A L LY S O A K E D ) A N D H AV I N G S O M E B E A U T I F U L P H O T O S I N YO U R W E D D I N G L O C AT I O N W O U L D B E W O R T H I T - I C A N A LWAY S G E T S O M E O N E T O S TA N D O V E R YO U W I T H A N U M B R E L L A - YO U C A N C R E AT E S O M E M A G I C AFTER DARK...

T H E S E I M A G E S W E R E A L L M A D E W H E N T H E W E AT H E R WA S L E S S T H A N P E R F E C T.

O R YO U R V E N U E M I G H T H AV E A N A M A Z I N G I N T E R I O R .

THE RECEPTION

The reception is a brilliant time to shoot lots of candid images of your guests – I prefer natural shots with people looking animated and having lots of fun. I’ll also photograph all the carefully curated details of the day so that it builds into a complete story. Objects, and not just the expected ones can also tell very powerful stories. I’ll photograph the speeches – venues often have an area that they always recommend putting the top table but consider the backdrop and try not to have the speeches in front of fire extinguishers or similar. You could even consider decorating this area to make a colourful backdrop. If it’s dark I might use either on camera flash, or set up a light stand near where they’ll be taking place. or sometimes your venue might have designed spot lighting, which works wonders! No-one wants to be photographed while they’re eating, so when the food comes out, that’s my cue to take a breather and have something to eat myself. Speaking of which, weddings are long and physically demanding. I’ll be carrying my equipment which means that I can’t normally bring food with me so for a full day booking I ask that you provide some food for me. If you could ask the venue to feed me at the same time as they do you; that way I’ll be done and ready to capture everything that happens afterwards...

FIRST DANCE & T H E PA R T Y

THIS IS A REALLY KEY MOMENT BUT OFTEN OVER IN A BLINK OF AN EYE. JUST RELAX, ENJOY IT AND FORGET ABOUT ME. BEFOREHAND I MIGHT SET UP SOME LIGHTING TO GIVE IT A BIT OF AN EXTRA POP AND IF YOUR DJ USES THE LAZER LIGHTS WITH THE LITTLE PINDOTS I’LL GET THEM TO TURN THEM OFF JUST FOR THE FIRST DANCE. AFTER EVERYONE ELSE HITS THE DANCEFLOOR I’LL CAPTURE THE ACTION FOR ABOUT 15/20 MINUTES MORE UNLESS WE’VE DISCUSSED OTHERWISE; THERE’S ONLY SO MANY DANCING SHOTS YOU WANT BEFORE EVERYTHING DESCENDS INTO DRUNKEN CHAOS; AND HEAD HOME TO BACK UP AND EDIT YOUR IMAGES. DO LET ME KNOW IF YOU’VE GOT ANYTHING SPECIAL PLANNED, OR ANY SURPRISES FOR YOUR GUESTS

I left these pages blank so you could write down whatever came into your head, or you could draw a pretty picture....

A L I T T L E N O T E O N P I N T E R E S T. . . Super useful for getting some inspiration together for the look and feel of your wedding, and to communicate visual ideas with people like floral designers, or hair and make up. They’ll take these cues and use them to build something unique for you. This type of communication works because they are visual people - a picture speaks 1000 words after all. It’s different for communicating with your wedding photographer, the first, and simplest reason is that presumably you have already seen lots of examples of the photographers work (mine, or Libby’s if you’re reading this!) and already love it, so you know what to expect, but instead of creating something from nothing, from your choices and inspirations, as the other suppliers will; a photographer will document your day, as it happens. They will create something unique to you, a true document of your day. Assuming you want to have fun, relax and enjoy the day and have photos that reflect what actually happened, instead of attempting to stage something that occurred at another couple’s wedding, or providing one of those lists which say things that would go without saying, something like ‘bride walking down aisle’, and attempt to make your photography into some kind of box ticking exercise. Using my own work as an example, I know each and every one of the images I create for my couples is unique to them, and driven by what happened on the day itself, the light, their relationships with those around them, their love for each other and the environment we were in at the time. It’s my job to make that look as beautiful as possible taking into account everything that’s happening at that moment, but I don’t want to be thinking, instead “I should frame it like that shot on Pinterest” or worrying about something we can’t control, when there are all kinds of wonderful things happening instead. So, use it to help plan the look of the day, but as it gets closer, step away, stop worrying about the wedding of some random person in another part of the world and be ready to embrace whatever your day brings. I’ll be writing more about this on the blog soon, so keep a look out!

MY LITTLE BLACK BOOK My work takes me all over the country, and further afield, so I didn’t want to waste your time in recommending awesome suppliers that only cover certain geographical areas so the below is a list of certain categories that will travel. It’s not exhaustive, and it’s not definitive but it will hopefully start you looking in the right direction. Each person mentioned here I have either worked with already, or met and have a fab relationship with and I recommend them wholeheartedly. PLANNERS

VIDEOGRAPHERS One of the most common things I’m asked to recommend. I only recommend those with a similar, modern style to myself, and who work unobtrusively with minimal interferance and no cheese! SHUTTERBOX FILMS http://www.shutterboxfilms.co.uk/

REEL LOVE FILMS Using planners is becoming more and more popular, and they now of- http://www.reellovefilms.co.uk/ fer a range of services right from on the day co-ordination through to brainstorming and styling sessions as well as the more usual full planning IRENE PIERA FILMS services. http://www.irenepiera.co.uk/ LOUISE PERRY WEDDINGS http://www.louiseperryweddings.com/ KNOT & POP http://www.knotandpop.com/

I’ve never worked with, but I do love the work of THE COSTA SISTERS http://www.costasisterproductions.co.uk/ E N T E R TA I N M E N T

LONDON BRIDE http://services.london-bride.com/home

Some DJs and bands prefer to work locally, although many travel. These are some of the best and will travel anywhere

LIZ LINKLETER EVENTS http://www.lizlinkleter.com/

THE WEDDING SMASHERS (They always have everyone dancing, and can do a silent disco too!) http://weddingsmashers.com/

UNION WEDDINGS http://www.unionweddings.co.uk/wedding-planning/ BIJOU BRIDE http://thebijoubride.com/

DISCO WED http://www.discowed.com/ INDIE WEDDING DISCO http://www.indieweddingdjs.co.uk/

FLORALS These are gorgeous high end floral designers who will travel, even if you decide not to work with them, their Instagram accounts are chock full of inspiration. JO FLOWERS http://www.joflowers.co.uk/ PALAIS http://www.palaisflowers.com/ VERVAIN FLOWERS http://www.vervainflowers.co.uk/ ONE FLEW OVER http://www.one-flew-over.co.uk/ JAM JAR FLOWERS http://www.jamjarflowers.co.uk/ If you are after specific recommendations for hair and make up, bands, florists or any other service in your local area, just ask, even if I don’t know of anyone I’ll know someone who will and can send you a handpicked list of recommendations.

You can expect to receive your edited images within 4-6 weeks of the big day, if, for any reason, it might take a little longer I’ll let you know as soon as possible. I’ll normally send you a few sneak peeks the Monday or Tuesday after your wedding, and with your permission, I’ll share them on my Facebook page too and Instagram too, so you can tag yourselves and share your beautiful photos with the world. I’ll create your online proofing gallery and send you a slideshow of your wedding images set to music I think suits the mood of the day.

“I recommend you make some time to watch the slideshow, just the two of you, get something decent to drink in, turn the speakers on and relive the day.” You will receive your images on a USB sticka few weeks later and you will receive both high res images for printing and be able to download low res images which are a much more manageable size if you want to share them online. Make sure you back up your images – I can’t stress this enough. The popularity of the ‘images on a disc’ format makes sense on the one hand, we consume so much more digitally these days but the speed with which new formats are coming out and others are becoming obsolete is ever quickening, the use of tablet computers is on the rise and the latest breed of Macs don’t have CD readers. I actually lost my own CD of wedding images when we moved house, without having a back up. So don’t do as I do, do as I say! Put them on your computer’s hardrive, store them in the cloud or better yet, get them printed and look at them regularly. For cloud backup options check out Dropbox or Backblaze and I’ll keep your finished images for a year. You could also look at Amazon’s storage options. PRINTS & ALBUMS If you want to have your images printed you have a number of options, one is, of course, to invest in an album but if you don’t want to, or would rather make something more informal and handmade, then invest in the prints themselves. If you order the prints from a professional lab they will be printed on archival paper, with a guaranteed life expectancy and will be printed as you see them on screen, not with auto colour correction software as with high street labs. If you’ve paid this much for your wedding photography it’s worth paying a little extra for beautiful prints which let it shine.

Please don’t have them printed at the auto booth at Asda! If you would still prefer to have them printed yourselves I recommend checking out companies like The PrintSpace and US based Artifact Uprising who make beautiful prints, or another another option for a lab that uses pro quality paper is DSL Colour Labs. I offer a range of gorgeous albums, the jewels in the crown are my Fine Art albums with their gorgeous leather covers and beautiful papers. You can find all the details about prints, albums and all other products at https://issuu.com/elliegillard/docs/product_ brochure_pdf COPYRIGHT I always retain copyright of my work, this is both to protect my images and to protect you. As per my contract, you get personal use rights for your photos…this means you can upload them online, make copies for friends and family, get them printed, make an album… most uses are absolutely fine. If there are other wedding suppliers such as florists or make up artists who would like to use the images they must contact me first as this is not covered under personal use. I’m more than happy to share the photos free of charge most of the time and will reciprocate by crediting them if I share the photos, but I do like to make separate agreements with business owners myself so it’s best to send them in my direction if they ask you for photos. This also prohibits anyone from making a deriative copy of the work or editing it in any way, or unauthorised commercial uses. This includes using additional filters on programmes like Instagram. B LO G S & M A G S I like to feature some of the weddings and engagement shoots I’ve shot on my blog and via my social media channels. I usually share at least one shot from every wedding over on social media, but on the blog I like to mix it up - A London pub wedding next to a country garden one for instance. This is partly because this is what Google likes to see, which in turn helps me find future versions of you guys - which is pretty neat. I often get asked by bloggers and magazine editors whether they can feature certain weddings and it’s one of the chief ways I book other awesome couples like you. If a blog would like to feature your wedding, and you’d like to be featured it would be the best compliment you could pay me to complete the questionnaire and get it back to me promptly. I’ll handle formatting and sending over the images and you can sit back and see

AFTER THE WEDDING...

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