TRP Wedding Guide by trjphotographer129

TOM RUSSO PHOTOGRAPHY

WEDDING GUIDE a luxury experience

GETTING STARTED

THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

ENGAGEMENT SESSION INTRO

TABLE of CONTENTS

ENGAGEMENT PREP TIPS

STYLING YOUR SESSION

DRESS IT UP OR KEEP IT CASUAL

T H E F A M I LY F O R M A L S C H E C K L I S T

SAY YES TO THE DRESS

YOUR BRIDAL PARTY

ONE, TWO, OR THREE? IT ’S UP TO YOU!

CHOOSING COLORS

YOUR ROMANTIC PORTRAIT SESSION

THE SHOES

TRUSTING THE PORTRAIT LOCATION

GO PRO: HAIR & MAKE UP

SKIP THE SPRAY TAN

W H A T M A K E S A V E I L F LY

FALL & WINTER SESSIONS

RECEPTION PLANNING & TIPS

THE CONTROLLED EXIT

F A M I LY G R O U P P H O T O S

RAINY WEATHER DAYS

WEDDING PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE

FASHION TIPS FOR HIM

LAYERED LOOKS

IT ’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PERSON

AFTER THE SESSION

PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE

ENGAGEMENT SESSION CHECKLIST

POST PRODUCTION PROCESS

CREATING YOUR FIRST HEIRLOOM/ALBUM

YOUR GALLERY EXPLAINED

ORDERING PRINTS

IMAGE STORAGE

SAMPLE TIMELINE BREAKDOWN

BRIDE & GROOM PREP

THE FIRST LOOK

YOUR VIDEO POST PRODUCTION PROCESS

CEREMONY PREP & TIPS

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ONE FINAL NOTE

THE CEREMONY

THE UNPLUGGED CEREMONY

getting STARTED GET READY FOR THIS AMAZING JOURNEY

I am so excited that you are embarking on a journey that you will never forget! Marriage is a beautiful thing and you have such a fun time ahead!. I want you to know that I am honored to be chosen as your photographer. I am humbled that you’ve trusted me with the responsibility of helping you create memories you’ll look back on and cherish for a life time. I can’t wait to celebrate with you on your big day and be at your side to capture all the memories you’ll make with each other and the people you love most. As a seasoned wedding photographer there are so many aspects that go into a wedding day that it gets very overwhelming for couples when they are starting to plan it out. There are many aspects of a wedding planning process that should be handled by the vendors that you hire for your wedding day. We are not only wedding photographers, we are wedding planners as well. My goal is simple: for your process working with me and my team to be simple and seamless. We want to make sure we give you a quality product and still have an amazing time throughout the process. Thsi guide is packaed with a ton of goodies and will help with your entire wedding planning process. I have given you all my inside tips, tricks, secrets for wedding day planning, and even some engagement session tips as well. I cannot wait to get you in front of my camera and help you plan the wedding day of your dreams. I am excited to see you soon!

BEST,

TOM

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THE GIFT of FRIENDSHIP TRP is focused on forming long-lasting relationships with our clients. We know that when it comes to choosing your photographer it’s important to know what they’re all about. Having amazing photos is a plus but is not the only thing you should expect when working with us. Here at TRP we are storytellers and we want to tell yours in the best way possible. This means getting to know our couples on a more personal level. Not only does this help us better create your ideal photos but also makes sure we’re a perfect fit to work together. Your experience with TRP will be a positive one. We want you to feel like friends and family when working with us and want that to continue even after our time working together has ended. Connecting with you and your partner is our main priority. Expect your involvement with TRP to be professional, fun and enjoyable. We are a team of multiskilled personals that genuinely enjoy what we do. We are excited for you to join our family.

ENGAGEMENT SESSION intro I PHOTOGRAPH ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THE WAY I LIKE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED MYSELF:

Outdoors, in natural light, because I love images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. Images that look and feel like you. That’s why I begin most of my sessions 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset or at sunrise –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering. You can use a sunset or sunrise calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract two hours to figure out your approximate session start time. If you’re wearing one outfit, we’ll start your session about 90 minutes before sunset. When scheduling your date, it’s important to remember that the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your engagement session date –– especially if you’re taking off work or have evening plans afterward. I always recommend going out for a fun date night afterward since you’re already dressed up! My weekends fill up fast and far in advance, but my weekdays are much more flexible. So if you’d like to do your session sooner rather than later, scheduling mid-week is the way to go! I conduct all of my engagement session meetings through a Zoom call about a week or 2 after we lock in your wedding day! We will make sure you get the season you want and to have enough time to send out your Save the Dates for your wedding date. In our Engagement Session Consult we will chat about the finer details for the session.

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ENGAGEMENT SESSION Preparing As you prepare for your engagement session there are a few things you want to keep in mind. This is a really exciting time and I am sure you are super excited to have a professional photo shoot done with your love. There are a few tips that I want you know before we chat about your engagement session

If you could go anywhere in this world to do your engagement session, where would it be and why?! Answering this quesiton will help make your decision a lot easier when choosing your engagement session location! If you choose an Island like the Dominican Republic, I usually assocaite that with a beach. If you say a city like Paris, I assocaite that with a city locations or a cityscape. When my couples pick a location like Yosemite National Park, I say they are looking for a park/nature type of location. I love shooting in natural light, so really any location that we pick, we will be good! Consider an indoor session as well. They’re fun, relaxing and offer a sense of coziness withy our session as well.

ST YLING your SESSION IF YOU WANT YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION IMAGES TO LOOK AND FEEL A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL, I RECOMMEND BRINGING A FEW SMALL, SIMPLE PROPS WITH YOU, LIKE SIGNS TO USE OR EVEN YOUR PUP. If you want to set up something special or even incorportate your pup, just let me know! Maybe you have access to some larger props that have a real “wow” factor, like a boat, classic car, vintage bicycle or airplan. This is the time to dream a little bit and decide what really feels like you! Props aren’t a must by any means. Some of my couples love them and go all out. Some pick one or two items to bring. Others stick with just their outfits –– and that’s great, too! The most important things you need to bring to your session are love and laughter. I'll take care of the rest.

STYLE TIPS for HER

D R E S S it U P O R K E E P it C A S UA L HAVE YOU BEEN EYEING A GORGEOUS DRESS , BUT JUST NEVER HAD AN OCCASION FOR IT? This is your chance to do it up! Remember: there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to spend a ton of money adding a new permanent piece to your wardrobe, a lot of my brides love Rent the Runway for their engagement photos because you don’t have to spend a lot to feel like a million bucks. Plus, you can send the outfits back when the session is over. Some of my brides love having an excuse to go shopping and purchase a new permanent piece (or two!) for their wardrobe –– and that’s okay, too! Whatever works for you! ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO GO CASUAL AND KEEP IT COMFY? Sometimes some of the locations that you choose won’t be the best the be “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session. You can still be casual and comfy but still look nice and presentable. Most of the time, sessions that are on the beach, in the middle of the summer, or at a place like a carnival or amusement park, most couples will keep it casual. Even going shopping for new casual clothes is fun, especially when you can wear them again!

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S AY yes TO T H E D R E S S THERE'S NOTHING MORE ROMANTIC THAN A LONG, FLOWY DRESS Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! I recommend choosing long, flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Maxi (or floor length) skirts and dresses will give us the best “twirl factor,” add more romance to your walking photos, and look especially gorgeous when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, fields or beach. Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well. My brides who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one of each! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress (or skirt!) or two! You won't regret it!

O N E , T W O O R T H R E E ? it's up to you! Most of my brides who choose two outfits will bring one “wow” dress, and then another shorter cocktail-length dress or midi/maxi skirt for a more casual “us on a date” feel. But if you want to bring two “wow” dresses and forgo the more relaxed dress altogether, give yourself permission to do it! The camera loves runway-esque apparel and so do we! Remember, though, you don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too stressful. If you’d rather just stick to one fabulous outfit, that’s fine, too! One look that you love will be so much better than one outfit you love and another you’re not very excited about. So, whether it’s one or two is really up to you!

If you’re having a hard time making up your mind, feel free to shoot me an email with pictures! I’d be happy to help you narrow down your options or give you my opinion about what will look best on camera!

Another option to keep in mind is bringing a more “casual” look to the session. Not jeans and a blouse but maybe a nice skirt and sweater. I like to give my brides the option of having a more casual look as one of their choices as well. Especially when doing an indoor session or a fall/winter session.

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C H O O S I N G CO LO R S When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter, neutral tones and more muted shades. Bright, bold or neon colors are distracting and take the focus away from where it should be: you two and how much you love each other. You can never go wrong with light neutral colors like cream, taupe, camel or light gray. The camera loves shades of soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light-colored neutrals. That softer, more pastel-leaning color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments. Rule of thumb when choosing colors, is to make sure they compliment eachother. One of you pick a dominant color and the other pick a nuetral with that dominant color subtly incorporated. You can also pick dominant colors and then subtly incorporate the other’s color in your pallete. I’ll explain more in the next section.

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the S H O E S For shoes, keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toes heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps! If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. Your shoes should also go with the outfit and style you are going for. Flats or boots are good for a less formal look. Lastly, make sure to bring a pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!

GO PRO: hair & makeup PROFESSIONAL HAIR AND MAKEUP IS ON THE TOP OF MOST OF MY BRIDES’ ENGAGEMENT SESSION CHECKLISTS. It looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. You’ll have these photos forever, so this is the time to pamper yourself! Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have her apply your makeup in natural light (if possible) so that it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s most likely the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Most of my brides feel like their makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than they would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my brides always love the final result. If you need a recommendation for hair and makeup, I work with the best in the business and have a go-to team! They’re nice as can be, talented as heck, unbelievable professionals and wonderful people. You’ll LOVE them! Just let me know and we’ll send you their information. I know they’ll take good care of you!

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S K I P the S P R AY TA N Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session (even a few days prior) because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph most beautifully.

FALL and WINTER SESSIONS When seasons change and temperatures drop, sometimes it’s just too cold for a dress and heels by themselves (no matter how warm your coverup overcoat is). So I have some suggestions for late fall and winter that will still help you be fashion-forward and keep your color tones camera friendly. First, let’s talk about color palettes. Just like in warmer weather, I recommend muted hues over bold, primary colors. During fall, warm neutrals like camel, taupe, cream, champagne, and gray are still going to look great. If you’d like to incorporate color, choose sophisticated jewel-toned versions of bright primary colors. Here are some examples: mustard over yellow, crimson or burgundy over red, camel over orange, sage or emerald over green, and powder blue or navy over blue. These jewel tones will photograph beautifully in any season.

FALL/WINTER

COLDER WEATHER

COLD WEATHER TIPS:

Add a peacoat, tights, scarves and heeled booties to a form-fitting cocktail dress.

SNOW SESSIONS:

Statement coat with a beanie, scarf and gloves or a warm, oversized, snuggly sweater with tall boots and a hat. The great thing about snow is it creates a beautiful white backdrop, so even though it might seem counterintuitive, soft pastel, muted colors like soft pinks and powder blues still look great! And, remember, regardless of the setting, you can never go wrong with neutrals!

FASHION T I P S for

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HIM

TOPS & BOT TOMS The same way that a dress is the most flattering silhouette for the female body, a blazer, sport coat or suit jacket has the same flattering effect for men. You can’t go wrong with a dress shirt, slacks and a blazer, or a well-tailored suit. If you want more of a casual look, I suggest staying away from shorts, old raggedy jeans or pants, and open-toed shoes/sneakers.

COLORS For colors, I recommend neutrals and soft, warm tones that complement your bride’s look. When selecting your pieces, I recommend choosing a different “weight” for the pants and coat. So for example, navy pants (darker) and a heather gray coat (lighter). Or gray pants (darker) with a soft powder blue shirt (lighter). You don’t have to stick to these specific colors, but the idea is to have different “weight” in the colors when choosing your outfits.

SUITS When selecting a suit for photos, the most important part isn’t the price. It’s the fit. For men, it’s critical to have a suit jacket that fits snugly (but not too tight), and pants that are the correct length and don’t have too many breaks. Just like high heels make women look taller than they are, bunched up fabric stacked on top of a man’s shoes makes him look physically shorter than he really is. If you already have a suit that you like and want to wear at your session, make sure to try it on a few weeks beforehand (with the shoes you’ll be wearing) so you have time to make alterations if needed. If you don’t have a suit, now’s the perfect time to invest in something you’ll wear for the rest of your life! The best part? It’s a lot less expensive than you might think! While custom suits can cost thousands of dollars, some of the most well-known brands sell really nice off-the-rack suits for a fraction of the price that, with a few alterations from a good tailor, can be made to fit like a glove. Solid shades of gray or any deep tones (navy, maroon, beige, camel, brown, darker greens, etc.)are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye, so stay away from too strong of prints, and opt for solids instead.

LAYERED LOOKS

IT 'S ALL IN THE DE TAILS

The next time you walk by a store like Express or Banana Republic , you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, it’s worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime. Adding extra layers will bring additional dimension and visual interest to your photos. If the temperature permits, he could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!

Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet, and place it where you want it: on the face you fell in love with. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts and sandals at home. Suit pants, dress pants or colored pants work best. Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit, or a blazer and colored pants. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, and watches are sharp complements to any suit. If you bring two suits to the session, you can start with a traditional necktie and belt, then switch to suspenders and a bow tie for your second look. If two suits are too stressful, no problem! One look will do the trick! A lot of my grooms wear one suit and just change their dress shirt and/or pocket square/tie. Other guys wear one pair of pants and change their sweater, shirt or jacket. You can still mix and match accessories to complement both of her looks without doing a full change during the session. So, either way, you win.

HOW TO prep YO U R PERSON

EVEN THOUGH TAKING PHOTOS MIGHT NOT BE HIS FAVORITE THING, * YOU* ARE! Most men aren’t overly excited to take photos for two hours, mostly because they don’t have an expectation of what’s to come and why it’s so important to you, which is why I recommend sitting down together for fifteen minutes to educate and empower your man. Tell him why you chose me and my style of photography. Show him your three favorite sessions that we’ve done, explain why you love the photos so much and express to him how much this session means to you. Trust us, if he loves you, he’ll bring his A-game and light up the camera for you! The most common thing I hear from guys before enagement sessions is this: because of a bad experience in the past, they don’t like taking photos or don’t feel like they’ll be good at it. By the time the session is over, though, most guys can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had!

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A F T E R the S E S S I O N Don’t forget to plan a dinner date for after your session! You’re already going to be all dolled-up! Why not take advantage of it?! I know the wedding planning process can feel all-consuming, so take some time after the session to relax, have some fun together and celebrate this season of your life!

Even though I’m so excited about your wedding, the thing I am MOST excited about is your marriage! One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is this: never stop dating each other. So if you ask me, your engagement session is a great excuse to plan a date night!

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PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE

O N E D AY - S N E A K

T H R E E D AY S - F U L L G A L L E R Y In the first day following your session, I’ll be sending you a few sneak peaks from your session (the ones I am most excited about). I might even be sending you some right as I get home when I begin editing.

F I V E D AY S - B LO G P O S T

Up to 3 days after your session, I'll send you a link to your online gallery with all of your final, retouched, high-resolution images. You can share the link with your family and friends, post to social media and more! I recommend changing the lock screen on your phone first :) Also, don’t forget! Your gallery comes with unlimited downloads for you and anyone you share the link with, as well as the option to purchase prints from my professional lab and have them drop-shipped straight to your door. If you prefer, you can also upload the digital files to the retail lab of your choice (I recommend Walgreens for that!) and print them there.

About 5 days after your session, I'll post a blog with some of my favorite highlights at www.tomrussophotography.com/journal

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ENGAGEMENT session CHECKLIST

☐ Email me to schedule a date, time and location ☐ Schedule hair and makeup appointments ☐ Review Style Guide for outfit inspiration ☐ Choose your outfits (drop off at dry cleaner if needed!) ☐ Get your nails done ☐ Clean your ring ☐ Pack a bag with: ☐ Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots ☐ Outfits two and/or three (including shoes and accessories) ☐ Touch-up makeup ☐ Props ☐ Water bottle ☐ Coat or cover-up (for colder sessions) ☐ Pick a fun post-session date night spot and make a reservation

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SAMPLE Wedding Timeline BREAKDOWN with FIRST LOOK

without FIRST LOOK

Prep Location for Bride: At the Hotel/Venue Prep Location for Groom: At the Hotel/Venue

Prep Location for Bride: At Venue Prep Location for Groom: At Venue

Photographer Arrival for Bride - 12:30 pm Photographer Arrival for Groom - 1:00 pm

Arrival for Photog for Bride: 12 PM Arrival for Photog for Groom: 1:30 PM

First Look: 3:30 pm

First Look: No

Family Portraits: 3:45 pm Bridal Party: 4:10 pm Bride and Groom Portraits 4:30 pm

Ceremony: 3 pm - At a Church

Ceremony: 5:30 pm Cocktail: 6 pm - 7 pm Reception: 7 pm -11 pm

Family Portraits: 4:30 pm Bridal Party: 4:50 Bride and Groom Portraits 5:15 pm Cocktail: 7 pm Reception: 8 pm to 12 am

BRIDE & GROOM PREP Your morning is going to be stressful and move very fast but it is important to keep a few things in mind when scheduling out your bride prep. Your hair and make up team are going to ask you when you need to be ready by. Tell them 30 minutes earlier than what you and I have discussed. They are going to make you late or behind. We buffer in that time so that we aren’t behind and get get the rest of the day on schedule. We will start your bride prep with hair and make-up coverage and details. All of this is a part of your wedding day story. Alot for time for me to shoot your wedding day details as well as your hair and make-up! Usually an hour or so before we begin your photos I will need to do your details and your hair and make up photo. Then we move into your pre-dress photos with your brides maids. These are any photos in PJ’s, Flannels, or Robes with Champagne, Mimosas, ETC. From here we get your girls dressed and move on to photos with just you before we put your dress on. Once your mom, maid of honor, and/or whoever is helping you put your dress on is ready, then I will step out of the room, you put your dress on and we photograph the important steps of everyone helping with your dress and getting you ready. We do your bride formals in your dess and then we move onto Bridesmaids Groups shots and individuals!

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BRIDE details The bride details are SUPER important to telling your wedding day story! There are many aspects to the wedding day that you need to have for you bridal details. Here is a good list of wedding day bride detials that I would make sure you have together for me when we arrive.

MUST-HAVE ITEMS Wedding Dress Shoes Jewelry Flowers Extra Pedals for Details from the Florist Rings (Including the grooms) Invitation Suite Perfume (Brand New Bottle)

RECOMMENDED ITEMS Vow Books Sentimental Items Important Items

BRIDE & GROOM PREP The groom prep is just as important as the bride prep! It is a part of the first few chapters of a wedding story. With the groom prep, we ask our grooms to come in their street clothes or if they want to start getting dressed to have just their pants, shirt and socks on. Our second photographer will take all the detials shots and then get the Groom dressed through photos. There are steps that we take to get the groom dressed. Just the bride getting ready, we want to capture the groom getting ready as well. It’s important to the story.

Here are some helpful tips to preparing for your prep 1. Make sure all of your groomsmen and parents are starting to get ready or are ready to go when the photographer arrives. This way, when the photographer is ready to get the groom dressed, they can help him get ready. 2. Pick the important people to be in the photos with you getting dressed. Father, cousin, best man, grandfather; Whoeever it is make sure they are ready to go. 3. Stay relaxed and our photographers will handle all the smaller details for you! Just enjoy your day.

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GROOM details The groom details are just AS important as the bride details to telling your wedding day story! There are many aspects to the wedding day that you need to have for you groom details. Here is a good list of wedding day bride detials that I would make sure you have together for me when we arrive.

MUST-HAVE ITEMS Tie/Bowtie Cologne Shoes Cufflinks Watch Jewelry Jacket

RECOMMENDED ITEMS Vow Books Sentimental Items Important Items

the FIRST LOOK What is a first look? The “first look” is a moment during your wedding day when you and your partner get to see each other for the first time. Unlike in a traditional setting when the couple first sees each other at the altar, a first look is an intimate moment the couple get to share together. Why you should do a first look... Let’s be real - your wedding day can be one of the most nerve wracking days of your life. This is why doing a first look is perfect. Not only does it take some of the nerves away leading up to your ceremony, but also gives you the chance to experience the first time you’re seeing each other in a private setting. It gives you the opportunity to express your emotions freely without a large crowd and offers the chance for a more genuine reaction to seeing each other.

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the FIRST LOOK

This is also a perfect way to get some more photo time. By doing a first look, it gets the photos out of the way so you have more time to interact with your guests after the ceremony. Not to mention your hair, makeup and attire are going to be fresh which make for the best photos! A first look adds a private moment to your special day and can often be the only alone time you and your partner have together during your wedding day - take advantage of it!

Ceremony Prep & Tips There are some things that you want to make sure that you have prepared for your ceremony, regardless if it is in a religious location or at the venue. Through the many ceremonies that I have photographed in my career, there are always some things that couples will forget and some things that are not necessary.

- Have all of your readers in line and your officiant knows the names of everyne speaking at the ceremony - The officiant should know how to pronounce your married last name. - Decide if you’re doing some sort of exit out to the ceremony space. - Decide if you’re going to have guests blow bubbles, throwing dried flowers, etc.

The more that you have squared away, the more prepared you will feel. Don’t hesitate to designate your bridal party to help with certian aspects before and after the ceremony. On your invitation, make the start time for the ceremony 20-30 minutes before the actual time of the ceremony, this way everyone who is invited to the ceremony will be there and seated. If your ceremony is off site, arrive 10 minutes before the ceremony starts so that you can walk right into the ceremony space. If your ceremony is os on site, we will take 10 minute break after photos before starting your ceremony.

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THE CEREMONY The ceremony is the most anticipated part of your wedding day. It can be either really short or on the longer side. It all depends on if you are having a denominational or non-denominational wedding. You will be the center of attention. Everyone is watching, so get all your nerves out before hand. Stay focused on your bride or groom walking down the aisle or at the alter/front. Have a few laughs, smile and be as relaxed as you can. This will make for better images but an even better time. You are marrying the person of your dreams, be happy and be excited. AND REMEMBER: KISS TWICE. This way we can catch the kiss more than one time

the UNPLUGGED ceremony

If I was getting married, I wouldn’t want everyone watching through their cell phones or iPads. People who record through their phone, or iPad tend to get in the way of the photographers and videographers and become distracting. You are hiring professional photogrpahers to take photos of your ceremony and family and friends who record the bride’s entrance get in our way and are in some of the most important shots of the ceremony. Have a simple sign outside the ceremony space or in your invitation that you are having an unplugged ceremony. It is also a good idea to have someone of importance to make the announcment that it is an unplugged ceremony as a reminder.

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FAMILY FORMALS checklist Keep in mind that these are not your only family formal photos. We keep these small so that it is short sweet and to the point, however we ALWAYS make exceptions for our couples with smaller families. This is something we will or have discussed already but use this checklist to let your family members know that they are a part of your family formals a head of time.

☐ Bride’s Parents ☐ Bride’s Siblings, Spouses, Kids ☐ Bride’s Grandma & Grandpa ☐ Groom’s Parents ☐ Groom’s Siblings, Spouses, Kids ☐ Groom’s Grandma & Grandpa

the BRIDAL PARTY

The most important people in your life. Whether big or small, these people have the honor to stand up there with you as you say “I Do.” I like to call them the “I Do” Crew. During your portrait session we will do a bunch of fun and crazy poses with your bridal party. Your bridal party portraits won’t last too long so that they can get back to drinking and enjoying themselves. I ask all my couples to make sure that their bridal party doesn’t get tipsy or drunk before the portraits or ceremony, depending on what comes first. We want everyone to be cooperative so that portraits run smoothly and ya’ll don’t get frustrated with them. We are going to have a lot of fun with your bridal party! I cannot wait!

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your BRIDESMAIDS

Your bridesmaids are your best friends, siblings, cousins, girls who are most important to you. They are there for you the entire way and will help you with anything you need. If any of your bridesmaids start thinking for themselves and not for you, then you need to rethink your girls before the wedding day. Some pointers to keep in mind for your bridesmaids • Sometimes less is more - 6-8 is average • Set expectations for them • Hair and Make-Up can/should be paid by each of them • Pick the same color dress but allow them to wear a dress that fits them best. Your girls will be happier wearing it. • When you ask them to be your bridesmaid, get them all something that matches. Cups, wine glasses, bottles to take photos with during your prep. • Have them plan your bachelorette party but have the final say about everything • Have fun and relax

your GROOMSMEN Your groomsmen are your best friends, siblings, cousins, college & high school buddies who are most important to you. They are there for you the entire way and will help you with anything you need. Your groomsmen are excited to stand up next to you to watch you marry the person of your dreams. Some pointers to keep in mind for your bridesmaids • Sometimes less is more - 6-8 is average • Set expectations for them • Give your guys a beer to relax but make sure they don’t drink too much before the ceremony • Have them plan your bachelor party but have the final say about everything • Look to them for help or advice for the wedding day • Maybe go out to breakfast the morning of your wedding day, clear your mind with your guys • Have fun and relax

YO U R Romantic PORTRAIT SESSION

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YOUR PORTRAITS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PHOTOS OF THE DAY ! MAKE THE TIME ... This is by far my favorite part of your day. I love portrait sessions and this is where the true magic is made. We have a ton of ideas and places we want to go for your portraits in and around your venue. I would do your portraits at your venue as long as the venue has good spots to photograph your portraits. Be happy and want to take photos. Don’t feel obligated to because that will translate to your images. You want to show genuine and natural emotions. Make the time in your schedule to do your portraits. Think about your portrait time frame when planning your ceremony. Don’t put it back to back with the cocktail hour. You want ample time to capture your wedding portraits, this is your only chance so do it right.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION... It is all about your location! The location truly makes a difference for your images. Either stick with the venue or find a location near by that has a lot to offer. Trust the location that we have chosen will be the best for your portraits. The location should have a decent amount of shaded areas. Also see what is surrounding the location if we are going off site for your portraits. Don’t just pick ANY park or ANY location. I truly would stick with your venue location for portraits. Don’t go off site unless you have to.

TRUST your P O R T R I AT LO C AT I O N

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WHAT MAKES a Veil FLY? A veil pop is one of the most beautiful things about wedding portraits. But what makes a veil fly? It comes down to the material of the veil and the weight of it. The best type of veil to use for flying is one that is light and made of a sheer material Beading on the end makes it heavy and it will fall to the ground right after you toss it up You want a veil that is below your waist line or cathedral length otherwise we can’t get the correct height for the veil pop Gives more material to work with and it truly makes the veil fly

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Reception Planning & Tips A I N ’ T N O PA R T Y L I K E A W E D D I N G PA R T Y Wedding Receptions are the most anticpated part of your wedding day! Everyone loves a good party and what better way than to party with your closest friends and family. Everyone loves a good open bar. Don’t skimp on the good food and good music for your reception. Don’t skimp on your DJ & Entertainment. It truly makes a difference. Your centerpieces don’t have to be all out. You can still so something elegant but inexpensive. Use your bridesmaids bouquets to decorate your sweetheart or cake table! Save money on florals if you can and put that money towards your entertainment or food. There are three things that your guests are going to remember for your wedding reception. Venue Choice, DJ/ Entertainment, Food Choice.

Reception Planning & Tips Formalities should all be considered for your wedding reception. There really is no proper order for your wedding reception. I have worked weddings where the cake is cut in the beginning of the reception after the grand entrance instead of being the last formality.

RECEPTION FORMALITIES Grand Entrances First Dance as a Bride and Groom Father-Daughter Dance Mother-Son Dance Best Man & Maid of Honor Speeches Cake Cutting Sparkler Exit Night Shots

Bouquet Toss Garder Group Shots Dancing Groom Cake Parent Speeches Lantern Exits

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Reception Planning & Tips PLANNING YOUR EXIT When you are planning your exit for the wedding, I would consider doing your exit before your cake or right after it. This way your guests are all still there and everyone isn’t really drunk. You also get it out of the way. I have done exits at the very end and we were sitting around for a while. Think about how drunk everyone is at the end of the night, do you want to have anything happen to people not being cohearent enough to hold something flammable. Depending on how many guests are still at your reception at the time for your exit, I would consider keeping the amount of people to your bridal party and parents. Keeps it more controlable and it calls for better photos in the end. When purchasing the sparklers, it is 1 minute for every foot the sparkler is. A good length for the sparkers are 3-feet. It lasts long enough and worth it. Talk to the venue with coordinating your exit and then we will talk about it when we have our meeting before the wedding.

Reception Planning & Tips FAMILY GROUP PHOTOS Family formals can get over whelming and over the top during formal portraits. We do not do table shots during the reception, for multiple reasons and we will discuss that during our meeting. However we have an alternate solution to that. I’ll ask you to put together groups of people together on a list to do a gigantic “step-and-repeat” during the end of dinner. Here is an example of the list that I was talking about above.

The Jones Family The Smith Family Montclair State University friends All of our cousins Aunts and Uncles on the Bride’s side Aunts and Uncles on the Groom’s side Sorority Sisters Fraternity Brothers

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RAINY DAYS AREN’ T AS BAD AS YOU THINK There is the saying of it’s good luck on a rainy wedding day. There is always a plan B to having events happen on your wedding day. 90% of the venues that you will look at have a TON of beautiful places to photograph inside. Rainy wedding days make for better lighting and we can shoot at any point of the day. Incorporating clear umbrellas into your session brings a Mary Poppins feel to your portraints. We choose clear because it goes with everything and adds a sense of elegance.

RAINY Days F O R YO U R WEDDING

WEDDING PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE

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T W O TO T H R E E D AY - S N E A K P E E K

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T E N TO F O U R T E E N D AY S - F U L L G A L L E R Y Two or three after your wedding day, I will send you previews to tie you over and get some of the images from the wedding on our social media platforms.

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F I F T E E N TO S E V E N T E E N - B LO G P O S T

Up to 10-14 days after your Wedding I'll send you a link to your online gallery with all of your final, retouched, high-resolution images. You can share the link with your family and friends, post to social media and more! I recommend changing the lock screen on your phone first :) Also, don’t forget! Your gallery comes with unlimited downloads for you and anyone you share the link with, as well as the option to purchase prints from my professional lab and have them drop-shipped straight to your door. If you prefer, you can also upload the digital files to the retail lab of your choice (I recommend Miller’s Lab) and print them there.

About 15-17 days after your wedding, I'll post a blog with some of my favorite highlights at www.tomrussophotography.com/journal

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Post Production Process Creating Your First Heirloom Once I have deliver a gallery, we will start the process of your wedding album. Your album takes time and creativity to get right. This is a forever physical memory from your wedding day. The process is roughly 1-2 weeks for the final completion of the album. Once it is complete, we will hop on a Zoom call to proof the album and then send it over to print. Usually a 2-day delivery once the order is complete

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T W O TO T H R E E D AY S - S E L E C T I O N O F P H OTO S

T E N TO F O U R T E E N D AY S - C R E AT I O N O F A L B U M

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HOW I DELIVER YOUR WEDDING GALLERY

YO U R Gallery EXPLAINED

It is the best feeling when I deliver your wedding gallery. Seeing the final product for your wedding images are beautiful and super rewarding. You will have multiple links to pull images from. One of them will be with Watermarks and the other without. Then you will be good to order prints if you choose to do so. Galleries will be up for 6 months and then move over to another platform to house them forever. Then I will send you a link to leave a review on our Google, WeddingWire and theKnot.

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ORDERING Prints

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THIS IS AN OPTIONAL THING...BUT DISPLAYING YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS ON YOUR WALL IS GREAT ! The final gallery that I will give you will have the opportunity to order your prints from the wedding from a professional print shop. This is obviously optional, however if you are going to get them printed have them printed from a professional print shop. You can order prints as far out from the wedding as you want.

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IMAGE storage You’re probably wondering what happens to your images after your wedding day once I deliver the gallery. Everything is stored on a back up hard drive throughout the rest of the calendar year, then once the year is over, I will move them over to a dual back up hard drive and always have copies of the images. This way in 10 years from now you can shoot me an email and I will be able to reupload your images and send them over.

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YOUR HIGHLIGHT FILM POST PRODUCTION PROCESS HOW I DELIVER YOUR FINAL HIGHLIGHT VIDEO This is the last thing that should be delivered to you in your post production process for your wedding. The video team will be working on piecing together your final highlight film and making some pure magic out of it. This process takes about 2-3 months to finish but I can promise you, it is worth every minute that you are waiting to see the end result. The video will be uploaded to an online gallery where you can download and share the link with anyone who wants to see the video. If you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to reach and we will do our best to update you on the process of your highlight film.

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O N E final N OT E I know I just gave you A LOT to think about! Don’t panic :) Just take it one step at a time. I provided everything you need to help you stay organized and on top of things! But if you have any questions at any point, please know I’m here for you! If you’re deciding between two dresses and can’t commit, no problem! I’m here. If you love two locations but can’t make up your mind, no worries! I can help with that, too. If you need a recommendation of any kind, I’m on it! Remember, I’m just one email or text away :) At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you wear for your engagement session won’t matter nearly as much as the fun we have together and the memories you make as a couple. Your wedding day is going to be magical and everything you have always dreamed of. You don’t need to have prior experience in front of the camera. Just show up with a smile and I’ll take care of the rest :) Lastly, above all else, I want you to know that you (as people) are the most important thing to me. Your marriage matters most. So if there’s ever anything I can do to serve your relationship today, tomorrow, before the wedding or years down the road, please know that I’m here for you and my door is always open. I’m passionate about helping be the happiest they have been when they are in front of my camera. Because marriage isn’t the ball and chain or handcuffs our current culture parodies it to be. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do… because it causes you to be the best you you’ll ever be

I can’t wait to see you soon! - Tom

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