Wedding
Experience Veronica Cook Photography
Welcome I am so grateful and honored that you chose me to photograph your wedding day. Photographing couples is one of my favorite parts of thejob and I love to collaborate with brides and grooms as they prepare for the big day. There’s a lot to be documented in 24 hours and the process can be exciting and sometimes a bit overwhelming. You’re planning a day that you’ve been looking forward to for many years and my wish, as a wedding industry professional, is to shed light in the process. This magazine was created FOR YOU! To help you know how to invest and make smart decisions as you plan your wedding day. As a photographer I want to share some ideas on how to capture the most beautiful moments and have the best photographic experience. Years down the road you will be looking at your wedding photos sharing them with generations to come. As you continue to plan your big day remember to have fun and enjoy the creative process as you make that day happen. I am so excited to be working with you and I cannot wait to continue to meet up with you, plan your engagement session and your wedding day. Best Wishes,
Veronica Cook
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Table of Contents
6 8 10 14 16 18 20 22 24
Engagement Session Intro Engagement Tips & Tricks Time and Logistics Sample timeline Wedding through seasons Preceremony prep Getting Ready The Window Effect Bridal Details
26 Veil Options 28 Bridal Bouquet 30 First Look 32 Ceremony 34 Ceremony details 36 Family Portraits 38 Romantic Portraits 40 Bridal Party Portraits 42 Reception 44 Grand Exit 4
Engagement Session
The engagement session is all about YOU and your beloved! During your engagement session my sole focus is to photograph you (of course), get to know the two of you and how you interact with each other. You’ll have the chance to get to work with me, experience how I shoot and how I handle posing and lighting. What I learn during the engagement session is truly invaluable. You will feel like a pro on your wedding day because of the practice you’ve had during your engagement session. As far as logistics, your engagement session can be scheduled anytime before your wedding day. I normally suggest booking your session at least 3-6 months before to avoid the stress and to send out your Save the Dates. Normally, I shoot engagement shoots during the week 1-2 hours before the sun sets. Your engagement photos can be taken at a location with special meaning to the two of you. This can be the place where you got engaged, where you met, where you had your first date or just somewhere where the two of you like to spend time. If you don’t have a specific location in mind we can brainstorm a perfect location.
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Engagement Tips and Tricks The idea of getting photographed is intimidating
•Try on what you’re wearing beforehand and
for the average person. Read and apply the follow-
make sure you are comfortable with what you’re
ing tips and tricks to make sure your engagement photo experience is succesuful. • Don’t try to perfectly match each other. Try to choose an outfit and accessories that coordinate with each other.
wearing.
• Wear clothes that are approriate for your location.
• Make sure you wear undergarments that do not show.
• Don’t be afraid to be YOU! Accesorize and make your outfits your own. Scarves, bold necklaces
•Make sure your clothes are ironed.
and fun shoes are always welcome. •Be on time! The sun is only out for so long. The • Empty your pockets! You don’t want to have key chains or phones showing through your pockets.
•We will normally have a chance for two outfits.
later you arrive the less time we have to shoot. Let’s take advantage of the time! Also, there is nothing worse than when a couple shows up late and they have been arguing in the car. That is not the best way to approach an engagement session.
You can start with a dressy outfit and then something more casual and laid back. This will give
• Have fun and Enjoy ! I will help you every step
you the opportunity to have two looks and have a
of the way. My job is to make you look your best.
variety of photos.
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Time and Logistics
Approximate start time Winter
Summer
December- March 3-5 p.m. During December to March you can plan on your engagement session taking place around 3-5 p.m.. However the time changes in MidMarch and so that will make the start time one hour later
June-August 6:30-8:30 p.m. Summer engagements, just like all engagements take place 1-2 hours before sunset. This will hopefully mean that the shoot will be during the cooler part of the day.
Spring
Fall
April- May Time varies The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months and so our shooting time changes as well.
September-November Time varies The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months and so our shooting time changes as well.
Logistics • I photograph enegagement sessions on weekdays or Sundays mostly because weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings. •I love shooting at gorgeous locations. I recommend two locations max for enegagements. A general rule of thumb is the more locations and outfits, the less images but the more variety you’ll have. • I can do sunrise sessions if necessary. I require sunrise shoots for those who want to take portraits in very crowded locations. • I love to travel for shoots! (location fee may apply if more than 30 miles outside of El Paso)
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The Wedding day
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A smooth flow to your special day. Memorable weddings don’t just happen, they take a bit of organization. To ensure a smooth flow of beautifully captured memories of your day, a timeline of wedding events will help guide your planning.
Getting Ready: Bride & Groom
1.5 - 3 hours Plan for some additional time for photos at the salon, and if you’re planning a first look.
The wedding ceremony
15 minutes to 1.5 hours The length of your ceremony may vary widely. Afterwards, allow more time for formal portraits (if planned) to allow your guests to leave the Church or venue.
Formal group andFamily portraits
30 minutes to 1 hour Formal portrait timing can vary widely depending on group size and family/group combinations.
Wedding Party & Newlyweds
1 to 2 hours Timing can depend largely on the venue, size of the bridal party and variety of poses.
Reception 2 to 6 hours
Your first dance, cutting the cake, dancing guests, friends and family sharing your joy. Remember: Your wedding day is unique and planning together ensures you don’t miss a minute of this special time in your lives and I don’t miss a moment to capture those moments.
Timeline
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Seasons Winter
Winter weddings are gorgeous! They do however take some additional planning simply because of the sunset time. This means that all portraits have to be done before the sunset time which is around 5:00 p.m.!
Fall
Fall weddings are some of my favorite! Your portrait time will vary depneding on your wedding date! We’ll be sure to discuss this when we approve your final timeline.
Summer
Summer weddings are amazing! There is no rush for photos since the sunlight will last until 8:30pm! If you’re having a summer wedding, you’ll need to plan on having a few minutes to slip out of the reception for your sunset portraits! You will not regret this! These photos could be done during dinner or open dancing.
Spring
Spring weddings are wonderful because they are the perfect temperature!
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PreCeremony
pre-ceremony
Let the Day begin! This portion of the Wedding Experience really sets the stage for the entire wedding day. The next few pages will share tips and tricks that will ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation and beautiful portraits!
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Getting Ready It’s the morning of your wedding! Hopefully all
Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts
of the little details are taken care of and you’re
during this time? If so, who would like to deliver
relaxing with your best friends while your hair is
them? Are there certain women in your life who
being done. If certain items haven’t been checked
would appreciate seeing you get into your gown?
off of the to-do list, its time to hand them over to
Some brides want very few people around for this
someone else! Delegations is a key part of a stress
moment. Other brides loving having aunts and
free wedding day. I know it’s hard to hand over
grandmas present! It’s totally up to you. A few
the decorating duties and all of the last minute
other things to consider...as you get ready to put
things that need to be done but, it really is im-
your dress on, refrain from putting jewelry on. I
portant to relax the morning of your wedding.
love shooting all of those final steps once you’re
The rest of the day is going to be fast paced and
in your gown! Speaking of the gown, if your
filled with a lot of emotions! Take advantage of
gown is on a plastic hanger, try to make a note
this down time! There are a few things to consider
to bring a wooden hanger along for picture sake.
about the “getting ready” portion of the day. Do
If you forget, no big deal! Keep reading along for
you want to share a “first look” with your dad or
more “getting ready” tips to help you prepare!
any other person who plays a huge role in your life?
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The Window Effect By having just a simple window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful portraits with soft light. I prefer natural light so the more windows the better!
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Rings, Shoes, Jewels ... The whole day usually begins with DETAILS! The dress, the rings, the cake, the bouquet. These, and all the other visual details of your wedding day, are small but meaningful expressions of all that is unique about you. These details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having time to stylize and shoot everything from the dress to the jewelry to grandma’s handkerchief ! I will document them with care.
what to bring
{
Dress veil/hair pieces rings (all three) shoes bouquet & bout jewelry perfume invitation suite
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Veil Options I LOVE how your veil or headpiece is incorporated to your portraits. Your veil can be a beautiful addition to your wedding photographs. Depending on your veil and your personal preference you can either wear them the whole time or only for a portion of the time, for variety. Also, before you decide on a veil, consider how you plan on wearing your hair on your wedding day--the style you choose may affect your final veil decision.
Crystals graph
reflect better
light than
and
often
photo-
rhinestones,
which
can look like black dots in snapshots.
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Bridal Bouquet There are many expenses when it comes even bride and groom portraits! The to a wedding planning. Many brides have bridal bouquet is a focal point for me to prioritize what to invest in. I just want whent it comes to your photography to give a little tip that can save money and and so I highly recommend getting your make a huge impact on the way your im- DREAM bouquet and investing less on ages turn out. If you’re having trouble bridesmaids bouquets since they will making a decsion about your florals, here not be photographed nearly as much. is what I would suggest. I recommend making your bridal bouquet a BIG pri- Make sure you
florists delivers the
ority! When I’m photographing a wed- flowers early as I will use
florals as
ding, if the bride has a gorgeous bou- part of the details shots at the beginquet, I can make the entire day look like ning of the day. Have them delivthere were beautiful florals everywhere! ered where the bride is getting ready. I can use the bridal bouquet to spruce up the bridal details, reception details AND
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First Look The idea of a “first look” has gained a little bit of traction in recent years, but whether you choose to add one to your timeline is totally up to you. If you love the idea of saving that moment for the two of you, I’m happy to help find an ideal location for it, but if you’re traditional and can’t wait to see each other, for the first time on your wedding day, at opposites ends of the aisle, I’ll be ready. That said if you’re planning a winter wedding, lets talk about natural light. So many of my favorite portraits use natural light-something we run out of pretty early in the day during our winter months- so scheduling your first look earlier in the day will allow for portraits with your fiance, wedding party and families before the sun goes down and the party starts.
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Ceremony Here it is! The moment everyone has been waiting for! the music is playing and the guest
have been seated. Ushers make their way to the back of the church and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids while giving the musicians a 5 minute warning. The bride is about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life...and if she’s like most girls, she has dreamed about this moment for a long time! Vows will be shared and promises will be made...this is what it’s all about! In a world full of wedding blogs, pinterest and bridal magazines, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by the “prettiness” of the event. While details do matter and planning is necessary, it’s important to never lose sight of the real purpose of this amazing day!
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Lighting Ceremony lighting is really important! If you get married outdoors at 12pm, the lighting will be extremely harsh and not only will there be harsh lines of light on your faces, you will also be squinting. I suggest planning an outdoor ceremony 2 hours before sunset if you are having a FIRST LOOK. If you are not interested in sharing a first look, then I would suggest having your
ceremony 2-3 hours before sunset to ensure that you will have plenty of time for all your portraits The lower the sun, the more romantic the lighting. If you are having an indoor ceremony, it is always best to have EVEN lighting at the altar. If there are two spots on the bride and groom I will not be able to expose the rest of the bridal party. It is better to have soft, even light accross the whole altar.
Coordination
Program
I would highly recommend hiring a wedding or day of coordinator. If you do not have someone that responsibility will fall on the Mother of the bride or the photographer of the bride. When a photographer is in charge of timeline and the coordination of the day, the images will suffer. If you need any recommendations on wedding coordination services I would love to share some of my favorite vendors with you!
Programs are not necessary for every guest. Instead print about one program per family. Make sure you have several people proof read for spelling and grammatical errors.
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Family Portraits We want to make sure that you have all your family members in photographs during your big day. These photos can be stressful, so as to make the process as easy as possible, it’s best to have a detailed list of the people in each photo. This will keep things moving, as well as make sure that no one is forgotten in the moment.
Bride and Groom with brides immediate family Bride and Groom with groom’s immediate family (immediate family includes parents, siblings, nieces & nephews) Bride and Groom with brides grandparents Bride and Groom with groom’s grandparents Bride with her parents Bride with mom Bride with dad Bride and groom with both sets of parents Groom with mom Groom with dad Groom with parents Bride and Groom with all family members if time allows.
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Romantic Portraits
The romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed and they will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are some of my favorite to photograph not only because of their beauty but because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moemnt in time, you will be alone with your groom on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and really connect before the craziness begins! These images are done after a first look or if you’re not interested in doing a first look, we will make sure to include time after the ceremony for these portraits!
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Portrait Location
One of my favorite parts of my job is taking something ordinary and making it look absolutely amazing! This happens most often when it comes to picking portrait locations. If there is one thing that I love and appreciate about my couples, it’s that they trust me and my work! Sometimes I select portrait locations that most people wouldn’t consider attractive. For example, the image on the last page (pg.36) was taken on a plain boring parking lot next to the wedding venue but the light was perfect at that time. There was nothing special about the spot itself. It was seamingly “ugly” from everyone else’s point of view except mine! However, my couple trusted me, they now have the most amazing portraits!
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Bridal Party
Bridal party portraits is where the FUN begins!
All brides want their best friends to
have the best time at their wedding and we will make that happen. Depending on your timeline we will have bridal party portraits after your first look or after the ceremony. Make
sure
that
your
bridesmaids
ar-
rive with their bouquet and your groomsmen
arrive
with
their
boutonnieres.
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Your reception is a time for JOY! The last thing you should take care of making joy your night. Make your
you to let your hair down (literally or figuratively) and ENshould worry about is a timeline. Your coordinator and DJ sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enreception reflect who you are and don’t feel tied to traditions.
Reception Details
Key events
{
Bridal Party Introductions First Dance Bride/Father Dance Groom/Mother Dance Money Dance Traditional Relgious Dances
Guest Welcome Blessing Cake Cutting Toasts Bouquet & Garter Toss Grand Exit
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Exits EXits! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your bridal party! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a faux exit with just the members of your bridal party and a few family members. This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party NEVER has to stop! In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes. Also, it’s impossible to tell the whole wedding party isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple! this idea allows our couples to save money and still have all of the shots they dreamed of.
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