How to Get All of the Wedding Photos You're Dreaming Of

When it comes to wedding photography, what brides and grooms might be looking for out of their wedding photos can be very broad from couple to couple. Every couple has must have shots (i.e., the things that happen at every single wedding - the first kiss, first dance, parent dances, etc.), but then there are other photos that might not be as obvious - photos that are based more on preference or details specific to that couple (i.e., a photo of the couple dipping in front of their reception venue, a photo of the bride with her great Aunt Suzie, etc.). As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to capture not only the must-have photos that happen at every wedding day, but also the small details, relationships, and specific photos that might not be so obvious.

To do this, I like to practice three specific things - communication, coordination, and cooperation, all of which must be strong between me and my clients. In this blog post, I’m going to break down how practicing each of these three C’s with my clients has helped me create & capture images that my clients love!

1. Communication

Good communication is an essential building block for any relationship, including a photographer-client relationship. I love spending time getting to know my clients, whether through Zoom at an initial consult meeting, at their engagement session, or on phone calls leading up to their wedding day discussing details. This helps me get a better idea of who they are as a couple, what their like and dislike are, what prompts/direction they respond best to (or don’t respond to at all!), and ultimately helps me figure out how to best photograph them in a way that’s true to who they are. I love when couples give me multiple opportunities to get to know them, because it helps me serve them all the better!

Leading up to the wedding day, communication becomes even more important. There are SO MANY details to communicate about when it comes to a wedding day - addresses for the reception and ceremony, other vendors who will be involved in the day, start and end times, VIP’s, family members, must-have photos, family formal combinations, special details - the list goes on and on! I like to collect all of this information via an online questionnaire that my clients fill out, that is then submitted to me (about 2 to 3 months before the wedding day). This allows me to have all of that information in one place, straight from the bride and/or groom. I can refer to this questionnaire whenever I want! Leading up to the wedding day, I use this questionnaire to create the wedding day timeline, which leads me to my next C - Coordination.

2. Coordination

After communication comes coordination, and there can’t be much coordination of the photo timeline for the wedding day without solid communication!

The first part of coordination happens before the wedding day. Once I receive all of the details about a wedding day from a bride & groom, I take those details and create a master photo timeline. This is my guide for the couple’s wedding day, and allows me to create a game plan for their timeline to make sure we are able to get ALL of the photos they are hoping for! I love when my couples rely on me to help them create their wedding timeline, because I know from experience (10 years of weddings as of 2022!) how much time certain things on a wedding day take… and it’s usually longer than most think!

For example: does it usually take 2 minutes for you to get into your outfit for the day before work? That’s great! But on your wedding day, it will take longer. You may have buttons on the back of your dress, which can take a lengthier amount of time to complete. You might have special jewelry you’ll be wearing, or shoes that have clasps that you’re not used to - not to mention a veil to put in! I encourage my brides to leave 15 to 20 minutes just for getting into their wedding day attire. Sometimes it takes less time, and sometimes it takes more, but that is the average!

Other things that can take additional time on a wedding day are: travel between locations, bustling the dress, restroom breaks, walking between photo locations, receiving lines, first looks with a family member or the wedding party, and even more! Coordinating a solid game plan prior to the wedding day that both me and my couple are on the same page with is key to ensuring that we have enough time to get all of the photos we need, and that the couple, family, and bridal party don’t feel rushed while completing those photos.

The second part of coordination happens on the actual wedding day with the execution of that timeline. Many weddings I photograph do not have a “day of” coordinator (i.e., someone keeping everyone and everything on time on the wedding day). Some may have a ceremony coordinator or reception event coordinator, but what about everything that happens prior to the ceremony and reception, like making sure the bridesmaids/mother of the bride are dressed before the bride, getting the bride dressed, leaving for the church on time, and any photos that might happen in between? Many times, the photographer steps in to coordinate the timing of these events to make sure the bride, groom, bridal party, and family aren’t running behind. For me - it’s a role I happily take on! I love being able to help in this way, and help my couples stay on track for the day. Even the most laid back wedding needs to have some semblance of a timeline and coordination in order to run smoothly!

3. Cooperation

After the communication and coordination comes cooperation, which pulls all three of these pieces of a client-photographer relationship together. Cooperation together on a wedding day between the couple, bridal party, family, photographer, and other vendors is key to having a fantastic day, and to getting all of the photos you’re hoping for! There are many moving parts on a wedding day, and many opportunities for hiccups. On a wedding day, there are a few specific relationships that I, as a photographer, find the need for cooperation with:

Cooperating with the Couple, Bridal Party & Family - First, with the people I’m photographing. This includes the couple (obviously!), the bridal party, and the family members of the couple. The vast majority of the time, cooperation between me and my couples is very easy (first because the ones I photograph are so amazing!), but also because I’ve had the opportunity to build a relationship with the couple. However, the majority of the time, I’m coming into a wedding day without having met the bridal party or family who will be present, which means I need to take the time to build trust with them prior to directing them around. I love to do this by finding ways to encourage the bridal party and family members as much as I can during the getting ready portion of the day, when my job is a bit more candid. That way, when we come to the parts of the day that I need to direct and take control of a bit more (bridal party portraits, family formals), I have built that trust a bit (at least with the bridesmaids and bride’s family!) and have hopefully gained a bit of their trust.

Family members and the bridal party cooperating with the direction and timing I share helps us continue through the day and get all of the photos that the bride & groom want. Problems can arise if family members wander off to cocktail hour during the family photo portion of the day, which ultimately sets the timeline behind. Sometimes, if the bridal party has had a bit too much to drink, they aren’t paying attention to the direction I’m giving, which makes the photos take a bit longer. I love to try to make the photo portion of the day as quick and painless as possible for the larger groups of people involved (family & bridal party), so when all cooperate, we are able to get through photos faster and get them to the reception even quicker!

Cooperating with Other Vendors - Second, I find the need for cooperation between myself and other vendors. On a wedding day, photographers have the unique opportunity to see MANY of the wedding day vendors - usually beginning in the bridal getting ready suite with the hair/makeup artists, working with the videographer throughout the entire day, the “church lady,” limo driver, and finally the DJ and venue event staff/coordinator. Because we work with so many vendors on a wedding day, it’s important for us to put our best foot forward whenever we are able to, and to try to stay on track for the sake of honoring those other vendors who have put so much time and effort into a couple’s wedding day and who want them to have the best day, too!

It’s important for the bride and groom to be diligent in communication and coordinating between their vendors for the sake of the vendors cooperating well on the wedding day. For example: it’s important to ask your photographer when they would like to start taking photos so the hair and makeup artists know when they need to have the bride, bridesmaids, and mother of the bride ready for photos. If this crucial piece of information is not communicated, it can make the entire day run behind. Another good example is communicating how much time the videographer will need on the wedding day. Will they need any time separate from the photo portion of the day for their own video footage? If so, the photographer should know in advance, since they are usually the ones coordinating the day and creating the timeline! (Note: this might not apply if you are working with a skilled wedding planner who can coordinate multiple vendor timelines). Does the photographer know when the limo will pick you up to take you to the ceremony? Does the reception venue know how much time you will need between the end of the ceremony and beginning of the reception for photos? (Note: always ask your photographer how long portraits will take, don’t assume a time based on what your reception venue tells you! Your photographer is the one creating your wedding photos and knows how long it will take them to get all of the photos you want - not your venue!).

Proper communication and coordination between vendors will result in better cooperation for all parties involved, and will, in turn, help your wedding day run more smoothly!

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Thanks for taking the time to read, I hope this post was helpful to you as you plan your wedding day, or help someone else plan theirs! If you are interested in reading more (or in seeing more of my work!) feel feel free to check out additional blog posts below:

Communicating Style & Aesthetic to Your Wedding Photographer

When I first started photographing weddings, a seasoned wedding photographer told me: “All weddings are literally the same. The only thing that changes are the people – but besides that, everything is the same from weekend to weekend.”

While the wedding day might have a similar set up or timeline with getting ready photos, followed by a first look or ceremony, followed by portraits, then a reception, after photographing 100+ weddings, I would argue that so many things change from weekend to weekend, making each wedding completely unique. The general, skeletal framework may remain – but things are always changing.

For one, the couple changes, which changes the vibe of the day itself. I might have a quiet, romantic, love-to-be-close-to-each-other couple one weekend, then an outgoing, silly, fun, crazy couple the next – which, consequently, changes the way I photograph them, always keeping me on my toes! Likewise, I might have a laid back wedding on a farm one weekend, and an upscale, black tie wedding the next.

You might be wondering, “but why does this matter?”

Because the aesthetic of each wedding is so different – from the couple themselves, to the venue, to the theme, to the styling and décor – I’ve found that weddings can start to feel the same when I’m unaware of what makes each wedding unique.

Now, there are a few things I do in advance to get the general vibe of a wedding day. For example:

• I always try and chat with the couple before they book to talk about their pending style and aesthetic (but I do know that a lot can change from when you start wedding planning to when the wedding actually happens!)

• Which is why I send a follow up questionnaire a few months before the wedding day to get some of the more solid details, like the colors, theme, and other specific details.

• I also check out the venues and photo locations beforehand. Most venues each have a personality all their own! A wedding that takes place on a farm in a barn has a much different feel than one that takes place in a historical hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

When I know in advance what makes a wedding unique, I can plan. (And boy do I love planning! No, that’s not sarcasm! ;) ). From the portraits, to the details, to everything in between, knowing the vision, aesthetic, and style behind a wedding helps me come prepared from the get go. Your photographer can gather a lot of things from who you are and from the locations you choose, but there are some things that can only be communicated by you: like the theme, style, and aesthetic. And communicating these things in advance to your photographer can actually give you better images!

Let me share a few of my favorite examples:

FALL WEDDING AT SHADY ELMS FARM

This wedding is by far one of my favorite examples of communicating style and aesthetic beforehand, and how it can have a profound impact on your wedding day!

When Lyndsay (the bride) first started the conversation with me about her wedding day, she had a true vision: bright, colorful, laid back, classy barn elegance. She painted a vision of colorful florals and eclectic details, which made it easy for me to make style based decisions on their wedding day.

PORTRAITS

While we had a few portrait locations planned for Lyndsay and Justin’s wedding day, and all of them were nature focused. But before this shot - none of them had a ton of bright, bold color, like she had talked about during our numerous emails, phone calls, and final planning meeting. When I showed up the day of the wedding, I knew that to create cohesion between the bridal details, reception details, and portraits, it would be helpful to include some portraits with bright color! The scene in the photo above stood out to me as THE perfect spot to bridge the style gap in their day, and to make some of their portraits cohesive with the bright, bold style of their details!

BRIDAL DETAILS

And - speaking of details - knowing the vision and style of the wedding before I showed up on their wedding day helped me make styling choices cohesive with the vision of the wedding. For example, you’ll notice that the invitation below is very simple (and gorgeous - designed by the bride!). I knew when I saw it that I wanted to bring something bright and colorful into the frame in order to really make the shot “pop” and match the style of the wedding. Lucky for me, Shady Elms Farm does all of the floral arrangements for their weddings, so I was able to simply ask them for a few extra flowers to frame the invitation with. I also chose a bright yellow ring box to compliment the vibrant color palette, creating a photo of the invitation that complimented the style of the rest of the wedding day!

Knowing that Lyndsay was planning on having lots of eclectic details at the wedding also gave me the understanding that I could fill my background a bit more with different textures and details. Also, when I think of a farm, I think of overgrowth, flowers, plants, etc., a vibe which I feel was matched through the way the details were photographed!

EARLY FALL WEDDING IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH

Now, we’ll contrast the farm wedding above with a classy black tie city wedding below! Next up: Janelle and Josh’s Embassy Suites Downtown Pittsburgh wedding!

I had a clear understanding of Janelle and Josh’s wedding from the emails we exchanged and the questionnaires they filled out - when I saw their wedding venue, I saw it to be the perfect match of everything she had described to me: a classy, modern, black tie city wedding. And knowing some of the more specific style details in advance helped me make location choices for both the portraits and for the details that were consistent with the overall feel of the wedding!

PORTRAITS

We’ll start with the portraits! Choosing locations for Janelle and Josh’s wedding was quite easy, knowing that 1) they were having a classy affair, and 2) they wanted to showcase the city. So when it came to their portraits, you’ll notice in the slideshow below portraits that showcase the city (on the street, with buildings in the background, in the iconic Pittsburgh Strawberry Way), and, since their wedding was so perfectly colored to match their reception venue, photos in the venue that provide that classy, upscale feel!

BRIDAL DETAILS

Sometimes I struggle with finding the perfect spot to photograph bridal details, because I want the backgrounds (including colors) of each detail shot to compliment the photos from the rest of the wedding. With Janelle and Josh’s wedding… I knew as soon as I walked into the hotel that their details had to be shot in the lobby! And lucky for me, since I had enough information style and aesthetic wise to know what they were looking for in advance, I was able to choose specific locations in the lobby I would use for their details photos beforehand. Which was so helpful the day of the wedding! I was able to work faster on the details because I had already formulated a plan!

In addition to knowing that elements in the lobby of the hotel would make excellent backdrops for their details, I was able to bring a few extra elements with me on the wedding day to use for styling, because I had an idea of what would compliment the details. For example, in the invitation suite photo below, the only elements that were from the bride were the shoes, the invitation suite, and the purse. The lace, gold box, leaves, and small flowers were items I brought with me to enhance the set up!

WHY STYLE & AESTHETIC MATTERS TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

In summary, when a photographer knows the style and aesthetic of a wedding beforehand, they can…

• Help recommend portrait locations that fit the style of the overall wedding, helping to create a cohesive gallery from the wedding day that tells the story of the day through each section of the day.

• Be prepared to photograph bridal details by either choosing a location in advance, or bringing styling elements to help further compliment and tell the story of those details, and of the wedding as a whole.

• Focus more on the couple, bridal party, and family members. At least, for me this is true! When I know more in advance, I prepare more in advance, which frees up some of my brain space to focus on the people immediately around me - rather than on trying to find the perfect spot to photograph the invitation suite!

WHAT TO COMMUNICATE

If you’re a bride reading this, you might be wondering: what would be helpful to communicate to my photographer about my style and aesthetic beforehand? Below are a few pieces of information that are personally helpful for me to know before going into a wedding day!

• What the invitation suite looks like. Even better if you can send me one beforehand!

• Your wedding colors.

• What your dress looks like. The bride’s dress tends to set the tone and style for the wedding as a whole!

• What type and color of florals you’ll be using in your bouquets and boutonnieres.

MORAL OF THE STORY

So, the more of the story: don’t forget to communicate your style and aesthetic to your wedding photographer! In fact, make it a priority! For any couples who book their wedding with me, I send out a questionnaire a few months before the wedding with a few questions about style to get a better idea of the aesthetic beforehand so I can come prepared. That, along with checking out the reception and ceremony venue beforehand, give me a better understanding into each couple’s day, and the best way I can go about approaching the day and preparing beforehand.

But to any of my couples who might be reading this: never hesitate to over communicate on style and aesthetic to me! As someone who’s invested in your day, I love to be prepared for each and every wedding I photograph to the very best of my ability.

Favorite Epic Night Photos

Epic night photos aren’t always a possibility with every wedding, due to variables like location and timeline, but when epic night shots ARE able to happen at a wedding?! They are MAGIC. And because I love them so, I wanted to share a few of my favorite “epic night shots” with you today!

If you are interested a night photo like one of these below at your wedding, here are a few quick tips:

• Make sure your photography coverage lasts past sunset. These photos are possible after the sun goes down, when it gets dark!

• Make sure both you and your new-spouse are okay with leaving your reception for a few minutes. It’s always helpful for both parties to talk about leaving the reception for a few minutes beforehand, so there are no surprises!

• Make sure either you or your photographer lets your DJ know that you’ll be leaving for a few minutes. The very first time I ever set up an “epic night shot” I completely forgot to tell the DJ, and everyone panicked because the DJ announced the garter and bouquet toss, and no one knew where the couple had went! It’s safe to say that I ALWAYS talk with the DJ now before pulling a couple away for a night photo!

And without further ado… below are a few examples of some of my all time favorite night shots! 💛

Also, be sure to check out a detailed article on Night Photography by Pixpa, covering basics of night photography, camera equipment for night time photos, various techniques and tips of night photography in detail.

Above: at Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

Above: at the Pennsylvanian in downtown Pittsburgh, PA

On Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, PA

In Ridgeway, PA

At Mellon Square in Pittsburgh, PA

At Succop Nature Park in front of the mansion in Butler, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

This one is technically more of a sunset photo, but I wanted to include it anyways! On Mackinac Island in Michigan

At Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

In the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

Shady Elms Farm: Favorite Pittsburgh Wedding Venues

I’m excited to introduce you to another one of my favorite Pittsburgh wedding venues: Shady Elms Farm! This eclectic, whimsical farm is full of drop-dead gorgeous details and sweeping Western Pennsylvania views that leave this little photographer's heart oh-so-happy! 

In these venue highlights, I want to share some of my favorite attributes of each venue when it comes specifically to photos – mainly, why I love shooting there, how picturesque the venue is from a photographer’s point of view, and how rain could affect your wedding photos at each venue. My hope is to help viewers see the potential of each wedding venue I highlight specifically from a photography perspective so you can ensure that your photos will be gorgeous!

Picturesque:

Like I mentioned in the intro, if you're looking for a picturesque spot to have your wedding - this is it. Shady Elms Farm not only has a beautiful farmhouse and barns that can be incorporated into your photos, but also has fields, lines of trees, a pond (if you're brave, a canoe!), and sweeping mountain views. Really, what more could you need?! I feel like you have to see the photos to believe it!

In addition to being all-around beautiful, sunset is extra magical up on the hill above the farm. It's definitely worth sneaking away from your reception for a few minutes for some epic golden hour photos!

Rain Plan:

Though I've never photographed a rainy day wedding at Shady Elms, there are lots of spots that could be used in the case of rain! There is a deck on the front of the farmhouse, as well as a covered pavillion in the back! In past years, the inside of farmhouse has also been open for use in the case of inclement weather and is adorable inside!

Other Mentionables:

Aside from being stunning from pretty much every angle, Shady Elms Farm also has the kindest, most pleasant people you would hope to work with on your wedding day. Who doesn't want to work with amazing people on their wedding day?!

Shady Elms Farm also does ALL of the florals for the weddings they host - which totally blows my mind, because they are some of the most beautiful bouquets I've ever seen!

If you are a bride who is looking into Shady Elms Farm as a potential wedding venue, I would love to chat with you more! Feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com with any questions you might have!