Beyond portraits and group shots, these 6 types of wedding day photos capture all the emotion, details, and moments you didn’t even realise you wanted.
When you think of your wedding day photography, you’re probably imagining couples’ portraits, maybe some family formals, the speeches…and those things are all important and very much included in my coverage. There are also 6 types of wedding day photos you didn’t know you needed, though, which I’ll also prioritise. Capturing all of these ensures we tell the whole story of your wedding, your very own fairytale sent to you in photo form when you take delivery of your digital album.
The Wedding Day Photos You Didn’t Know You Needed…
Getting Ready - Both of You!
In the wedding industry there is a lot of focus placed on ‘bridal prep’ and capturing those gorgeous getting ready shots - putting earrings and veils in, lipstick and hair touch ups, and the first time your bridesmaids see you in your dress. I think these are so important, but…what happens to your partner’s first moments of the day, or when you’re both the bride or neither of you are? Personally I believe that both of your ‘getting ready’ stories are equally as important as each other, and I highly recommend adding a second shooter to capture both.
Don’t forget that this is one of the parts of your wedding day that you don’t get to see - the nerves in your partner’s smile, the laughs they share with their friends while getting into their outfit, the emotional knock on the door from the parents…the only way you get to share that with them is by looking back on the photos afterwards.
If you’d love to work with a second photographer to make sure you capture these all-important memories, you can ask me for my recommendations. I’ll help connect you with someone who can come along and join me, either for a few hours in the morning or for the whole day, someone you click and feel comfortable with and who I know I work easily with too.
Group Photos…But NOT As You Know Them
Honestly, group photos are never going to be the most fun part of your wedding day. Often, couples tell me they don’t really want them and are only including them because they’re important to their families, and there’s nothing worse than missing out on your whole drinks reception to take stiff snaps of you with every configuration of your guests.
The group photos you actually need are the natural, candid, joyful ones. Your best friends throwing their best moves on the dancefloor, your families mingling effortlessly during canapes, the reactions of your loved ones en masse when they walk into your reception - those are the group photos you’ll really treasure. My advice is to humour your more traditional family members and include them in some ‘standard’ group shots (that one will definitely make it onto their mantlepiece!), and forget all the non-essentials. I’ve got your group photos covered with none of the awkwardness and plastered-on expressions - promise.
Your Furry Friends
I connect with lots of my couples over a love of animals, and I get so excited when they want to include their pets in their wedding days. However brief the appearance of your four-legged friends, I’ll make sure I get their best side. I know how important they are to your family unit, big or small, so I’ll treat them like one of your guests and focus my lens on their joy throughout the day.
You don’t know how much you need that gorgeous picture of you and your smiling dog in your wedding outfits until you find it in your inbox!
The Bits You Miss
Apart from your partner’s morning of getting ready, there are a few other things you won’t get to see during your wedding day. These are things I’ll absolutely make sure I capture so you can enjoy them for the first time when you receive your gallery. It’s things like your ceremony space with nobody in it, your guests arriving, and your beautifully decorated tables before the wine gets spilled and the food gets served. When I say ‘full wedding day coverage’, I mean it!
To me, this is one of the most special parts about delivering your wedding album - the knowledge that there will be lots of these lovely surprises as you browse through your photos.
Take a look at my guide to effortlessly editorial couples’ portraits - even for the camera-shy.(The blog for shy couples)
Candids
My photography style is often described as naturally joyful by my couples, because I focus on capturing candid moments throughout your day. Instead of pausing for poses, I photograph you and your guests just as you are - the laughter, the expressions, the dance moves, the hugs and, above all, the love. The most evocative and emotional images are the ones that capture genuine moments, and I can promise you they’re the ones you’ll end up loving the most.
Flatlays
‘Flatlay’ is a bit of a wedding photographer term, but it definitely needs to be included in my list of wedding day photos you didn’t know you needed. Flatlays are images of the little details of your day, most commonly including your stationery (invitations, menu cards, place names etc), items of jewellery, fragrance, and sometimes florals, shoes and other small personal items. They’re arranged artistically and shot from above, creating gorgeous snapshots of the tiny treasures included in your wedding day. It might not sound like something that’s important to you, but these images really help to tell the story of your wedding as you look through your photos. Looking back on all of these items collected and curated into one little scene can be really special, so I’ll always make time to include them and you’ll be so glad I did.
Browse my portfolio to see how all of this and more is captured in fresh, airy tones with romance and joy woven through every shot. If you’ve got a good feeling about this and would like to enquire about your wedding day, contact me here.
