As a wedding photographer, there are questions I always ask my brides. I’m sure each wedding photographer is different but to me I think there are some things that you should always communicate to your photographer.
- Family Dynamics: Does your mom’s brother no longer speak to her? Has it been ten years since your divorced parents have seen each other? Were your raised by someone other then your mom and dad? These are all very real situations that can happen, and if your photographer is not aware of any little special things about your family, it can make for awkward moments especially during the formal portraits. I’m not saying your wedding photographer needs to know every detail of your life but a general overview of what to expect for how people may be on your wedding day can be very helpful. I am used to reacting to situations and expecting change but prefer to be as prepared as possible.
- Your Favorite Things about You: Do you love your smile? Are you self conscious about your arms or nose? Do you not like kissing photos? Some of these things will come out during the engagement session but some times I meet brides for the first time on their wedding day. Knowing what features you love about yourself and what you prefer not to be too noticable can help me photograph you best.
- Schedule of your Day: Most brides send me a copy of the plans for their wedding day. There is something charming about when it starts, “go for a run”, “get coffee at peets”. It might just be me but I appreciate the little details. They are not necessary but for me they give me an idea of where you are mentally when I arrive. The important details are of course the times of your ceremony, where you are getting ready, when you want to do family portraits, and when your reception starts. Most wedding photographers will help you with this, so that you can be sure to schedule in enough time for photos. I tend to let my brides spend their wedding day how they want, and just give an opinion if something looks like it is not going to work.
- Your Feel about Being Photographed: Do you love being in front of the camera? Could you not care less? Is it important that your day is interrupted as little as possible for photographs? How do you feel about me being in the room and possibly taking photos while you are getting dressed? I have learned that women all have different rules for what is dressed, so this is a very important question. I have never had a bride ask me to leave the room but I often have restrictions given about when I can take a photo. I have been told anything from “my dress must be getting zippered” to “as long as I have undies on”. I do always put any even slightly revealing photographs in a separate private gallery for only the bride and groom’s eyes.
Grooms definitely have their say for these things too. Typically the bride tends to be who I communicate with most so I tend to default to saying bride. If your wedding photographer doesn’t ask any questions, that may just be their style. To me I think these are important, and if I was a bride I would want my photographer to know a little bit about me. Though, I must admit when I was a bride (before I was a wedding photographer) I was just happy that I felt comfortable with my photographer, and left the rest to him.
Great post! Many of these are things I don’t think brides think about, or at least not to mention to the photographer. I was bridesmaid in a wedding two years ago where the groom’s dad had a girlfriend whom the groom and his sister were not too keen on. I sidled up while the father/Groom portraits were going on and said, “Oh, Sister, you should get in there, too! Now the bride! And Sister’s husband! And…Dad’s girlfriend!” The bride and groom had pictures both with and without Dad’s girlfriend, but no one’s feelings were hurt!