Twenty years of full time wedding photography and videography in Southern California has given me a lot of insight into wedding planning.
Here are a few of my suggestions and opinions.
The wedding is your special day. My opinions aside, I will happily conform to your vision of exactly how your special day should unfold.
How Much Photography and/or Videography Coverage Time Should You Book for Your Wedding?
There are a lot of different scenarios. I routinely get calls asking for 10-12 hours of coverage, which is probably too much unless there's a reason. If there's a time gap between the ceremony and reception, Daniel Photography & Video will not charge you for the down time. Most wedding coverage starts 1-2 hours before the ceremony and ends about 1-2 hours after the cake cutting and bouquet toss. An experienced photographer and/or videographer will have sufficient guest portraits, candids and party atmosphere photos during the dancing and socializing prior to the cake cutting and bouquet toss. After the cake cut and bouquet toss there typically are no more formal events at the reception. In my opinion, there's no reason to pay more money for coverage past that point for more of the same-looking dancing photos and video. Here are some of my recommendations.
• Typical Coverage:
A two location wedding usually requires about 6-8 hours of coverage. A one location wedding can have complete coverage in 5-6 hours since the time driving to a second location, parking, etc. is eliminated.
• 4 Hours of Coverage:
The ceremony and reception at two different locations, coverage starting about 1 hour before the ceremony, ending about the time the meal starts. This includes the portraits before the ceremony, ceremony, the photos after, and reception coverage of the introductions, first dance, toasts and just posing the cake cutting photos with the cake being served later.
• 3 Hours of Coverage:
The ceremony and reception at one location, coverage starting about 1 hour before the ceremony, ending about the time the meal starts. This includes the ceremony, the photos after, and reception coverage of the introductions, first dance, toasts and just posing the cake cutting photos with the cake being served later.
• 2 Hours of Coverage:
Coverage starting about 30 minutes before the ceremony, ending when the formal photos are finished. Possibly some reception photos if it's at the same location and if time allows.
Getting Ready
The florist should deliver the flowers at least 15 minutes before photography begins.
• If the florist doesn't do it, have someone assigned to pin the boutonnières on the groom, groomsmen and dads. This is a very common delay that wastes valuable photo time.
When Does Photography and/or Video Start Before the Ceremony?
• Minimum:
1/2 hour before the ceremony for a few last minute getting ready photos of the bride.
• Better:
1 hour before the ceremony to allow photos of the bride in the dressing room and photos of the groom and groomsmen.
• Best Option 1:
If you're getting ready at the ceremony site, 1.5 hours before the ceremony allows for portraits outside the dressing room of the bride with her attendants and the groom with his attendants. Bride and groom photographed separately.
• Best Option 2:
If you're getting ready somewhere other than the ceremony site, 2-2.5 hours before the ceremony is recommended. This allows for getting ready photos and additional portraiture at this different site. The groomsmen are usually photographed at the ceremony site.
• Best Option 3:
Bride and groom photographed together before the ceremony. Also known as "preformals". This is the best way. Any bride that has done this will recommend it, regardless of how they felt about it before. 2-2.5 hours before the ceremony is best. This is known as "first look". Experienced photographers will set up a scenario for the couple to meet. This can be at the church altar, outdoors, or the bride's room. This becomes a meaningful part of the wedding. The benefits are: there's no rush because the wedding hasn't started yet; there's more time for these important portraits; the wedding party and family can join in the cocktail hour or avoid the delay joining the reception. After the first look the couple joins the family and wedding party for all the photos that would otherwise be taken before and after the ceremony. If you do this, it's best to do all the photos. Leaving a few group or family photos for after the ceremony means rounding up those people (time delay) for only a few photos, which is OK if it's necessary.
The Ceremony
• Processional:
Young flower girls or ring bearers should have an adult assigned to escort them down the aisle if they hesitate. What they do at the rehearsal is no indication of what will happen when they see all the guests turn to watch them enter the ceremony.
• Ceremony:
For the most interesting view for your guests and, for the best photography and videography, consider facing each other during the ceremony. Another option is to face the guests with the officiant in front and to the side of the couple. Guests will appreciate this instead of only seeing your backs.
• Unity Candle or Sand Pouring:
Move to the back side of the candelabra or table facing toward your guests so they can see you and, so the photographer and/or videographer can get the shot. Candles outdoors may be a disappointment. Any slight breeze will guarantee frustration.
• Recessional:
Allow sufficient time spacing between the couples. Quite often the couples are too close together to be properly photographed.
• Videography:
Technically savvy videographers will place a wireless microphone on the groom's lapel. This microphone picks up the bride, groom and the officiant if he/she stands close to the couple. Daniel Photography & Video also will connect a second wireless microphone to the church's or DJ's sound console to pick up the music and other microphones that the venue has in place such as podiums and the officiant's microphone. This means pure sound into the video camera instead of the second microphone just being mounted on the video camera which will pick up other noises such as traffic, airplanes, water features.
The Photo Session Following the Ceremony
• Who should be there? At the rehearsal, tell the family to return to the ceremony spot for the group photos. A lot of valuable photography time is may be used rounding up family members that didn't know they were to be photographed. Daniel Photography & Video will photograph the entire extended family, in addition to the immediate family unless you specify otherwise.
• Step Parents, Remarries, Significant Others:
It's over 50% these days. I can promise you, anyone that is not a natural parent is already wondering about how the photography will be handled. 20 years of dealing with this has taught me you should put their mind at ease by discussing with them in advance what you would like. At the photo session, the bride or groom can help the photographer place these people so everyone gets the photographs of specific people they want and no one is placed in an uncomfortable position. At the beginning of the photo session Daniel Photography & Video explains to everyone how the session will progress. We typically photograph every combination for the bride's family; followed by the same for the groom's family; then the wedding party; leaving the bride and groom portraits for last.
• Photography following the ceremony should take about 45 minutes, or longer if you want photography at a second location.
The Reception
• Introductions: Check with your DJ before the wedding to confirm he or she has a list of the people that are being introduced that includes, if necessary, phonetic spelling to avoid mispronouncing names.
• Introductions:
There should be sufficient time between the participants' entry to allow for proper photography and/or videography.
When the wedding party is introduced, do they know where to go? I often see them hesitate, not knowing what they are supposed to do after they are introduced. If you are planning your first dance following your introduction, it's nice if the wedding party is lined up along the edge of the dance floor, maybe in front of the head table or DJ area. This makes a nicer background for the first dance photos and/or video.
• First Dance:
Lately, I've noticed a lot of noisy conversation by guests during the first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances that, to me, seems disrespectful. Also, guests have been known to join in these private dances. If this concerns you, ask the DJ can announce something to prevent it.
• Money Dance:
When the money dance is announced the DJ should call the best man and maid of honor to the dance floor to organize the lines of people waiting to dance with the bride and groom. When this doesn't happen, people are confused about what to do. They come to the dance floor from all directions and don't know when to break in for their dance.
• Toasts:
In order for the toast person and the bride and groom to be in the same photo and/or video frame, have them stand next to the bride and groom facing the guests, not in front of the head table with their backs to the guests and cameras.
• Buffet:
If it's self service, it's better if the buffet has two sides to reduce the time guests have to stand in line.
• Guest Comments for the Video:
You've probably been to a wedding where a videographer came to your table, pointed a video camera at you, and expected you to have something prepared to say to the bride and groom. Daniel Photography & Video's method is to give a card to the DJ asking him or her to announce: "If anyone would like to leave a personal message to [bride and groom's names] see the videographer". This way, guests and family have time to think about what they want to say before approaching the videographer. Since Daniel Photography & Video provides two video cameras and camera operators for the entire wedding, one camera is always available for these interviews. 15-20 years from now, watching and listening to friends, family, and especially older relatives talking to you at your wedding will be a priceless memory for you and your family.
If you have questions about your wedding plans, please call.
Michael Kent Daniel
Daniel Photography & Video
Orange County: 949/548-4481
National toll-free: 888/480-4481