Your intimate wedding is the intro to your epic love story. And since traditional wedding rules need not apply here, you can take this opportunity to showcase your own personal wedding style, whether that includes a white dress….or a black one. It’s your day, do what you want.
Pick a look that reflects your personality. Have fun with it and grab some killer pieces out of your wardrobe (or off a shopping rack if you’re so inclined). Add a belt, throw on a hat, throw on some rings and bracelets, style it up! Ask your most fashionista friend if you don't know what to wear. My photography style really shines through when your outfit choice is ah-ma-zing.
Don’t plan to rock white? Solids (both colors + neutrals) with pops of color or personality in your accessories or makeup (belt, jewelry, shoes, lipstick color, etc) will definitely get the job done. Patterns are fun for those confident enough to rock them.
‘Getting ready’ shots
Lighting is important. I utilize natural light every chance I get. For portraits, for prep shots, for anything that comes before the reception really. Your prep location should have light.
Your prep location should be photogenic and should have light.
The difference between a 'cute' image and an amazing image is proper lighting (and a few other things). Please keep that in mind when planning where you're prepping, where you're standing during your ceremony, the time of day it will be when you'll be doing your couples session, etc.
Try to keep the house, hotel room, or bridal suite you are getting ready as clean as possible or at least keep try to keep one area (near the window if possible) so that when Im taking photos of you getting dressed you are not being photo bombed by trash.
Prep shots are generally 45 minutes to an hour. It is ok if you both get ready together in the same house, room, etc. It is also ok if you both get ready separately in two different locations (as long as I have time in the schedule to get to you both). Its your day, so it’s your rules.
If you have gifts for each other, this would also be the time that you would open them.
Leave any wedding day details you want shot in a place altogether where I can easily get to them when I arrive, because this is what I will shoot first.
hair & Makeup
Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. So now that you’ve got your amazing wardrobe picked out, let’s talk about how you want to look once you are all dolled up. These photos will be epic, so making sure the vibe is carried out head to toe is essential. Ladies, your hair and makeup should reflect your outfits of choice as well as your personality. If a bold red lip is your thing, then rock it. If it’s not, now is not the time to try something new. You must be comfortable in your own skin, so make sure you look like YOU. And if you don’t do your hair/makeup on a daily basis, my number one advice here is to book a professional Hair + Makeup Artist. Just because you’re eloping, doesn’t mean you have to skip all the things. Your professional photos will pop ALOT more with a polished face.
HOW TO ROCK YOUR
Couples Portraits
"What do we do with our hands?!"
Number one question I get when we start shooting. Everyone relax! There's nothing to be nervous about. You've seen my photos right? None of these people have a Ford Modeling Agency contract. Put your game face on and let’s do this. Your energy can be read through photos. You don't really want to be there? It will show. Dont want to come out of your shell? Yep that shows too. Show up ready to have fun and your photos will turn out amazing.
For all the humans who say they don’t want to look STIFF:
Well then...don't be stiff! You need to bring your personality to your photos. If you don't, I will have to pull it out of you. When you are the only subject, you have to do a little bit more to carry the shoot by yourself. Most of the energy created during your photos will actually be your interaction with me, which is why most of our session will be us laughing and joking, talking about dreams and aspirations, and just having a regular conversation like two new friends throughout the session. Laugh, smile, dance, twirl, loosen the f* up and have fun with it. For real though. If you feel like you cant achieve this on your own, by all means bring a friend if you think that will make you feel more relaxed.
For all the Couples who say they don’t want to 'look' POSED:
Well then you gotta give me emotion! You can't tell me in your inquiry that you hate "posed" photos and then get to the session and just stand there holding hands and stare at the camera with an awkward fake smile on your face.....um yea. Loosen up. You don't need to stare at the camera for every single photo. You don't have to be somber in every photo. You also don't have to cheese for every photo. You don't have to put on a show. Just be. Be in love. Be present. Be openminded. Be comfortable. Forget I'm there, bear hug each other, play with each other, chase each other, whisper secrets in each others ears, act like 2 goofy teenagers in love, grab each others face, for crying out loud, kiss without me having to prompt you to! Wrap each other up, admire each others hands and body parts, theres no one here but us chickens! Cuddle under a cute blanket, take a walk, grab butts, help me bring life to your photos by bringing your real selves and your real love to your session, I cant do it all myself. I'm literally yelling this by now and I know you cant hear me but still....
When in doubt, just show me how much you love each other.
This ain't Sears portraits y’all! Move around, dance, play, make people jealous, throw your hands in the air if you don’t know what to do with them. The more you interact with each other on your own, the less I have to direct you to do something different.
Specific Locations and Seasons
during summer/warm temps:
Try to incorporate summer activities you love:
Bike ride, rollerblade, walk a nature trail, hike a mountain, hang at the beach, visit a national park, explore sand dunes, etc
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Plan to end your session at sunset and work your way backwards. So if you have booked a 2 hour elopement, we can start two hours prior to sunset, etc. For indoor sessions, shooting during the late morning, early afternoon time will ensure great natural light for any indoor location.
during winter/cool temps:
Try to incorporate activities that make sense in the winter:
Go ice skating, hang at a coffee shop, have a bonfire at the beach, chill in a cabin, capture a ‘day in the life’ at home, cuddle around a firepit, etc
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Winter time means less sun during the day and often times cloudy skies so you don’t always need to wait until dusk to shoot an outdoor session. But in case you have a nice clear day, plan to end your session at sunset and work your way backwards like you would in the summertime. For indoor sessions, shooting during the late morning, early afternoon time will ensure great natural light inside your home, cabin, or any indoor location.
near a beach:
FUN THINGS TO DO BESIDES STARE AT THE CAMERA:
Bring a blanket (try one with a cool design), and 2 colorful summer-y drinks or a bottle of champagne and stemless wine glasses, and have a toast on the beach. Bonus points if you bring a pizza and make it a full blown wedding reception.
Wade or jump in the water at the end of the session
Play with your dog on the beach
Climb the nearest rocks or driftwood
Have a dance-off with a seagull
Pier it up (if one is nearby)
Ignore the camera and explore your surroundings
Love on each other as much as possible.
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Around dawn, dusk or on a cloudy day; harsh light appearing in some places and not in others (for example: when you are standing in the shade on a sunny day) means that the background of your image that is drenched in sunlight may be blown out (ie: appear as white light in the background rather than its true color/form) in order to properly show you, the subject. So for wide open spaces, it’s best to shoot when everything can be lit the same, so that I can not only see you, the subject, in the shot, but also the body of water behind you in its true color. This can be done around dawn, around dusk or on a cloudy day at anytime.
in nature:
FUN THINGS TO DO BESIDES STARE AT THE CAMERA:
Bring a blanket (try one with a cool design), and a bottle of champagne, have a reception picnic as you take in nature
Walk/play with your dog as you hike a trail
Explore your surroundings
Read your vows to each other, written on beautiful paper or photo-worthy cards
Love on each other as much as possible
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Around dawn, dusk or on a cloudy day; harsh light appearing in some places and not in others (for example: when you are standing in the shade on a sunny day) means that the background of your image that is drenched in sunlight may be blown out (ie: appear as white light in the background rather than its true color/form) in order to properly light you, the subject, for the photo. So for wide open spaces, it’s best to shoot when everything is drenched in the same light, so that I can not only see you, the subject, in the shot, but also the landscape behind you in its true color. This can be done around dawn, around dusk or on a cloudy day at anytime.
In the desert:
FUN THINGS TO DO BESIDES JUST STARE AT THE CAMERA:
Stare anywhere but at the camera while the wind flows through your hair and dress
Sit in the sand and count each others freckles
See how fast you can run in the sand
Do your best vogue magazine cover impersonation
Just stand there. Anything looks good when the desert is your background
Love on each other as much as possible
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Around dawn, dusk or on a cloudy day; Not only is it hot as hell in the desert, but also you will need to be backlit for alot of the shoot (until the sun starts setting) and it's much easier to do that when the sun is not overhead or has something to block it (ex: your head). Also, when the sun is directly overhead, there is nowhere to run from the unflattering shadows that will form on your face under your eyes and nose no matter which direction you are standing. Avoid those ungodly shadows by shooting when the sun is at more of an angle.
in the city
FUN THINGS TO DO BESIDES STARE AT THE CAMERA:
Visit a cool coffee shop and grab some to-go cups of coffee
Grab some ice cream
Visit the pier or the county fair, play some games, get on the swing ride, eat some cotton candy, take a ride on the ferris wheel, etc
Stroll through a farmers market
Order an insta-worthy dish at a food truck event
Stop at a flower shop. Buy some flowers.
Grab a drink at a fancy bar
Dance in the middle of an empty street
Get creative in a parking garage
Love on each other as much as possible
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
Around dusk or on a cloudy day; ‘city lights’ like car tail lights, traffic lights, twinkle lights and neon signs hanging in shop windows will add dimension to your images that you wouldn’t get when you shoot in the middle of the afternoon or a sunny day.
indoors/in-home
FUN THINGS TO DO BESIDES STARE AT THE CAMERA:
pour a glass of wine
cut your cake and feed each other
open cards from friends and family
curl up on the couch (with coffee, with fur baby, with blanket, etc)
take in the breeze on your patio, or porch
pull out your Crosley record player and explore your collection of vinyl
find cute, well-lit nooks throughout your home to cuddle in
cuddle your fur baby
showcase your creative job or hobby (artist, photographer, designer, etc)
Love on each other as much as possible
BEST TIME TO SHOOT:
For indoor sessions, anytime the sun is up will ensure great natural light for inside your home or airbnb. For patio or outdoor shots, evening light is best.
Other Logistics
No matter how big or small your day is going to be, make it count!
Do touch and embrace more than you might normally for your couples portraits. I can’t capture love if you don’t show any. exaggerate certain personality traits, so if you are normally goofy, try to reign it in a tad. If you are normally reserved, try to let loose a little more. Balance, grasshopper.
Don’t solely rely on recreating images you saw on Pinterest.
Do dress to impress, no matter how small your wedding will be. If you don’t plan to invest in a wedding dress and tux, pick out looks that make you feel sexy, cute, like a million bucks, etc. If you look in the mirror and go “meh” take it off and try again.
Don’t wear anything 'business casual'. This is not the office.
Do get your makeup professionally done. These are your wedding photos, no matter how ‘chill’ you are trying to be about it. Even a ‘natural, fresh face’ look is better than no makeup at all when it comes to anything involving a camera.
Don’t schedule your intimate wedding during horrible lighting. I gave you so many tips on lighting. Sooooo. Many.
bad Weather + rescheduling
If your intimate wedding is unable to be rescheduled, consider purchasing a clear umbrella in advance, in case of unexpected bad weather that day. Also, let’s have a back up plan such as make sure your home is clean in case we have to move the party inside, or if your home isn’t ideal, have a few airbnb homes bookmarked, in case we need to reserve one, last minute.
Creative Direction + Posing
So that you don’t expect the entire portrait time to be all candid’s and what-do-we-do-now’s, you should be prepared for the majority of your photos to be the result of creative direction that will move us from one epic scene to the next. You don’t have to be a full time fashion model to look like one, so don’t worry about practicing in the mirror (but you can if you want to). Candid shots are great and I will take more than you will even realize. There is no real prep for candid, because candid!
