Thank You – I'm So Excited to Work With You!

I'm so grateful to have you on board! To ensure everything runs smoothly and we deliver the polished, heartfelt content my clients expect, I’ve outlined a few key expectations and tips below. These will help us stay in sync throughout the day and make sure we’re capturing the best possible moments — together.

Key Moments to Capture

Getting Ready

Natural light is ideal for these shots whenever possible. Look for clean, well-lit areas near windows, and be mindful of reflections in mirrors, glass, or other shiny surfaces — avoid capturing yourself or gear in the frame.

  • Flat lays and close-ups of important details: rings, shoes, cufflinks, boutonnière, jacket, etc.

  • Candid moments: putting on shoes, cufflinks, jacket, boutonnière

  • Reading a note or opening a gift from their partner (if applicable)

  • Candid interactions with the wedding party (toasting, hanging out, playing pool, watching TV)

  • Candid formals of parents or other important guests

  • A couple of formal solo portraits of the groom/bride in great light with clean backgrounds — window light is ideal; avoid visual clutter like TVs or trash

Ceremony

  • Reaction shot of the groom/bride as their partner walks down the aisle

  • Guest and family reactions

  • Use different angles and lenses than mine to offer variety

  • During the recessional, sometimes I will follow the couple after they exit the aisle, to capture some raw just-married moments. If I leave with the couple, please stay back and photograph the rest of the wedding party and immediate family until they exit the aisle

Wedding Party & Family Formals

  • While I’m capturing the posed portraits, please focus on candids and in-between moments - I prefer those candid shots over alternate angles of photos where the wedding party is looking at my camera (to me, those always seem to look “weird” from alternate angles)

  • Grab parents together, other family groupings, or couples hanging out nearby

  • For wedding party formals that you are shooting alone:

    • One horizontal, chest-up shot of each pair

    • One vertical, full-body shot of each pair

    • One fun shot per pair if it fits the group’s vibe and there’s time

Cocktail Hour

  • Details of the space and décor

  • Natural candids of guests mingling

  • Some camera-aware group shots (grip-and-grins)

Reception

  • Couple's entrance and first dance: capture a few key frames, then shift to guest reactions — especially close family and wedding party

  • Toasts and speeches: focus on emotional guest reactions as well as the speakers

  • Please be mindful of my position and try to avoid angles where I may be visible in the background

Open Dancing

Once the dance floor opens, feel free to get creative! Start with a few clean, safe shots — then mix things up with shutter drag, motion blur, and dynamic compositions when things start to feel repetitive.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Be aware of my location throughout the evening — I’ll do my best to stay out of your frame

  • If I move in quickly to capture something unfolding, I may step into your line of sight — a quick duck or step back is super appreciated (and I’ll do the same for you!)

  • Let’s stay fluid and respectful of each other’s space so we can both do our best work

Technical Notes

  • Arrival: Please arrive at least 20 minutes early

  • Time Sync: Sync all camera bodies to time.gov before the day begins. Take a photo of your synced phone screen on each camera for reference

  • Image Settings:

    • Shoot in RAW

    • Auto white balance is fine

    • Keep ISO at or below 3200 when possible

    • Use wide apertures (f/2.8 or lower) for most shots, except for group formals or reception dance floor action

    • Prefer horizontal compositions unless the moment calls for vertical (solo portraits, pairs, or specific framing)

Dress Code

No need to wear all black, but please keep your attire polished and neutral. Think nice pants and a collared shirt — no jeans, shorts, or t-shirts, please.

If you have any questions leading up to the day or during the shoot, I’m always happy to chat. I’m so excited to collaborate and create something truly special together!