It’s hard to believe eight months have passed since our wedding, and I’m only now sharing the portraits of our bridal party and family. Because we opted for a first look, we captured all of those photos before the ceremony. That choice let us shoot outdoors against the beautiful venue and still join our guests during happy hour.
If you’re planning a winter wedding, keep lighting in mind: you’ll need to either begin the ceremony early in the afternoon or schedule all portraits beforehand. On December 4th, the sun set at 5:30, and since our ceremony started at 4:30, we made sure every photo was taken before that.
My top tip for future brides: create a list of every photo you want captured. I’m certain that without giving my photographer a shot list, many of the images we now treasure would never have been taken. One special tradition in my family is gathering everyone together for a group photo at each family wedding. Looking back at those pictures is a joy—you can see how our family has expanded and how we’ve all changed over the years.
Photography I Venue I Floral I Planning- Mallory Ferreira I Makeup I Rings
Common Questions About Wedding Portraits
Drawing from the experiences shared in this wedding photo reveal, here are answers to questions couples often ask when planning their own bridal party and family portraits.
Why take bridal party and family photos before the ceremony?
As this post explains, scheduling portraits before the ceremony lets you take advantage of natural daylight at your venue, enjoy more time with guests during happy hour, and eliminate the rush between ceremony and reception. It also frees your photographer to concentrate on the key moments once the ceremony starts.
What should you consider when planning a winter wedding timeline?
Winter weddings come with limited daylight. In this post, the sun set at 5:30 on December 4th, so the couple began the ceremony at 4:30 and captured all portraits earlier. For your winter wedding, coordinate with your photographer to schedule portraits in the early afternoon or explore indoor lighting alternatives.
Why is it helpful to give your photographer a list of desired photos?
A shot list helps guarantee that no important groupings are overlooked, whether it’s certain family combinations or bridal party arrangements. The author mentions that without a list, many treasured images might never have been taken. A clear list enables your photographer to prioritize and recall the shots you value most.
What is a unique family photo tradition mentioned in this post?
The author describes how her family captures a group photo of all relatives at every family wedding. This tradition provides a delightful visual timeline of the family’s growth and evolution through the years.
How can you make the most of your wedding venue for portraits?
By shooting portraits outdoors at your venue, as this couple did, you can highlight the scenery and natural light. If your venue boasts lovely grounds, allocate time in your timeline to use them as a backdrop for your bridal party and family photos.
What are some key vendors to consider for your wedding portraits?
This post acknowledges a photographer, venue, florist, planner, makeup artist, and jewelry provider. Each contributes to the overall aesthetic of your portraits, so select a team that matches your personal style and vision.