Capture your best day ever with our wedding photography guideSupercharge your wedding photos in 10 simple steps

That’s because this guide is jam-packed with creative tips to help you get the best from your wedding photos. All it takes is 10 minutes to read this guide and the photographer to make it happen.

Enjoy!

We know, we know.

Another thing to read in the run up to your wedding when you’ve got contracts and quotes coming out of your ears? We promise this guide will be different.

That it’ll be worth it.

Welcome...

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Create a moodboard. Make your vision visual.• Showcase the style of photos you love, one image at a time, to inspire the

pictures that will be taken at your engagement shoot or on your wedding day.

• Create a separate moodboard of the photographs you wouldn’t want taken in a million years. Sound counter-intuitive? It’s not. Knowing how to wow you is as much about understanding your dislikes as what you love.

• Let the images do the soul searching for you. Show us the photographs you swoon over and we’ll discover more about your personalities and what makes you unique as a result.

• Source ideas for creative group photos and ditch the stiff, posed pictures of the past.

• Pinterest can be a powerful tool - you’ll find easy to create moodboards and tons of inspiring photos to play with here.

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Be ready with watertight weather plans• No amount of rain dances or sun

worshipping will give you control of the weather. Neither will booking a Saturday in July. What will be will be, and while we will cross our fingers for the sun-bathed wedding of your dreams, we’ll also plan for the possibility of rain.

• Creative photos in wet weather are absolutely on the cards. Bring along some transparent umbrellas and white wellington boots and let the fun begin! Raindrops can create all kinds of beautiful, confetti-like effects when you run with them, rather than taking cover.

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Before the day...

One venue fits allThe more time you spend celebrating and the less time taken travelling, the more opportunities we have to create amazing photos. It’s simple, really. So, if you’re able to book an all-inclusive wedding venue for both ceremony and reception, do!

With just one location to work with, we’ll have maximum time to gauge the light levels and seek out the most stunning backdrops to creatively capture your wedding at its very best.

3 Before the day...

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Your must-have photos• Be sure to discuss your must-have

wedding photos with your creative photographer ahead of time. Even better, write them a list to print out and refer back to on the day. Whether it’s capturing the perfect coloured smoke flare shot or simply getting a group photo with the right family members included, your list will ensure every box is ticked.

• Don’t forget the details. It’s easy to consider photos with people, from your bridesmaids to your grandparents, but what about the finishing touches you spent so long choosing? Your flowers and cake deserve to be captured too.

• Documentary photography offers an excellent balance, framing authentic moments as they unfold while also making time for planned photos too.

4 Before the day...

It’s all in the timingYour wedding day will fly by, no matter how early a start you have. That makes careful consideration of timings incredibly important. Give yourselves plenty of time for each part of the day, from your preparations to your group photos to your couple portraits.

Create a timeline with your photographer with clearly defined start and end points for each element, from your wedding morning to your meal, so your photographer knows where to be and what to capture, when. I can photograph your wedding for a full day and create a custom timeline tailored to you, or I can offer a half-day service to suit your needs.

Highlight the times that are most meaningful to you, whether that’s your first dance and buzzing dance floor, or the quiet moments packed with anticipation on your wedding morning.

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Before the day...

Should you go unplugged?Immerse yourselves and your guests in the moment by going unplugged, without any gadgets to distract you. This can be hard to imagine (how many of your guests will have a smart phone in their pockets?), but it can be done.

Ask your guests to switch off their phones and put cameras away during your ceremony. That way, you can all focus on enjoying the ceremony while your photographer works creatively, without phones being held out in the way.

It’s especially important to make your feelings clear about posting photos to social media. If someone snaps you during the ceremony, are you happy for that to appear on Facebook the same day, or would you prefer to wait for the photos from the pros?

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6 On the day...

Shake it offThe thought of being in front of the camera all day can be nerve-wracking, even though you’ll be on cloud nine. I’m here to reassure you that you don’t need to worry.

We will guide you, but we’re also artists at working unobtrusively behind the scenes, capturing every important moment often without you even being aware of it. We tap into the emotion and create intuitive images with a spark.

If you’d like to calm your nerves, book an engagement shoot. Think of it as a trial run to get a feel for the experience ahead of your wedding. Our enthusiasm behind the camera is infectious. It won’t be long before you’re feeling excited at being in front of the lens too!Before the day...

7Complimentary engagement

shoot with a full day wedding

package. Call or email for

more details.

Complimentary engagement shoot!

Authentic emotions immortalisedRaw and authentic moments are what make documentary wedding photos truly unique. From tears of joy to sheer delight and ecstatic wide smiles, I’ll capture the entire spectrum of emotional connections with the people who matter most on your wedding day.

You can ramp up the emotions with special moments too. Try points like the confetti throwing, a bouquet toss or an after-dark sparkler send-off for the bride and groom. Creative and intense, we love to preserve the magic of times like these.

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On the day...

Capture couple photos at sunsetThe golden hour is within reach, but you need to be ready for it. Prime time for a couple’s shoot is 30-45 minutes before sunset, when the light casts a deliciously golden glow.

While the weather has its whims, sunsets are often on the cards, so we recommend you factor these photos in to your wedding timeline to make the most of it.

9On the day...

Elope for an after-dark sessionInvite the star-speckled night sky to provide a romantic finale to your special day. We will use creative lighting techniques and, if the weather’s clear, a twinkly star or two to set the scene for stunning pictures. We’ll borrow you from the dance floor for just 20 to 30 minutes and can even take these photos when carriages are called and your guests head home.

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On the day...

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In 10 minutes and 10 simple steps, you’re all set to capture your best photos yet at your wedding.

We hope this guide has given you lots of creative ideas and achievable inspiration, but it doesn’t stop there.

Get in touch and invite us to creatively and authentically capture your wedding. We’d love to hear more about your plans.

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Call now: 07730 511090 Email: philpellphotography@talktalk.net Web: philpell.co.uk