At midday the sun is high in the sky above us and its light is very strong, the quantity of light most probably exceeds our photographic requirements and the light is too harsh for the softer more romantic look that is generally required for wedding photography. Directionally the light comes from overhead which is not ideal; the result is similar to the effect of standing in front of a mirror with a light bulb above it, the light source casts strong shadows under the eyes and nose and leaves the forehead, nose and cheek bones very exposed by the light. Usually this is not considered a desirable effect.

Apart from the shadows that you will have under your eyes there are all the other shadows, such as those from trees, plants, buildings and everything else that is under the light. Shadows are not bad just that they pose a photographic challenge in that the difference between a shadowy area and a white wedding dress under the sun in terms of light levels is huge. In wedding photography the subject is often the bride and groom, seeing as one is normally dressed in white and the other in a dark color this is a difficult situation that does not need to be further complicated by placing the subject under strong sunlight. In outdoor weddings the worst scenario is where part of your subject is in the sun and the other part is in the shade.

Another reason to avoid doing your wedding photos too early is the heat. Assuming that you have chosen to get married in a warm climate then during the day it could be very hot, and so standing around in your wedding attire can be very uncomfortable not just for yourselves but for all your guests as well. You may end up looking hot, flustered or even sweaty which is hardly the desired result. Finally when the light is very strong we all have to squint which is another look that we could do without.

So returning to the initial point why is it better to have photos done later in the day? As I am sure you have noticed as the sun starts to set and becomes lower in the sky the light starts to become softer, warmer and more flattering. The shadows start to get longer but more importantly they start to fade as the light levels start to balance out, the range of the light levels between what is exposed to sunlight and what is not is reduced leading to a more even exposure. As the sun sets and we reach dusk there is a point where there are no more shadows. Also the temperature starts to drop and even though it may only be a few degrees cooler it feels much more comfortable so you are likely to feel more relaxed. You can always tells when photos have been done later in the day as the light is warmer, softer and more flattering and is often described as more romantic which for weddings should be ideal.

I rarely understand the logic behind having a wedding early in the day, particularly in the summer months when it remains light until eight or nine in the evening. Also if you are intending to dine outside then in the evening the temperature is pleasant and you can have a candlelit dinner.

Now considering this you might ask “how can we have our wedding photos done at the correct time of day if it is still light until 8 or 9pm?” The best time to have your photos done is before sunset, so how your event is planned will establish whether or not you are able to have your photos done nearer to sunset. There are many things to consider such as where you are getting married, how long the ceremony lasts, how many hours are dedicated to the drinks reception and other factors, you may not be able to have the photos done at sunset if it occurs very late but the later you leave them the better, there is a big difference between taking photos at 4pm and doing them at 7pm.

There are other factors to take into consideration when considering the light for the photos, such as the weather. It goes without saying that here we are assuming that the weather is fine and it is sunny all day. If it is partly cloudy, cloudy or overcast then it changes everything; but I believe that most people plan their wedding for a specific type of weather and then have a contingency plan ready.
When you research your location if possible take note of where the sun sets, some places are actually cast in shadow well before the sun sets as there may be geographical factors that influence the light such as hills or mountains and so this could affect your timings.

Now does all of this mean that your wedding photos are going to be poor if you are getting married early in the day? Absolutely not, however it depends on what photos you have envisioned as a part of your wedding day. If you are planning on having photos outside in gardens or fields then your photos will definitely benefit from being taken later on in the day. If however you don’t have any specific images in mind then it should be possible to seek out locations where the light is more flattering. If you are in a built up environment then buildings can provide shaded areas or zones of filtered light. You may also be getting married in a location that has beautiful interiors and so correct use of window light can provide wonderful results.

Considering that photography is the recording of light when there is limited light available this impacts on photographic technique and to an extent the style and quality of the image. This doesn’t mean that photos can’t be taken it just means that if you are getting married in a very dark location or you have left the photos too late in the day and the light levels are getting very low then it may be difficult for the photographer to achieve certain results.

So if possible you should try and aim to have your photos done in the hour before sunset, of course this is just a guide and shortly after sunset you can get some great shots too, likewise if you really have to have an early wedding then you can still get fabulous photos but just not standing in full sunlight. This is not intended to be a technical or scientific explanation but rather some basic advice based on information that I give to my clients.

Written by Jules.
www.jules-photographer.com

This article is copyright © 2012 

This article is copyright © 2012 

Bear in mind if the veil is very short then it is less easy to get those flowing veils shots. I also feel that the veil should be placed higher up on the head, not attached at the bottom otherwise it looks like a pony tail.

This article is copyright © 2012 

You can mix rice in with the petals as well as this looks great in the photos and according to Italian tradition brings good luck. If you buy the prewashed kind it doesn’t have any dust with it that marks the groom’s suit. (If you can’t find the prewashed type don’t worry as it brushes off.)

This article is copyright © 2012 

Exchanging the rings. When you are exchanging the rings try and bear in mind how you appear to the photographer who has to photograph this crucial moment. If you turn slightly or block their view with an arm, shoulder or your back, the chances of getting a good shot are greatly reduced.

If you are getting married in a church and have chance to speak to the priest try and check the for the following:

Is the priest planning on having you speak into a microphone for the vows?

Sometimes in the church (often the larger ones) they use a wireless microphone so that the congregation can hear you loud and clear. The problem is that while we are trying to photograph you looking at each other and saying your vows to one another, the priest has a tendency to stick his arm out and put the microphone in front of your mouth, this clearly is not going to help the photos. Assure the priest that you don’t need one and can speak up and be heard just fine.

The other thing to watch is the priest may have a tendency to come very close to you this greatly reduces the angles from which we can photograph you and avoid having the priest in the photo. For some photos we will photograph you and the priest together but we would also like to be able to photograph you apart from the priest.

The exchanging of the rings is one of those moments when we would ideally like to have a clear shot of you without the priest in view.

Obviously these are delicate matters that need to be approached carefully to avoid causing any aggravation with your priest. If you know your priest or have one that seems very friendly and approachable you can try and tactfully address these points.

This article is copyright © 2012 

If you are going to get a fake tan get it done by a professional who sprays it on. Many of the cheaper creams have colours that aren’t natural, they leave you looking rather yellow or too orange and if it is self applied it is easy to miss a spot and achieve a rather unflattering streaky look.

If you plan on coming abroad and getting a tan in the days before your wedding that’s fine but please be careful not to get sunburnt. A red face from the sun is not very flattering and if you’ve overdone it in the sun the skin has a tendency to sweat more. Worst of all avoid getting burnt and risking peeling skin!

This article is copyright © 2012 

I definitely do not like a long stemmed bouquet, they are hard to hold and unflattering as you can’t hold one in a casual manner it can only be held in a rigid and formal way. I prefer the round bouquet as when it is held in front of you at about the same height as your belly button it creates symmetry in the photos as you are holding it centrally. When you are not holding the bouquet centrally you want to be able to extend you arm and let it swing at your side in a relaxed manner like when you hold hand with the groom and go for a walk. A long bouquet cannot be held centrally and so does not give you symmetry.

A cascading bouquet can be ok as long as it is the right size for you. I have seen some huge bouquets that were stunning but the bride was just too petite for such a large bouquet so you need to watch the size.

This article is copyright © 2012 

In order to calculate how much time is required to do the groups I would estimate about 90 seconds per group photo. This seems quick but if you think that you may require 20 group photos then that means it could take 30 mins. Of course it depends a lot on how large the groups are and if everyone is present and ready for the photos. The time is a guide and it may take much less but it could take more.

To help speed up the process whilst we take the photos a best man or relative who knows everyone at the wedding can help gather the next group and make sure they are ready for their photo.

Here’s a guide to some of the group photos you might want to consider, there are many more that can be done but there are already quite a few here. A lot will also depend on your particular families members and relations. Remember it is just a guide to consider and help you produce your own list.

Bride + brides parents
Bride + brothers and sisters
Bride + brides parents + brothers and sisters
Bride + Groom + brides parents + brothers and sisters
Bride + brides close family + brides extended family
Bride + Groom + brides close family + brides extended family

Groom + grooms parents
Groom + brothers and sisters
Groom + grooms parents + brothers and sisters
Groom + Bride + grooms parents + brothers and sisters
Groom + grooms close family + grooms extended family
Groom + Bride + grooms close family + grooms extended family

Bride + bridemaids
Bride + Groom + bridemaids
Bride + bridemaids + flowergirl/s
Bride + Groom + bridemaids + flowergirl/s
Bride + flowergirl/s
Bride + Groom + flowergirl/s

Groom + bestmen
Groom + bestmen + pageboy/s
Groom + pageboy/s

Bride + Groom + everyone!

Other combinations can include, friends, work colleagues, girls only, boys only…

This article is copyright © 2012 

If you are getting ready in a hot country then get a room with air conditioning, you will stay calmer and arrive to the wedding looking perfectly fresh and beautiful.

Try and choose a room that is bright and airy, natural light is important for the photos and also for you to be able to see for hair, make up, and everything else.

Keep your room tidy. Please bear in mind that we are coming to take photographs and so whatever is lying around the room will be in the photos. If a messy room with clothes all over the place, empty drink cans, beer bottles, unmade bed etc is fine with you then its fine with us but I can guarantee you that a clean and tidy room is much more attractive and it will also keep you more relaxed.

This article is copyright © 2012 

While you are getting ready we also like to photograph details, we will be able to photograph the flowers, shoes, dress details, rings, garter, jewellery and much more depending on what you choose to have available. Later on in the day there won’t be time to photograph these important elements of your day and things like the flowers may have wilted, the shoes and dress may be dirty and may not be looking there best later after a few hours of use. It is also nice to have photos of the items when you are not wearing them and the only time to do this is before you put them on!

This article is copyright © 2012