As a wedding photographer, one of the more frequently overlooked parts of a wedding day is the getting ready time. In truth, getting ready photos aren’t usually a top priority for most couples, and many people don’t think twice about it, but this time is crucial to telling the full story of your wedding day— and can result in your photographer documenting some really sweet and meaningful memories with your closest friends and family members.
Here are a few things to consider when thinking about your getting ready space and setting the scene for this first piece of your special day:
1. Ensure there are plenty of windows to provide sufficient natural light.
Choose a getting ready space with at least one big window for lots of natural light — but honestly, the more windows the better! I will always shoot getting ready photos near a window because the natural light will provide soft, even, flattering lighting. White or lighter colored walls also help to create a brighter atmosphere. If your venue provides a getting ready space that does not have any windows or natural light, we will scout the morning of your wedding day to find another space to shoot details and get you dressed.
2. Reserve a space free of clutter.
Now I know this isn’t always possible on the morning of your wedding day — things are probably a bit hectic, hair and makeup artists are spread out working on you and your bridesmaids — but if you can, try to keep a space free of unwanted clutter (water bottles, bras, makeup, shoes, hairspray, etc.) so that when your photographer arrives they don’t have to clean your entire space before starting to take photos. This will eat into your photo coverage time! But you don’t want to look at your wedding gallery and be distracted by bottles of Poland Spring in the background, right? This is even more important in smaller spaces like hotel rooms, so if you can (or ask someone in your wedding party), relocate the clutter away from the window — it will save your photographer valuable shooting time.
3. Collect all of your details ahead of time.
Have all details (your gown, veil, jewelry, perfume, invitations, etc. — see the full list here) collected ahead of time to pass along to your photographer as soon as they arrive. I personally like to start off shooting details before anything else, so having everything ready for me as soon as I get there allows me to efficiently utilize the time we’ve allocated for that portion of the day. This way, I don’t have to go on a scavenger hunt and spend 15 minutes collecting everything before I can start shooting! It’s also a good idea to let someone in your wedding party know where your details are so in case you’re busy getting hair and makeup done, someone else can point your photographer in the right direction.
4. Keep all three rings for flat lay photos.
While this does go hand-in-hand with my previous point, this is probably the most common detail that is missing when I arrive — specifically the two wedding bands! In some cases whoever is holding the rings during the ceremony will have the wedding bands from the start of the day, but it’s actually better to pass them off later so that the rings can be included in the larger flat lay and details shots.
5. Make sure everyone’s hair and makeup is finished by the time photos begin.
I don’t know about you, but I do not want any photos of myself before my hair and makeup is completely done. In the beginning stages of planning, some couples may think that their photographer’s coverage should start at the same time that hair and makeup begins to capture the full day — but in reality, I am usually arriving just as hair and makeup is complete. If you want a few shots of your hair and makeup artists doing finishing touches, those are usually taken after you are completely done and just getting some final setting spray spritzed onto your beautiful face. Typically, hair and makeup will determine their start time by working backwards from your photographer’s start time to ensure your wedding party is glammed and ready by the time photos begin.
RECAP:
1. Ensure there are plenty of windows to provide sufficient natural light.
2. Reserve a space free of clutter.
3. Collect all of your details ahead of time.
4. Keep all three rings for flat lay photos.
5. Make sure everyone’s hair and makeup is finished by the time photos begin.
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