There are many people interested in wedding photography. Either because you want to start in this noble profession, or because you are the lucky couple seeking advice or because you have to do the report due to your friendship with the protagonists. That is why today I come with thirteen tips. In order for the post-wedding to be a success for those who walk behind the camera. And a special memory for whoever poses in front of her. If you are looking for more information about wedding Photography, In this link you have the most complete mega guide to start as a professional (from the photographic part to the marketing strategy).
- Date
- Hour
- Suits and details
- Setting
- Location
- Plan B
- get inspired
- Create a good climate
- Originality
- Dynamize
- Tells a story
- Shoot in RAW
- Edition
reasons
Before launching into exposing you the advice, I am going to make a stop to tell you the reasons. Because you are probably wondering: «But if the wedding report is already there and almost certainly the pre-wedding, why a post-wedding session?»
Many people wonder this (sssshhh… in fact, now that no one listens to me, I confess that I did it myself. Many years ago, when I began to hear this about post-weddings, I didn’t understand it well either, I saw it as nonsense). That is why I think it is important to know what the reasons are for holding a post-wedding session.
- There is more time. At the wedding, the couple wants to be with their guests, enjoy that wonderful day that they have prepared with so much effort and enthusiasm. The last thing they want is to be posing in front of the camera while the others enjoy the party.
- Less stress. The bride and groom are relaxed, especially if they have just returned from the honeymoon. On the day of the wedding everything goes very fast. Although they try to relax, there are many details to be aware of, there are nerves, emotions, etc. After the wedding (and the holidays) the calm is reflected in their faces and you can achieve more natural and relaxed portraits.
- Tastes and personality. You may also get it on the day of the wedding, but these celebrations are usually very traditional. In some cases couples leave little room for their personal tastes. The day of the post-wedding is the time to reflect on what they like the most, put on a leather jacket, their sneakers, blood-red lips or whatever they want without the parents, the priest, the in-laws or the guys gave them a collapse in the middle of the ceremony ;P .
Where your tastes take you
- Choose the place. On the day of the wedding you have to limit yourself to taking photos in the place of the celebration. Or, at most, and hopefully, somewhere very close. In a post-wedding session, you can choose any place, even a few hours by plane 😉 .
Funds that are co-stars
- Choose the time. The time determines the natural light with which you can work. On the day of the wedding you limit yourself to the available hours, in the post-wedding you can choose what type of light you want to work with.
- Creativity. The margin to free creativity is much greater, you can focus on achieving original and artistic photos, while at the wedding you have to be very careful not to miss a gesture, a special moment, an emotional greeting, the main parts of the ceremony , etc.
time for creativity
- Pets. Some couples like their pet to be in the spotlight too. In a post-wedding session it is much more feasible to include it in the photos. In this video you can see how his dog (or bitch) is part of the session.
- Unlimited. Definitely, a post-wedding allows you to take photos impossible to imagine on the same day of the wedding. Like for example a session in the water. Or a climb in a wedding dress. In case you doubt, I put the two examples;).
Underwater post-wedding session.
As you can see, reasons to hold a post-wedding are not lacking. All are advantages ;). Now let’s see those tips that I promised you at the beginning.
Before the session
Before the session there is a preliminary work to do. Success largely depends on good planning. Let’s see what to think about.
1. Date
After telling you the reasons I get into advice. We start with the date issue because it is a very important detail. Many couples relax so much after the wedding that they gain weight, and not just from eating. And if you get confused with the date, it is likely that the bride or groom will not fit in the suit.
Or maybe the work, the return to routine, the commitments postponed by the organization of the wedding swallow them up and too many months go by. It is not ideal that a bride in a summer dress has to stand on the edge of the beach (if it is her chosen place) in the middle of winter, right? For example. In addition, the wedding photos would clash a lot with those of the post-wedding.
It is best to arrange the date in advance to be able to do it when you return from the honeymoon. In this way you block the agenda of both the photographic team and the couple.
2. Time and light
This is a romantic photo session, so the best time to photograph is at sunset. In this way you will be able to take better advantage of the natural light and the warmth that the golden hour transmits.
This moment is also ideal to play with the backlights and wait for the night to continue being creative. For example, with external flashes, light painting games or whatever you like to experiment with. And enter within the tastes of the couple, of course.
The golden hour brings you the most romantic light
3. Suits and details
Here there are two options, relive the moment with the wedding suits or dress as you like. There is also a third option, which is to customize the look a couple. In other words, mix the wedding suits with more casual accessories. For example, the groom with a t-shirt from his favorite rock group and some Converse.
More than one boyfriend or girlfriend are left with the desire to stand at the altar with a more yours or casual, this is your chance. In addition, it can give a lot of play in the session.
It is also a good opportunity to dress up in period clothes, with vintage clothes or whatever the bride and groom like the most. Of course, it is important to leave everything decided in advance for better planning.
Another important aspect to determine before the date is whether the couple cares if the suits get damaged, as this will determine the location and/or the type of photos.
Take good care of all the details
It is recommended that you wear comfortable reserve shoes, especially if you plan to take a walk to reach that heart-stopping location.
If the couple decides to be photographed with the same outfits and simulate the wedding day as well as possible, the ideal is to reproduce the hairstyle, makeup, etc. and bring the same accessories as on the day of the wedding (and don’t forget the bouquet either 😉 ).
4. Setting
And deciding the costumes in advance is because it is a detail that will set the scene. If you decide to take props let everything go in tune.
It does not matter much that you plan to take a bike vintage whether the bride is going to appear in a sequined dress or a look ultramodern. To put another example 😉 .
Everything that appears in the scene that is consistent and according to the tastes of the couple, especially the common tastes.
vintage post wedding
5. Location
Where to hold the session is something that the photographer or the bride and groom can say, and reach an agreement by both parties. I am of the opinion to let the bride and groom decide the place if they have a special place. Although it is also good to be advised by experienced photographers who have located impressively photogenic places.
I leave you with some options so that the photographic team and your partner can agree:
- Special place. A place that is very special for the couple: where they met, got engaged, the place of their escapades, where they said I love you for the first time. Beauty can be found anywhere and if it is full of meaning, as a good photographer you will know how to capture the best of the moment.
- surprise place. When the bride and groom blindly trust the person who is going to carry out the session and do not have a preference, it may be a good idea to let yourself go to the place that the photographer (with good judgment) decides.
- Trip. You have to take into account the cost of tickets and time. But the session can be turned into a photo tour if the budget allows. Post-wedding without borders!
- Location ideas: beach, vineyard, field, forest, desert area, abandoned house, cliff, city, charming town, buildings with avant-garde architecture, palaces or classical monuments, by boat or sailboat, a natural park, a theater, an old cinema, etc.
What is important is that it be a place where the bride and groom feel comfortable and that allows them to take photos of their style. Imagine taking a super-urban couple out to a wheat field, it wouldn’t make much sense, would it? In that case, it is better to get lost in the streets of the city.
Adapt to the tastes of the couple
On the other hand, keep in mind that setting and location have to go hand in hand and maintain consistency on the whole.
6.Plan B
Have prepared a list of photographs that you want to obtain, the different planes that you want to achieve, the poses, etc.
Letting the session flow to achieve spontaneity is ideal, but for this to work well all the stars must be aligned, experience and practice of the photographer, feeling, ease of the models to pose, that they do not cut themselves when being in front of a camera, etc. When all this is fulfilled, you can forget about listings and others, but it is enough that one of these aspects is not fulfilled as expected or someone does not have their best day for some type of blockage to arise.
Having that list prepared is essential. You can have it written, with sketches if you are good at drawing or even a board on Pinterest, for instance. How you carry it will depend on your personal preferences, but don’t forget to have a plan B in your pocket.
Decide in advance the photos you want to take
Here you have ideas of poses for women and here ideas of poses for men. And finally, a dose of photos of couples to inspire you.
7. Get inspired
You have many reports published on the web, including several videos of how the post-wedding session was done, like this one:
Investigate, get ideas, which does not mean copying, but nourishing and inspiring you to find your own path.
during the session
Now that you have everything thought out and controlled, it is time to create the memories at the click of a button, but don’t leave yet, there are some recommendations left. And also very important.
8. Create a good climate
For the bride and groom to show themselves and pose relaxed, it is important that a good climate is created. An idea may be to start from the farthest shots and gradually get closer as they forget about the camera.
If you have photographed their wedding, you have come a long way, if it is the first time you photograph them, have something in mind to break the ice. Let…