everything you need to know for wedding day photo perfection

Wedding Planning

Hey, want to know the secret on how to get those amazing, romantic images?
Well, here it is! Having a well-cushioned, thoughtful and detailed timeline ensures I have the time to create the photographs you have been dreaming of. I have a very limited time during the wedding to take all the images you'd like, so planning things out strategically ahead of time is essential for success!

Imagine the perfect morning of your wedding: maybe you're sipping on coffee, chatting giddily with your wedding party, and finally it's time to get into your dress or outfit. Your mom or MOH buttons up the back, you turn to look in the mirror and it hits you: you're getting MARRIED!

Now imagine that same morning, but your hair took an hour longer than you thought it would. Instead of chatting with your wedding party, you're glancing at your phone every minute to check what time it is. As soon as your hair and makeup are done, you bolt out of your chair and rush to get you dress on.

Suddenly, your relaxing and exciting morning becomes rushed and stressful. I've seen the perfect morning and I've seen a stressful morning. And I SO want you to have a perfect morning (and entire day!)

planning out the best day

The timeline affects your photos in another very obvious way: the more time I have, the more variety of photos you'll receive and the more creative they will be. This applies to all parts of the day! From getting an awesome dress photograph or an intricate layflat for your invitation suite in the morning that might take more time to set up, to the time I spend with you both later on in the day.

I approach each moment of your day like director on a movie set, seeing the world cinematically, and making sure that if I'm taking a wide photograph or a close up detail, that everything in that frame works well together. That craftsmanship and artistry takes time. Great photos take time.

Timeline

02.

planning for great natural light will truly elevate your photos

Let's talk about light

03.

Hey, want to know the SECOND secret on how to get those amazing, glowy images?
It's planning for great natural light!

If you're like most people you likely don't think about light all that often. On the other hand, if you're a natural light photographer like me, my whole world revolves around discovering beautiful natural light! With any old light source, we can take a picture - but when we have access to great natural light - whoa, the game changes! Don't get me wrong, I can create great magic no matter what the circumstances - that comes with experience. But when my couples plan for great light, it creates the most flattering, beautiful photos. I can only work with the stage you give me, so let's set the stage for greatness, shall we? Let me break it down for you!

Whatever the light lands on in your surroundings, defines the mood of the room. That's how you get a moodier image if there is limited light, and a bright and airy image in a room filled with wide windows. This also means if you stand under the bright sun on fresh grass (for example, an outdoor ceremony), the light will reflect off the green grass, the light becomes green and bounces back onto your skin. Now you're a bride or groom with green skin tones and a green toned dress/outfit! Yikes! This same basic light principle applies for typical incandescent room lights, with their orange undertones.

In a professional photography studio, reflectors and bounce cards would traditionally be used to light subjects from multiple angles. Similarly in natural light, I use the environment to bounce the light around you to envelope you in this incredibly flattering, glowy, dreamy light! Swoon!

THE BASIC IDEA

The room where you get ready in should be bright with plenty of natural light and soft muted colours. Hotel rooms with busy, cluttered, clunky furniture, patterned carpets and bold wallpaper can take the attention and focus away from you. Hotel rooms also often have tungsten or florescent lighting, which will give your skin an orange hue and is not flattering on any skin tone - so you may see me turn off the lights in the room to allow all the natural light to shine through and to showcase your natural skintone. Rooms with light, neutral colours will calm nerves and create dreamy photos. White, beige, cream, grey - the whole range of pastel shades are perfect.

EXPERT TIP!
Consider stylish Airbnbs or a fully-furnished photography studio to start your story of in a magnificent, spacious and beautifully lit setting with beautiful architecture. These spaces are especially perfect because it takes away a lot of the stress of planning since you'll know exactly what you'll get, it is expertly designed with beautiful photography in mind since they are designed by photographers (and thus flattering on your skintones), and most importantly - you won't have to worry about the weather causing a change of your timeline plans! They are perfect for colder or rainy days!

Some of my favourites include Archive Studios, Park Hill Studios, Casa Bona, Studio Pastel, Miraramiro and Lovt Studio but be sure to check out our my Vendor List for more recommendations!

GETTING READY

I love shooting with as little light from flash as possible and instead leveraging the available light. This creates photos that look and feel realistic to what the reception space actually looked like. Candles, chandeliers, lanterns, string lights, suspended bulbs - get creative with having as much ambient light possible that suits your style.

RECEPTION

Outdoor ceremonies are a photographers dream, but only if you consider a few things! For instance, if you and your guests are marinating under midday direct harsh summer sun or sunlight dappled by trees - this type of light will create dark, harsh, strongly contrasted shadows, and every one will be squinting and sweating (like this photo pictured to the RIGHT here at Graydon Hall). The July summer sun can be really harsh out there! Choosing a later ceremony means you'll automatically get softer light (ie. 2hrs before sunset).

In any case, the best thing is to stand in open shade (link) (link - good example of dappled light from leaves)

If you're having an indoor ceremony, the more candles or any sort of ambient light add to the romance. I don't typically add flash during this incredibly sacred time.

CEREMONY

they'll fix problems you didn't know existed. they'll fight fires discreetly while you both enjoy your day

THEY WILL coordinate and communicate to all your vendors & keep them accountable

THEY will keep you on budget & source amazing, secret local vendors

They will fight for your wedding vision & keep everything on track

you deserve to be 100% present & stress free

This might be the most important little column in this whole guide!

the value of a planner

04.

In all of my photographs, you will notice a common thread. My couples are captured in these honest, real, heartfelt candid moments. This is only truly possible when my couples get to be fully present.

On your wedding day, multiple elements throughout the day will require coordination, delegation, specific instruction, timing - all to make your dream wedding day vision come to life, make it look seamless and perfect, just like the photographs you have collected on your Pinterest board. Just like celebrities don't wake up instantly red-carpet ready but instead have a team of people working on them for hours before an event, there is a team behind every breathtaking Pinterest-worthy wedding photo you have saved. If you have a specific vision for your wedding day, trust me - these flawless-looking days don't just happen organically.

That is why hiring a professional wedding planner is so important. Couples quickly realize that if they do not have someone in charge of the day, that responsibility will automatically fall on the mother of the bride, the wedding party, the bride or groom themselves!

As the person hired to document the delicate, fleeting moments unfolding in your day, I want you both to be only thinking of the love your celebrating and creating beautiful memories with your family and friends that have gathered around you. I wouldn't want you to be distracted, or overwhelmed or on the phone with a vendor, problem solving something. To be honest, my most stressful wedding situations were because I was witnessing a lack of coordination and organization.

Above all else, I recommend making this a priority and always choosing a professional with great experience. Most inexperienced planners underestimate the work that's needed to make the day look "perfect", and you can really tell when they're low-key panicked on the day. Which is another reason why I typically recommend hiring a planner instead of using a friend or family member, just so that they can actually enjoy the day too. I always say, the best planners will have you thinking the next day, "Did I even need a planner? Our day was perfect", meanwhile they fought like a million fires without you knowing.

Please note: A Venue Coordinator is someone that works FOR THE VENUE - and this is definitely not the same as a wedding planner, who works FOR YOU. This link from Rebecca Chan explains it best!

OTHER REASONS TO CONSIDER A PLANNER

asking family or friends to do it means that they will be preoccupied and stressed instead of celebrating with you

MOST IMPORTANTLY, if you have a specific dream wedding vision, they can make it come to life!

WORKING WITH VIDEOGRAPHERS

05.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from my couples during the initial wedding planning process is how to choose a wedding videographer. I truly believe that wedding photography and videography go hand in hand, and together they can make up for some truly magical wedding coverage. If you are considering hiring a video team, here are some tips to make sure you have built the best team for your day!

Just like in wedding photography, some wedding videographers are more hands-on and have a direct approach. Because they need movement, they may pose you more, and some even have you redo real moments and emotions (gasp! shocking, right?).

On the other side of the spectrum, you can find more photojournalistic videographers that focus on more candid moments, are unobtrusive and are less involved in directing their couples. As a result, these videographers that work in the same style that I photograph means that we both get to document the same organic moment as it unfolds naturally. It also means we will both be able to work seamlessly on the day of your wedding since there won't be any workflow issues. The result is flawless photography and videography coverage that is beautiful, cohesive and complete.

1. Choose a videographer that has a photojournalistic style

Having a timeline that takes into account both photographer and videographer's needs is so key to getting the most out of your photography and videography time! When hiring videographers, you have to make sure you're allotting more time in order to give them the opportunity to do their job. They might need you to repeat an action you just did, like putting on a dress or bowtie, so that they can record the moment from multiple angles. If these extra moments they need aren't planned for in the timeline, this can add up, make things tight and set everything back in the timeline.

As creatives, we will all have some sort of a mood board or a game plan. Often times, wedding videographers will ask us for some alone time with the couple during the portrait time, so they can work their magic and vice versa! That is why it is very important to allocate extra time during your portrait times, so that the minimum time I recommend for all of your portraits isn't drastically cut short.

Choosing a videographer with experience also ensures the days flow is reliably on time

2. Finalize a timeline that includes the extra time they will need

Being in the industry for over 10 years, I love it when my couples ask me for vendor recommendations because it shows that my couples trust me and value my opinion. Moreover, the vendor list that I have curated are among those that I have worked alongside with and I can vouch for their professionalism, reliability, extensive experience and that the energy, kindness and warmth they will bring to your wedding day matches mine which means your day will not only be perfect, but you'll be surrounded by people that truly care about you both.

3. seek out referrals

things to consider if you're thinking of hiring a videographer team

If you're thinking about hiring a content creator for your wedding day, all of the above tips still apply—but choosing someone who is unobtrusive, experienced in weddings, and respectful of all vendors is especially important. Since this is a newer trend in the industry, real-life experiences can vary widely. Feel free to reach out for insights and top tips on seamlessly incorporating a content creator into your big day!

videographY

florals

Idyll Paper
Foliage Paper
Plume Calligraphy
Paper Paper
Paper Palette
Pink Peony Press
Paula Lee Calligraphy
Swell Press Paper
Ink & Press Co.
By Lauren P. (live illustrations)
Stephanie Anne (live illustrations)
Nessa Lilly (live illustrations)

paper/invites

planners

Building your dream wedding vendor team is all about assembling the right behind-the-scenes experts to bring your vision to life. I create my strongest work when collaborating with trusted, experienced professionals who share the same creative vision and consistently deliver outstanding results. It’s also important to choose vendors who are easy to communicate with, collaborative, and just as passionate about exceptional service as I am.

Below, I’ve listed some of my top recommended vendors to consider as you curate your perfect wedding team

If you’re looking for additional recommendations or something specific, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to help!

vendors

06.

Beautiful photography is all about beautiful, flattering, natural light. Envelope yourself in bountiful amounts of natural light by choosing a large, spacious getting ready room that has plenty of big windows.
Avoid cramped, cluttered, dark rooms.

Looking for the Cliff Notes version of this guide? If you only have time to read one section, this is it! I want you two to have the absolute best day (so I can photograph you having the best day!), so here is the advice I would give to even my closest family and friends.

My Best Advice

08.

Sweeping, breathtaking architecture and thoughtful interior design can significantly elevate your photographs. Consider prep time in chic, stylish Airbnbs over hotel rooms with often bold, dark and distracting carpets, wallpapers and curtains. This is the start of your wedding day story, let's set this scene magnificently!

Make sure your timeline is thoughtful and well-cushioned so that it also gives you a lot of relaxing in-between alone break time with your partner.

Where possible, minimize travel between locations on a wedding day. It maximizes the time and memories you get to have with your family and friends by minimizing any possible unforseen delays from you being stuck in traffic and road closures (very common on summer weekends in Toronto!)

Heartfully consider a wedding planner so you and your partner can be as present and stress-free as possible at your wedding. Your wedding day will go by fast and this will allow you to focus on all the beautiful, real moments with your close family and friends. An experienced trusted planner will mean you get to truly enjoy every second of your day! I can't think of a greater gift to give yourself!

Wholeheartedly consider an unplugged ceremony. With a generation glued to their mobile devices, it is sincerely refreshing and respectful experience to have everyone completely present for your ceremony. Most of all, there really is nothing like looking back at the crowd of all your family and friends and seeing them smile and tearing up with you (and not down at their phones!)

Write your own vows. If you want that moment to remain intimate, consider saying them in private during your First Look. Also, look up First Look alternatives.

Confetti exists at ceremonies are simply magical and are the best photos! They elicit this incredible visual celebratory experience for you and your guest to partake in and have fun! For best results, have your officiant remind guests right before they announce you AND be sure to let your guests know to throw it UP in the air and not straight at you!

I highly recommend checking out The Confetti Farm!

Don't rush your couples portrait time. These will be some of your most cherished and beloved photographs of the day. Consider splitting up the time throughout the timeline, making sure to take advantage of sunset hour. It is the most dreamy, romantic light!

Have the venue prepare champagne ready for your guests after your ceremony and as you transition into cocktail hour. It's a lovely and elegant celebratory treat for your guests!

Let the day truly represent you both and never forget why you are getting married in the first place. Make sure you follow your heart with all of your decisions.

And of course - eat, drink and kiss (a lot!)

Two words: magnetic boutonnieres

Write out your speech rather than have it on your phone. On the day and in photos, it will look like your staring at your phone instead of engaging with your guests!

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