A church can have so much light and then step around the corner and suddenly the wonderful light disappears.

2. It’s important to click with your photographer.

It is always a good thing when photographer and client get along and click. Everything flows a little easier during the day, and it adds to the comfort level for everyone and this ultimately means better photos.

If by some chance everyone does not click right off, it can become harder to get an easy relaxed flow for the day.

A moment before we left the hotel was a quick freshening up

3.Let your Photographer into the “back areas”.

Getting to see the people involved in a more personal level can allow opportunities to create truly meaningful images. The flow does not change and we still tend to hang in the background catching the moments as they happen. Spending time shooting in this personal space can really create a brilliant relationship that carries through the day.

4. The day is about you and should depict that.

The photos are about you and your day, so we look to create images that are personal and show something that is uniquely you. The photos are a representation of your Wedding day and we want it to be special to you. So the little (and big) things that you have added to make the day yours, tell us about them, giving the photographer the opportunity to incorporate them into the photos.

The Bride and Groom were dressed in Traditional Japanese dress, which involves quite a number of steps, with a number of layers of clothing each carefully put on before the next layer. The bride wanted to show off her Kimono to her Groom.

5. Don’t feel you have to force your pose, let it be feel natural.

Sometimes a couple is really keen on a portrait while others really are not interested and hesitant. I always suggest going for a walk, and have a chat as we go. Keeping the posing simple and natural is important, it allows the couple to be themselves while creating a timeless photo. I normally create very easy poses, and then tell a joke or wait for the couple to start talking, and within moments the photo will present itself with a laugh, a kiss or even a quiet pause.

We were deciding where we would create the couple shots, when there was mention of dance steps and dipping. Before I knew it they were showing off a few steps in the Gardens behind the Mayfair Library

6. Consider having a camera free wedding, if you can.

During a Group Photos we often give the guests the opportunity to get a few photos of everyone, this helps move everything along nicely and means everyone has a nice photo of the bride and groom

These days everyone has a phone, Ipad or tablet and they all have cameras. This can make it challenging to get a clean aisle shot, and often the cameras can slow down portions of the day and lead to delays no one had planned on. This does not mean no cameras, perhaps no cameras during the ceremony and polite discretion during the rest of the day.

I often let the camera’s and tablets become part of the day and incorporate them into the photos, however it does mean sometimes I miss a moment as I dodge around the phones and Ipads.
A camera free ceremony also means the Wedding guests are not worried about catching the moment on their phone, but rather get to be part of the ceremony and enjoy the moment with the Wedding Couple.

7. Make sure to check photography permissions at the ceremony venue.

There is very little worse than getting to the ceremony venue and finding out that the photographer can only stand in one place at the back, or even worse may not take any photos. This can and does happen and it is always a good idea for the couple to check with the ceremony venue and even the reception venue about any policy’s they may have in regards to photo’s and photographers.

Checking beforehand gives the couple a chance to negotiate better access or even have a policy set aside, it comes down to checking beforehand.

I could stand in one place during this ceremony, and this was it. I was lucky that I had a clear view of the Bride and Groom, however many photos I would love to have gotten I could not .

8. Do you want to try something different? Go for it!

Given a little time we can really have fun taking the photos, and try something that the couple had not thought of originally. Trying something new gives everyone an opportunity to go big and have fun with a set of photos will mean so much more because the couple were genuinely part of the creation of the image.

This can be anything from a pose to standing on a mountain, check with the photographer see how far everyone is willing to go and if everyone is on board and ready, go for it!

Sometimes a simple step onto the street can really make all the difference. Here we stood in the middle of a London Street for the photo. Fortunately the streets were quiet for a little while.

9. Be adventurous.

Often the most interesting shots are those that are anything but normal, whether we try somewhere different, or bring something along that perhaps would not have been in the photo.

This was a quick spur of the moment photo, and the couple popped down into the open area for a few photos. This Takes a very simple photo and makes it so much more by the choice to try the photos somewhere different.

10. Consider who is better for your needs the photographer who will travel or someone local.

If you like the photographers work, check if they are happy to travel to your Wedding. While not all photographers travel there are a fair number that will happily pack their gear and travel around the globe for a wedding.

A local photographer will know the area, knows all the special little hide-aways with the best view. The local photographer will also know how the city or town runs, so if a photo-shoot is planned for a certain time, the local photographer will know how busy the traffic will be, where to avoid and all the helpful bits.

Whether the photographer is a local or not it is important to ensure that client and photographer have the same vision for your photos.

This Australian couple were married in London

11. Sometimes Black and White wins the day.

A photo can be spot on in every way, but lacking a certain touch. This could be a yellow jacket that distracts you from seeing the what is really happening. Black and White allows a photographer to strip away any colours that may be a distraction and focus in on moment that may otherwise be overlooked.
Sometimes Black and White can be used to add emphasis to a picture or hieghten a certain mood within the frame.
Then sometimes a picture just looks better in Black and White.

12. Lets not forget the Groom.

This is the brides day, and we make sure to capture each important moment. With so much attention being paid to the bride on the day, and even before the ceremony begins the photographer begins to capturing photos of the moments as they occur. This is an excellent time to get a few photos of the Groom, these photos create a wonderful set of complimentary images of the day for the Bride and Groom.

13. Consider splitting your couple shoot up between day and night.

This is a great way to get a totally different set of images from the same scene, or even a totally different spot with an entirely unique feel.

Splitting between night and day can sometimes be a matter of clever timing with perhaps 30 minutes between, enough time to nip off and get a drink with everyone. Sometimes the photos can be set to happen just after the ceremony and the night shots much later into the evening when everyone has relaxed a bit and allows for a more relaxed set of photos. This adds variety and usually two sets of photos with very different moods.
The sessions do not have to be long either, sometimes one of the sets can literally mean nipping outside for a quick photo or two in the moonlight and then back inside to dance the night away.

14. And don’t forget… have fun!

With so much planning that goes into a day it is great when a couple can just find a point in their day where they simply let their hair down let themselves enjoy their amazing day. This is when your photographer can get some fun and really personal shots.