Wedding Welcome Info Pack!

So- If you’re reading this then you’ve just been added to the Frankly Family! WOOHOO! Welcome!

It goes without saying that I’m very excited you’ve chosen us as your photographer. As a small business owner it means a lot that you believe in what I do,and just know I did a little happy dance at my computer.

Generally though, I’m pretty relaxed and flexible and no matter how hard we plan for your day there will be things on the day that don’t go exactly right, and know that that’s ok, but there are lots of easy things we can put in place beforehand to make sure you get the most out of your images.

You know when you go to a hotel and they have a little folder filled with information…this is kinda like that. (Except I’ll let you swim in the pool after 8pm!) It is just some little tips and bits of advice that I’ve picked up over the years. Feel free to ignore ALL OF IT if you want. The most important thing for me is that YOU DO YOU- so please know this information is just suggestions.

If there’s anything you’d like to discuss along the way (photography related or not) I will do my best to assist you!

TIMELINE FOR WORKING WITH US

Here’s what to expect when working with us…

Step 1: You’ve found us online & sent inquiry, received a reply with prices and decided to book us! (Hooray!) 25% deposit and booking form signed to confirm this booking.

Step 2: Email confirmation from me that booking deposit & contract received and job booked in. Tick that off the list baby!

Step 3: Generally weddings are booked a long time in advance so there are many months to wait during this time. Feel free to email at any stage during this time if you have any questions or need assistance with your timeline, or just want to check I am alive in my pile of constant editing.

Step 4: I will check in about a month before your wedding date to see how all the planning is going and arrange a site visit (depending on job/location) for before the wedding date. It’s ideal but not necessary for you to be at this, but normally it’s a good chance for us to meet before the day and run through everything. If we’re comfortable with each other it shows in your photos :)

Step 5: Approx 2 weeks before wedding date the final bill is finalised and all outstanding amounts paid.

Step 6: A week before the wedding all timelines and wedding info sent to us. Group shot lists & family photos finalised.

Step 7: Wedding Day!!! We work together and have the most amazing day! Woo!

Step 8: Within 3 days of your wedding a little sneak peak is sent to you. This is normally a couple of photos just so you can view something and have something to share with all those excited family & friends.

Step 9: I edit away in my cave for a few weeks and within 4 weeks (approx, subject to peak season demands) I’ll email you the full online gallery. From here you can download & order prints etc.

Step 10: Sometime after this you will receive the photos on a USB in the post (depending on your package), you’ll love them, leave me a glowing review and live happily ever after!

Step 11: If you decide you’d like to order a beautiful fine art wedding album you can contact me and we can order, zero pressure but did I mention the first year anniversary is ‘paper’? Prints can be ordered through me, or easily on your online gallery. Also- Yes, if you have babies I can come and photograph your family and be your family photographer for the years to come ;) Staying in touch with the beautiful couples I meet is one of the perks of this job!

Lighting

When it comes to photography, nothing could be more important than light! Chasing the best light is what we do!The very way a photograph is created requires light to enter the lens and react with the sensor to create an image. Not only is light a crucial element to the physical creation of an image, it will also determine the feel and mood of every one of your photos. So, it’s worthwhile taking the time to consider the lighting for your wedding, here are just a few things to think about when planning your day.

Window Light

Walking into a space with big windows and light streaming in is absolutely one of our favourite lighting scenarios. The soft outside light is often very flattering and the resulting shadows create interest. Big windows where you are getting ready is amazing and will improve your images. Also your hair and makeup artists will love working with good natural light too. We love creating portraits with window light.

Try and avoid rooms where you need to have any artificial lights turned on. For example, some hotel rooms are quite dark (great for sleeping, bad for photos!) so make sure that if you’re planning to get ready in one, that you can draw the curtains back and get enough natural light into the room (some hotel rooms have that thin chiffon type curtains that are permanently attached to the windows so you can’t open them up… worth a little visit before your wedding to make sure your room doesn’t have those!) I want your photos to look the best they can and the most flattering light is natural light – so we want a room that ideally doesn’t need any lights switched on.

Outdoor Ceremony Lighting

If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, an even coverage of shade is ideal. We know this is not always possible, so if you can't have shade, try to avoid having the sun shining directly into either of your faces, where one of you may be squinting and the other in shadow. Dappled lighting can also be tricky. If your outdoor ceremony is in a sunny location, having the sun behind you is one of the best scenarios. It’s a good idea to visit your ceremony location close to your wedding date, even the day before and stand in position at the time of your ceremony to see what the sun is doing, then you can always angle the ceremony orientation to ensure the best lighting conditions possible. You’ll also be far more comfortable if you’re not squinting the whole time.

Indoor Ceremony Lighting

When it comes to an indoor ceremony, the lighting is often already in place and it may not be possible to change it. The crucial things to look out for is whether there is enough light where you will be standing and if you will be on a stage with access to stage lighting we suggest warm/yellow light as this will be most flattering for skin tones. Even if you would like to use coloured lights, it’s helpful to have some warm light hitting your faces as well.

Bridal Portraits

The last hour before sunset and the following 15 minutes of dusk is our favourite time to make portraits. This is the time when the sun is most golden and beautiful. Googling what time the sun will set on your wedding day and potentially factoring that into the way you schedule your day is worthwhile. Of course, if the sun decides not to join us on your wedding day, clouds, rain and shadows are cool too, we may just need to start portraits earlier as it can get dark quickly. This is also true for photos in urban locations where there are tall buildings that the sun can hide behind.

Reception Lighting

For your reception please try to avoid fluorescent lighting. Fluoros can cause inconsistent lighting conditions and have a tendency to make skin tones look green-ish. Plenty of candles, strings of festoon lighting or any warm lighting is perfect and creates a lovely ambience.

Again, this is only a guide and ideal lighting conditions are not always possible. We can work with whatever lighting we encounter on the day and sometimes this leads to even more creativity in how we photograph. Either way there's no need to stress.

GETTING READY TIPS

WEDDING HANGER-

If you’re wanting to capture your wedding details then you’re going to want to pay some attention to those details so I can make them look incredible for you. First one is the wedding dress shot. This isn’t for everyone, but if you’re after a shot of your stunning wedding dress hanging from a balcony/window/tree then please don’t leave it on a dodgy plastic hanger. I recommend wooden hangers with a turning hook so I can hang it from a doorway, window or even tree branch easily. You can also find a range of personalised hangers on places like Etsy if this appeals to you. A small investment can make a huge difference to this shot.

PEOPLE & SPACE-

Just a quiet reminder to think about how many people you want around when you’re trying to get ready. If you have a large bridal party, plus suppliers (hair, makeup, 1-2photographers, 1-2 videographers) and then people ‘dropping in’ and your all in a small space it can very quickly become stress city. If you’d like certain family to see you before the ceremony perhaps you can arrange this for once you’re already ready. Think about how you can create as much space to move and breathe in your getting ready area as possible. Remove unnecessary furniture and things that will get in the way. Open blinds and windows. A space with more than one bathroom is a good idea too if you have bigger numbers.

GROOMS DETAILS

If you’re going to have photos of the groomsmen, then I would suggest putting as much thought into their space as the brides. The guys deserve a nice place to get ready in too. Since we all know they have a lot more free time the morning of then most of the ladies, lets give them some ideas on things to do in that time… like learn to tie a tie! My gosh, the amount of times I turn up to the dudes and they have no idea how to tie their tie, bowtie or pin a buttonhole..or use the iron. So if this sounds like you…It’s 2020 gentlemen… let’s youtube a few things before the day ok? Of course we are happy to help where we can, and we do, but the time we take away from shooting to help is moments missed.

Another great tip is to ask your florist to attach a safety pin to the back of your buttonholes rather than just two normal pins- SO much easier and stops it from a stabby crooked mess.

Again, just like the ladies we want to make sure that all of your grooms details are gathered together, ready for your photographer. This includes: his suit, shoes, belt, cuff links, cologne, tie pin, tie, watch and the rings (of course, these items might differ from groom to groom, depending on his style but that’s a good overview of the details we normally photograph.) If he didn’t buy new shoes, make sure the ones he will be wearing have had a polish – and if he did buy new kicks, make sure they are laced the same! You’ll be surprised how many pairs I’ve seen that have been laced a little differently to each other or have untidy laces. It’s all about the details with the …detail shots!

WET WEATHER PLAN

Please don’t let the wet weather ruin your day, with a little bit of ‘plan B’ planning and some accessories you’ll be able to embrace the weather and have fun. Crossing your fingers will only leave you very disappointed and stressed on the big day if you don’t have a back up.We can’t control Mother Nature, but we can control our attitudes towards it, bad weather is not the worst thing for your photos (and the day is about your love yada yada)- I can work with storm clouds (in fact they’re amazing) and I can work with rain. In fact the hardest thing to work with is really bright sunshine! Even if the weather is set for sunny it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Have a couple of (preferably clear) umbrellas put aside and a pair of cute gumboots. If you put a little bit of planning into your plan B for your ceremony location then it avoids disappointment on the day! Instead of ‘Oh no what are we going to do!?” its “ ok cool, we get to do this other plan that I’m excited about, lets go!” It might not have been the photos you hoped for, but as long as you smile, shake it off and dance in that rain I promise to make those photos just as damn beautiful.

SOMETHING BLUE IDEAS

If you’re into the tradition of ‘something blue’ there are lots of creative ways you can incorporate this into your day. You don’t have to stick to the traditional hankie. Pinterest has lots of ideas on how to incorporate this tradition in a unique way. If you do something you’d like captured remember to let me know :)

GETTING READY

The photo and/or video coverage of your day begins in the preparation time, so it's worth considering the overall aesthetic or importance of the space where you will be getting ready and how to make this time as smooth and relaxed as possible.

Stress-free wedding prep & engaging imagery.

Airbnb or Stayz accommodation is a great place to start when looking for an interesting space to get ready in. Finding somewhere with a bit of character or interesting design and architecture that suits your personalities or compliments the overall theme for your wedding is a real win and adds a lot to your photos. Interesting spaces open up creative opportunities for photos and can help tell your story more than a standard hotel room. It can also be really special to get ready in the home you grew up in or anywhere that holds sentimental value as this also adds another level to your photos and the story of your day.

Something we ask our couples to consider doing the day before or the morning of is to place any important items, that they would especially love photographed all in the one spot. This might include invitations, dress/suit, accessories, flowers etc. This ensures that any important details are documented.

On this note, if you love the idea of having a photo of your dress/outfit hanging somewhere, consider having a coat hanger where the hook can spin, this opens up a lot more possibilities for where your dress/suit/wedding attire can be hung.

It is also worth considering the distance between where you and your love will be getting ready. We know that not every couple wants to get ready in the same house, but choosing locations that are nearby can be a huge benefit when wanting to capture both of you during the preparation time. The less travel time for us, means we can maximise our coverage time. However, having two photographers does help reduce the time pressure around this.

Allowing enough time for yourself to get ready and not needing to rush is invaluable. We love when there is just a little bit of time to breathe before making such important promises, to take a moment and maybe a few photos rather than needing to race to the ceremony. This is the perfect time to take some portraits of you and your bridesmaids/groomsmen and parents and any other important people while everyone is looking fresh.

One final thought is simply to be organised where you can and try to keep your space tidy and free of clutter, but on the day if you forget something or some small detail just doesn’t happen, it really doesn’t matter. Keeping perspective and focusing on being in the moment and trying not to stress is going to be far more beneficial than a checklist and rigid time schedule adhered to minute by minute.

BRIDAL PORTRAITS

One of the most common things we hear from couples is that they feel awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera. We always take these concerns on board, but to be honest it excites us to think that hopefully we will be able to change their perception of being photographed and facilitate a really positive experience.

To help ensure this, we’ve pulled together some thoughts on what we have found can really help make the portrait time the most enjoyable experience. As a guide, one hour to an hour and a half is a really good amount of time to schedule for your portrait session, but we can work with less time if necessary.

CHOOSE A VERSATILE LOCATION

We have found that having time to relax and really feel comfortable is one of the greatest advantages when it comes to your portrait session. This often comes down to choosing a good location with plenty of options and not needing to do lots of running around. It's worth considering what kind of environment you would like for your portrait time and then chatting to your photographer about finding somewhere with a few different angles or backgrounds and different spaces within walking distance to each other. It’s always fun to choose somewhere that is a little unique too and not a typical go-to wedding photo spot, as we find this a great way to boost creativity.

MINIMIZE TRAVEL TIME

This really comes back to choosing a good location and only needing to go to one or two places. It makes sense to choose somewhere nearby your ceremony or reception venues or in between, so that you’re not spending your wedding day stuck in a car. It's always a bonus if your ceremony and reception are in the same place and the venue has plenty of photo opportunities on site. The less distance to travel the more time to relax during your portrait session and the quicker you will be back partying with your guests.

SNACKS

It’s quite possible that by the time you get to your portrait session, the last meal you ate was breakfast, so chances are you may be a little hungry and thirsty. It is such a great idea to have an esky packed for you and your bridal party to have a little picnic, pop some champagne and relax when you get to your portrait location. This can really set the tone for your photos and help ease into things, you also get a moment to take in that you just got married and celebrate with your closest.

TIME JUST FOR THE TWO OF YOU

Something we really value in a portrait session is that it is often the first time a couple has a moment together to take in all that has happened and not be swamped by people wanting to congratulate, hug or take a photo. Time with just you and your love is so precious and important. Factoring just 10-15 minutes to breathe and have some time together, will really help you relax and help us create portraits that truly reflect you as a couple.

Simple Portrait

We can get as creative and abstract as you like with photography, but there is one image we like to walk away with from every wedding. A simple and beautiful portrait, looking straight down the lens. It’s one that you may frame and definitely one that your parents or grandparents will love. It’s a simple and honest record of you on your wedding day.

Blue Steel

If there was just one thing we could express to our couples, it’s that we want to create images that reflect who they are. There’s no pressure to be a model or perform for the camera, all we need is for you to be you and we will capture the two incredible people we see through our lens. Our heart is always for creativity and connection, honest moments, the imperfectly beautiful, images that capture who you are and how you felt on your wedding day.

Reception

Ask speech givers not to read from an iphone

lighting

CEREMONY

Undoubtedly, the ceremony is the pivotal point of any wedding day, without it there is no marriage and really that is what everyone is celebrating, so how can you ensure your ceremony is captured the best way possible?

UNPLUGGED CEREMONY

I believe it really is worth having your celebrant ask your guests to put down their phones, iPads, cameras and be in the moment- every celebrant will have their own little spiel about this. Not only will they be fully engaged and able to enjoy your ceremony, you will be able to see the faces of your guests rather than screens and we won't have to compete with extra paparazzi, ensuring we can get the shots we need. Without a doubt there is someone that will believe to their core their iphone will capture the moment better and step right in front of me. Take a moment to google image “reasons why I should have an unplugged ceremony”. I think it is the best when you can capture the real emotion of your guests being fully present and actively participating in the ceremony. As a photographer I can tell you that when I am shooting it’s almost impossible to also take in everything that’s being said. You can ask guests to shoot away as soon as the ceremony is over and into the reception- create a hastag if you wish so you can find all those guest photos on insta, or ask for no photos online til you’ve received the photos from us.

SPACE

Something to consider when deciding on your ceremony location is the amount of space your photographers and videographer will have to move around. The physical space of your ceremony will determine the range of angles and types of photos possible. Having access to the centre aisle, sides and even being able to move around the alter really opens up opportunities to get interesting and intimate shots.

WORKING WITH YOUR CELEBRANT

We’ve worked with some really amazing celebrants, and a lot of them are already clued onto this, but consider chatting to your celebrant about where they will stand during the ceremony. For the moments in your ceremony where the focus is primarily on the two of you, like your vows, exchanging rings and the kiss, it’s a nice idea to see if your celebrant is willing to move off to one side. This means that the images of the two of you during these really pivotal moments are just that, photos of the two of you experiencing these moments together. One of the most amusing things we see when going through photos of “the kiss” is a third head belonging to the celebrant popping up between the couple. Awkward!!

MICROPHONES

This is just a quick one, but having a microphone stand at your ceremony can be distracting in photos and cause an image to look cluttered. If you or your celebrant have access to a cordless microphone, we highly recommend using one.

RINGS

Having 2 seconds to photograph rings going on fingers is tough enough, especially if you’re hiding your hands from me! If you’d like to have that moment photographed, don’t forget to tilt your hands towards the camera..and go slowly. Take that moment in!

CONFETTI

Throwing confetti, petals, rice or whatever you would like to throw always makes for such fun photos. However, it is key to have lots of whatever you are throwing and also to make sure your guests are ready to throw. Asking your celebrant to announce this and prepare your guests just before you walk back down the aisle is a good idea. Also- please key in your announcer to THROW UPWARDS and NOT AT YOU! Up and out away from your face will lead to better photos and a better experience for you. Whilst it might look very spontaneous, the successful shots you see of this online are highly staged.

Consider eco confetti cannons

First Look

The ‘first look’ is when the couple see each other before their ceremony. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re not into strict tradition then I think you’ll love this! Actually, this tradition- of not seeing each other before the wedding because it’s “bad luck” stemmed from times of arranged marriages from the fear the groom might change his mind! Weird things seem to stick with weddings and become ‘tradition’ it’s fine if you love this, but do not feel like you have to do anything because of tradition/superstition- it’s your wedding, do it your way!

Ok so lets talk about the benefits of a first look photoshoot.

It means that while the brides makeup is fresh and the grooms hair is perfectly done your portraits are captured, instead of after a very emotional ceremony. You get to have this intimate moment together, rather than down the isle with all your guests staring at you to see if you’re going to cry.

PRO’S OF A FIRST LOOK: (rewrite this)

You get to spend more time with your guests, joining canapes after the ceremony rather than having to dash off for bridal portraits straight away. With everyone you love in one place, I’m a big believer that you should see them all as much as you can!
You get to enjoy being alone when you share the incredibly special moment of seeing each other for the first time.
You actually get more photos from the day! I tend to encourage my couples that have a first look to also have their bridal party photos afterwards – and then I steal just the bride & groom away again for 15-20 minutes at sunset to take some romantic sunset photos (the guests are normally entering the reception at this time anyway!) This way, you still get those beautiful, golden hour photos – but you can join canapes after the ceremony as we would have already done photos with your bridal party. Winning!
The bride’s makeup looks fresh and the grooms hair is perfectly held in place. It’s a great idea to get that on camera straight away before the wear of the day takes its toll – especially in summer!

CON’S:

First looks take away from the tradition of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony in front of everyone.
Regarding the above, the chances of your groom losing the plot when he sees you for the first time has lessened because he’s already seen you. He will still be happy to see you, but there might not be as many tears (they may have happened earlier!)
RECEPTION
Food
feed me at the same time
It’s advised this is served when you eat so my break doesn’t clash with your speeches.