Sharing Your Vision for Your Wedding Photography

“Sweetie, don’t you want the photo with the bouquets placed around the gown’s train?”

If you’re a bride and groom who value your wedding photos, you likely spent many hours researching and meeting with photographers before you decided on the one for you. But after you book your wedding photographer, there’s one more step you should take to insure that you get what you’re looking for. You know what you want for your wedding photos…but what about your mom?

Remember to share your vision for your wedding photography with your family and friends.

Let’s face it, parents and friends are usually well-meaning when they offer suggestions for your wedding pictures. And hey, sometimes they totally get what you’re going for and offer sound advice. But sometimes, maybe often, they don’t understand what you want and their advice runs counter to the style and feel you’re trying to achieve.

I know for my couples, having the story of their day captured in their wedding photos is really important. They value real moments, unscripted this-is-how-it-is photos that truly convey the look and feel of their wedding day. Of course, posed family and group photos–as well as creative portraits–have their place, and snapshots with friends are great, too. But the overall vision for their wedding photos is one of unstaged moments.

So when Aunt Sue encourages the little flower girl and ring bearer to always “smile for the picture,” she’s actually inhibiting the bride and groom from getting what they want in their photos. And when mom insists that the bride complete a large list of staged shots (just like she had at her wedding), her good intentions are running awry. But most of these misunderstandings can be avoided with a little communication before the wedding day.

Start by sharing your vision for your wedding day with your family and friends. Tell them how excited you are about the photographer you booked. Describe what you are looking forward to most about your wedding photos. Show them your photographer’s website, pointing out the style and look of their work. Gently let friends and family know what you’re not looking for. Explain how your photographer works–are they hands-off or staged–and let them know they need not worry about specific shots. In general, just work to get everyone on board with you so they are just as excited as you are about your photos.

This crucial last step can help insure your vision for your photography shines through on your wedding day.