Final Checklist
+ Let me know if your venue requires proof of insurance
+ Final payment due 2 weeks before your wedding
+ Send me a copy of your schedule so I can help you finalize the plan for the day
Formal Group Photo Guide
Common Combinations:
PARTNER ONE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR STEPPARENTS, CAPTURED TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY AS DESIRED
PARTNER ONE WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY
PARTNER ONE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
PARTNER ONE WITH THEIR SIBLING(S)
PARTNER ONE WITH THEIR PORTION OF WEDDING PARTY (IF THERE IS A WEDDING PARTY)
PARTNER TWO WITH THEIR PARENTS OR STEPPARENTS, CAPTURED TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY AS DESIRED
PARTNER TWO WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY
PARTNER TWO WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
PARTNER TWO WITH THEIR SIBLING(S)
PARTNER TWO WITH THEIR PORTION OF WEDDING PARTY (IF THERE IS A WEDDING PARTY)
COUPLE WITH ALL PARENTS
COUPLE WITH PARTNER ONE IMMEDIATE FAMILY
COUPLE WITH PARTNER ONE EXTENDED FAMILY (USUALLY AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, ETC.)
COUPLE WITH PARTNER TWO IMMEDIATE FAMILY
COUPLE WITH PARTNER TWO EXTENDED FAMILY (USUALLY AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, ETC.)
COUPLE WITH ENTIRE WEDDING PARTY (IF THERE IS A WEDDING PARTY)
YOUR WEDDING, YOUR WAY
There’s no right way to plan a wedding.
Your day doesn’t have to follow a timeline just because that’s how weddings are usually done. Make space for the things that actually matter to you, and let go of the things that don’t. Your wedding should feel like you, not like a checklist.
Maybe you want to get ready together. Maybe you’d rather skip getting-ready photos and spend that time dancing with your friends. Have a first look, or see each other for the first time walking down the aisle. Read your vows privately, exchange them in front of everyone, or make up your own way of doing it.
Stay at cocktail hour instead of disappearing for portraits. Take a drive. Jump in a pool. Bring your dog. Ride a motorcycle away from your reception. End the night at your favorite bar or around a fire with your closest friends.
Keep the traditions that mean something to you. Change the ones that don’t. And don’t be afraid to make up something completely new.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
If you’d like us to photograph some of the little details - your dress, shoes, invitations, rings, jewelry, bouquet, boutonnière, or anything else that’s meaningful to you - having those things gathered in one place when we arrive makes it easy for us to photograph them without taking too much time away from everything else happening.
If you’d like coverage of getting ready, about an hour is usually a great starting point. It gives us enough time to photograph hair and makeup, getting dressed, those quiet in-between moments, and the time you’re spending with the people closest to you before the day really begins.
There’s no need to make everything look perfect. The real moments—the laughter, the nerves, the champagne, the messy room, the last-minute adjustments - are often some of our favorite things to photograph.
GROUP PHOTOS
We’ll spend most of the day looking for the candid moments - the hugs, laughter, happy tears, and all the little interactions happening naturally between you and your people. But we also know that having a few photos with the people you love is important.
The good news is that family and group photos don’t have to take over your day. With a little planning, we can usually get through the important combinations in about 20-30 minutes.
If you’re seeing each other before the ceremony, doing your group photos beforehand is often the easiest option. We can get them done before guests arrive, and then you’re free to enjoy the rest of the day without having to disappear for photos afterward.
If you’re waiting to see each other until the ceremony, we can also take care of the group photos during cocktail hour. If being part of cocktail hour is important to you, consider giving yourselves a little extra time - around an hour to an hour and a half gives us plenty of room to make the photos happen without rushing you.
We’ll keep things moving, give you clear direction when needed, and get you back to the people you came here to celebrate with.
COUPLE PORTRAITS
Your portraits don’t have to take you away from your wedding for an hour.
I prefer to photograph couples in short, intentional moments throughout the day - usually 2-3 sessions of about 5-10 minutes each. This gives us the opportunity to make beautiful portraits while still leaving you plenty of time to be present with your friends, family, and everything happening around you.
If you’re seeing each other before the ceremony, we might take a few minutes after you get ready, another short moment during cocktail hour, and then step away once more around sunset. If you’re waiting until the ceremony, we can find natural windows throughout the rest of the day that make sense for you.
The goal isn’t to spend a long time posing. I'll keep it simple and playful, I'll find the best light, just enough to help you feel comfortable and connected, then let you be yourselves. Some of my favorite portraits happen in those few quiet minutes when you forget about the camera and simply get to be together.
These little breaks are also a chance to slow down for a moment - to take a breath, take in the day, and have a little time together before jumping back into the celebration.
And if you have a place you love, somewhere meaningful to you, or an idea for a portrait you’ve been imagining, let me know. We can always work it into the day.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
If you’re wondering where the sun will be during your ceremony, what direction you should face, or what time might give you the best light at your venue, have any questions about anything at all - reach out. We’re happy to help you think it through while you’re planning—or even jump on a call with you during a venue visit.
A little planning ahead can make a big difference, but no matter what the day brings, we’ll be ready to photograph it.