A wedding photographer is probably one of the most important components on your wedding day. Your wedding photographer is there to create tangible memories that will last you a lifetime. When friends or uncle Joe volunteer to take your wedding pictures, think hard about it.
Read more on how to find a wedding photographer.
Formal Wedding Photography
As much as we consider ourselves an artistic wedding photojournalists we also understand the importance of the formal wedding photography. Our personal goal is to provide you with a perfect mix between photojournalism and traditional wedding photography. What is Formal Wedding Photography?
Formal wedding photography is the posed photography which usually includes various combinations of the bride, groom, wedding party members, and immediate family members. Posed formals may even include extended family members and close friends, and may be taken either just before or just after the ceremony. They are usually taken immediately after the ceremony, however sometimes (to save time), the bride, groom and family may decide to do these photos before the ceremony (usually at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours before the ceremony). On some occasions, the bride & groom may even have their formal wedding photography taken day before or day after the wedding day.
How much time should be allowed for formal photos? A quick set of formal photos may be taken in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. An extended session may last from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Of course, it depends on the size of the wedding party and the number of family members and friends that it may be desired to include as part of the formal photo session.
It’s always a good idea for the bride and groom to make a specific list of all of the family members (or family groups) of whom they’d like to have photos taken. This assists not only the photographer, but also helps the family sort out exactly what their formal photography needs will be. Such a list also helps to speed up the process of taking the formal photos, so that there is less time taken in making last-minute decisions on whom to include in those photos.
Below is the list of various combinations of the formal wedding photography poses. Any combination can be discussed at our wedding photography orientation meeting.
• Bride (several shots)
• Groom (several shots)
• Bride and groom (several shots)
• Bride with maid of honor
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Groom with best man
• Groom with groomsmen
• Bride and groom with bridesmaids
• Bride and groom with groomsmen
• Bride and groom with maid of honor and best man
• Bride and groom with entire wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl)
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents
• Bride and groom with both parents
• Bride and groom with bride’s extended family
• Bride and groom with groom’s extended family
• Bride and groom with any special friends/guests in attendance
• Group picture of entire wedding party