Your wedding day is basically a beautiful, joyful whirlwind with a dash of chaos. The little things can take your photos from “nice” to “WOW.” But don’t stress—I’ll be there to guide you through it all like a chill, camera-wielding fairy godparent. And hey, if you decide to ignore all my advice? Totally fine. It’s your day—I’m just here to make you look amazing
Wedding survival guide!
Getting ready!
Bridesmaids = Beautiful, but also a Hot Mess
Let’s be real—there will be shoes, bags, half-empty coffee cups, and probably a rogue bra in the middle of the floor. If you’re cool with that in your photos, great! If not, kindly exile them (and their mess) to a designated clutter zone.
For the Love of Wrinkle-Free Robes
Matching robes and PJs look cute… when they’re ironed. Nobody wants to look back at wedding photos and see creased chaos. Assign this crucial task to a bridesmaid. That’s what they’re there for.
Gift Exchange? Wait for Me!
If you and your partner/bridesmaid/mums/dads are doing a gift exchange, please hold off on the unwrapping until I arrive. Otherwise, you risk an Oscar-worthy emotional moment happening without photographic evidence.
Find the Light, Be the Light
Your makeup and hair team should know to put you by the biggest window. If they don’t, gently (or aggressively) remind them. Natural light is your best friend.
Gather the Pretty Things
Shoes, jewelry, perfume, hairpiece—put all those photogenic little details in one spot. That way, I don’t have to go on a scavenger hunt while your bridesmaids yell, “Has anyone seen the bride’s earrings?!”
Operation: Get Dressed
Pick the brightest room for putting on your dress. If that’s also the getting-ready zone, I’ll clear the room before we start. Also, decide in advance who’s helping you into your dress—this is not the time for a last-minute game of “Not It.”
Hair & Makeup Timeline
I’ll only start photographing adults when they have make up on. No need for me to capture you mid-contour with a section of hair clipped up like a Victorian ghost. Nobody wants photos without make up on. There will be plenty for me to photograph before that.
Bridesmaids: Stay in PJs Till Further Notice
Nobody changes until I get there. Otherwise, I’ll end up photographing a mix of half-done glam, rogue leggings, and that one bridesmaid in a band t-shirt who forgot about the matching PJs.
Pace Yourself on the Booze
Yes, it’s a celebration. No, we do not need anyone peaking at 11 AM. It’s a long day, and there will be plenty of time for champagne-fueled joy. Drunk bridesmaids may sound fun—until one of them faceplants before the ceremony.
The Ceromony
Patience, Grasshopper 🐢
Let everyone walk down the aisle first before you make your grand entrance. Do not even think about taking a step until everyone in the bridal party has sat down. Walk slow. Slooooow. There’s no rush—unless you’re planning a dramatic sprint, in which case, please warn me so I can switch to sports mode.
If a Priest Leads, Don’t Chase Them ⛪
If a priest insists you follow them, take your time and leave some space—no need to tailgate them like you’re in a rush-hour traffic jam.
Photographer Jail is Real 📸🚔
Sometimes, I’ll be restricted on where I can stand (thanks, church rules!). If that happens, I’ll do my best, but just know that some angles might be impossible. Unless I suddenly develop teleportation skills. If I am really unlucky, the priest will say no photos during the ceremony.
The Kiss: This is Your Moment! 💋
When it’s time to kiss, don’t do a quick peck like you’re kissing your grandma on the cheek. Linger. Enjoy it. Maybe even throw in a second one for good measure. Think romantic movie finale, not blink-and-you’ll-miss-it.
Exit Like a Star 🌟
As you walk out, pause for a mid-aisle kiss. Guests love it, and so do the cameras. Also, with confetti—bask in it, twirl in it, maybe pretend you’re in a music video. The more dramatic, the better.
The family photos
Toilets Before Smiles, Apparently 🚽
You will be shocked at how many people suddenly develop an urgent need for the bathroom right before family photos. It’s like a wedding tradition nobody talks about. Brace yourself.
Short & Sweet = Sanity Saved ✨
Keep your family photo list short. Trust me, after five minutes of forced smiles, you’ll be over it. By the tenth group shot, you’ll be questioning all your life choices.
Designate a Human Herding Expert 🐑
Give someone (not me!) the job of rounding people up. I don’t know who “Uncle Bob” is, and if you send me to find him, I will just start yelling “Bob” into the crowd and hope for the best.
We’ve Got Plenty of Other Shots 📸
I’ll already be snapping plenty of candid and individual shots throughout the day—so we don’t need a hundred “everyone stare at the camera like a hostage situation” photos.
Your Couple photos
Privacy, Please! 👀🚫
We’ll sneak away from the crowd because nothing kills romance faster than your aunt watching and whispering, “Give her a proper kiss, dear!”
Quick & Painless, I Promise ⏳
I won’t keep you for long—I know you’d rather be drinking, dancing, and avoiding that one relative
Sunset = Peak Romance 🌅
If I’m still around at sunset, I will steal you for five minutes because that golden light is basically nature’s Photoshop.Trust me, you’ll want these.
Stay Together
After the ceremony, do your best to stay glued to each other—like newlywed Velcro. It’s so easy to get dragged in different directions (“Come meet my second cousin’s neighbor’s dog!”), and that’s fine… but just know that those dreamy, candid “Wow, they’re so in love” photos won’t happen if one of you is at the bar and the other is lost in a sea of relatives.
Moral of the story: Stick together, steal some moments, and let me catch the magic before you get ambushed by Aunt Linda. 📸💕
Video
If you’ve added the video option, awesome! Just a little heads-up—I am not a professional videographer. There will be no dramatic, cinematic, full-length feature film of your wedding day. No Oscar-worthy edits. No emotional slow-motion shots of your dad tearing up during speeches (unless I accidentally get one, in which case—bonus!).
What you will get:
🎶 A highlight reel of little, beautiful moments of all the important people set to non-copyrighted music (because I don’t fancy getting sued by Beyoncé).
🎥 Snippets of the magic, the laughter, and possibly your uncle dancing badly.
If you were hoping for a Hollywood-style wedding film… well, let’s just say I’m don’t have Spielberg on speed dial.
Things that are out of my control
Rain?
☔ No problem. You have two choices: We take beautiful, cozy indoor photos. or You embrace your Notebook moment and get some epic romantic rain shots. (Bonus: You’ll look like a movie star, and I’ll look like a soaked gremlin behind the camera.)
Full Sun? ☀ If you’re getting married at high noon with zero shade, congratulations! You’ve chosen “Bold Shadows and Squinting” as your wedding aesthetic. I can’t fight the sun (I’ve tried), but I’ll do my best to make it work.
Other bits…
After the speeches, things slow down a bit for me. There are only so many photos I can take of people sipping cocktails and laughing at jokes they only half-heard. So, I’ll take a little break—don’t worry, I won’t vanish into the night. I’ll be nearby, just give me a shout if you need me!
And hey, I know this all sounds like a lot, but don’t stress. Weddings have a way of unfolding beautifully on their own. I’ll be there to gently guide you (not in a weird, bossy way). And if you decide to ignore everything I’ve just said? Totally fine. It’s your day, I’m just along for the ride.
See you soon—
Janine
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