Six ways to help your wedding photographer help you

In our years of shooting weddings, we've noticed a few things that couples can do which, easily remedied, help make for even more amazing pictures. Help us help you by following some of these easy tips!

1. Pick locations with lots of natural light.
Consider each location where photos will be taken – the room you're getting ready in, the ceremony spot, cocktail and reception areas – and how much natural light is available at each one. As photojournalists, we love abundant available light and try to use our flashes as little as possible! While we are excellent at simulating natural light and adapting to all kinds of lighting conditions, available light really is the best thing for your photos.

2. Choose a nice hanger for your dress.
When you pick up your dress, chances are it will come on a cardboard bust to help hold its shape, or a cheapish looking plastic hanger. We want to take a lovely photo of your dress before you put it on, and picking out a nice wood, bamboo, sateen or silk-wrapped hanger will be a huge help.

3. Make a list of formals beforehand.
Typically, our couples choose us because we capture great moments and don't focus on posed pictures, but most people want at least a short formals session. While we don't work off lists when we're shooting, having a list of the different groups of people you want for the formals will be a great relief – it will save you from worrying whether you missed aunts and uncles or got the right combinations of people in your pictures.

4. Designate a wingman (or woman) to help organize formals.
We try to get through formals in an efficient, speedy manner so that you can get back to your party! One thing that helps is to enlist someone you know well, who knows your family and friends – say a bridesmaid, sister, or good friend – to help gather people together for formals. It can be hard to get people's attention once they have a drink and a hors d'oeuvre in each hand, so having someone there that knows everyone's names, is a natural leader and organizer, and maybe even has a nice loud voice, can make it easier to lure people over to the formals spot.

5. Let's get to know each other before the wedding.
The better we get to know you before the big day, the easier it will be for us to pick up on the little things that make your images more meaningful. Do you have an aunt who's attending that's extra special to you? Will your bouquet be wrapped in your grandmother's handkerchief? Did you put lots of time and energy into creating the centerpieces yourself? We often don't get to meet our couples in person before the wedding, but if you have the time, try to schedule a meeting with us either a few months before, the week before the wedding, or whenever you happen to be in the area. If not, a phone call works as well.

6. Relax, kick back, and have fun!
Relaxed brides make for the best photos – really. So kick back, enjoy the company of your loved ones, and have a great time. It's your wedding, after all!