Three things to consider that most couples do not.

One of the most common questions wedding photographers get from brides is, “Do you mind shooting formal portraits prior to the wedding?”

My answer will be the same as it is for almost anything my clients request of me:

“Of course I can do that for you!”

However, here are some logistics to consider that most couples and even some coordinators do not think about.

Photo © Steve Keegan, 2014, All Rights Reserved.

1. How early do you want everyone to be ready?

Sometimes it's hard enough for everyone just to be ready on time for the wedding—much less several hours prior. By ready, I mean camera ready. This means everybody's hair and makeup is done. Everybody is in their tuxes and gowns.

This also means you will be in your wedding dress for a substantial amount of time prior to the wedding. That means a larger potential for something happening to the dress. You haven't seen a friendship tested until you have seen a bridesmaid spill red wine on a bride one hour before she's due to walk down the aisle.

If it's a heavy dress, you might be sweating in a small, cramped room filled with bridesmaids—especially in the summer months. It might be hard for you to go to the bathroom or have anything to drink during that time and sweat is not a good look for brides.

2. Have you informed your other vendors of what you are doing?

It would be a bummer to spend all that money on flowers and then do your formal portraits without the groomsmen wearing their boutonnières and the ladies holding their bouquets. Even if you are up for the early start time, your florist might not be. You should check with your florist to see when is the earliest you can have your flowers delivered. You might also ask how hearty the flowers you chose are. If they are super delicate, they might look dead by the time you walk down the aisle if you take them out of water too soon.

Hair and makeup people are also vital to include in the conversation. Ask them how long it will take to do—not just your hair and makeup—but the entire bridal party's. If you have a lot of attendants, this can take longer than you might anticipate.

You'll need to check with the venue (or wherever it is you plan on shooting these images) to see when you are allowed to have access to the location. There might be another event happening prior to yours, or the venue may have a policy of not granting access to the location prior to the contracted time.

3. Lighting.

It makes me sad when clients say they picked high noon as the time for me to shoot portraits because they wanted "good light."

UGH! I BEG OF YOU! Please consult with your photographer for information on the best time of day to shoot.

Typically the lower the sun is in the sky, the better the light is going to be. This means if your wedding is at 2 p.m., the lighting is going to be horrible prior to the wedding with very limited shade. In fact, even at 3:30 p.m., the lighting might be a little rough. You might consider in that case, doing some of the portraits right after the wedding and some when the light gets even better. The best light is usually an hour or so prior to sunset. Obviously that will depend on the time of year and where your venue is. If you are getting married in the mountains, the light is awesome once the sun has gone behind the peaks. 

Photographers use light in the same way a painter uses paint—especially with portraits. it is vital that your photographer has good light to work with. Even if they have lighting equipment (and the skill to use it properly), the light outdoors might minimize the good options your photographer has. Do your photographer and yourself a solid by making sure the area you are thinking about shooting portraits in is as evenly lit as possible—preferably in the shade with a clean background. By clean background, I mean even if you have a beautiful garden picked out for portraits, make sure there isn't an ugly parking lot or power lines behind it that could really take away from the images.

Keep in mind the sun is always moving. Try to visit your venue during the time of day you plan on taking the images to see what areas are in the shade. The picture above would not have been nearly as cool if the scene was not evenly lit with the shade provided by the front of the cathedral.

One more note: If you are the kind of person who might get nervous on your wedding day, you should really consider waiting until after the ceremony. Stress can show up on your face during a photo session. If you are stressed out, it is really hard to smile and look like you are having fun. It is typically a lot easier to get people to loosen up in front of the camera after the wedding. You don't want to look like the freaked out kid in this famous roller coaster meme in all of your wedding images!

Do you know a couple who is considering shooting their formal portraits prior to their ceremony? Don't forget to share this post with them! It might save their wedding images!