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what happens next

What to expect

Below is a rough timeline of what happens before and after your wedding, and of course I’m always available by phone or email if you have any questions in between.

1-3 months before your wedding: I go and visit your venue and scout out locations for your photos.

4-6 weeks before your wedding: I’ll get in touch to arrange a time for a chat to go over your final timeline, family photo list and other details for the day.

On your wedding day: I’ll arrive around 10 minutes before our agreed start time to say hello to everyone, have a quick chat with the wedding coordinator if you have one, and will start taking photos while you get on with enjoying your day.

48 hours after your wedding: You’ll receive a preview of approximately 20 photos from your wedding in your private online gallery.

4-6 weeks after your wedding: You’ll receive your online gallery with your wedding photos.

6-8 weeks after your wedding: I will post your USB with your photos, your 35mm film photos will be ready about 8 weeks after your wedding.

Relaxed family photos

Group photos

 If you’ve been to weddings as a guest, you’ll know that the family group photos can be a bit of a chore. But with all your family and friends in one place, it’s really important to have at least a few of these photos taken. We can make the process as quick and easy as possible so everyone can go and enjoy themselves. First of all, I’ll ask you to make a list of the photos you’d like, and I have included an example list below. I’ll also ask you to task a couple of people in your wedding party - ideally someone on each side of the family who isn’t shy and has a loud voice - to help me get the groups together. I usually set aside around 20 minutes for family photos, which should be enough time for one big group photo of all guests, plus up to 10 smaller group photos.

Here is an example of group photos most families like to have:

Couple with one side’s parents and siblings
Couple with other side’s parents and siblings
Couple with both immediate families
Couple one side’s extended family
Couple with other side’s extended family
Couple with friends

I recommend keeping each group to under 20 people if you can, to achieve the best quality photographs. If there are any potentially awkward family circumstances for me to be aware of, please let me know in your wedding questionnaire and we can make sure to deal with them sensitively during your group photos.

PHOTOS OF THE TWO OF YOu

Your couple photos

I know some people are a bit apprehensive about having their photos taken, but pretty much everyone realises quite quickly that it’s really not that bad. Actually people usually say they enjoying it much more than they thought. We’ll basically go for a walk, I will have picked some lovely spots for your photos beforehand, so we don’t need to worry about that. We usually have a good laugh, I do my thing and and take some beautiful photos, and most couplers say they barely notice it’s happening. I give you as much or as little direction as you need to make sure you are looking great.

Depending on your timeline and the time of year, one thing you might want to consider is splitting your couple shoot in two. We can do some photos between the ceremony and reception for example, and then pop out again during or after dinner for a few more shots in the evening light. If it’s a nice evening, it’s definitely worth doing, and we often end up with some really epic shots at that time of day. Altogether I suggest allowing 30-45 minutes for your couple photos on the day - the top end of this would be for a large venue where we might need to travel in a car / buggy between locations. We can talk through all this during our pre-wedding chat.

Sample timeline

Wedding Timeline

Putting together a good timeline is key to the smooth running and your enjoyment of the day. It can be tempting to fit a lot into a very short time frame, but rushing around like crazy on your wedding day and barely having time to talk to people can really hamper your enjoyment. It’s best to be more generous with timing than you think you should be. It’s also a good idea to ask your vendors who are delivering different aspects of your day about the timings they suggest too.

Every wedding day is different, and the list below is just a rough indication of how long things usually take. We’ll go through your timeline a few weeks before your day, and feel free to email me anytime if you’re not sure about your timings.

Getting ready photos in one location - 1.5 to 2 hours
Travel time to venue: dependent on your wedding day. Please be aware that I need to arrive at your ceremony at least 15 minutes before you do, to park up and be ready to photograph you walking down the aisle (unless I’m travelling with you).
Ceremony, confetti exit and time for congratulations: 45 minutes - 1 hour (can be longer for religious ceremonies)
Family / bridal party photos: 15-30 minutes (please see group photo section for more details)
Photos of the two of you: 20-40 minutes + (depending on your preference and the size of your venue.)
Dinner, speeches and cake cutting: 2-3 hours (this is often also a good time to pop out again for another 10 minutes of photos in the evening light)

Aim to build in a 15-20 minute buffer during each half of the day, so if your ceremony starts a little late, or you’d like to spend an extra 15 minutes chatting to people, you can do so without any stress.

good to know about

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to provide a meal for you?

I’m self-sufficient. For health reasons I have a fairly complicated diet and it’s therefore easier for me to bring my own meal, so I will look after myself, thank you. :) If you have booked a package with a second photographer, the second photographer might like a meal and most venues provide a supplier meal. We can discuss on a case by case basis if relevant to your wedding.

Should I embrace technology or go un-plugged?

It’s entirely up to you, but definitely something worth considering before your wedding day. Many couples like to encourage the use of tech on their day and display hashtags for their guests to post their own photos on Instagram and other social media. The nice thing is that you can relive your day through the eyes of your friends and family, pretty much instantly. On the flip side, you may prefer walking down the aisle looking at the smiling faces of your guests rather than a sea of mobile phones. As your photographer, I don’t have a problem with people taking their own photos. But if you know your friends are very happy snappers, you can end up with many of your professional photos, especially the more candid ones, filled with people glued to their screens rather than chatting and interacting. Going unplugged for at least part of the day means your guests are more present and in the moment with you, especially during the ceremony.

We are thinking of doing a “first look”. What do you think?  

Having a reveal and first look shoot before your ceremony can be a good option if are getting married later in the day and want to get the majority of your couple photos done before your guests arrive. It gives you more time to spend with your guests after the ceremony, as most of your photos area already done.

One thing to consider is the time of day when your first look photos would be taken. If it falls around midday, and you are having a mid-summer wedding, the sun will be at its highest and can be quite harsh (and hot!), so having your photos taken later in the day might be a better option. It all really depends on your location and timings/ format of the day. Feel free to run it by me and we can have a look at what would work best.

What happens if it rains?

Of course we all hope for glorious weather on our wedding day, but a gloomy day has its advantages. The light is beautiful and very flattering under grey skies. I suggest getting a few clear / white umbrellas if it looks like it might be rain day - Amazon usually provides at short notice! I will also scout out indoor options at your venue in case it’s really bad outside. I have photographed many rainy weddings and people always still had a brilliant wedding day. The best thing to do, is to embrace the weather whatever it is and make sure you have a wonderful day. There’s usually always a little break in the rain at some point, when we can pop out and get some lovely shots. It’s also a good idea to put a pair of boots/ trainers/flip flops/ jandles in your overnight bag, so you don’t ruin your wedding shoes if we venture outside. A long dress will usually hide them.

How many photos will I get?

I don't cap the number of photos you receive, and the final number depends on your wedding, how many guests you have, and the format of your day. Usually, you can expect to receive a between 500-700 photos for full day coverage, and between 100-200 for a two hour elopement package.

How will we receive our images?

Your sneak peek preview will be delivered by email in an online gallery. The same is the case with the rest of your wedding photos, and you will be able to download your photos from the gallery. If your package includes a USB, you’ll receive this in the post.

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