Wedding tips for brides | Prep time
My job as your photographer is to capture the story of your wedding day as it unfolds. This story begins not at the ceremony but the moment you start getting ready. Here are a few tips I always give my clients here in Monterey and Santa Cruz to ensure beautiful images of them as they prepare for their big day:
Keep The Rooms Clean
Keep both the bride's and the groom's room clean and have the room made by the hotel staff before the photo start time. This helps eliminate the possibility of having any obtrusive objects in the background or taking time away from my artistry to tidy up. Also, a freshly made bed allows me to use it for fun poses like the ones you see here.
Have All the Details Ready
The bride should have all the details (dress, rings, shoes, etc.) in one spot. Having all of these items together allows me to easily photograph all of your important details in one place instead of having to gather the items from separate locations.
Use a Nice Hanger
Have a nice hanger for the wedding dress so that your dress won't have to be displayed on a less-than-beautiful, default plastic hanger. Many nice hotels have wooden hangers for me to use, but some don't. It's always better to be prepared.
Keep the Number of People Low
Too many people in the room can add stress to the day. Besides bridesmaids, a few immediate family members, and your wedding vendors, everyone else should wait until later in the day to hang out with you.
Have Immediate Family Around
This is an excellent opportunity to get some intimate pictures with your parents or your siblings. This is also a great time to have a "first look" between the bride and her mother and father.
GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME.
As you can see from my Ideal Wedding Timeline, I prefer to have around 1.5 hours for the details and prep.
