Jake’s Comprehensive Field Guide to Wedding Photography

To help your wedding day go smoothly and as stress free as possible I have put together a few suggestions and recommendations in regards to photography.

Overall photo list: You are welcome to create a list and send it to me, however, keep in mind that many aspects of a wedding day are pretty typical and I’ve got you covered. When sending me a list of requested photos it’s most helpful for me to be aware of things that are unique to your wedding. When I mention this, I’m usually thinking of things like “Do you have a friend playing music during the first dance?” Or “Do you have a something special engraved on the inside of your ring?” Or “ Do you have any surprises at the ceremony or reception to be aware of?” I always try to get as much as possible during the time provided and as opportunities present themselves to me throughout the day.

Getting Ready: Schedule at least an hour for getting ready photos. An hour and a half is ideal. This gives me enough time to set up and photograph all of your details without being rushed and leaves enough time to get some hair and make-up photos. If your partner is at the same location, it’s easy for me to head over to their room to photograph them as well. If you’re getting ready at separate locations I would recommend hiring a second photographer so that both people can be photographed easily. It’s helpful to have all of the details you’d like photographed in one spot so that I’m not asking around and gathering everything up. If you feel creative and want to set things up you’re welcome to otherwise I’ve got you covered.

Detail photo ideas:

Women:

• Dress

• Shoes

• Rings

• Bracelets

• Necklace

• Earrings

• Flowers

• Handkerchief

• Clutch

• Locket

• Lipstick

• Veil

• Perfume

• Invitations

• Bridesmaids Gifts

• Vows

It’s helpful to have some ribbon, flowers, or greenery to accent the flat lay photos.

Men:

• Tie

• Shoes

• Cufflinks

• Boutonniere

• Vows

• Rings

• Groomsmen Gifts

Getting ready photo opportunities:

Women:

• Hair and makeup

• Bridesmaid robe photos

• The bride putting on her dress (someone helping zip or tie dress)

• Putting on shoes

• Putting on jewelry

• Finishing touches of hair and makeup

• Toast

• First look with bridesmaids

• First look with parent(s)

• Portraits of bride in dress

• Closeups of bride holding bouquet

• Portraits of bride with bridesmaids/attendants, individually and in a group

• Portraits of bride with parent(s)/family

• Reading letter and/or opening a gift from your partner

Men:

• Putting on shoes/cufflinks/jacket/tie

• Someone helping groom putting on tie/jacket

• Someone helping put on boutonniere

• Hanging out with guys

• Toasts

• Reading letter and/or opening a gift from your partner

• Portraits of groom solo

• Close up of boutonniere

• Portraits of groom with parent(s)/family

• Portraits of groom with groomsmen/attendants, individually and in a group

First look: There are many ways I can set up a first look. Please let me know what your expectations are and I can help facilitate this. This usually involves me taking the first person to the location of choice and then texting the other person we are ready for them to come down. Ideally, I’d prefer a location that is pretty, shaded, and private with room for me to move around. In a pinch, I can do this anywhere such as a hotel room or patio. Keep in mind this moment is really about you two seeing each other for the first time that day and not the location itself. The first look only takes 5-10 minutes and I will give direction so that it runs smoothly. I recommend having someone come with to help with holding the dress and flowers.

If you’re not doing a first look, I recommend setting aside some time to do portraits with your attendants and immediate family separately before the ceremony so that we have less to do afterwards. An hour total for both sides would be perfect. I usually do the bride’s photos first in case there’s any early guest arrivals.

Here’s a list of portraits I like to get before the ceremony:

Women:

• Bride solo photos

• Bride with attendants individually

• Bride with attendants as a group

• Bride with parents and siblings group

• Bride with parents individually and together

• Bride with siblings individually and together

• Parents together

Men:

• Groom solo photos

• Groom with attendants individually

• Groom with attendants as a group

• Groom with parents and siblings group

• Groom with parents individually and together

• Groom with siblings individually and together

• Parents together

If you are doing a first look, I would suggest setting aside 1-2 hours for portraits including the first look itself. The timing really depends on how many locations you want to do, if we are including your family portraits, and how big of a wedding party you have. The more people involved the longer it takes for me to set up groups and the more combinations I will have. When scheduling, keep in mind travel time is involved between locations. If we are doing photos anywhere in Chicago, always leave a little more time that expected because of traffic and in case the transportation needs to circle the block and pick us up again.

Here’s a list of wedding party portraits I like to take (either before or after ceremony):

• Full group looking at the camera

• Full group candids

• Full group walking

• Bride with her attendants

• Groom with his attendants

• The wedding couple together and solo portraits

Portrait location suggestions (some locations require a photo permit):

Local to me (Downers Grove area): Fullersburg Woods, Graue Mill, Mayslake Forest Preserve, Lyman Woods, Patriot’s Park, Ty Warner Park, Diane Main Park, Smith Woods, Kathryn Legge Memorial Park, Downtown Downers Grove, and Downtown Hinsdale.

Further out: Waterfall glen, Lake Ellyn, Lake Katherine, Morton Arboretum, Cantigny, Naperville Riverwalk, St James Farm, Herrick Lake, Hidden Lake, Danada, Spring Valley Nature Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, Mallard Lake, Lilacia Park, The Grove, Busse Woods, and Ryerson Woods.

Chicago: Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk, North Pond, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, Montrose Harbor, Belmont Harbor, Diversey Harbor, Garfield Park Conservatory, Humboldt Park, Wrigley Building, Chicago River Bridges (LaSalle), Kinzie Street Bridge, Riverpoint Park, Riverwalk, Lurie Gardens, Chicago Theater, Chicago Board of Trade, the gardens at the Art Institute, Cancer Survivor’s Garden, Millennium Park, Grant Park

Chicago skyline: North Ave Beach, Olive Park, Planetarium.

Your venue is also a great place to get some photos and I would recommend setting some time to do photos in your space.

Rain: If rain is in the forecast the week ahead it’s a good idea to check with me and come up with an alternate plan. In Chicago, we can use the outdoor space (with the columns) at Union Station or the Civic Opera House. You can also get a permit to do photos in the Garfield or Lincoln Park Conservatories. You may also be able to get a permit to do photos at the Chicago Cultural Center or the Art Institute. I would recommend taking advantage of your event venue as well. If you’re feeling adventurous, grab some umbrellas and let’s have some fun in the rain. In the suburbs, unfortunately, there really aren’t many great options that I know of. Typically, I make use of your venue and get creative with what’s available to me. Conservatories are great because they offer greenery and pretty backdrops while staying dry. If that’s an option for you, make sure to call ahead to get a permit.

Deciding whether to do a first look or not? If you’d like to take part in your cocktail hour I would recommend doing a first look because otherwise I will need to use that full hour to do portraits with your family, wedding party, and you two. This can feel a bit rushed. This also prevents me from getting into the reception room for detail photos of your space before the reception starts. If you do a first look, I can get most of the portraits done ahead of time and we may need to follow up on just a few family photos after the ceremony.

Here’s a list of family portrait groupings (both sides) I like to take (this takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes and can be taken before or after the cermony):

• Couple with grandparents

• Immediate family - siblings, parents, grandparents

• Immediate family - siblings, parents

• Couple with parents

• Couple with siblings

• Couple with parents on both sides

• Flower girls/Ring Bearers

Additional grouping possibilities (typically taken after ceremony):

• Extended family portraits (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins)

• Cousins only

• Friend groupings (family friends, neighbors, college, high school, work)

• Table photos

• If it’s a smaller guest count I can try to get a photo with everybody present

Considerations for portraits: Be sure to let me know well in advance what you are thinking so that I can be sure to accommodate and have enough time set aside for all of your portraits. I prefer to go off the above list in my head as I easily get confused with calling names off of a provided a photo list. This is especially true if someone runs off to get a drink or goes to the bathroom. If this happens I will rely on you to call the right people up. If you go the route of creating your own family photo list, my recommendation is to have a point person call up names. This can be a family friend or your coordinator. To be honest, I sometimes have difficulty with names, especially when it’s presented as a list. However, it is extremely helpful to have the last names of the extended family groups I need to call up. I usually start with anybody that has mobility issues or photos with young children. Let me know ahead of time any notes on family dynamics such as divorces, remarriages, or deaths so I may avoid any stressful situations.

Ceremony: I try to finish up with all portraits at least 30 minutes prior to the wedding ceremony. This allows you a chance to take a break and freshen up and it allows me a moment to rest and get my equipment switched over for the event. At the beginning of the ceremony, I will be up towards the front during the processional. This way I am able to get a photo of the person up front reacting to the person walking down the aisle. After I capture everybody walking down the aisle I try to back up and get a couple of wide angle photos of the ceremony space if possible. If there’s space available for me to walk I will go to the sides to grab a few photos of parents reacting. Once the vows start, I generally stick to the middle aisle to ensure that everything is capture and step back after the kiss to capture the couple walking back down the aisle.

Ceremony photo opportunities:

• Processional; everybody walking down the aisle

• Readers

• Vows

• Ring exchange

• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen up front at altar

• Reaction photos

• Overall view of ceremony site

• Kiss

• Wedding couple walk down the aisle together

Cocktail hour: If your cocktail hour starts directly after the ceremony and we have some family portraits to do I will start with those. If you did not do a first look, I will use the full cocktail hour to do portraits with the wedding party and the couple. Otherwise, whatever time is left of the cocktail hour I will grab a few candid photos of guests hanging out and then get some detail photos of the reception space.

Cocktail hour photo opportunities:

• Candids of guests

• Extended family photos

• Couples photos

• Details of reception space

• Custom cocktails

• Cake and cake topper

• Reception decor

• Table settings and centerpieces

• Overall view of reception

• Seating Cards

• Guest book

Reception: During the reception, I walk around and grab as many candids of guests as possible. I also will walk up to people that appear to be friends or couples and ask if they’d like a photo together. This is a good time to follow up on any family or friends photos that we weren’t able to do earlier. I am also present for any main events such as the intros, cake cutting, toasts, and first dances. If there’s an opportunity I will oftentimes ask the couple if they want to do step out for a few sunset photos. If you’d like a nighttime photo please let me know ahead of time so I can make that happen. I only need about an hour of dancing photos. The only time I need to be at a reception until the very end is if you’re doing a send off that you’d like to be photographed.

Reception photo opportunities:

• Candids of guests

• Open dancing and party photos

• First dance

• Parent Dances

• Toasts/speeches

• Cake cutting

• Intros

• Couple greeting their guests

• Follow up on any family and friend groupings

• Sunset and/or nighttime portraits of couple

• Desserts Table

Sample 8 hour timeline:

1PM Getting ready photos

2:30 First look

2:40 Wedding party portraits

4 Done with portraits/get ready for ceremony

4:30 Ceremony starts

5 Ceremony is done/Cocktail hour begins/Start family portraits

5:30 Family portraits done/Photograph candids of guests

5:45 Photograph details of reception space

6 Intros/cake cutting/toasts/dinner

7 Sunset Portraits

7:30 First dances and parent dances

7:45 Open Dancing

9PM Photography ends