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Pictures Before The Wedding?
What Happened To Tradition?
In my experience as a wedding photographer I have had equally pleasing
results when taking all formal shots prior to the ceremony and
photographing both before and after the ceremony. I put the same passion
and dedication into each and every wedding I photograph regardless of
the scheduling. I will never tell a bride and groom that they have to
take all photographs before the ceremony, but I will encourage them to
consider it. I want your wedding to go as smoothly as possible for you
and having all of the formal photography done and out of the way will
allow you to leave the church promptly and enjoy the reception with your
family and friends. Not only do your guests have to wait for you to
arrive I have noticed from time to time that when photographing formals
after the wedding that the wedding participants are understandably less
enthusiastic about having to take more pictures. Many times I have had
to either rush through or just simply cut out shots to finish as soon as
possible. When photographing all the formals prior to the ceremony all
of the most important shots, those of with the bride and groom together
are done first, when you are freshly dressed and hair and makeup are
perfect. If done after the ceremony the bride and groom together are
usually the last shots taken, after going through a ceremony and all the
tears that entails, then the receiving line and the customary crushing
of the hair, and makeup smearing of the grooms lapel from all the
hugging. Occasionally someone in the wedding party or a family member
will leave the church after the wedding not knowing they are needed for
more photographs. And if you want to go to an alternate location for
those nice pretty outdoor scenic photos, you may have to decide at the
last moment if you have the time or the energy for it. Unfortunately it
is possible you will see some or all these potential pitfalls in your
wedding photographs. Brides will say that they “want the groom to see me
in my dress for the first time when I come down the aisle”. Here’s what
the groom will see, the bride enters and everyone stands up, the groom
gets to see the tops of the guest’s heads. As he cranes his neck around
to peer down the aisle he’s just in time to see the photographer’s
backside as the bride being escorted into the sanctuary by her father.
Now wouldn’t this be a better scene. The groom waits alone in the
sanctuary, the doors open and in walks his beautiful bride, no guests no
photographer’s backside, the bride and groom get to spend a private
moment together before the whirlwind begins. In the end this is your day
and must be as you want it. While a photographer or other service
provider may have an informed opinion, never let anyone pressure you
into going against what you feel in your heart is best for you on your
wedding day.
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