MICHAEL WEINBERG PHOTOGRAPHY
CLARKS SUMMIT / SCRANTON PA • 570-319-1314

USEFUL TIPS

USEFUL TIPS: Planning the Time for Photography
Some thoughts on how to plan the time to obtain the best possible photos on your wedding day.

Pre-Wedding Planning & Consultation
To ensure that your tastes and wishes are made the top photographic priority, the wedding planning begins a month or more before the actual wedding date. I suggest that the bride and the groom submit to me, one month before the wedding date, a list which includes all the aspects of the wedding they personally want  to have photographed.  Soon after I receive that list, I will call on the phone to set up a pre-wedding consultation where we can officially plan all the photographic details of the special day; incorporating your list with suggestions that I will make. I recommend that this consultation takes before the wedding date at an agreed upon time and location because it will save time and aggravation on the wedding day. Pre-wedding consultation on the wedding day, however, is sometimes necessary when there are sizeable distances involved. When pre-wedding consultations are on the wedding day, it is most important to schedule the meeting at least 1-1/2 hours before the time the photography with the bride and groom is expected to begin. If, for example, you are going to want photography in the dressing rooms, 2-1/2 hours before a ceremony at 2:pm., then the pre-wedding consultation should begin no later than 10:a.m.

When to Start Taking Pictures with the Bride and Groom
The first wedding photographs of the day are actually taken upon my arrival at the scene. One of the first things I do, right after I unpack my equipment is take a little walk around the premises, where I check, conditions, lighting, exposure, etc. and take some sample photos of interesting objects in my path. I usually recommend that we meet to start shooting in the dressing rooms about 2-1/2 hours before the ceremony. This gives me about an hour of photography in the dressing rooms and an hour of photography before the ceremony. 

Group Pictures, Formals, Before or After? 
This is certainly a big question. There is, of course, the tradition of not seeing each other until the moment when the bride walks out and starts down the aisle. There is something to be said about that. However, there is also a popular, emerging tradition of creating a first meeting in a beautiful spot BEFORE the wedding ceremony? Doing it in this way has several advantages. First of all, you can hug and kiss on each other without all the guests staring at you. Second, we can photograph that special kiss much better without all the people and chairs in the way…. taking mutliple shots in order to get that most important wedding kiss right. And third, it allows us to get into doing all the group shots before the ceremony which means you will have more time and more energy and a lot less distraction than if you do them afterwards… it means you will have more time enjoying the reception, spending more time with your guests. 

A Little Something Extra . Sunset Photography
In the evening there is what many photographers refer to as the "special hour" or “magic time.” This is when the light is the best for taking outdoor portraits and formal shots. I takes place,  weather permitting,  about 30 minutes on each side of sunset. If  possible, if we can plan your day so that we can slip away for 20-30 minutes usually during the reception, you won't be dissapointed. This is a great time to make creative portraits of the bride and groom. I usually check out places to go earlier in the day so that when the time arrives, we can walk a little loop around your site and be back before your guests ever start missing you.

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