Throwback Thursday – Ditch the List!! – Guest Post by Heather Cheatham
Aaahhh, summer is here, and in an attempt to sit back and enjoy summer, I am introducing Throwback Thursday, which is a collection of oldies but goodies that need to be revisited since Hill City Bride’s humble beginnings.
Who knew that the Hill City Bride photographers were also talented writers? I do have to say that if any vendor knows weddings from start to finish, it just HAS to be the photographers. They are there from the moment the bride arrives until the happy couple parts, and sometimes they take on many roles other than that of capturing images throughout the day.
One talented photographer, Heather Cheatham, of Visions by Heather, has the right perspective on the wedding day. Get ready for an informative read, and get ready to throw that “shot list” away!!
Ditch the List!!
Your wedding day has been planned for months with the finest of details, and the guest list for your day likely includes an array of special family, friends and guests. Making sure all the images of your wedding day are captured can be a nervous task for a bride.
For an experienced photographer, this challenge comes naturally based on his/her experience but also flows smoothly with the right information provided by the bride. After all, before you know it your flowers are wilted, your cake is eaten, and your day is over.
The process of creating the proverbial “shot list” should not be a time-consuming task of listing out every possible detail and situation you need photographed. By choosing an experienced photographer to capture your special day, you should already feel confident your photographer will capture your day in full based on reviewing sample weddings in their portfolio. A long checklist can be a cumbersome process for a photographer who should be watching your day evolve through his/her lens instead.
Having said that, your day is as unique as any other. It truly is once in a lifetime … a uniting in marriage and a special celebration. It is important to provide input to your photographer on what parts of your wedding day are most important to you, as well as establishing open communication with your photographer about your joint expectations so that nothing important is overlooked.
Inquire with your photographer about a pre-wedding consultation to go over the details of your wedding day. This consultation will provide the opportunity to discuss the preferences of your formal portraits, whether or not you are considering a “first look” ahead of the ceremony, as well as your family and special guests in attendance. At this point it is good to explain who is most important to be photographed with, if anyone has any special needs or limitations, or if there are any family dynamics which he or she should be aware of.
It is also important to discuss the schedule of events for your day. This will allow you and your photographer to know how long to plan for getting ready, pre-wedding details, and also how long to plan for your formal and family portraits. One handy rule of thumb to be aware of is to roughly plan on five minutes per staged formal family portrait. This is very important when it comes to setting expectations for your day, as it would be near impossible to capture a list of 25 different family portraits and only allow your photographer ten minutes to do it! He or she should be able to provide you with a general guideline/timeline based on experience if needed.
Ultimately, with careful communication and giving your photographer the creative freedom to capture your day … they will successfully capture every detail and moment lovingly!
Again, Hill City Bride prides itself on our fine photographers, and you can click on their links to the right. I also encourage you to visit Heather’s site by clicking here. I love her technique and the colors in her photos which were used throughout this posting.
We have worked with Heather on several occasions and her photos are breathtaking. She is also one of the nicest ladies in the world. We are always excited when the bride tells us that Visions by Heather has been hired to do her photography!
Gorgeous work and great advice!
Couldn’t agree with Heather more! Well put!