TOP 5 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS — Cushla Marie Photography

I know I’m biased, but photography is a super important part of your wedding day - it’s the only way to ensure you can preserve the memories of the day forever. Plus, it’s often a large chunk of the budget, so you want to make sure you get it right! Other than being your gorgeous selves - which is a box I know you’ve already ticked - here are my top 5 wedding photography tips:

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP #1 - CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER YOU CONNECT WITH

Finding a wedding photographer that you really connect with is my top wedding photography tip of all, and although it sounds really obvious, it’s definitely worth repeating. Of course, it’s important to find a photographer whose photos you love the look of, but those photos look so great in the first place because the photographer and couple featured in them really connected! This doesn’t mean you have to immediately add them to your friendship group’s Whatsapp or ask them to be the godparent of your pet (though if you’re in the market…), but it does mean you should feel comfortable with them, and like you can be totally yourself. You want to feel like you have the same vision, and that you want them around!

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP #2 - PREP YOUR BRIDAL PREP

Yep, this wedding photography tip is prep squared - prep prep for maximum pep. Getting ready for your wedding is often one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking bits of the day in equal measure; all that anticipation and elation bubbling away (often with actual bubbles, too). You can set yourself up for some gorgeous, frame-worthy photos of all of this getting ready excitement by choosing a nice, well-lit room to get ready in. Ideally choose somewhere that’s not super messy - this is more for a clear head than anything else! It also allows you to clearly put aside some bits and bobs for the close-up shots of the details of the day.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP #3 - CHOOSE A VENUE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

There’s loads of things to factor in when you’re choosing your wedding venue, and one of them is where you’d like your photos. No matter what your floristry and/or decor plans are, your venue forms the backdrop to your day, and therefore your photos. If you’re dreaming of light, airy photos in a whitewashed, industrial space, then an olde worlde Victorian pub with dark carpets probably won’t be your bag (both are beautiful, in their own ways, but they give different vibes!)

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP #4 - MAKE A GROUP SHOTS LIST (OF 10 OR LESS!)

Group shots can be a really important part of your wedding day: when we flick through family photos of times gone by, they’re often the only images we have of everyone all together. However, too long spent on them can be a huge drain on the day, both in terms of your time and your enjoyment - it’s much better to be at your wedding actually drinking, chatting and dancing with your loved ones, rather than stood a few metres away from them in a (friendly) line-up.

For that reason, I advise all my couples to make a list of the different combinations of guests that they’d like for their group shots - and to keep it under 10, too. That way, we can get all the shots you want of your loved ones, but not compromise the rest of the day. A bonus wedding photography tip is to enlist someone with a) a good knowledge of your guests on the day and b) a commanding presence (!) to round people up for the photos too!

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP #5 - CHECK THE SUNSET TIMES AND PLAN SOME TIME FOR COUPLE PORTRAITS AT GOLDEN HOUR.

Golden hour is the hour before sunset, when the sun is low in the sky and throwing out gorgeous soft warm golden light like it’s NOBODY’S BUSINESS. This is a magical time for portraits, as it reduces the amount of harsh, intense direct light and bathes you in dreamy evenly-exposed light instead. For this reason, I always recommend checking the sunset times and planning your couple’s portraits during the hour beforehand - plus, it makes for a totally lovely time to pause and celebrate what’s just happened, just the two of you!

And if the idea of working out the timeline stresses you out, don't worry - part of my job as a wedding photographer is to help make it work smoothly for you, so we can figure it out together.