Don't let the clock run the Creativity
One of the hardest things to do on a hectic day is to relax and become creative. When you are limited to a short period of time it is easy to rely on standard poses and shots to ensure you get a basic variety of photos. This doesn't mean you won't get nice pictures of your day, but giving a limited amount of time for the photographer to work will box them into more traditional or standard looks. The more time the photographer has the more they can explore and curate the photoshoot to fit your wedding's aesthetic. Another bonus about having more time is that you will all have the ability to relax into the photo session, take in the moment and have more natural looking photos. The more stressed you feel the more stressed you will look in the photos. Give yourself enough time so you don't feel like you are counting down the minutes on the day.
Golden Hour Glory
So many couples like my style because of the way I use the light in my pictures and one of the best ways to guarantee that look is to be aware of the time of day you are shooting. I always recommend scheduling your photoshoot closer to the "golden hour" time of day. This time of day greatly differs depending on the time of year. If your wedding occurs during a summer month you have a great deal of available natural light because the sun sets later in the evening. If you are celebrating your wedding during a winter month you will see the sun go down much faster. Look at the time of sunset (you can google the time the sun will set on your day far in advance) to make sure you are using the light to your advantage. It also depends on your surroundings. If you have a wide open, flat area (open field, beach etc) then you can schedule your session right up to the time of sunset. If you are in a wooded area, city scape or a place with lots of rolling hills you will want to shoot up until (on average) an hour before sunset so you don't loose the sun behind your surroundings. The best way to know how the light affects your venue is to visit it at a time when the hours of light are similar to your wedding day. One other helpful idea can be to schedule a "sunset mini session" during the reception. Sometimes it is too difficult to arrange the full photoshoot around the sunset but it is far easier to schedule a 15-20 minute break from the reception for just the two of you to take advantage of the beautiful sunset. It also adds a nice little exhale moment for you to take in the incredible day.
*** Knowing when the light is the best is also a great asset for booking engagement sessions ***
