Professional Photographer Columbus, Ohio - Robb McCormick Photography

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5 Essential Tips For Preparing For Your Wedding Photography

As your wedding photographer, I want to offer you the best and most beautiful experience possible. With more than 500 weddings shot and over 10 years of experience in the business, trust me when I say I know how to capture your special day in a way that's meaningful, timeless, and one-of-a-kind. I have evolved and honed my style over the years, from picture-perfect posed couples photos to laughter-filled wedding party photos. Let me use my experience in photography not just as a background but as an advantage to aid you in getting the images you envisioned from your big day!

How To Prepare For Your Wedding Photography

1. Choose Your Photographer Carefully

Making sure you hire the right wedding photographer is essential, as your photographer will be with you from the first moment of your special day to the last. It's important that you choose someone who you feel comfortable with and whose style speaks to you, so taking time to look through portfolios and full galleries, along with meeting in person, are all excellent ways to get a true insight into the skills of any potential photographers. Experience is also something you should prioritize when making such an important choice – I have shot more than 500 weddings over the years, meaning I have been confronted by every possible situation imaginable. This allows me to anticipate certain moments in order to make the most of them with ease and consistency, no matter what kind of circumstances arise.

2. Create A Photography Timeline With Your Photographer

I always recommend that couples work with their photographer to create a photography timeline before the wedding– this is key to making sure everything flows properly and stays on track throughout the entire day. As your wedding photographer, I'm here to help make sure your day runs as smoothly and stress-free as possible. One thing I do that helps immensely with this is scheduling separate photos with the groom/groomsmen and bride/bridesmaids before the main ceremony. By doing this we can capture all of their photos before the wedding starts and leave more room for the other exciting festivities! Additionally, when creating the schedule, I will always add a buffer of time so that if anything runs late, we’re not stressed out trying to catch up. Planning ahead of time ensures a smooth event – it’s all about being ahead of schedule (and not behind). 

3. Relax And Have Fun

Let go of any stress and remember to relax and just enjoy your special day. For wedding couples, I advise focusing on the present moment and making memories that last a lifetime. It's my personal mission to make sure my couples have a relaxing and enjoyable day. My best shots come when couples are having a great time, rather than worrying about how they're going to pose or look in the photos. I prioritize capturing genuine emotion throughout the entire day - from your declaration of 'I do' to all the moments in between with your bridal party, family and friends. To ensure that you treasure each and every one of these memories as they age, my main goal is to keep everything authentic and avoid any overly contrived photos. Let go of the stress, enjoy your special day, and create beautiful moments that you'll be able to look back on for years to come.

4. Posed Photos Or Candid Photos?

As your wedding photographer, my goal is to capture a mix of guided and genuine moments of your special day. I find it works best if I set the stage with location and lighting, but try to keep the moment real while also adding in some suggested posing. 

When working with my couples, I typically prefer a more direct approach so I can help guide them into proper body positions, help adjust accessories and make sure any creases or wrinkles in clothing are minimized. However, I still allow enough freedom for those sweet candid moments to be captured as they unfold. During more action-filled times like getting ready, the ceremony, and the reception, my style shifts more toward being photojournalistic: more hands-off and very focused on capturing all of the little nuances of your special day. I balance a good blend of both creating artistic storytelling elements and capturing the actual moment at hand. To learn more about my style and approach as a wedding photographer, check out my blog post here!

5. Trust Your Photographer

As a wedding photographer, I understand what makes an unforgettable photograph. For each couple I work with, I strive to showcase their unique connection and personalities in such a way that it reflects the true love between them. Every couple has different needs - some will need me to direct them through every pose and others will have plenty of ideas of their own. Most people fall somewhere in between where I encourage them along the way but they also take the lead. I always document natural moments that require no posing or manipulation, so when the magic happens between my couples, I let it unfold naturally and as organically as possible. But if more precise posing is needed, I'm more than happy to help create those exquisite shots. My end goal is to capture the collection of moments that makes your wedding day perfect and unique. 

Celebrations With Robb McCormick Photography

I understand that each couple is different and will approach their day in their own special way. Ultimately, my job is to make sure that your wedding photos convey what makes you two uniquely special as a couple, so entrusting me with this responsibility requires you both to truly connect with my skills as a photographer — only then can I do my best for you!

If you or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer, you can contact me right away! You can also send me an email or call me at (614) 834-4956. In addition to wedding photography, I also photograph engagement sessions and senior portraits. Visit my website for more details and to see more photos. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.