Today’s blog post is for the nervous soon-to-be bride and the nervous first-time-ever-shooting-a-wedding photographer! I often get asked by both by couples preparing for their wedding and new photographers, “What do I need to do to prepare??” so I figured today I would sit down and really hash out my top 3 things to do before your wedding day! Everyone could always use a few useful tips, right? And what better place to find them than from a wedding photographer with over 50 weddings under her belt? RIGHT? *wink, wink*

Okay, so first step in preparing for your wedding day, for both new photographers and couples, is to manage your expectations. I know you don’t want to hear this, but not every wedding day is going to be something out of a magazine. The weddings you’re seeing in bridal magazines and on top wedding blogs are the results of months of work by a fabulous team of vendors, a hefty wedding budget, and a couple committed to hosting a day worthy of a coveted feature. So be realistic with yourself, my friends. This day can be amazing and special without all the hoopla and fancy chairs, I promise. To those about to get married, remember this day is only about you promising your life to another, and to the new photographer, realize that it’s okay to mess up and things not go perfectly. It’s your first wedding, take a deep breath and just enjoy the ride!

Second thing I would advise you to do is create a timeline for your wedding day. For the couple, write down from the time you wake up to the time your head hits the pillow what is going to be happening, where and when! Then once you’ve solidified this with your wedding planner and photographer, send out your plan for the day to your bridal party, family members, vendors, and close friends so EVERYONE is on the same page when it comes to your big day! For photographers, create a timeline with your couple that maps out, from the moment you start shooting to the moment you stop, where and when certain images will be taking place. This allows your couple to relax and flow through the day prepared for portraits and groupings, and you’re able to deliver a diverse and FULL wedding gallery!

And last, but not least, have confidence in the wedding day and the plans you’ve made before hand. Allow the day to flow naturally and just roll with the punches! I tell my couples ALL THE TIME that no wedding day is perfect, and that’s okay! All that matters is that it’s YOUR day and a celebration of this next stage of life for you and the next stage of your relationship with the person you love. New photographers, practice before the wedding day until you feel confident in many different lighting situations and with all of your equipment, and then once you get to venue, just let your creativity flow. Serve your client to the best of your ability and have confidence in the fact that they chose you for their day! A nervous photographer forgets things, a confident photographer gets the job done!!

And to the newer photographers, a great way to continue to learn about the craft of wedding photography is to invest in education!! Look into attending workshops specifically based towards wedding photographers or even conferences that offer multiple different classes on the many facets of wedding photography.

A great option for a conference is the WPPI Wedding and Portrait Photography Conference & Expo!! I’m going to be attending the conference this year, and I honestly CANNOT wait to learn more about my craft (yep, you read that right, even us professionals have stuff to learn)!

A few things to remember when thinking about signing up for a workshop or conference like WPPI are to always take into account your cost of travel to and from the event, the cost of your meals and such wile you are there, and if you’re going to sign up for any additional classes offered that are usually a separate investment of the original cost to go. If you’re going to WPPI like I am this year, look into a few discount flights HERE and discounted hotel stays HERE!

I also now offer mentorships for young photographers looking for advice on the ins and outs of the wedding photography business, so if you’re interested in that, shoot me an email at jessicahuntphotography@gmail.com!

I hope you enjoyed reading my top 3 things to do before your wedding day and happy planning!