How to ensure you get amazing wedding pictures even if it rains on your big day

Rain on the most special day of your life can be quite a downer for most brides and grooms. Often couples wonder how they are going to still get good photos if it's raining but in my experience rain can add an incredible dimension to pictures. Here are some tips that I would like to share with those preparing for their big day.

Stay Positive

You might at first be disappointed, or even annoyed, at facing the rain on your wedding day but try not to let it affect your morning preparations because I can assure you, by the time you meet your other half at the altar, surrounded by your nearest and dearest, you will no longer be thinking about the weather. If you can embrace the rain, you will even be able to get some incredibly unique images as rain is brilliant in saturating colours and by backlighting the rain drops, the can show beautifully in your images, giving it that fairy tale look.

Look for areas which can provide beautiful covers, such as awnings, porches and trees

With the worry that can come with the rain, we often forget that there are usually beautiful coverings which we can make part of the images. This means that we are still able to take plenty of images outside without getting wet.

Look for reflections in puddles

If it has been raining particularly heavy and large puddles have formed great! Use them as part of your photo shoot. You can find interesting reflections which make for some truly unique images. Rain gives you the opportunity to break away from the mold to create images which other couples may not get the chance to do.

Use umbrellas as props

Umbrellas not only make for a great addition to the photographs as a prop but they are wonderful at kicking light back down on you and your guests. To avoid having to use umbrellas with ugly colours or patterns and with large advertising plastered across it, we have a few always available and at the ready – just in case.

Tell the story of your wedding with the rain included

Don't try to tell a different story of the wedding day by not including photos of the rain. Embrace the weather and enjoy it. Also remember that it is not very often that it will rain non-stop for hours. You'll typically find a break in the weather, even if just for a few minutes which is enough for us to get the images we may need without the rain.

4 things to communicate to your Wedding Photographer

Photography is one of the most important aspects of your special day. The pictures that capture the exact moment you say "I do", exchange your first kiss, and begin your first dance are going to be displayed all over the walls of your home, shared via social media and will be the most visible memories you'll have of the most important day of your life.

It is therefore very important that you choose a professional photographer who is able to make you feel at ease and who makes you feel confident that you are getting the most out of your wedding photography. However, just because you have chosen an amazing photographer doesn’t mean they can read your mind so it's important to communicate with them your expectations of the services they're going to provide.

What to tell your photographer

Here's what you should tell them:

1. Communicate your anticipated and chosen timeline. Timings will probably change on the day but it’s useful to know what the plan is.

2. Do you not want pictures of some specific things? Would you prefer not to have a camera in the room when you're dressing? You have to make it clear from the beginning what don't want in your photo album too.

3. If you would prefer that drunken friends and family members not be photographed making fools of themselves, let your photographer know. Some couples think these are "priceless" silly moments, but others rather not see parents, for example, in that condition.

4. Give your photographer a "shot list" of important pictures that wouldn't be the usual for every bride and groom. If you want, for example, a picture of all of your work colleagues or your friends from your 5-a-side team, you should give the photographer a list so they aren't forgotten once the party gets started.

We hope these tips have come in handy and if you would like to have a chat with us about your big day, please feel free to contact us.

Mission Statement

Choosing a wedding photographer can be tough. There are some great photographers out there who have lots of experience and who are very passionate about their work, but there are also so many people out there who pick up a camera and say they can do the job and can do it for cheap!

To me, cheap initially sounds great, but is it?

I've been photographing weddings for 10 years now and have been to fantastic venues and met some great couples. My work has gone from good to great and I feel as though I can always do better, so I'm always trying to keep up to speed with modern photography.

For me, personally, the second most important thing about wedding photography is quite simply, getting on with the bride and groom to be: how do I do this? Before their big day, I'll usually meet the couple only a few times, it's vital we hit it off, so in order to get to know them and find out what their needs are, I ask questions; how they met, how long have they been together, colour schemes, themes, how many bridesmaids, groomsmen, guests there will be and getting in there with the nitty gritty details, I also need to make them laugh and be charming. 

Getting the couple to trust me behind the lens is just as crucial so I always offer a free pre-wedding shoot which is usually at their chosen wedding venue, if you have a laugh and have fun together then this will always make them feel comfortable and any awkwardness needs to be out in the open and in the rear view mirror, the aim for me is getting to that "trust" stage...

Anyway, my point is, there's more to just picking up a camera and saying I'm a wedding photographer and charging you for it! The pictures I take involve trust, personality and most of all...LOVE! 

Andy
Please check out my work : )