Question 1

We're both a bit camera shy and are feeling anxious about photos on our wedding day, but we also want a lovely album to look back on. Can you offer us some advice?

Accepted Answer

Planning your wedding is stressful enough without worrying about being in front of a camera! Feeling anxious is perfectly natural, but you will be pleased to know that you're not alone. Over the years, we have photographed many camera-shy couples here at Jane Stewart Photography. Our advice would be to find a photographer you feel comfortable with and have a good working relationship with before the wedding. We meet with our couples on several occasions, have a coffee with cake, a nice long chat, and discuss what makes you feel comfortable and, most importantly, uncomfortable. We always offer our couples a free pre-wedding shoot. This is a great way for us all to get to know one another, building up trust. Let's face it, we are photographing not only your special day but those tiny romantic moments that can feel hard to share, especially on camera. Pre-wedding shoots should be relaxed and done at your own pace at a location of your choice. Most of all, it's about enjoying being photographed while knowing your limits. Take advice from your photographer; let them know exactly how you feel or are feeling on the day. Great communication is the key, but most important of all, relax and enjoy your special day.

Question 2

My wife-to-be and I are getting married next autumn and would like some photographs that reflect the season. Do you have any suggestions?

Accepted Answer

Choosing a colour palette that complements the season and your preferences will set some of the key foundations for great photographs to represent your autumn wedding day. Warm, rich, earthy or vibrant – all these colour themes represent the season well. Look for reds, yellows, and oranges in the tree leaves or on the ground. Have some portraits taken with these wonderful, colourful hues in the background. Other photographs that reflect the season will be in the finer details of the day, for example, the colours in the stationery, the flowers, accessories, bridesmaids' dresses and groomsmen's ties. Remember that, due to the night's drawing in earlier, you should ensure that your ceremony start time is not too late in the day in order to capture all those important photographs in good light before the stars come out. An additional touch to an autumn wedding is to use sparklers at night, which make for great, fun images.

Question 3

We'd like our photos to be timeless with a few fun extras. What's set to be the next big trend in the world of wedding photography?

Accepted Answer

Weddings are becoming more relaxed and informal, with a focus on celebrating your day your way. Most weddings are photographed in a documentary style, capturing key and natural moments discretely while also getting involved in all the fun. I love to capture movement, laughter and fun moments. This is where you really shine. New trends such as proposal photos, unplugged weddings, first-look photos and even day-after photos are seeing a rise in popularity. While influences such as TikTok and social media hashtags are creating a new creative platform for couples. At the end of the day, it's all about what you love. Have the confidence to find your style and make it work. You'll always be able to find a photographer who will love to celebrate your style with you.

Question 4

I'm worried about having our pictures taken on our wedding day, as we're not the best posers. What would you suggest we do?

Accepted Answer

Congratulations on your upcoming big day! It's completely normal to feel a bit anxious about having your photograph taken, especially if you're not comfortable in front of a camera. Here are some tips to help you feel more at ease and get beautiful photos: Choose a photographer you connect with: Look for someone whose style aligns with your preferences and discuss your concerns with them beforehand. A skilled photographer will know how to capture authentic and natural moments. Pre-wedding photo shoot: Consider having a pre-wedding photo shoot at your venue or a location of your choice. This will give you a chance to get comfortable with your photographer and practice some poses and prompts. It also allows the photographer to understand your personalities and preferences better. Share your concerns: Communicate openly with your photographer about your worries. Let them know if you have specific angles or poses you're uncomfortable with and discuss any insecurities you may have. A good photographer will appreciate your honesty and work with you to ensure you feel relaxed. Natural interaction: If you choose the right photographer, they will understand your concerns and focus on natural interactions. Walk hand in hand, share a laugh, or have a quiet moment together. As a photographer, we have plenty of prompts that will enable us to capture these genuine moments without making you feel overly posed. Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy your wedding day. Trust your photographer, be yourselves and focus on the love and joy of the moment. The right photographer will be able to capture the essence of your special day without making you feel uncomfortable.

Question 5

We're clueless when it comes to photography. Is there a list of shots we should ask our photographer to capture?

Accepted Answer

The best thing you could do is ask your photographer for help. Personally, I know that I prefer to work without a list (except for the family group shots), as I find that having a long list of requests throughout the day makes it very hard to be creative. I have a routine I like to follow and a list somewhat disrupts that, but that's not to say that every photographer prefers working without a list! Your photographer is there to help you and will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

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