Bridal party photos sometimes seem like the biggest conundrum of a wedding day.   You have surrounded yourself with your best friends and family members who have invested time and money in being a part of your wedding day.  You definitely want some great photos together.   But we all know that your wedding party really wants to, well, party.

As your photographers, we want to make sure that you have beautiful photographs and a great time.  To this end, Kamran and I have slightly different approaches towards the guys and the girls.  I want the girls to look fabulous.  I want to show off their dresses and their relationships, and make them look great.  Kamran, and the groomsmen, just want to have fun.  Often the guys will start out pretty skeptical about photo time, and a few minutes later we’ll hear whoops and hollars, and just know that they’re up to something.

And that’s the way we like it.

So, a few thoughts:

Schedule – Your bridal party doesn’t want to pose for photos for hours.  So, plan on 30-ish minutes for bridal party photos – which usually means a couple large group shots, a few shots of just the guys and just the girls, and maybe photos with each bridesmaid/groomsmen.  Then be a wedding hero and let your party go enjoy the party.  Even if they’re traveling around with us on a trolley, be ready with a few drinks on board for everybody, and you will all remain friends at the end of the day!  That way we can sneak off for some photo/private time for you and your new spouse. Trust me, this may be the only alone time you get all day.

Schedule (part 2) – If we are traveling around or going to multiple locations, remember that the larger your wedding party is and the farther we have to walk add more time to the schedule.  More people = more chaos.  Be prepared.

Location – Really, what we’re looking for in a location is light, color, and texture.  Sometimes the most unexpected locations can be great for photos, so keep an open mind and be creative.  We are not looking for landmarks as much as light.

Personality – Who are you?  Are your bridesmaids all from the same gymnastics team?  Are the guys really goofy?  Every group is different, and your group dynamic will have a big influence on your photos.  So get creative when thinking about the things that you have in common, who you are, and how you know each other.  Even though you and I will discuss it, I may not know that you are capable of and interested in doing a human pyramid, so let me know!

Share Your Ideas! – Seriously, what are you looking at and enjoying?  Create a Pinterest Board and share it with us.  We may or may not be able to recreate your faves, but we may spark some even better ideas.

Have Fun – Some of our favorite shots aren’t the formal ones.  Candid getting ready shots early in the day, and goofy dancefloor and photobooth photos towards the end of the day are what weddings are made up of.  So remember, relax, have fun, and just enjoy the day.