FAQ : Communication + Wedding Photos

I'm a huge fan of communication. Okay, fine. I'm an over communicator, but I'm totally fine with it. I'd rather give the people in my life too much information, than not enough. This applies to my clients as well and was no more apparent at my last wedding. The day before the wedding, JD and I arrived in Michigan and drove directly to the wedding site to scope for shooting opportunities (this is usual protocol for destination weddings).

The skies were dark and was raining, so when we arrived the following day (which was bright and sunny), it looked like a completely different place. Areas we assumed we could shoot in no longer worked and we found ourselves looking for open shade, especially considering the heat index pushed 90-degrees.

So now you know the backstory. Before photographing the First Look, I communicated with the bride and explained what I looked for in an optimal location. I did this because I didn't want her to think or assume anything that she didn't need to. I wanted her to know I had everything under control, even with the harsh lighting conditions.

JD was with the groom and he chose a relatively shady location for the First Look. When I arrived to the church with the bride, I tucked her safely away inside the church and went to survey the outdoor area where the groom waited. While a lovely spot, it wasn't shaded very well (causing a bit of hot spots) and was too small for us and the two videographers (we'd likely be in each others' shots).

At that moment, a cloud rolled over the sun. Hold on, lemme repeat that: A CLOUD ROLLED OVER THE SUN!!! This acted like a giant softbox in the sky (thank you sweetbabyjesus!) and JD knew immediately to move the groom to a large patch of foilage..and I sprinted back to the church. I calmly walked back in and explained to the bride our fortuitous luck and suggested we hurry to catch the beautiful light.

I can't help but think that because of the direct communication with the bride, she knew how important (and fortunate) this moment was. When she walked out of the church and onto the lawn, she looked radiant…and confident.

We were able to shoot for about seven minutes while the sun was hidden by a cloud…and I couldn't be more thankful.

in the same vein, because the light was rather tricky, I conveyed to the bridal party that if a cloud rolled over the sun, I'd appreciate if everyone joined me in a designated open space. While I was shooting photos of the bridesmaids, a cloud appeared. And, boom. The bridal party rocked it out.

Explaining the importance of light, location, and expectations is always a good thing for a wedding photographer to remain in control during sometimes stressful moments during the day. Yes, I totally realize I could've used off-camera lights to compensate for extreme lighting conditions and/or use reflectors, but I try to keep my portfolio consistent and rely on communication, patience, and amazing clients to remain shooting in natural light.

I hope this encourages wedding photographers to openly communicate with clients if it allows us to ensure we feel confident capturing moments in a way that reflects our aesthetic, taste, and brands.

Stay Fabulous,
j*