Your wedding day is a celebration of love—a fleeting, magical moment that lives on through your photos, preserving every joyful tear, stolen glance, and cherished detail. To ensure your wedding photography captures these moments with elegance and timeless beauty, it’s important to steer clear of a few common mistakes couples often make.
In this exclusive for THE WED, destination wedding photographer Yana Korn shares her insights into the common details couples often overlook during their wedding photoshoot and offers her top tips to ensure your big day flows seamlessly. After all, great wedding photography isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about collaboration, trust, and connection.
Skipping a Pre-Wedding Consultation
Skipping a thorough discussion with your photographer can result in overlooked details or misaligned expectations. So, make it a priority to have a consultation where you review the timeline, venue, and your personal story. This collaboration will ensure your photographer captures every cherished moment with intention and care.
Not Communicating Your Vision
Clear communication is the key to turning your wedding vision into breathtaking photos. Assuming your photographer knows all the details you want captured can lead to disappointment, as key moments or special elements unique to you, might be overlooked. During your pre-wedding consultation, be sure to share your vision, priorities, and must-have moments. Highlight any sentimental details or unique touches you’d like them to focus on.
Underestimating the Amount Time
Rushing through the day leaves little room for relaxed, meaningful photos. To avoid this, work with your wedding planner and photographer to craft a timeline that allows for smooth transitions, creative portraits, and candid moments. Adding buffers between events ensures you stay relaxed and gives your photographer the flexibility to be creative. With extra time, you can create a serene atmosphere and achieve beautiful results.
Packing the Schedule Too Tightly
A tightly packed schedule leaves no space for unexpected delays or spontaneous moments, often creating a rushed atmosphere. I suggest leaving a bit of breathing room between events to account for unexpected delays or simply to relax. Moments of stillness not only allow you to enjoy the day but also give your photographer opportunities to capture candid, heartfelt images.
Overlooking the Getting-Ready Space
To ensure your photos are beautifully lit and refined, avoid choosing your getting-ready location based solely on convenience. Couples often opt for a space that’s close or practical, but a cluttered, dimly lit room can detract from the elegance of preparation photos. Instead, select a spacious, well-lit room with neutral décor and minimal clutter. Keeping personal items organized creates a serene atmosphere and elevates your preparation photos. A tidy, elegant setting provides the perfect backdrop for capturing these quiet, meaningful moments.
Ignoring the Role of Lighting
Ceremony times or venue setups are sometimes planned without consideration of how lighting could potentially affect the photographs. Suggesting adjustments to the timeline or venue layout, however, can help ensure soft, flattering lighting and overcome harsh or dim conditions. Soft light provides warm, glowing illumination for natural portraits, while soft artificial lighting can elevate an evening reception.
Selecting Too Many Locations
Selecting too many locations for your wedding day can waste precious time, create unnecessary stress, and limit the opportunity for meaningful photos. Focusing on one or two significant spots allows your photographer to maximize creativity and capture your day beautifully.
Micromanaging Your Photographer
Over-directing or trying to control the photography process can unintentionally stifle creativity and spontaneity. That’s why it’s so important to choose a photographer whose style resonates with you and trust their expertise. When couples relax and enjoy the moment, it creates an atmosphere of authenticity that shines through in the photos.
