10 Rules for getting the best pictures on your wedding day. SAVING TIME, MONEY AND STRESS DURING YOUR WEDDING DAY PHOTOS.

Every bride wants the best photos of her wedding day. To have and cherish for years. Knowing your portraits are going to turn out great, will let your breathe a huge sigh of relief! I discuss some great ways to avoid stress on your wedding day in my previous post. photographer should be chosen after careful decision. I chose mine, because he was the same guy who had done my mother's wedding, my aunt's wedding, and my cousin's wedding.  I didn't even look at other options! Not great on my part, but hey, I wasn't thinking straight sixteen years ago. I was in love and silly, and just wanted to be married. Looking back I would have like to taken a lot of my advice now. Not about choosing a husband, I still like him! Since I can't change my wedding. I thought I would help you. 
I'm not knocking the photographer that we had. He's a very talented photographer. I am just advising you to make your decision carefully, weigh your options. Find a photographer that you are comfortable with when it comes to investment, services offered and someone who's style you like. 

There is a lot of information out there to tell you how to choose a photographer. I want to share what to do on your wedding day to ensure that you end up with the best shots you can. I didn't even think of these things way back when! 

• Communicate with your photographer. TALK to them. Don't wait till the last minute either because you'll be stressed and busy and won't have time. If there are specific shots you want, tell your photographer. She won't know that you want a picture of you and Aunt Millie with your bouquet because the ribbons and lace came from her wedding dress unless you tell her. Heck, she probably won't really know who Aunt Millie IS until after the whole thing is over, unless you tell her. 
• Give your photographer a rundown of the whole day. Specifics of the schedule of events. The ceremony will go quickly as a general rule and if you are going to be moving from place to place, the photographer needs to know. They can decide where the best place is for them to get the best shots. Remember, a lot of venues will limit where the photographer can have access, limit the use of flash or even limit taking pictures during certain times during the ceremony. The photographer should be aware of the limitations and discuss options with you. 
• Remember, that many of the posed shots can be recreated. Mom may be chasing the ring bearer down or discussing details with the director when you are getting ready. A traditional shot with her helping place your veil or fasten your pearls is easily recreated. Don't fret and stress, a calm capable photographer will get that shot when the time is right. 
• Remember that many of the portraits and specialty shots you see on Pinterest and in glossy happily ever after magazines where every bride spends $80,000 on their wedding and all have couture gowns that cost more than my first care, are staged after the fact or well before the wedding. The perfect artsy shot takes time to prepare. More than likely more than you will have on your wedding day. There is nothing wrong with getting all Cinderella'd up another day to get some of those beautiful shots. Discuss the shots you want with your photographer and let them have input on what is realistic the day of your wedding. That way there aren't expectations that can't or won't be met! Plus taking the extra time for a lot of those shots will result in hungry impatient guests, bridesmaids that have lost their glitsy bedazzeled shoes before you get to the reception and nobody left to watch your first dance. Okay, maybe not that bad, but you get the drift, right?
• Allowing ample time for pictures is mucho importante. Okay, you can tell I did not take Spanish. The gist is, determine what posed shots you want prior to the day, (a good photographer can help make suggestions), take as many pics as you can pre-ceremony. This will quicken the transition between the ceremony and reception.  Quick tip. Hungry groom = grumpy groom. Grumpy groom = not happy with picture taking groom. 
• Have something to entertain Great Aunt Bessie and Uncle Bud. The guests do not need to be milling around, interrupting your portrait session between the  ceremony and reception. Have an hor'deurve event, serve drinks or even start the buffet. But family and friends that are not in the post session pictures should not be in the area. This may sound harsh, but it's the honest truth. Unless you want Great Aunt Bessie's arming a shot, and her flash messing up the pictures you have probably already paid for, they need to be entertained elsewhere during your session. Your photographer may even include this in the contract. 
• Think about the final pictures you want. Do you really want a picture of you as each individual bridesmaid? Or you with the soloist and pianist? Professional time as portraits can be pricey. So if you really aren't going to display them, frame them, or put them in your album, why spend the extra time and money on certain shots. Save it for the shot with you and Aunt Millie  and the special bouquet! PS make sure mom and the MIL, tell you what shots they want. You definitely  want to start out on the right foot!
• Lighting, lighting, lighting...... candlelit ceremonies are very pretty and romantic. Until great uncle Bud starts snoring and you get you dark grainy portraits back, because the church didn't allow flash and told the photographer they had to stand all the way in the back. (Some venues have funky restrictions that the photographer has to comply with). That being said, think about this ahead of time when choosing your venue. Adequate lighting will enhance your portraits. This also applies to the reception. Not only does help keep great aunt Bessie from tripping on the DJ's electrical cords, but helps enhance your portraits! Yes, a good photographer can adjust for lighting, but often venue restriction preclude additional lighting for safety reasons or just physical limitations. 
• Probably the most important tip of all......relax, smile (a lot) laugh and have fun. This is your day, you should be happy and in love. Stress and fatigue are kind of hard to edit out of a picture, but smiles, laughter and love shine through!

What tips do you have for getting great pictures on your wedding day? Feel free to share them!