Wedding Day Portrait Tips | Chelsea Liefer Photography
Bride and groom portraits are always one of my favorite parts of the wedding day. It’s a designated time block that my couples get to use to slow down and catch up, and time that I get to use to incorporate my creative direction. The photos that come out of what’s typically a quick thirty minutes are always some of the most loved. So, let’s talk about a few things you can do to truly maximize your time in front of the camera and walk away with amazing photos!
Firstly, I recommend choosing a photo location that offers convenience and great light. I look for every opportunity that I can to eliminate extra driving and location hopping on a wedding day. So, if there’s a convenient nearby park or property (like the images below taken at Konarcik Park), perfect! If your venue has the opportunity for us to do photos on site (like the above photos taken at Emerson Fields), even better! Sometimes moving between locations is necessary, but the more driving we can eliminate in the photo timeline, the more photos you get. For the best light, keep in mind that the majority of these photos are happening while the sun is still high. So, my first choice will be any open shade in the location to give me the soft light that I love for my style of photography. A giant tree with the sun filtering through the branches behind you—that’s my jam. The shaded side of a large building or structure—yes, please. My priorities are the two of you and great light, so no need to overthink it!!
Next, let’s talk about how much time you need for your photos. I like to plan 30 minutes into each wedding day timeline that is designated for photos of the two of you. In my experience, thirty minutes is a good amount of time for us to get into a flow, move through a location, capture a solid number of photos, and not exhaust the two of you and take away from your overall experience that day. Beyond that, you may find me recommending an additional 15 or so minutes for sunset portraits depending on reception time, sunset time, and the venue. If all of your portraits are happening during that amazing golden hour, perfect. But, since that can be tough for most timelines, I still like a ‘safe’ (before the veil comes out, dress gets bustled, etc.) 30 minutes earlier in the day, and then anything at sunset is a welcomed bonus.
Lastly, remember to enjoy your portrait time together, because it will show in your photos! Of course, I’ll be there giving direction with a camera pointed at you, but portraits are still an amazing opportunity for some alone time. I always appreciate helpful friends that come with extra hype—for real…keep those kind of wedding parties coming!! But, between myself, a second photographer, and the possible addition of a videographer or planner, we’ve got you covered. So, I like to send family and friends back to the party! It’s so much easier for you to get cozy without extra eyes on you, and your people deserve time to enjoy themselves too! There are so many instances when my couples are chatting about something that happened earlier, talking about how happy they are, or genuinely laughing together as I direct. I absolutely love letting all of that unfold. So, trust that I’m looking out for things that ensure you look your best in photos, and just let yourselves relax and truly enjoy each other.
Chelsea Liefer Photography is known for romantic, light-filled wedding photography with a natural aesthetic. Our method of shooting is designed to prompt laughter and movement, so that your time spent in front of the camera is relaxed, comfortable, and fun! Images are then processed with clean and polished editing that also emulates the classic quality and tones of film. Visit our website to inquire about our services!