WELCOME!
| ABOUT THIS GUIDE |
Throw the confetti! You’ve officially booked your wedding photographer, and now the fun really begins!
I want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident every step of the way, so before we fully dive into the details, let’s break down everything you’ll need to know. And if you’re ever unsure about something or if something you read brings up fresh questions, just reach out and let me know!
In this guide, you’ll find information about your upcoming engagement session, how to build your perfect wedding day timeline, the benefits of creating a family portrait list, as well as how to make sure we don’t miss a single detail on the day of your wedding. I am so thrilled to be standing at the beginning of this exciting adventure with you, and I look forward to getting to know you better as we go.
YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Whether you decide to book a bridal boudoir session, bridal portraits, or an engagement session, a pre-wedding photography session gives you the chance to get comfortable in front of the camera while we get to know each other a bit better.
Engagement sessions are a great way to document this special chapter leading up to your wedding, and are great for save the dates, wedding websites, and wedding day decor. But what will your engagement session look like?
Together, we will choose the perfect location and styling to make your vision come to life. If you struggle to choose outfits, don’t worry! I am always ready and willing to give a hand with styling. On the day of the session, we will explore on location and find all the most beautiful spots. I will gently pose you in an area with the most beautiful light, snap that nice posed shot for grandma’s fireplace mantel, and then right away get you both interacting and laughing as I snap away– after all, those are the moments you will most want to remember!
If the photography collection you selected doesn’t include an engagement session and you would like to add one to your collection, we can do so at any time! Just send an email my way.
WEDDING DAY TIMELINES
Easily one of the trickiest parts of wedding planning is puzzle-piecing together all the elements of your big day. Should you do a first look, and if so, when? How long should bridal portraits be? How much time should we allot for travel from the ceremony to the reception?
Don’t worry! There is so much to plan, but that’s why you have a team behind you to make sure everything runs seamlessly, and I’m honored to be a part of that team. Together, we will build the perfect timeline to suit each part of your day, taking all the factors into consideration from the number of guests you’re expecting to the exact time the sun is going to set. Or, if you’re working with a wedding planner, I can coordinate with them to create a timeline for you behind the scenes.
FAMILY PORTRAITS
When you receive your pre-wedding questionnaire in the final months of planning, you’ll notice that I ask you to list all the groupings you’d like to capture with your family and extended family. Whether you’d like to keep the list short and sweet or explore every possible combination, the key is to plan for them in advance so that you don’t have to worry at all on the day of the wedding about making sure we get that shot with Great Aunt Edna.
Here is a list you can use as a jumping-off point for creating your own groupings for wedding day:
- Couple with Partner A’s parents
- Partner A and mom
- Partner A and dad
- Partner A with mom and dad
- Mom and dad alone
- Couple with Partner A’s parents and siblings
- Couple with Partner A’s siblings
- Partner A with siblings
- Each sibling with their partner and/or kids
- Couple with Partner A’s grandparents
- Partner A with grandparents
- Grandparents alone
- Couple with Partner A’s extended family
- Repeat above list with Partner B
I generally plan for about 1-2 minute per grouping, which gives us a little cushion time in case we have any wanderers. I also recommend sharing the final list with all those included in portraits in advance to ensure they know the family portrait location and time.
WEDDING DAY DETAILS
On your wedding day, I’ll devote about 45 minutes to documenting every delicate detail that you’ve included in your wedding day, from your invitation suite to your shoes, your something borrowed and your something blue. I recommend packing a bag at least a week in advance filled with all of your detail photo essentials.
AND FINALLY,
THANK YOU!
It’s an honor to work with you and I am overjoyed by the opportunity to tell your incredible love story with my camera. I can’t wait to begin the adventure! If, at any point, you have questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at sarah@sarahgreenephoto.com or call me at 925.998.7326. I look forward to delivering timeless, romantic images that capture all the things you saw and felt on your big day, and along with that, an experience you’ll treasure. So, let’s begin!
