The couple's photo shoot is one of the biggest moments of your wedding day. This is where your togetherness is celebrated and put in the spotlight. Don't let this shoot make you nervous—just enjoy the time. During this part, the photographer will devote himself entirely to you and ensure that you feel completely at ease.
To help you relax and let go of your nervousness, here are two tips from me:
Have faith
Remember: if you've booked a photographer, it's certainly because you like them and their work. You've already met, discussed everything, and you know how they work. You've probably also familiarized yourself with other photographers' work and chosen theirs because it suits you best. So trust your decision!
To ensure the shoot goes as smoothly as possible, I need your cooperation. Only if you participate and are willing to follow my instructions, can we create beautiful images together that will remind you of this special day for years to come. Don't be surprised if something seems strange to you—just go with the flow. It's part of a photographer's job to give instructions that may seem unusual, but I promise you: I know what I'm doing! I give you my word that the final images won't disappoint.
Be adventurous and uninhibited
Be bold! Nothing makes wedding photos look more awkward and staged than posing stiffly in a seemingly flattering way and applying a forced toothpaste smile. Such things usually have the exact opposite effect of what you want. As a photographer, I can easily get you into the best poses, creating natural and authentic photos. Through the camera, many things will look completely different than you expect. So don't worry, don't think about the dress, the makeup, or what the guests will think if you're gone for an hour. Dare to try out unusual poses and strange locations – that's how you get the best pictures!
Apart from that, the duration, time, and location all play a role. Generally, an hour is ideal for a couple's shoot. It can be done in less time, but then it quickly becomes a bit more stressful, and you'll want to enjoy this shoot and make the most of it. After all, it's the couple's shoot of your wedding day!
The first 10 to 15 minutes are usually spent "warming up," and after that, the time really flies. Plus, a couple shoot with more time naturally produces more images than one that's done in just 30 minutes. Ultimately, it's entirely your choice. But you should be aware of what each option entails.
As for the time of day, I usually recommend using the so-called golden hour (the 45 minutes before sunset, when everything is bathed in golden light). This can be extended to the blue hour (the 15 minutes after). This period offers the most beautiful natural light – of course, only when the sun is shining and we can count on this light. If, on the other hand, it is cloudy throughout, the time of day doesn't make much difference. Cloud cover often acts like a soft focus, providing suitable and even light throughout the afternoon. Of course, I'm still happy to be there spontaneously if there's an unexpected sunset! Ultimately, the timing is up to you. However, you shouldn't make the mistake of relying on glaring sunlight in the afternoon. Contrary to what many amateurs expect, this light is usually unsuitable for photos. Of course, the time can be divided up – for example, 30 minutes in the afternoon and 30 minutes in the evening. As long as we discuss everything beforehand, I'm open to all options!
Last but not least, the location: Of course, we want to escape to a beautiful place for the couple's shoot. Many couples immediately prefer a park as soon as they think of it. But experience has shown that this isn't an ideal location, as it's usually teeming with strangers, and the unnatural setting doesn't lend the photos a particularly favorable atmosphere. Natural and imperfect locations are much more suitable – natural vegetation, sandy paths, wildflower meadows, lush forests, rocky terrain, and all such conditions. Since the prevailing daylight can spontaneously make any location more or less favorable, this part doesn't need to be planned far in advance. Of course, you can think about what might work in advance, but the best thing is to let the photographer decide spontaneously. Trust me, I can assess the circumstances, such as the lighting, well and will definitely find the best possible location for your couple's shoot!
