Editorial & fine art photography

 

Welcome.

 

I am completely honored to be capturing your wedding day. One of the most treasured parts of my role as a photographer is that I am able to guide my couples while recognizing their unique preferences and getting to know them personally. Hopefully, this guide will serve as a starting point for you - to begin to think on the details of the wedding that that will all come together to shape the experience you've been waiting for.

Keeping in contact.


Email is the easiest and most reliable way to contact me and get a response. Current office hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. Weekends are reserved for traveling to and from weddings - should you have an urgent matter while I am away for the weekend you can email my office assistant


Myckenzie

Myckenzierussellphoto@gmail.com


Office assistant

janemyckenzierussellphoto@gmail.com

What to expect.

01.


Book your date


Dates are ideally booked 12-16 months in advance. You will receive a digital contract and invoice to get your date officially on our calendar.

02.


6-8 weeks before wedding


You will be assigned your photographer and receive a client questionnaire via email to fill out. I ask you to include as much information as possible that way I can begin working on a photography timeline. This will also be tied into your planners master timeline.

03.


1 week before wedding


At this point your photography timeline has been reviewed and confirmed by you and your planner. If there are any questions regarding the timeline, this is the time to schedule a final phone call to discuss.

04.


Post wedding


My favorite part of the entire process. You can expect your full gallery back in 10-12 weeks. You will be able to download your images in high resolution and print right away.

Planning your engagement session

Where to begin...


CLICK HERE for engagement session Pinterest inspiration on concepts, locations, and clothing


Location

Choosing a location is the most important element of the planning process. I like to think of the location as more of a backdrop and environment rather than the focus of the session. Choose a location that feel personal and meaningful, rather than a location you think "looks nice". I encourage couples to discuss spots that have some sort of significance to them and their relationship. Is there a favorite bar you like to grab martinis at? A beach or street that you met for the first time? Do you like strolling along the park with your dog in the mornings? Do you have memories of driving around in a certain car? The possibilities are endless.


Clothing & attire

I encourage you to dress as YOU - just more elevated. Focus on fabrics, textures, and colors that you would normally gravitate towards. Pops of color and jewel tones can be a great addition. It can be a great idea to opt for one casual look and one formal look. Things to avoid for sessions - wearing matching jeans, men wearing shorts (unless specific to the location and overall vibe, and flipflops.


Timing

Usually, I prefer to shoot 1-1.5 hours before the sunset. This can be completely dependent on the location and overall vibe of the shoot.


Photography timeline

Every wedding day is different depending on the wants and needs of my couple. This is an example of a common timeline that can be customized to fit your day. As a rule of thumb - you can expect coverage to begin 3.5-4 hours before your ceremony.


1:00 pm Photographer arrives to venue

1:15 pm Detail photos & flat lay

2:00 pm Brides hair & makeup finished

2:30 pm Bride gets into dress

3:00 pm First look & initial photos

3:30 pm Bridal party portraits

4:00 pm Family portraits

4:30 pm Rest & be present before ceremony

5:00 pm Ceremony

5:30 pm Ceremony ends

5:30 pm Brief "golden hour" photos with bride & groom

6:00 pm Reception

9:00 pm Coverage ends - photographer departs


Important elements to consider when building your timeline

First look


Whether or not you choose to do a first look will affect your overall timeline. If you decide to do a first look we will likely be able to accomplish all formal photos (bridal party, bride & groom, family) before the ceremony begins. Without a first look, we will schedule these photos after the ceremony which mean you will likely not attend cocktail hour.

Sunset time


Light is the single most important element to the photographs I take on a wedding day. Your photos will be a direct result of where the sun is during portraits. Ideally, the most beautiful light comes into play about an hour before the sunset. It's during this time that I always try to sneak in some "golden hour" photos with my bride and groom for 10-15 minutes.

Buffer time


Buffer time is key because it is where all of the candid, unplanned, and documentary moments will happen. If your timeline is jam packed, your gallery will reflect that. Having plenty of time in between your formalities is the best way to ensure you're able to be present and in the moment the day of.

Family portraits.


I will ask for a family portraits list when your questionnaire is sent out about 6 weeks from your wedding. As a rule of thumb, you can estimate that it will take about 10 minutes to gather all family members up after the ceremony, and about 2 minutes per photo combination. I recommend 10-12 family photo combinations in order to stay within the 30 minute mark


Choosing to take your immediate family photos (parents, siblings) before the ceremony can help the day flow smoother. additional extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins) can be finished up post ceremony if they are unable to come earlier in the day.


Example family list

This is a total of 9 combinations for a total of 25-30 minutes of photos

  1. Bride + parents
  2. Bride + groom + brides parents
  3. Bride + groom + brides parents + brides siblings
  4. Bride + groom + extended family (large group photo)


  1. Groom + parents
  2. Groom + bride + grooms parents
  3. Groom + bride + grooms parents + grooms siblings
  4. Groom + bride + extended family (large group photo)


  1. Bride + groom + all extended family (large group photo)



Cocktail hour.


Cocktail hour can be a part of the day where your guests are immersed in the day, and present with each other.


Things to consider


Provide a dress code (preferred color palette, fabrics, ect.) for your guests. As a whole, the cohesiveness of your guests visually will provide an overall elevated aesthetic.


Consider if you would like to attend cocktail hour as a couple - if this is a priority of yours we will need to incorporate a first look into the timeline so that portraits can be done prior to the ceremony.