Tip - Be Prepared For Photos

To avoid getting dirty, ask your photographer or coordinator to bring a blanket or talk with your groom about using his jacket to sit on during shots that have the potential of getting your dress dirty. Chances are, after the ceremony the groom's jacket isn't going back on anyhow.
Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Engaged & In Love

Use your engagement session as an intimate time to capture your closeness and playfulness with each other. While your photographer will have some suggestions on posed candids, you should think of some of your favorite pics together taken over the years and mimic those poses too.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Take Smile Breaks

Be sure to take 'smile breaks' in between pictures and greetings. You will become so overwhelmed with all the smiles that your cheeks will start to hurt. You don't want your smile to look forced in pics so take occasional smile breaks and 'shake it out'.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Tip - Plan Accordingly

Some of the best shots of your wedding will come from the candid moments that you are sharing with your new spouse, friends and family. Don't shy away or consider not scheduling the photographer for at least some of the dancing time at your reception. You'll be delighted and possibly surprised with some of the images captured.Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Floral Focus

Photographers love to take your florals and find some fun areas to photograph their beauty and creativity. Be sure to ask your florist to have all the florals there with enough time scheduled so your photographer can be capturing some key images of the amazing florals your florist spent so much time and you spent so much money on.Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Beauty In Nature

Combining the elegance of your appearance with the raw beauty of nature can make great shots! If you are concerned about getting your dress dirty, be sure to talk to your photographer. They will find an alternative to their first idea.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Candid Keepsakes

Choose a photographer that showcases images where they have captured candid images of guests in their silly moments, not just posed photos. This will make for a more well rounded keepsake and a true representation of your friends and family, not just staged.Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Tip - Discuss Detail Shots With Your Photographer

Ask your photographer what time they or their team will be arriving at the church or ceremony location. You want to make sure that they get some shots of the venue before the ceremony begins to capture the natural beauty and decor details without all the people. You want to capture every element that you spent so much time coordinating, creating and setting up.

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Tip - Watch The Little Ones

If you want everyone looking pristine and prime for pictures, be sure to keep an eye on the little ones who can be easily distracted by something near dirt. :)Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Industrial Photos

When discussing locations to shoot with your photographer, don't dismiss industrial or abandoned spots. These rustic elements can add to your photos.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Trend - Rain Boots

Fun, colorful rain boots can make for creative wedding day photos! Photo courtesy of Lilly Lynn Events; Adrienne Maples Photography

Trend - Historic Wedding

Are there landmarks in your city that help define it? Consider including these locations in your photos with you and your new husband, if they're not too far. Your photographer may have many creative ideas on how to incorporate the important couple and the historic location.

Photo provided by Profinish Design

Tip - All Together Now

If possible, get your entire wedding party and guests together for a group photo! Letting your photographer know in advance will allow them to find a way (possibly bring a ladder) to get this fun group shot, if there's not already a balcony, staircase or dangerous ledge available. :)

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Tip - Limit Alcohol Before Pics

Try to keep your alcohol intake to a minimum on your wedding day leading up to your pictures. Some couples decide to have some pictures taken part way through the reception allowing for some mingling and possibly snagging a few bites of dinner. The thing to keep in mind is that alcohol can make you red faced and less alert, which could show through in your pictures. You want to appear fresh faced and let the excitement show in your sparkling eyes!!

The same applies for your wedding party. I would just remind them in a friendly manner, that they may not look as glowing and sharp if they start drinking too early.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Trend - Mpix

Ask your friends to send you their pics from your big day and upload them to an Mpix online album and create your own individualized albums, prints or greeting cards.

Check 'em out! Mpix.com

Trend - Canditto

Canditto. What's that you ask? Canditto is a rentable kiosk that copies the photos of your wedding day festivities from the memory cards of your wedding guests cameras and loads them to a disc for you! The kiosk software copies only the pictures from the event so guests don't have to worry about the privacy of their past images.

What a fantastic idea! This saves guests the trouble of sorting through their pics to send you the day's images and you don't have to wait to see all the candid shots.

Right now, Canditto is only available in the New England area but they expect to be servicing the entire U.S. by April 2009. Get on their list now to be notified when Canditto comes to your town.

Photo courtesy of Canditto

Trend - Out On The Town

Many photographers are suggesting outdoor engagement shoots now rather than portrait sessions. Outdoors allow for many different setting options and allow your photographer to follow you and your fiance around interacting naturally with each other. These make more natural, becoming shots of you and your fiance. If your photographer doesn't suggest an outdoor session, you may want to mention it.

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Spotlight On - Sharpe Photographers

Sharpe Photographers

Sharpe Photographers is one of the largest and most well-known studios in Northern California. They are members of the Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley, Professional Photographers of America, The National Association of Catering Executives, Better Business Bureau, The Roseville Chamber of Commerce, Fuji’s Pro Network, Kodak’s Promise of Excellence as well as Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.

Sharpe Photographers is a professional studio and location photography company based in Roseville, CA. The studio is designed to cater to clients who reside locally or internationally. Sharpe offers a truly accessible service and has successfully completed assignments across the United States, Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, and Europe. Sharpe offers a range of photographic work spanning from wedding to corporate, portrait to boudoir, senior to fashion...whatever your individual or group needs.

Sharpe Photographers has been photographing in Northern California for over 20 years. With their years of training, Sharpe understands the importance of capturing the essence of each individual. Sharpe Photographers will bring out the best in you, your family and your friends. Capturing the essence of people and business is the heart of Sharpe Photographers. It's their commitment, quality, and their clients’ satisfaction that has led to Sharpe’s reputation as one of the finest photographic houses in the Sacramento Valley. Sharpe Photographers is best known for a playful and unique edge, with a blend of raw, creative vision. Together, they can create a portrait that tells your story for a lifetime!

* Check out the Spotlight On with Real Weddings Magazine. Sharpe Photographers shot the cover.

site: www.sharpephotographers.com
email: sharpephotographers@gmail.com
phone: 916.772.3934
address: 309 Washington Blvd., Roseville (by appt. only)

Tip - Hang With Care

Have (or ask your Maid of Honor to have) a nice hanger for dress pictures before the ceremony. It makes your pictures more attractive than the plastic hangers the bridal salons usually send you home with. Maid of Honor: These little touches are what makes you the hero of the day!

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Ready? Say Blink.

During the numerous photos on your wedding day your eyes will get tired, dry and strained. In between every few photos try closing your eyes and opening wide right before each shot series. Your eyes will open wide and your face can stay relaxed.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers