A number of people have asked me if shooting weddings is stressful, as they expect that it would be a high-pressure, high-stress event. The truth is that it’s not for me. I really enjoy shooting weddings. I love the long days, I love the fast pace, I love chatting with family members and wedding parties, and one of my favorite things is helping the bride throughout the day. “What can I do to help?” is a favorite line of mine. My love of my work doesn’t bring the chill about on it’s own. It takes a decent amount of preparation.
NIGHT BEFORE
So, just like the couple has a night-before task list, so do photographers. Now, you can probably figure that wedding photographers go through a lot of batteries. The night before, I pop all the batteries out of my high-power items, like cameras and flash units. I throw as many of them on chargers as I possibly can. I have a four-bay charger and a 16-bay charger and that typically gets all of the batteries I take to a wedding in one go. (Why do we carry so many batteries? Because when four batteries in one flash go, I charge the dead ones and replace them. I carry a backup set for every piece of battery-powered equipment I have. I have never been stuck without batteries.) Charging batteries is often the most time-consuming, as it can take a number of hours to charge a set of batteries.
The charging hustle. Charging batteries is the task that takes the longest.
The second night-before to-do is hydrating. Getting a head start on staying hydrated means I’m going to be more comfortable shooting your wedding, and it means I’ll be less tired the morning after your wedding. In addition to drinking plenty of water, I also fill my water bottles for the following day. In the summer months, I might fill them halfway and put them in the freezer, and fill them the rest of the way in the morning so I have ice water for a good chunk of the day. (Couples, take that as a tip.)
The last thing I do is make sure my timeline is entered into my watch. This helps me stay on track with time without having to constantly check my phone. It also gives me easy access when I am inevitably asked what time photos are. I make sure this is done the night before because it’s a really easy thing to forget to do in the hustle and bustle of wedding day prep.
Pregaming with water. Couples, follow my lead. Hydrate well the night before and continue to drink a lot of water the day of your wedding.
WEDDING MORNING
First item on my morning to-do is a Starbucks run. It’s sort of my wedding-day ritual. It gives me a little reminder that it’s going to be a fun, relaxing day, just like any other Saturday. It sets the day on the right trajectory. While I’m out, I get gas if I need it, and may also pick up some wedding-day snack foods. Hydration is important, but just as big of a difference-maker is food. I have to have something to snack on throughout the day. After breakfast, I make sure all of my batteries are charged, gather anything that is ready to go, and put it in my camera bag. I clear my cards and make sure other sessions are backed up. I print out the shot list and stick it on my clipboard. With my snacks, shot list, memory cards, emergency rescue kit, and water, I have half my bag packed. I load up my cameras and lenses and my suitcase is ready to go.
If your bridesmaid spills wine on her dress or your boo has a headache, I got you covered. I’m also prepared for emergencies requiring Altoids, safety pins, hand wipes, and moleskin (because those fancy shoes can make your feet feel like they’re being murdered).
In my small bag, I pack all of my lighting equipment, phone and battery chargers, spare batteries, and the typical necessities such as wallet, phone, keys, and sunglasses. I might throw a few extras in there such as a plexi for detail shots and an extra bottle of water. I carry everything I need in those two bags.
The final stage is getting ready. We have a getting ready phase, too! I always make sure I have a number of outfits ready to go, so all I have to do is pull out a top and a bottom. I make sure I’m showered and clean because nobody likes a stinky photographer getting in their bubble. I also make sure I’m dressed comfortably head to toe. Many photographers dress to the nines for their weddings, but I believe that because I’m there to do a job, I better not be hindered by something as small as my attire. You’ll often see me wearing Chaco’s or Birkenstocks for shoes because they provide excellent support. They might look kind of goofy, but I don’t want to miss your best moments because my feet hurt so bad I can’t focus (which has happened). I will also wear black pants or a dress with bike shorts on underneath. I would describe my aesthetic as comfort professional. I’m very intentional about everything I wear to a wedding, from head to toe.
Once I’m showered and rocking my comfort-pro, I either relax till it’s time to go and eat one last meal, or I load the car and go. I’ll text my client and ask how they’re doing and if there is anything they want me to pick up on my way to meet them. In short, I double-check all of my equipment, make sure my batteries are charged, pack everything up and shower. It sounds like any other prep for a workday, but with a wedding, it’s much more important to be calm, prepared, and properly equipped. On a normal workday, I typically stroll into my home office, tidy up a little and prepare for each task as it comes, and sometimes I postpone things for the following day. You can’t do that with a wedding. I am meticulous and methodical about preparing for a wedding. I take outstanding images for my clients, but the rest of their experience comes from being adequately prepared. That’s the experience I would want from my photographer, and that’s why my clients hire me.