Why I love the getting-ready hours (and how to keep them stress-free)
The wedding morning is full of emotion, rush and tiny panics. Here's why it's my favourite part and how you can enjoy it calmly.
Sure, the ceremony and the party are the core of a wedding. But if you ask me, the most honest frames hide in the morning, at home, during the getting-ready hours. Nobody poses there. Everybody just feels.
I know the other side too, because I see it at almost every wedding. Make-up running longer than planned, a boutonniere that refuses to stay put, a phone that never stops ringing. Many brides tell me in the morning, half joking: "Don't shoot me now, I look terrible." Relax. I'm not looking for perfection, I'm looking for people.
Because I'm with you all day, from the first preparations until late at night, I don't need to ask you for anything. You don't have to stop, smile on cue or look at the camera. You live your morning, I stay close and document it. That's the whole deal between us.
A few small things that make a big difference, collected over many wedding mornings:
Pick the room with the biggest window. Natural light from a window is the best thing that can happen to getting-ready photos, and it costs nothing.
Tidy up just one corner. Not the whole house, only the spot where you get dressed. Bags, water bottles and pizza boxes end up in photos more often than you'd think.
Set the details aside: rings, invitation, perfume, shoes, bouquet. I photograph them in the first few minutes while you're still drinking your coffee.
Add an extra half hour to the schedule. Not for me, for you. Morning delays are almost guaranteed, and it's much nicer to live them laughing than running.
Christenings are the same. The baby in someone's arms, grandparents around, light from the window. So if you're deciding what to include, include the morning. Years from now, these are the photos you'll come back to most. Write to me and we'll plan your day together.