PHOTOGRAPHY
This is your holy grail for all things wedding photography! In this guide you will find visual tips and examples of lighting and posing.
Bride Tips
- Don't over think it! The genuine smiles and laughter are the BEST candid shots
- If it's windy, showering or your hair is annoying you - LET IT! If you are pulling a face or have your hand in your face "trying" to fix your hair, you will ruin some of the BEST candid moments
Groom TIPS
- portraits are suppose to be FUN! Engage with your partner, whisper compliments in their ear, tell a dirty or inside joke to make them genuinely smile
- close your eyes when you kiss
- make sure you hands are connected at all times and not awkwardly dangling ie: waist, hold hands, reach for chin/neck for a kiss
- If you are holding their hand, put the other hand in your pocket
“don't be shy, book a phone consult, text SJ or DM on instagram! We are here to support you”
Posing Inspiration
You don't have to remember ANY of this, SJ will guide you through "posing cues" and capture the in-between candid moments. We will guide you to flattering lighting, fluff your dress/hair, give you both direction and capture your love and laughter!
I have included a variety of WEATHER in these examples to show you - Rain, Hail or Shine - Sunrise or Sunset - Summer or Winter - we can create magic!
start with a simple walk...
Look into eyes
Eyes closed snuggle
Dance + Twirl
Dip + Kiss
Just Married Feels
Landscape walk
Walking details
Ocean dip
Ocean lift
The dip Kiss
The cheek kiss
Confetti Fun
FOrehead touch
Confetti
FOrehead touch
The Details
THE DETAILS
THE DETAILS
THE DETAILS
Landscape kiss
landscape Lift
Landscape kiss
landscape Swoosh
Sunnies
Sunnies
SHAKE + SPRAY
Shake + Spray
Champagne tower
CHAMPAGNE TOWER
Get the picnic!
Get the Picnic!
Get the picnic!
Get the Picnic!
Barefoot run
Ocean kiss
Barefoot run
Ocean kiss
Let's get sandy!
Let's get wet!
Heart in sand
Heart in sand
Just married lift
JUST MARRIED LIFT
newlywed portrait
Sun flare
newlywed portrait
Sun flare
newlywed portrait
Sun flare
Parasol portrait
PARASOL PORTRAIT
The Windy Day Movement
THE WINDY DAY MOVEMENT
The Windy Day Movement
THE WINDY DAY MOVEMENT
Climb a rock
CLIMB A ROCK
Embracing the rain
EMBRACING THE RAIN
Embracing the rain
EMBRACING THE RAIN
May The EK
Rolls Rolyce
Mercedes
Kombi Van
Landscape viel
Swopping viel
inside the viel
INSIDE THE VIEL
over the top viel
OVER THE TOP VIEL
Viel details
VIEL DETAILS
Vogue inspired chair
VOGUE INSPIRED CHAIR
The Lean
The lean
The Fence
The Fence
The titanic hands
Hugging hands
Bring your musician
BRING YOUR MUSICIAN
Bridal Moments
BRIDAL MOMENTS
Bridal Moments
BRIDAL MOMENTS
Pregnant Bride
PREGNANT BRIDE
Pregnant Bride
PREGNANT BRIDE
Pregnant Bride
PREGNANT BRIDE
Let kids be kids
LET KIDS BE KIDS
Sparklers with kids
Confetti with Kids
Give us all the babies!
GIVE US ALL THE BABIES!
WHY LIGHTING MATTERS
Lighting is EVERYTHING when it comes to wedding photography and videography. We work your day "backwards" from sunrise or sunset to ensure you wedding is during Golden hour lighting. This is the most flattering lighting of the day. It's when 100% of the wedding images you see on Instagram or Pinterest are shot! Don't be scared of clouds or rain, they create a natural "instagram filter" on camera. If we shot during midday, the harsh sun would be directly above your face, creating harsh lighting, unflattering skin, squinting eyes, textured skin, under eye shadows, large nose shadows etc
WHY SUBTLE CHANGES MATTER
We will "direct" you throughout your portrait session. This might look like "Groom can you side on this side and walk a step ahead" to ensure he doesn't block you on camera. Or "chin up" so your face is hinting the light, "bouquet here" so we can see the detail of your dress, "lean into your hip like this" so we create an S shape which is flattering for Women or "put your other hand in your pocket" for a polished Grooms portraits.
WHY TRUST + VIBING WITH US MATTERS
This is SO important! The more you trust us, the more relaxed and flattering your portraits will be and the faster we can work = produce a larger gallery of amazing work. Not only will you have a fun time, we will be flowing in creativity and can focus on what we do best. If we connect, banter and vibe out = better the outcome.
If it's raining or windy = ROLL WITH IT! Dance, play, laugh together in the elements. The worst thing you can do is freak out. We can't change the weather, we can get epic portraits if you "play" in the elements, those candids are priceless. If you are stiff or constantly touching your face/screwing you face up annoyed or anxious/fidgeting with your hair in your face etc then we miss out on those beautiful candid moments. I promise most of your favourite images you comment on are on cloudy or rainy days, you would be surprised!
BRIGHT "HARSH" LIGHTING
1min later... with cloud
Soft dawn lighting
Ceremonies during soft, flattering lighting before the sunrise. This creates dreamy lighting and avoids squinting/sweating/harsh skin.
After sunrise portraits
Still beautiful lighting but you can see it is more harsh, texture in the sand more visible, shadows on the face etc
Bright Sunset ceremony
We time the day "backwards" from sunset or sunrise. It was a bright sunny day, the sun was setting behind the tree/headland filtering towards them. If we timed this wedding an earlier the sun would be blasting into their face.
...after ceremony
The sun is setting behind the headland, we got the dreamy golden lighting filtering through the clouds once we walked the headland (you can't see this at sunset when you are standing on the beach)
DAWN, before the sunrise ceremony
Fantastic time for sparklers! If it's too bright you can't see the sparklers on camera. Ceremonies during dawn, first light peaking through, usually get unique soft pastel colours or clean blues.
cloudy sunrise, post ceremony
Confetti looks amazing on cloudy days! You can really SEE the confetti on camera. When it's a super bright day, we have a shorter window. Sometimes you have to compromise
Headland, bright - same day!
On bright sunny days with no cloud coverage, we have to move quickly! Sometimes the couple are enjoying the beach during sunrise, picnic and portraits. The headland we do at the end.
Headland, Bright- SAMe DAY
The other side of the headland was more protected from the harsh sun. You can see this side was being blasting the most with what we would deem as "unflattering" lighting with harsh shadows. Still beautiful imagery, it's just not the same.
SAME HEADLAND = 100% cloud coverage gloomy day
SAME HEADLAND = 100% CLOUD COVERAGE GLOOMY DAY
During cloudy sunrise
Look at those COLOURS! It actually sprinkled with rain after the ceremony, then we got a rainbow and the rest of the morning was EPIC
After portraits
You can see as soon as the sun RISES the lighting completely changes on a bright day. It's still beautiful but you don't get that dreamy lighting. We do guest group shots after the ceremony and newlywed portraits.
SUNRIsE PORTRAITS
Super bright day, barely any clouds, we had to work quickly!
End of Elopement
The sun is BRIGHT now! Still beautiful but you can see the difference in lighting and how that changes the end result
DIRECTIONAL POSING CUES
How we work?
- Find beautiful and flattering lighting
- Position you, fix your outfits/hair
- Give you direction to evoke meaning ie: laugh, movement, tender moment
- Capture through the motions to achieve beautiful portraits and candids
Naturally looking
This is how we naturally look at each other, distance on camera doesn't look as intimate, a sense of connection is missing.
Nose to nose
"Feels weird, looks good on camera!"
Naturally hugging
Cute... but we can do better...
Change hand placement
This shows off her ring and lace detail
Natural stance
In the moment
Cross leg
Gives you S curves in a mini, lengthen legs
Natural hold
Nice.... but we want to see her incredible back and give a little space for a WOW wide landscape shot
Hold hands > a little space between you
Natural twirl
Cute but we can do better....
with direction
Ditch the bouquet and yeet the dress!
Natural side snuggle
Wait... we are on a hill
Swap Groom uphill + angle bride
Groom looks taller and this angle is slimming for the bride
Natural walk
Oops we are blocking
One partner leads
This ensures both of you are visible
Natural twirl
Oh dear, Groom is using arm closet to camera which blocks his face. Bride naturally twirls away from him
Outside arm > twirl into him
YAY! We can see both of your faces, you are smiling at each other, brides body is more natural on camera twirling "in" and your dress with float nicer
Natural temple kiss
With direction
Instantly shows off brides figure, dress and flattering arms
Direction...
Oh wait a second...
With more direction
Fix hair to show neckline. "Swing the bouquet back and forth, feels weird but trust me". The dress is now not overwhelming our pregnant bride's figure.
Direction
Cute but we can do better... we are on a hill and bride is falling backwards
With more direction
Harder position for the Groom to dip "uphill". Overall look is more polished
Natural whisper in ear
Emotive and natural... now for the portrait version
Chin up to the light
BAM! Look at her EYES
Look at camera
Admire your new wifey
Now kiss her head
CONNECTION, genuine little smile
Natural hug
with direction
Smile to camera
Everyone wants a portraits of everyone look at the camera
with direction
Fun prompts for kids with be age appropriate and might look like: bump hips with each other, tickles, say a naughty word, on the count of 3 all say "BLUEY"!
Candid moment
The Groom's "thing" was kissing her forehead straight on. Super cute moment but doesn't reflect on camera.
with direction
Gave a quick cue after the moment, this meant the moment wasn't lost and I was able to get a flattering angle straight away. Now back to enjoying a drink!
Natural Dip + Kiss
with direction
Forehead touch - eyes open
