A guide to portraits, timing & getting ready
One of the most common questions I get. Both paths lead to beautiful work. But each one shapes your day differently, and it's worth thinking through before we build your timeline.
A private moment before the ceremony. Just the two of you. I've photographed this hundreds of times and the emotions are never less real for having a camera nearby.
The practical upside: we front-load portraits before the ceremony, which means you spend cocktail hour with your guests instead of in a stairwell with your wedding party. The day breathes differently when the pressure is off by the time you're announced.
Best for: Couples who want a relaxed reception flow, more time with guests, and golden hour portraits after dinner.
Your partner sees you for the first time at the altar. This is still the most common choice, and it's powerful in its own right.
The thing to understand: after the ceremony, we'll need roughly 2 to 2.5 hours for couple portraits, wedding party, and family groupings. That time comes out of your cocktail hour or reception, so we plan around it carefully.
Best for: Couples who want the ceremony reveal to be the first look, and are willing to block additional post-ceremony portrait time into the schedule.
My honest take: Neither option is wrong. What matters is that you choose deliberately and we build the day around that decision. Don't let anyone pressure you either way, including me....well, maybe just me, but that's it.
These are templates, not prescriptions. Your day will have its own variables: travel time, venue layout, ceremony length, family size. We'll build your specific timeline together on our planning call.
A question I always answer directly: portrait sessions on a wedding day are not 20 minutes. They shouldn't be. Here's a realistic breakdown so you can plan around it honestly.
One thing I always recommend: build in 15 to 20 minutes of buffer after portraits and before the next event. That time absorbs every delay, and there is always a delay somewhere.
Getting ready is not just a logistical phase. It's often where the most honest, emotional images of the day come from. Here's how to set it up so we make the most of it.
I arrive about 30 minutes before hair and makeup wraps, so the final touches, the dress, the details, and the quiet energy right before everything changes are all covered. Plan for that window accordingly.
One strong recommendation: if you have the option to get ready somewhere that feels personal, take it. A family home, a suite with good natural light, a room with meaning. Venue bridal suites are convenient, but they're often busy and impersonal. The images from a space with a story behind it are different from the ones in a generic hotel room.
Gather these in one spot before I arrive. These are the only items I'll need from you to build your detail shots.
Need a visual reference for how these come together?
View Flat Lay Inspiration →I keep shot lists intentionally short. Here is why.
The work that holds up over time comes from reading a moment, not managing a checklist. When I'm watching light and energy instead of ticking boxes, the images are different. Better.
The one thing I do ask for specifically: your family groupings list. Names and combinations, listed out the way you want them photographed. I'll read it out loud and call people by name, so the more specific you are, the faster we move. I'll send you a template doc to fill out — duplicate it, fill it in, and share the link back with me before our planning call.
Outside of that: if there's a specific place, a moment between two people, or something personal that matters to you, tell me. I'll carry it with me. It doesn't need to be a formal list, just a note.
The questionnaire covers everything I need to go into your day fully prepared. Please fill it out at least two weeks before the wedding. The more honest you are in it, the better I can serve you.
If you have questions about anything in this guide, bring them to our planning call. That's what it's for.