Lighting
Ceremony lighting
Lighting is the #1 most important thing to a photographer. The one time we don't have control over the lighting during the day is the ceremony, so it is important to think about ceremony lighting before the wedding day.
Plan your ceremony time around the sun. You will want to have your ceremony 2 hours before sunset if you are planning for a 20-30 minute ceremony. If not, it may be dark before your images are done and that light, airy style you paid thousands for will be impossible. Time & Date is a website that will give you the sunset time up to 2 years in advance.
If you are having an outdoor ceremony (my favorite!), the direction of the ceremony is extremely
important. If you plan your location around a specific backdrop like the marshlands or in front of
an old oak but do not pay attention to direction of light, you could be very disappointed with
your images because of harsh light, glare, haze, shadows, or high contrast. Don’t worry! The easy
way to ensure you will have the best light possible during your ceremony is to visit your venue
around the same time you plan to hold the ceremony (think the amount of time before sunset
rather than clock time) and use the Sunseeker App to find the 2’oclock direction (just east of north).
That is the direction that would be best! If I have ever photographed a wedding at your venue, I’d
be happy to share my advice on location options. In the end, it’s up to you of course!
If you are having an indoor ceremony, be sure to speak with the person in charge about any
restrictions they may have on photography. Some churches don’t allow photos to be taken
inside at all! Some restrict me to the back of the aisle with no flash. We will take amazing photos
no matter what, but the more information we have about your location the better.
getting ready lighting
When choosing a getting ready location,
find a spacious place with great natural light.
I will most likely turn off all lights if at all
possible to control the color temperature. If you
need help picking the perfect place, I can
help you with recommendations!
portrait lighting
Light will be better outside after your ceremony almost every single time, so plan to do all of your family, wedding
party and couple’s portraits outside if at all possible. I will lead you to great locations.
Background matters much less than open shade to ensure you are well lit, not squinting, etc.
Consistent lighting is something I pride myself in on a wedding day, so trust me and we’ll have
great photos all day long!
reception lighting
Every reception venue is slightly different, and the more we know about it in advance the better
we will be prepared. We’ll ask things like how tall the ceilings are, if they are light or dark, how
big the space is, etc. When you do a site visit during your planning stages, take notes. Or better yet, bring us along!
getting ready
The first thing I will do on your wedding day will be photograph your details - dress, shoes, veil, rings, heirlooms, etc. These images take around one hour and should be included in my time. Please have everything ready when I arrive.
styling
If at all possible, have your wedding party
leave their things in another room that is not
to be photographed and keep the getting
ready space neat and tidy.
keep it clean
getting ready
Give yourself more time than you think to allow for a stress free experience. It takes longer to get into your dress, photograph each element, and gather your wedding party for travel than you may think. If we finish early, we can always do a few bridal portraits or a champagne toast before it's time to see your groom! Hair/makeup is the #1 thing that runs late on a wedding day (it happens almost every time) so add an extra hour cushion during that time.
de-stress
getting ready
I'm pretty passionate about the first look experience, but not for the reason you probably think. You can read all about why I think the first look is a must on my blog.
We love any sentimental moment captured on film, and the first look with a parent cannot be beat.
with your spouse or parent
first look
kind words
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I have taken a lot of extra time to make the Rachel Red Photography Client Experience for you. It was a 4 month process! But you know what? Your wedding day is special, and I realize I won't be able to answer all of your questions with this guide. So call me! Text me! Write me! Let's grab coffee or a drink! I'm here for you and want to be available to go over every little detail with you. I'll never initiate contact until the last 30 days when it's absolutely necessary, but PLEASE reach out with questions, to get a second opinion, or just to chat.
when in doubt, let's chat
communication
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You've spent a year (or two or three) planning for this big day. The money is spent. The guests have arrived. Now it is time to let go. Let your planner take it from here and promise me that you'll enjoy your wedding day to the fullest! Don't let yourself get stuck with the minor details. Just be with the one you love, surrounded by the most important people to you and soak in every moment.
no stress on your wedding day
let go
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can photoshop fix me?
You are not broken. I believe in natural, realistic, expressive photography. I edit every
image that you receive with my trademark process that makes my images look like
what you see advertised. You will receive a minimum of 400 images from 6 hours of
coverage on your wedding day.
I can provide you with special retouches, such as blemish removal. However, I will not
slenderize your hips, change your hair color, augment your breasts, airbrush your
entire face so that you look like a plastic doll rather than a blushing bride, or make a
rainy day look sunny. Natural is beautiful and my photography style
reflects that.
