Wedding photographers share 7 tips for perfect photos.

From the series “Behind the Lens”: Black Sheep Cinema

1. You are a wedding photographer; explain to us how to choose the right wedding photographer.

The first step in finding a wedding photographer is certainly browsing Instagram and websites—since there is such a wide variety of photographers—to explore different working styles and decide which style of photography and editing appeals most to the couple. The next step is to contact a shortlist of photographers, providing them with basic details about the wedding. After reviewing the proposals, it is highly recommended to arrange a meeting—either in person or online—to get to know one another and discuss the photographer’s work and the couple’s expectations. Clear communication is crucial at this stage and throughout the collaboration, so both parties should articulate all details as precisely as possible. Beyond simply liking the photos and/or videos, it is also important for the couple to “click” with the photographer; after all, the photographer is present throughout the planning process and almost the entire wedding day, and is often the only person with whom communication continues well after the wedding itself (and sometimes long after :)).

2. How can the bride and groom best explain what they want?

The couple and their wedding photographer need to establish a foundation of trust, as they are dealing with a professional who possesses wedding experience as well as an established working style. When selecting a photographer and during initial discussions, the couple should familiarize themselves with the photographer’s style and approach, and later go over specific details and expectations. It is also a good idea to highlight favorite photos of the chosen photographer—found on Instagram or their website, for instance—or to create a mood board or collage capturing their vision and ideas for the wedding and the photography.

3. The “snapshot list” – what do you think about it as a wedding photographer?

Do you prefer working from a precise shot list, or do you favor spontaneity? What key moments do you always capture at weddings? Do you have a sample list ready for couples who aren’t sure what they want?

Our style and working method combine spontaneity with certain moments that do need to be planned and agreed upon in advance to ensure they aren’t missed. 🙂 We keep a mental “shot list,” but we adapt it as the wedding day unfolds—adjusting to changing situations, weather conditions, or time constraints. While we strive to capture the most important and emotional moments spontaneously, we also include pre-planned shots—such as family portraits—that we might otherwise miss if we didn’t organize them while everyone is ready and the day’s light is at its best.

5. What does the booking process with you look like? Do you hold a meeting, and what do you ask the prospective bride and groom during it?

Couples usually reach out to us via Instagram or our website contact form, providing key details such as the wedding date, location, guest count, and the general concept (civil or church ceremony, reception venue). If we are available, we send over our brochure outlining various packages. Following this initial step, we arrange a meeting to go over the wedding day timeline, expectations, and wishes, as well as to explain our working style and approach to weddings. It is important not only that the couple likes our photos and videos but also that we truly “click.” 🙂

6. What does the wedding day look like from a wedding photographer’s perspective?

When do the bride and groom usually have their photos taken alone? What is the ideal time of day for portraits? What schedule do you recommend so we have as much time as possible for photos? How much time is needed for photos of the two of us?

The wedding day schedule is determined by the couple, though we are almost always involved in planning it to ensure there is enough time for specific shots—such as portraits of the couple, detail shots, and a dedicated photo session. We usually start at the location where the couple is getting ready to capture that part of the day, as well as details like jewelry, invitations, the bouquet, the wedding dress, the suit, and so on. The rest of the schedule depends on factors such as whether the ceremony is a civil one or a church wedding, whether the couple wishes to see each other before the ceremony, and so forth; consequently, no two schedules are exactly alike.

After photographing details and portraits, it is often time for the couple’s session; this can take place before the ceremony or afterwards during the “golden hour,” which provides that romantic, warm light. Sometimes we have time both before and after, sometimes just one or the other, and occasionally things get chaotic, leaving us with only five minutes in the day—which we then make the most of. 🙂 We might also find inspiration at the reception venue and whisk the couple away briefly for a cool night shot. Ideally, we would have an hour for the couple’s session, but we make the best use of whatever time is available. No two couples are alike; while we have an established working style, we approach each couple individually, listening to what matters most to them on the day and adapting accordingly.

7. Do you have any advice for the bride and groom for better photos?

The best advice for wedding photography is to choose a photographer you trust—and that’s it: just let them do their job. 😉

8. Can you tell us an interesting story from a wedding you photographed?

So many weddings have passed through our lens—so many wonderful, happy, fun, romantic, wild, and even sad moments—that it is hard to single out any one specific moment. We are truly fortunate to be chosen by people who trust us and feel at ease in our company; that is what yields the best results. We’ve seen cakes topple while being cut, stumbles during the first dance, delays, forgotten bouquets—you name it—but these are all little things that ultimately become wonderful wedding memories that will always make us smile.

Here’s a moment from a wedding we shot at a hotel in Split: we had scheduled time to photograph the bride in her room before she headed down to the hotel terrace for the ceremony, but while she was putting on her wedding dress, the zipper broke completely and wouldn’t close. No one had a needle and thread on hand at that moment, but I remembered that hotels often have those little sewing kits. We found one in the room, but the thin thread wasn’t strong enough, so I went knocking on doors, asking other guests if they had any. A housekeeper joined in to help; Ivan held the dress steady while she sewed it up. Naturally, I photographed the whole thing. 😀 We managed to save the dress, and the bride made it to the ceremony on time. Luckily, she had a second dress for the party, so it’s definitely good advice to have a backup wedding dress or gown. 🙂

Find more useful tips on wedding photography and other wedding planning advice in the “I Said Yes” wedding planner!

Along with the planner, you receive a gift box personalized with the couple’s names in gold; it can serve as a keepsake box—a treasure trove where you can store a copy of the invitation, thank-you notes, boutonnieres, Polaroid photos, and other little mementos that will forever remind you of your big day! P.S. This wedding organizer makes an ideal engagement gift!