STYLE GUIDE

Thank you for choosing Love Me Do Photography! We are so excited to be working with you on your wedding. In this guide, you will find a detailed description of what to expect from us and some helpful tips for planning your day.

ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS:

What to wear:

We want you to wear clothing that really showcases your personality. Keep it simple and wear an outfit that feels like you. We encourage couples to prepare two outfits. First something a little more casual that makes you feel comfortably you, secondly something that is a little more formal, such as something you might wear out on a nice evening out. This way, you have a variety in your photos. It is always a good idea to have your clothes prepared (cleaned, pressed, hung up) ahead of time.

Try to avoid being too ‘matchy-matchy’ if possible. Coordinate your outfits yes, but try not to wear the exact same thing. Wear clothes that you don’t mind sitting on the ground in. Bring some nice dress shoes but also some walking shoes for in between.

Hair and makeup:

Try to avoid cutting your hair or tanning immediately before the session, as these two situations can spell disaster. Try to schedule these at least a week or more before hand.

Bring a comb or brush to fix your hair in case it’s a bit windy.

You don’t need to have your makeup professionally done unless you are planning to. However, it might be a good idea to schedule your hair and makeup trial on the day of your shoot. Be sure to bring some along for any minor touch ups that may be necessary.

Locations:

We love a location that really tells us a bit about your relationship. Consider the place where you met, where on your first date, where you got engaged, places you like to visit as a couple, things you like to do together, etc.

To make the most of the time we have to photograph you, it’s best to stick to locations that are nearby each other or in walking distance. You don’t want to spend the majority of the time driving in traffic or looking for a parking spot.

It’s also nice to have a little bit of variety in backgrounds. Consider a nice park, but also a café you like to visit or a neighborhood bar that has your favorite drink.

Time of day and weather:

We prefer to shoot just before sunset. A good start time is about an hour before sunset. That way we will have plenty of time for photos, and we can make use of the nice golden light.

A great thing about engagement shoots is that they can be rescheduled in the case of bad weather. But that doesn’t always have to stop you. Consider running around with your fiancé under umbrellas, kissing in the rain or snow. Atmospheric elements like rain or snow can add to the style to the photographs. We are always prepared to work in any kind of weather situation and climate.

Most importantly:

The most important rule about your engagement shoot is to have fun! We want to make sure you are relaxed and enjoying yourselves together. Don’t be afraid to really or mushy in front of the camera. Be sure to enjoy the moment.

PORTRAITS:

If you’re seeing each other before the ceremony, we like to start formal photos approximately 2 hours before your ceremony starts. During this time we budget about an hour for the couple and thirty minutes for group photos. We prefer to shoot portraits in even natural light. This is typically outdoors, but can also be in rooms flooded with window light. If your wedding day is very sunny, we will shoot primarily in the shade during your portrait session. If it is an overcast or cloudy day, we are able to shoot just about anywhere since this light is very flattering and will not cause shadows. In the event of rain, we will bring umbrellas if you are comfortable going outside. We can also do your portraits inside or in covered areas outside.

If we are not doing your portraits at your venue, photo locations that exist between where you are getting ready and where you are having your ceremony work best. We don’t want to waste too much of your time in transit, because it takes away from the time we have to photograph you. If you have a large bridal party, you will need to budget a little extra time for travel or plan on traveling separately to same some time. We love to schedule a few more minutes of portrait time right around sunset, especially if the day is very bright or things run a little late during the earlier portion of the day. Sunset light is beautiful, soft and glowing. Even just a few minutes at this time will yield gorgeous images.

If you do not plan on doing a first look and portraits before your ceremony, we recommend that you extend your cocktail hour to be an hour and a half. This will give you the extra time to get all of the photos you need, as well as be able to attend some of your cocktail hour with guests!

GREAT PHOTO LOCATIONS:

Areas with lots of greenery and nature: parks, forests, gardens

Open fields, wide landscapes Interesting architecture/buildings

Murals or walls with color and textures

Interesting architectural features or historical buildings

Indoor locations with lots of space and natural light

RECEPTION:

We typically are present and photographing for about 3 hours during your reception, plus cocktail hour. We can add more time if needed to capture an end-of-night send off. Our goal is to capture the mood and ambience of your reception, and we can work in any lighting situation.

However, there are few lighting tips you should be aware of: Up-lighting: Colored lights will reflect on your skin and be the dominant background color in many of your photos. For this reason, we recommend using white or yellow lighting so it will appear more natural in photos.

DJ light/Strobe lighting: Projected colored lights, laser lights or strobes that your DJ or band may use will also dominate the colors in your reception photos. To avoid this from happening during crucial moments, be sure to request that they be turned off during intros and your first dance.

If you are in need of tips, advice, or vendor recommendations: don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We keep track of every professional we work with and love to recommend local businesses that will place you in good hands throughout your wedding day.