My dear #maddysbride,

Yes today we are talking about this picture you’re going to print in 9×6′ to put on your wall in the living room! This beautiful picture of the two of you, looking at each other or to the camera, in each other arm and being THE official couple shot of your big day.

While you’ll be admiring this image, you’ll think about all the elements combined together that made it happen in the very best conditions for you and your photographers.
Let me remind you….

DAY LIGHT

As a photographer, born in Europe and having been working for years on outdoor western weddings, I can tell you that the light is and will always be the best light ever. The sun creates something unique that is really hard to recreate with artificial light, and if you have the opportunity, considering the schedule and of course the configuration of the venue, to organize your couple session outdoor, it’s an incredible gift you’ll do to your photographer – and to yourself!
If not, don’t panic, we of course know how to deal with all the lights and we have our own lights as well!

GIVE US TIME

When the entire day is delayed, the most of the time, the moment that will be cut, is the couple session. Considering you need around 10 minutes to START feeling confortable, you can imagine the result if you have 5 minutes for this session…
We can create magic, but you (and the planners) have to understand that we are not magicians, and we need time to make you feel confortable and relax in the middle of this crazy day. This session is like a parenthesis for you to breathe a bit, and even more if you also have a videographer, we’ll need all the time you can give to us to create amazing pictures and videos. I consider personally that 30 minutes, fully focused, is a good estimation to be creative and you to feel comfortable.

JUST TO TWO OF YOU

This moment is super private and intimate. It’s already sometimes intimidating to be in front of the camera with your new husband, no need to add your mothers, your 3 sisters, and all the aunties of the family on 2 generations, giving their point of view and advices about how to pose and teaching the photographer how to do her/his job. To create this magical moments, moments of complicity, and looks full of love, we need you to be just the two of you, not with your entire family watching you. Make a favor to yourself and ask them to leave, the surprise of the final result will be even more spectacular!

BE READY ON TIME

Running after the sun is maybe one of the worst experience ever. It’s the same with the schedule in general, our creativity is definitely linked to our stress level. Knowing that we don’t have time, that we have to have the ideas NOW, just because the make-up toke 3 hours instead of 2, can ruin everything. My best advice is to overestimate the timing for your preparation, as we usually think things will go smoothly, and in the end, we always have some last minute surprises!

EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY

I have so many anecdotes of brides sending me inspirations pictures of a couple over complice, looking at each other in the eyes, in each other arms, super close and full of love, and then once the day arrive, they are super shy and refuse him to put an arm around her. Even if I totally understand how uncomfortable it can be, I’m always super frustrated not to be able to deliver her dreamy photos, despite this bashful emotion is totally out of my control.
It’s always a good idea to send inspiration pictures to your photographer, simply be sure you’ll be confortable to re-create some of these intimate poses 🙂

YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE

Ok, we have a magic power. When we have time, a good light, and our creativity on, we can definitely help you to relax and be confortable in front of the camera. However, if you are angry because you don’t like your make-up, or over stressed by your mother-in-law, or you keep laughing like crazy because you are too nervous to look at him in the eyes….. Well, that is what you’ll get! Our job is to capture the things the way they are, and no, photoshop cannot add a smile on an upset face 😉

Of course we’ll do our best for you to be amazing on your wedding pictures, but don’t forget that it’s first a team job, so let’s do it together!

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Yes, sometimes the way we shoot can be strange. Yes, we can jump on a tree or lay down on the floor. And yes, we can take the picture from far away just because we love the compression of a specific lens. From your side it’s like “does they really know their job?”. From our side it’s “OMG this shot is going to be incredible!!”. You hired this specific photographer because you love her/his job? So relax and trust her/him!

I know the couple session can be a really stressful moment, specially if we don’t have the best conditions together. But one sure is sure, the trust you have in your photographer will change everything. However, if your photographer ask for this timing, at this specific moment of the day, be sure it’s only to deliver to you the best images possible. So, let’s follow the flow and organize this magical day together!

Love you,

Maddy