8 easy ways to elevate your wedding photos (without breaking the bank)
We’ve been working as wedding photographers for more than 14 years, and in that time couples have asked us a lot how they can elevate their wedding photos on a budget.
The first thing to mention here is that nothing beats a couple radiating love, joy, and generally having the best time of their lives. Seeing you celebrating with your friends and family makes our hearts so happy, and will make your pictures sing more than anything else!
That being said, there are still things you can do to elevate your wedding photos, and make the most out of your venue & budget. So here are 8 easy ways to elevate your wedding photos without spending an extra penny!
1. Optimise your floral budget for maximum impact
Instead of opting for lots of small flower arrangements dotted about, which can easily be swallowed up by a big venue, consider concentrating your floral budget into one big show-stopping arrangement. This could be anything from a pair of floral urns to a substantial arch or installation. Bonus points if it can be re-used, for example it could be the focal point of your ceremony, and then be moved into your reception space!
If you have one statement piece instead of lots of smaller ones, we can use it for impactful couple portraits, and guests can even use it for nice phone pictures of themselves all dressed up! If you ask them to be shared with a unique wedding hashtag then it works almost like a photo booth.
Another way to optimise your floral budget is without a doubt investing in your bridal bouquet. It’s going to be in the majority of your couple portraits and group photos, so if it means spending a little less on table centres to have a fuller bouquet, we would 100% recommend it!
2. Match your styling to the venue
Another easy way to elevate your wedding photos without spending any extra money is to simply make sure everything has a consistent aesthetic.
If your chosen venue is an elegant manor house, consider a classic black tie dresscode, champagne tower, a timeless wedding dress, and luxe tablescapes with candles and beaded charger plates.
For a rustic barn wedding, boho styling with flower crowns, lots of greenery and a more relaxed vibe in terms of food (maybe a pizza truck) creates a cohesive style.
Muddling different aesthetics can create confusion not just visually, but also from the perspective of your guests’ experience, so try to imagine how everything will come together as you are booking things.
3. Consider adding a bit more time to your drinks reception
Having a suitable timeline is really important for getting the most out of your photos. A lot of venues will allow 90 minutes between end of ceremony and your sit-down meal. Whilst this is certainly enough, adding another 30 minutes here (especially if you invite more than 100 guests) can elevate your wedding photos by simply giving you more time for portraits without having to rush, allowing time for any touch ups, and still allowing plenty of time for the candid, mingly photos of your guests chatting with a drink in hand. We are always more than happy to help out with your timeline for the day if you’re unsure!
4. ask the speakers where to stand for better speech pictures
Now this isn’t always possible (due to audio equipment limitations etc.) but from a photographic perspective it’s so much nicer to have the speaker close to you and key bridal party members as they speak. That way we can include the speaker and all the important reactions within one frame, which tells the story so much better than photographing everyone separately.
Left to their own devices, especially if they’re nervous, people don’t always make good decisions, and can easily end up in a dark corner somewhere next to a fire extinguisher! Brief all your speakers ahead of time about where they should ideally stand, and consider your speeches when you’re putting together your seating plan.
5. Wine bottles on tables for reception details
Some venues and wedding planners/stylists already do this, but a really simple way to elevate reception room detail photos is to ensure catering staff wait with putting down wine bottles/water/butter dishes/salt and pepper shakers until the photos of the room are done. This does require communication between the venue/planner/stylist and your photographers, but if you’ve spent a lot of money on your table decor this is an easy to way to really elevate your details!
6. Orientation and background choices for outdoor ceremonies
UK law currently requires outdoor ceremonies to be held in a permanent structure, so UK venues will often only have one suitable space for registrar ceremonies. Since the pandemic, celebrant-led ceremonies have become increasingly popular, which allows couples to have a lot more freedom! Choosing a location with your photos, the background and the lighting in mind will make a huge difference to your photos.
If you have multiple locations available to you for your outdoor wedding ceremony, feel free to check in with your photographer to get their input. Having the sun behind you (so the guests are facing the sun) will look best in photos, especially if you're saying your vows in front of of beautiful floral arch! The less cluttered the background is the better - this creates dreamy and clean photos!
7. Clean your engagement ring
This is probably the easiest tip on the list. Cleaning your engagement ring shortly before the wedding means it has that extra sparkle for your photos! We often get photos of all three rings together in the morning, and it can really stand out if one is grubby. You can have this done professionally, but you can also significantly improve the appearance of your engagement ring with some washing up liquid, a baby toothbrush, and a sink of warm water (with the plug in)! Let it soak for a while, then use a gentle motion to brush away the build up of soap and grime, especially behind the stone. It will sparkle like new!
8. Trust your vendors
It’s as simple as that. If you hire vendors you trust, when the day comes around you can relax and enjoy the day to the fullest! Your vendors are experts in their fields, so trust them to guide you, take their advice on board, and you will reap the benefits.
If you are an existing client and would like to chat more about your wedding plans, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! For any prospective clients, we usually book up around 12-18 months in advance, so if you’re interested in working with us for your photography, and have a date/venue secured, we’d love to hear from you!