Wedding Photography Guide
I know you're in full booking mode at the moment, so I wanted to send out this information so you have it and can refer to back it as much as you'd like. I highly recommend bookmarking this page, but feel free to send me an email if you need the link again.
Going into the day, I want us all to be as prepared as possible, so we can be present on the actual day. I like to call it "pre-thinking" in my creative process. This guide will help as you plan your wedding to consider photography in your decision making and have access to my biggest tips after working in the wedding industry for many years. Let's dive in!
I'm so incredibly excited that you're here. Getting to do this job for people like you who are kind & thoughtful is such an honor.
TO THE GUIDE
Welcome
communication policy
group photos
planning tips
vendor recommendations
our approach
find your way around
When you look back at your wedding gallery, you want to remember the joyfulness, the nervousness, the celebration from beginning to end. Everything we do is in service of a smooth wedding day, not focused on taking photos, but focused on having a genuinely great time. Which will lead to amazing photos.
My team and I will work with you to gather information, set expectations, and really learn what your priorities are for your wedding day to be your biggest advocates for that. This section breaks down how we'll do that, and what to expect moving forward.
Authenticity is always our priority
If you booked an engagement session with me, either my assistant or I will reach out about scheduling around the 9 month out mark with a quick questionnaire (we love questionnaires around here) asking if you have an idea of when and/or where you want to do the session, how you're feeling about it, and what your desires are for the session.
From there, we'll communicate with dates at the appropriate time and get you on the calendar. If you want some engagement session outfit inspiration, click here.
Engagement session
Depending on the situation, we will reach out to you or your planner around the 2 month mark to get the conversation about timeline started. I want to advocate for your priorities around photography, and set accurate expectations about how long or short things might take. We'll also ask about your family photos & other important details at this time.
From there, we'll create our photo timeline and family photos shot list, and schedule a timeline call with you and/or your planner around 4-6 weeks out and get every detail we can worked out.
Timeline planning
I don't do a ton of checking in the week of the wedding, but know that my team and I are super eager and excited to celebrate with you! We want you to remain as present as possible, so we'll only reach out to the appropriate people if we need to.
All of your planning and preparation will lead up to this, and we can't wait to carry out your wedding day alongside your other vendors!
Wedding day
You'll receive your fully-edited wedding gallery 6-8 weeks after the event in an online gallery. We'll distribute the gallery to you first, and then your vendor team so you don't have to worry about it.
I'll also include a sharing link for your friends and family, and information on preservation through albums and prints. Your photos were created to be in your hands, not on your screens, so I always encourage getting your images printed out and preserved as heirlooms for your family.
Delivery
invitations & paper goods
stationers
Your wedding is a celebration of the beginning of your marriage, and it's also a space for your to bring your most important people together to say thank you for all they've poured into you both. The best gift you can give them is a memorable time. A great experience is the foundation for treasured memories (and photos!)
Experience is everything
The best weddings are the ones that are just a party from beginning to end. Have fun with picking out all of the little things that will make your event unique and exciting.
Have fun with it
Whichever direction you decide to go in, we are so excited to document and celebrate that. It's going to be amazing!
We're here to celebrate you
General Advice
Pattern
Texture
Color
Color + Texture
Color decisions should feel exciting, purposeful, and authentic. Lean into the natural surroundings of your venue and season for color inspiration. Typically, steering away from pinks, oranges and reds in fashion is recommended.
A great way to add dimension and depth to your styling is through a combination of textures. Textures create visual interest often without being overwhelming.
Asking your attendants to wear different patterns is such a fun way to bring cohesion without losing individuality. We're all for it! If you'd like consultation on wedding party styling, we'd be happy to connect you.
My approach to photography is largely dependent on natural light. The more natural light I have, the better. Natural light is really dynamic and can be so flattering. When selecting locations for your getting ready space and ceremony, think about the opportunities for natural light to play a part.
I always prefer to do couples portraits with natural light, so think about that when choosing locations. If we need to find an off-site location for portraits, let me know. I'd be happy to do some scouting ahead of time!
The best light is at golden hour (1-2 hours before sunset), so I recommend trying to do your ceremony around 2 hours before sunset if at all possible. Let me know if you have any questions about it, or if you need a workaround! We can't always control all of the elements, which is why my team and I always come prepared with ample artificial lighting just in case.
A note on lighting
Light
Whether you're getting your hair and makeup professionally done or you're doing it yourself, there are two things I recommend as your photographer:
Make sure your beauty looks and feels natural to your every day beauty. The more you feel like yourself, the more confident you'll feel in photos. Natural, light-handed makeup photographs beautifully.
Finding the balance between staying put and not feeling heavy is difficult, but is important. Even if your event is small, I definitely recommend getting a professional to help make sure you don't have too much powder on, but look great throughout the day. Most makeup artists have options to stay and do touch-ups after the ceremony.
hair & Makeup
Hair & makeup
We absolutely love to look outside of wedding trends for inspiration. We actually created a whole Pinterest board filled with textures, fashion, interiors, etc. which helps us foster creative, fresh ideas in our work.
look outside of weddings for inspiration
Timeless photos do not have to mean boring photos. I think that aesthetic choices based on personal style and enthusiasm are going to last, instead of decisions made around trends. Dig into what you truly love about creating lively environments and you can't go wrong.
personal style is timeless
My approach to photography overall leads to photos that are emotion-focused, which you'll love forever. I can only capture what is in front of me, so it's up to your planning team to put together a design you'll love forever. If you need some help, I made a guide with some of my thoughts.
timeless design leads to timeless photos
for a memorable, timeless celebration
Our Thoughts on Design
First Look
Doing a first look can be great for getting nerves out of the way, getting you and your wedding party to the reception quicker, or just adding a little more breathing room to the day. If your wedding is in the winter months, a first look might be necessary. I've never had a couple regret doing a first look, and it almost always brings a feeling of calm before the ceremony begins.
That being said, if you or your partner feel strongly about not doing a first look, I'll be on your side. I'll do whatever I can to make the experience memorable and true to you, so don't feel any pressure from me either way.
having trouble deciding?
If you aren't sure, and want to hear all options for your day, let's set up a time to chat about it. Your venue, the time of year, and the group size are all factors in photo timelines, which can impact things if you do a first look or not. I'm here to talk about it if you need!
A few other things to consider
details styling
timeline planning
portraits
Since your invitation is the first thing that your guests experience from your wedding, I love mirroring that moment in your final gallery.
I'll photograph what I'm given, and I highly recommend gathering all of your details in one place so it's ready to be photographed. You don't have to gather these things now, but here's a list of possible details to include. I'll also send this much later when we are in the timeline planning process.
If you have a planner, you should be taken care of in the timeline department. I'll work with your planner to make sure I have time for everything I need to do on the day of.
If you don't have a planner, here are some common timelines and guidelines for how long photos might take at different times of the day. We'll dig into specific details here much later, but feel free to reference this guide as you're planning.
I use portraits time as a moment for you to breathe, be together for a second, and take it all in. My posing approach isn't super involved, and very direction focused, over pose-focused.
When planning, think about how you want this moment to feel, who you want around (and who you don't want), and how to execute that well. I'm happy to advocate for you and ask anyone to step in or out, but it's worth talking about ahead of time.
- PARENTS
- PARENTS + SIBLINGS
- PARENTS, SIBLINGS, & GRANDPARENTS
Couple with partner 2's:
- parents
- parents + siblings
- parents, siblings, & grandparents
Couple with partner 1's:
- Bridesmaids & Bride together
- Each bridesmaid with bride
- Groomsmen & Groom together
- Each groomsman with groom
- All wedding party members
Wedding Party:
We want to make sure your family photos walk the line between effortless and inclusive, and that comes from great preparation. You don't need to put this together until 6-8 weeks before wedding day, but it's good to start thinking about it a little. Every family is extremely different in how it's made up, but here is the most common list of groups we gather for photos.
Group Photos
Phone:
(706) 389-4032
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
office Hours:
hello@maggiedunn.co
Email:
Our office hours are M-F, 10am-4pm. You're welcome to send us a text if you have a quick note or a question that can be answered easily. For more in-depth messaging, please use email! Our response times and office hours are the same for both email and text. Please refrain from calling unless there's an emergency, and if we have a scheduled time to talk, we'll call you!
Messages should be responded to in 1-2 business days, unless indicated otherwise by an out of office message. In busy seasons, (Apr-June & Sept-Nov) response times may be slower. Thank you for your patience in advance!
Responding with detail, care and attention is a huge priority. We appreciate your cooperation throughout your contract with us.
Communication Policy
with love, Maggie Dunn & Co.
