tips and how-tos
Photos by Becca Mathias
Local wedding photographer Becca Mathias offers tips for couples hoping to capture stunning moments to cherish forever.
By Sydney Livingston
Wedding days come with a lot of pressure. Sure, there’s the joy of a new union and the excitement of joining two families—but there’s also immense pressure for perfection. From writing and reciting the perfect vows to ensuring everyone is always photo-ready no matter what’s going on, weddings can often feel overwhelming.
With the day feeling like a blur for so many couples, one of the most important things is ensuring you walk away with amazing photos to look back on. Luckily, there’s a large pool of talented local wedding photographers from which to choose. Here, local photographer Becca Mathias offers some dos and don’ts to help couples achieve the perfect photos.
Engagement Sessions
When it comes to engagement photos, Mathias urges couples to take the pressure off. “Engagement sessions can be as formal or as relaxed as you like,” she says. “Whether it be strolling a local garden together in a formal outfit or going out for pizza and beers in your favorite t-shirt and jeans, pick a location or activity that plays into your love story!”
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A post shared by Becca Mathias – Delaware Photographer (@beccamathiasphoto)
If you don’t feel natural in front of the camera, Mathias emphasizes that dressing up for a posed photo experience isn’t necessary. It’s ideal to choose an activity that lets you forget you’re in front of the camera and feel more comfortable. For example, if you and your fiancé are hikers, consider hitting the trails with a documentary-style photographer. If you met at a local restaurant or brewery, set up a session there and re-create the moment for your photos. There will be plenty of opportunity for glammed-up portraits at the wedding itself.
“Think of your engagement session as a date night together!”
Wedding Photos
Weddings are certainly more high-pressure than engagement shoots. It comes with the territory. Mathias offers some tips to minimize that stress and still make the photo sessions fun. Firstly, she warns against over-planning.
“Bouncing from location to location (if you’re not staying at your venue all day) is one way to make your day feel more stressful,” she explains. Instead, allow photographable moments to occur naturally within the settings you’ve chosen.
“Remember your venue is your photos,” Mathias adds. “If you’re looking for a light, airy look to your photographs, choosing a dark, moody venue probably isn’t a good fit, and vice versa!” She recommends the same strategy when creating a backup plan in case poor weather changes any outdoor plans. You should like the way your backup space photographs as well.
While it’s common to take advantage of co*cktail hour to shoot photos with the wedding party, family and as a newlywed couple, Mathias also suggests considering a “first look” to get portraits out of the way early. This allows newlyweds to enjoy co*cktail hour and mingle with wedding guests. “That way you can enjoy your dinner later without having to mingle then,” she explains.
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A post shared by Becca Mathias – Delaware Photographer (@beccamathiasphoto)
Here are 10 more quick tips for great wedding photos:
- Plan for extra time for your portraits. Give yourself more time than you probably need. Best-case scenario, there’s more downtime to relax or more time for creative portraits.
- Movement always makes for more natural posing and expressions. Feel awkward? Wiggle and laugh it out! Have fun with your photos, and that joy will reflect in the final shot.
- If you don’t like a pose or it feels weird to you, don’t be afraid to tell your photographer.
- If you value detail photos, make sure to leave a box of everything for a flat lay at the beginning of the day. This can include any invites, jewelry, sentimental items, shoes, cufflinks, etc.
- Hold your ceremony kiss for a few seconds.
- Create a family groupings list for your photographer. Break into each side of the family and start large and include any small children, then take people out as needed. Stick to the immediate family if possible. Make sure to tell everyone the exact time and where they need to be for these photos. With a list and everyone listening, you should be able to knock out family portraits fairly quickly.
- Get ready in a room with good natural light and try to keep the room as clutter-free as possible.
- Keep your chin and eyes up as you’re walking down the aisle and hold any flowers at your belly button.
- Have anyone giving a toast or speech stand with the couple if possible, so the photographer can capture both the newlyweds and the speaker.
- “What do I do with my hands?” Touch your partner or, at the very least, keep your hands loose and don’t make a fist.
Finally, Mathias recommends couples book a photographer that they trulylove.This takes the pressure off of you to feel the need to direct and make sure you’re getting the shots you want.
She adds, “trust their style and they’ll make sure to get you the best photos of your day!”
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