WELCOME
Congratulations! Planning a wedding takes time, patience, and a little creativity, but all the hard work will result in a day you will remember and cherish for the rest of your lives.
We believe wedding photography is an art. Seeing everything without being seen…being everywhere without being felt…creatively capturing all the memorable moments of a wedding day…
We’re here to document your wedding day, to help you and your family remember everything that happens on this special day that will help define the rest of your lives together.
Aleksey & Leah
PLANNING YOUR DAY
(from a photography standpoint)
Whether you’re planning for a year or just a few months, there are some key points we’d like you to keep in mind which will best utilize the time we spend together throughout the day. Try to keep all locations close to each other.
First and foremost, RELAX. No matter where you are in your planning process the worst thing you can do is stress. If at any point while planning you feel like your brain is about to explode or you want to give it all up and elope, stop what you’re doing, breathe, and remember that your wedding day is supposed to be joyous and the only people that really matter are you and your fiancé. If what you’re doing is causing you to question having a wedding at all, then you’re doing something wrong. Step back, reevaluate, and move on. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:
Understand that you cannot control the weather. It’s Western NY, so be realistic with your expectations. We will shoot no matter what, and you’ve probably spent a lot of $$ for your big day, so be adventurous and trust us. If it rains, no big deal, we’ve got a few umbrellas (but it’s always welcomed if you purchase some for the bridal party too). If it’s cold and snowy, we suggest renting (or buying) a foe fur wrap (about $35 on Amazon) or knitted shawl (don’t forget your girls too). For the Guys, a dark overcoat with neutral toned scarf always looks classy. Don’t forget the Boots and leggings! Your dress most likely will be long enough to cover them, so it’s best to keep warm.
Assume everything will take longer than you think.
Create lists, edit your lists, keep vendors up to date with changes.
The wedding day will come and go before you know it. As you plan the day and are hiring vendors, remember to ask questions. If there’s something you don’t understand or are unsure about make sure you let your vendor know beforehand, so that you’re not disappointed either on your wedding day or after the fact about their service. From a photography standpoint, make sure to let us know your timeline, if there are any “must have” images, or special moments/unique elements to the venue.
GETTING READY
Can make-or-break your wedding day – seriously! If they are running late, everything else will too. If you have a large bridal party (5+) be sure to start early.
The Bride NEVER goes last when getting hair and make-up done. By the time we arrive, you should have either (preferably both if time allows) hair or make-up done.
Don’t let these vendors take the best spot at the getting ready location. We use natural light, so the room with the most window light is where we’ll want to get you dressed.
When you interview your makeup artist, ask if they bring their own source of light (this can be a good indication of how professional they are the good ones are prepared to work anywhere).
Make sure that whomever is helping you to get into your dress is fully finished and dressed too. We want them looking their best as you step into the dress.
Please air out your dress before we arrive. If you’ve purchased a special hanger, have it already with the dress. Remember to air out the Bridesmaids too – don’t forget the steamer!
Have all printed material and jewelry in one box for us, along with your shoes, so we can start shooting the details as soon as we arrive. If possible, please have both wedding bands and the engagement ring in one location – either the guys or the girls getting ready – this way we can shoot them at the beginning of the day along with the rest of the details.
Make sure the flowers are delivered to your getting ready location (this goes for guys too). This way we can have the flowers (that you paid lots of $$ for) in your photos.
Practice the bustle prior to the day of the wedding, especially if it’s complicated. If you’re planning on wearing high heels for the formal part of the day, then switching to flats for the reception, remember to have the bustle hemmed for the FLATS!!!!! Can’t stress this enough. If it’s hemmed for the high heels, once you switch to flats the dress will be too long and EVERYONE (including you) will step on it and cause the dress to tear – trust us…. We see it all the time!
If you’re planning on wearing high heels for your wedding day you need to be prepared for foot pain. If you’re good with that, that’s fine, but remember that we like to walk, A LOT, for photos. We usually can’t avoid grass, either, so invest in heel caps for you and your girls if they want to wear heels too.
Natural light is the BEST! We prefer to work in whatever room has the largest window light (if at all possible).
Hotels usually have blackout curtains, which allow us to control the light. So, we can go from soft to more dramatic and moody light.
Do your research, but some Air BnBs can be great alternatives and even can offer stylized rooms.
Be ready for us when we arrive (pants and undershirt). If you’re still in the shower, guess what…. it’s called Dudeoure!
Make sure your groomsmen know the timeline and what they’re supposed to do throughout the day. Some of their jobs might not seem important, but knowing what’s going on and helping to keep the day on schedule can mean the difference between love and heartache for you and your bride.
Do you have the rings?
Sending a gift/love letter to the bride on the wedding day is a very nice gesture. Please let us know if you’re doing this so we can be there to capture the special moment.
If you bought new shoes wear them a few times before the wedding day. This may seem trivial now, but you’ll be spending 10+ hrs in those new shoes. It’s a good bet your bride has a change for the reception, but you most likely won’t, so think ahead and take care of yourself.
Spend some time with your new wife throughout the day. This might seem obvious now, but all too often a Couple gets so overwhelmed by family and guests, that they forget to stop and spend time together. This is your day, so make an extra effort to stick together as it unfolds.
CONSIDER A FIRST LOOK
Not only is this a chance for a quiet moment between just the two of you, it frees up your whole afternoon for lots of individual/group creatives and family formals before the Ceremony (allowing you to take part in your Cocktail hour!) – Scheduled 2 hrs. (3 if adding family formals) before the ceremony.
For weddings taking place in late Fall/Winter a First Look is a MUST. The sun sets so early during this time of year, it makes for little to no time for Formals/Creatives after the Ceremony.
A First Look can also afford more flexibility if the weather is not so great. We can use radar to see what’s on its way, and adjust our shooting schedule accordingly.
CEREMONY
A good rule of thumb for planning: Guys need to be at the ceremony site 30-45min prior; Girls 15-30min prior.
Try an Unplugged Wedding! Have your officiant make an announcement for guests to put their electronics away (at least for the processional). We want your guests focusing on you, not their screens.
We can’t control where we’re aloud to go. Please be understanding of our limitations when it comes to specific/requested shots. We always check with the officiants/priests and will respect their wishes first and foremost.
Also, please be aware that we do not recreate moments. You’re not actors, and your wedding day isn’t a production. We are dedicated to capturing the REAL MOMENTS, REAL EMOTIONS as they happen.
Please add at least 30min to your timeline if you’re planning a receiving line.
A great alternative can be walking thru the guest tables during the reception.
Either way works, but it’s imperative that you PLAN for it. They both can take up a great deal of time that your vendors may not have accounted for.
Whether these take place before or after the ceremony, they’re often stressful for the bride and groom. Designate a bridesmaid/groomsman to coordinate your families and keep everyone nearby/available.
If you’re planning on any extended family shots, please make everyone aware ahead of time and designate a family member to help corral those individuals.
CREATIVES
Creatives are thoughtfully planned and will take place throughout your day based on your chosen timeline. They are an integral part of your wedding photography, so we ask you to allocate at least 45-60min. per location.
RECEPTION
At this point in your day, we try to take a step back, and allow you to interact with your guests. From here on out, your DJ and Venue with dictate the majority of the timeline. The only thing we ask is to keep your First Dances AFTER dinner, when the ambient light in your room has diminished. This allows us more creativity with off-camera lighting and you have a better chance to show off the character of your venue (which you most likely booked for this reason).
SUNSET PHOTOS
Keep in mind, we have no control over when the sun sets. Please expect 20-25 min of time with us before sunset for creative shots. If you’re wedding is during the Fall/Winter, this may be just before/coincide with dinner so keep this in mind.
THE EXIT
A formal exit can be a great way to end your wedding day. It evokes great emotion from you, your spouse, family and friends.
Please make sure any use of Sparklers, etc. is approved by your venue. Use extra long (2-3ft) Sparklers.
If for whatever reason your venue does not allow a formal exit, you can always do a formal recessional after the Ceremony with Bubbles/Dried Flowers.
SAMPLE TIMELINES
These are sample timelines to help you plan the day, and give a rough idea on how long different segments of the wedding might take for photographs.
Getting ready – Groom 1 hr.
- Detail shots, getting dressed, having fun, having beer etc.
- Have pants and undershirts on when we arrive.
Getting ready – Bride 2-3 hrs.
- The Bride should be almost done when we arrive. At the very least, hair is done and makeup is started.
- We’ll spend the first hour on candid and detail shots – dress, jewelry, rings (if possible), other accessories.
- Make sure to ask your make-up artist/hair stylist how long they each expect to take and incorporate this time into your overall “getting ready” estimate.
- Don’t forget to count not just how many Bridesmaids need hair/makeup, but flower girls, Mothers, Grandmothers, etc.
- I’ll then take 1hr to get you into the dress and do creative images of just you, putting the veil on, having fun with the girls.
- If you’d like a First Look with your Father, plan an extra 15min.
Ceremony – 30 min (if religious it might be longer)
Receiving line – 30min
Family Formals – 30 min
The more organized you are during the formals the quicker they’ll be. Designate someone to keep the family groups together – Don’t let people wander off!!!
Creatives / Cocktail hr. – 1.5 hrs.
If you don’t do a “first look” you will be doing Creative shots with me during the cocktail hr. If you want more time, ask your venue if they can do an extended cocktail hour.
- Bridal party (30 min)
- Creative portraits of Bride & Groom (1 hr)
- Ask a family member (or a server) to bring you drinks/water because our time will be tight to get you done in time for the start of the reception.
- Don’t forget to schedule time to bustle the gown before the reception!!!! This can take ~30 min depending on if you have someone who knows what they’re doing.
Reception
(approx. times – getting people organized is what will take the longest)
- Introductions/Cutting Cake/Speeches – 30 min
- Dinner – 1 hr
- Sunset Photos – 20-25min (may happen before dinner or during cocktail hour depending on time of year).
- First Dances – 10-15 min
- Open Dancing – 1-1.5hrs We’ll be moving around, taking shots of everyone having fun etc.
- Night Portrait of Couple – 10 min. We’ll be stealing you away from the fun to get some night images.
- Exit – 20 min. The most difficult part of this exercise will be gathering everyone together.
Getting ready – Groom 1 hr.
- Detail shots, getting dressed, having fun, having beer etc.
- Have pants and undershirts on when we arrive.
Getting ready – Bride 2-3 hrs.
- The Bride should be almost done when we arrive. At the very least, hair is done and makeup is started.
- We’ll spend the first hour on candid and detail shots – dress, jewelry, rings (if possible), other accessories.
- Make sure to ask your make-up artist/hair stylist how long they each expect to take and incorporate this time into your overall “getting ready” estimate.
- Don’t forget to count not just how many Bridesmaids need hair/makeup, but flower girls, Mothers, Grandmothers, etc.
- I’ll then take 1hr to get you into the dress and do creative images of just you, putting the veil on, having fun with the girls.
- If you’d like a First Look with your Father, plan an extra 15min.
First Look – 30 min
- This is your time alone as a Couple. We will ask any Family or Friends nearby to give you some space.
- We will not interrupt you until you look at us, so don’t feel rushed to get moving since this may be the only time the whole day you are alone together.
- After the First Look, we’ll spend a few more minutes with just the two of you for some portraits.
Creatives – 1 hr.
- Bridal party (30 min)
- Creative portraits of Bride & Groom (30min)
- If you plan on driving around to multiple locations don’t forget to bring water/snacks. There will be time to eat as we shoot different groupings of the bridal party.
Ceremony – 30 min (if religious it might be longer)
Receiving line – 30min
Family Formals – 30 min
(can be scheduled 1.5hrs before Ceremony too)
The more organized you are during the formals the quicker they’ll be. Designate someone to keep the family groups together – Don’t let people wander off!!!
Cocktail hr – 1 hr.
Don’t forget to schedule time to bustle the gown before the reception!!!! This can take ~30 min depending on if you have someone who knows what they’re doing.
Reception
(approx. times – getting people organized is what will take the longest)
- Introductions/Cutting Cake/Speeches – 30 min
- Dinner – 1 hr
- Sunset Photos – 20-25min (may happen before dinner or during cocktail hour depending on time of year).
- First Dances – 10-15 min
- Open Dancing – 1-1.5hrs We’ll be moving around, taking shots of everyone having fun etc.
- Night Portrait of Couple – 10 min. We’ll be stealing you away from the fun to get some night images.
- Exit – 20 min. The most difficult part of this exercise will be gathering everyone together.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE WEDDING
3-4 Days Post Wedding: We will post a blog with our favorite moments from the day. Please feel free to tag yourselves and share.
4-8 Weeks Post Wedding: Your images will be ready!
If you choose a Formal Reveal at our Studio: we’ll go through all the images, then discuss your first album draft (if you’re ordering one) or select the wall art you’d like to order.
The Day after the Reveal, your gallery will be available online for sharing/download (please note: any requested changes to images in the gallery can cause a delay in delivering the gallery)
Within 1 Week After Reveal: 1st Album Draft ready for online proofing
Once we have your final approval for the Album, give us 1-2 weeks to polish everything up, and an additional 3-4 weeks to have the Album delivered/ready for pick up.
If you’ve also ordered a Highlight Video of your Wedding Day you can expect delivery within 8 Weeks Post Wedding via your online gallery.