Wedding Couple’s Photo Requests

You see there are way too many variables to consider when shooting the groups. If you say on average that it takes just 2 minutes to set up and shoot each group, even with just 15 shots to take you are looking at half an hour minimum.

Factor in various issues stated above as well as a larger list of 25 group shots and you could well run into an hour or more just for the groups. Then you need to whisk the bride and groom off somewhere nice and pre-planned for the special portraits. It all adds up and time is a rare commodity at a wedding.

My Suggestion

I would recommend that you nip this in the bud long before the big day.

When you meet with the couple after being booked, talk to them about all of the above. Explain that you don’t want to encroach too much on their special day. When they see sense in how long each shot could take, they tend to trim the list a fair bit.

After all, the day goes quickly enough and people always get fed up with long group sessions.

Magazine Cuttings

I have had on many occasions, either a load of magazine cuttings handed to me or a long list of website links. Links to images that the bride would like taken. Again, this is pretty ridiculous for a number of reasons. Think about it. The bride has more than likely scoured a whole range of photographers with;

Asking a photographer to produce all of those images at a single wedding is like a football manager showing his team a video of last year’s "greatest goals" and requesting that they score each one in a single game. Not going to happen.

Again, I would suggest that you cover all this during your pre-wedding meetings. Re-assure the couple that you know what you are doing.

All weddings are massively different for all sorts of reasons and they also have a habit of changing last minute. Explain that you are a professional and that you will photograph the day as it happens. Naturally with the occasional posed shot thrown in.

Time flies when "they're" having fun!

It is important to establish that you simply cannot plan the day to a fine T and expect it to go according to that plan. I seriously can’t remember a wedding, even the ones planned like a military operation, going completely to plan. They are usually at least an hour over time at the end of the day.

It is your job to be able to adapt and cope with any changes, as stressful as they may seem, and still produce the goods at the end of the day.

This is why wedding photographers charge a premium over "Uncle Bob" and his new DSLR. Wedding couples photo requests need your full attention!