Emily + Mike // A Storehouse 408 Wedding

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Wedding Tips & Tricks: Planning A Grand Exit

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Welcome to Episode One of my new series: Wedding Tips & Tricks from Your Photographer

Today’s topic is the Grand Exit!

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. When it comes to grand exit's at weddings, you are usually doing your “grand exit” about an hour into your reception so that your photographer can capture the big send off. Very rarely do you hire your photo and video team to stay until you actually leave your reception. Instead, we do it part way through and then we say goodbye for the night. Those photos typically end up at the end of your gallery even if they weren’t the last photos taken. As a wedding photographer, your gallery is a story and so sometimes we reorder photos to make the flow nicer.

So the grand exit you see in photos is usually a staged exit, or just a fun activity to do with your guests during the reception. If you have hired a photographer to stay until the very end of your wedding or you’re having a shorter reception then you can make your grand exit a little more exciting. Literally the sky is the limit. Seriously… leave in a hot air balloon! How cool would that be? The true grand exit is where you are not coming back to your wedding. It’s a send off!

Here are some ideas for the grand exit for the truly extra people, that is not a Sparkler Send Off:

  1. Change into some matching bathing suits and slip and slide outta there (do not recommend for Canadian winter weddings)

  2. If there is any body of water… jump into it! (this is on my bucket list)

  3. Have your guests spray you with water guns

  4. Rent a vintage car

  5. Run through a foam tunnel, it looks like clouds!

  6. Change into matching wedding sweatpants and use any of these ideas

Now, it takes a very special type of couple, guest willingness, (and the right weather) to do some of those crazier ideas. If you want something a little gentler, and less out there there are a lot of options that also don’t involve sparklers! The next list is ideas that can be used as a true Grand Exit or for something I am now calling the Photographer Send Off! So instead of faking your own exit, send your photo and video team off in style. This is a great way to get people hyped up and ready to party. You can do it outside in the parking lot for some of the ideas or inside on the dance floor. Both look amazing in photos and as a bonus, makes your photo and video team feel special!

Here are some ideas for you Photographer Send Off:

  1. Smoke bombs

  2. Hand held fireworks or flares

  3. Environmentally friendly confetti poppers/canon

  4. Champagne spray

  5. Streamer toss

  6. Ribbon wands

  7. Glowsticks

  8. And my personal favourite:

  9. Bubbles

If you are one of my couples, I bring my own bubble machine (soon to be two bubble machines) to use at any point on your wedding day, whether that be for your Photographer Send Off, the wedding processional or recessional, or just during couples/wedding party photos! Bubbles are a great eco friendly, easily organized way to add a lot of fun to your photos.

No matter what you decide to do, whether it’s sparklers or another activity, make sure it fits your personalities! This is always going to be my biggest piece of advice for wedding planning: plan your wedding around YOU! What do you and your fiancé like to do? Are you outgoing? Adventurous? Shy? Silly? Don’t do something just because it’s expected of you. You don’t even have to do a grand exit or send off if you don’t want to! And if you want to jump in a pool fully clothed, go for it! Your wedding is a day of celebration of your relationship and the life you want to build together.

It’s also important to note that you ask permission from your venue for any of these ideas! They might have rules or would like to anticipate any mess clean up!

Happy wedding planning!

Love,

Your adventure loving, risk taking photographer who will always always vote yes for using any kind of water on your wedding day.

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer// PART TWO

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Before you read further, if you haven’t already, you can read Part One of this little trilogy here: PART ONE!

PART TWO

IMPORTANT INFORMMATION YOU DON’T NEED

That doesn't sound right does it? I'm here to dispel questions that wedding sites may tell you to ask your potential wedding photographer during the booking process, and instead give you the real important questions.

 

What you don't need to know and what to ask instead:

 

  1. What equipment do you use?

This question gets asked a lot but to be honest, unless you are a photographer yourself, the answers you'll get to this question won't really mean much to you. Knowing that I shoot with two Canon 5D Mark IVs, 35mm lens, 50mm lens, and 85mm lens doesn't really help you out when trying to decide. I know nothing about Nikon cameras!

Instead ask: what made you choose the equipment you shoot with? 

This will give you more of an idea of how your photographer shoots and why they are passionate about their art. I don't shoot with zoom lenses because I absolutely love the way I have to move around more to get different angles. I get to move with you as a couple, give you space when I need to and get right all up in your business when you're comfortable. Plus me moving helps you to move around too and feel comfortable and we get much better images!

 

2. Have you shot at my wedding venue?

I totally understand why this question is asked, however, it isn't all that necessary for a photographer to have shot at a venue before. Yes, they might know their way around a little bit better, but as a whole, we wedding photographers have really good eyes and can spot a good location a mile away. Plus, shooting a venue doesn't always mean that the pictures will be the same. Weather plays a HUGE role in how our images turn out. I really wish I could control the sun and the clouds! So I might shoot at your venue the weekend before your wedding, but those same spots I used might not work on your wedding day because of time of day, weather, different aesthics, mobility of dress, size of wedding party etc. There are so many factors invovled that I find myself changing spots whenever I shoot at a venue more than once!

What to ask instead: Can I see a full wedding album?

This question is great because even if the album is not at your venue, you can get an idea of what a full gallery will look like. Keep in mind things like weather and lighting though! No two weddings are the same! Be aware too that not every photographer will show you a full gallery, for client privacy reasons.

 

3. How many weddings have you shot?

Again, a totally valid question, however the number of weddings doesn't necessarily mean they are better or worse. There are new photographers who are incredible, and more experienced photographers who haven't grown or progressed in their skill. Quality over quantity is more important. You definitely want to make sure you are getting some experience (unless you are looking for a newer photographer to help them start out their business in exchange for a lower price tag, which is great! We all have to start!) so you can use the portfolio to see the variety. If you keep seeing the same faces over and over again, good chances are that the photographer is starting out. Which again, is not necessarily a worse thing.

What to ask instead: What are common wedding complications that you have come across? 

This is a great question because it asks about experience. Chances are you are reaching out to this photographer because you like their style (and hopefully their personailty!) Hearing stories about common wedding problems is great for two reasons. I would tell you how I would handle the situations, giving you reassurance that I am comfortable even when things are not going well, and gives you an idea about what might go wrong at your wedding! The most common wedding issue is time deficits. I try to minimize this by helping you with your schedule before the wedding and booking plenty of photo time, because photo time is what gets pushed when your hair&makeup takes a little longer than expected, or your ceremony starts fifteen minutes late. 

 

4. Can I just have all the images from the day, even if you don't edit them?

The answer 99.9% of the time will be no. The RAW images that come straight from my camera are unfinished pieces of art. It would be like buying a painting but asking to be able to finish it yourself. Most people don't have the software to even open RAW files, let alone the skills and programs to edit them. Plus, shooting styles vary between photographers based off our our editing style. I tend to shoot a little darker because I love having shadows and contrast, whereas someone who shoots lighter and airier will shoot brighter so they can achieve their look in post processing. The images coming off my camera are not a good representation of my final work and I want you to have the best of the best! Plus, on a typical 8 hour wedding day I will take about 4000-6000 images, if I have a second shooter and they shoot 1000-2000, you could be looking at way more photos than you need and the magic moments get lost in between all the closed eyes and repeat photos. Trust me, let me go through the 8000 photos so that you get the best ones.

What to ask instead: If I wake up with a huge zit on my face, can you fix that?

The answer 99.9% of the time will be yes! Most photographers now try to not alter the way you look because we want a more realistic and natural documentation. I usually don't edit out scars, or tiny "flaws" or skin tones (please don't get a spray tan!) but I promise you, if you have a distracting new blemish on your face, arms etc. I will definitely take that out for you!

 

AND

 

5. Do you have a degree?

Photography is an art. It can and is taught in schools, but it is also learned and developed with passion outside of a classroom. There are so many excellent photographers who went through traditional education to train and others who didn't. Neither one is better. A degree doesn't necessarily mean you have a good photographer. For most, photography was a hobby which grew into infatuation, and then obsession turned career! It comes down to passion, practice, and (you guessed it) personality! Oh and for the record, I do have a degree. In English Literature and Psychology. It helps me read people. (DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!)

What to ask instead: Why did you become a wedding photographer?

To me there is only one answer to this question. I LOVE weddings, I LOVE love, and I LOVE going through 8000 photos until my eyes burn out. Just kidding, it's not all glamorous! This question will show you the passion your photographer has for weddings and love and photography. This is a better gage of how invested your photographer is in their career and in your wedding. This is the important one.

Phew. That was longer than I thought it was going to be! *insert "that's what she said" joke here

Continue reading PART THREE!

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer // PART ONE

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I’ll give you a little secret… this is all the information I send out when someone inquires about my wedding photography services. So now you’ll have it before you even reach out or if you just need a little extra help in choosing your wedding photographer!

WELCOME TO LIGHT AND LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!

So, you just got engaged and you're planning a wedding?!

This is so exciting! But I also know how completely overwhelming it can be which is why I'm going to give you everything you need to know about choosing the right wedding photographer!

Fair warning... I use a lot of exclamation marks because I feel like I sound too mean if I use periods. Plus, I'm a pretty emphatic speaker so if I had word bubbles over my head when I talk, they would all end with a big !

I'll give you the best piece of advice first before we get into the other little things. 

Choose the photographer who you get along with the most! 

Basing your decision solely off of price, and even aesthetic, can sometimes turn out to be a huge mistake. Not because the photographer isn't good, you could have the best photographer in the world but if your personalities don't mesh well and if you don't feel comfortable, it will show in the images. Your photographer will have a hard time feeling inspired and you will leave feeling unsatisfied. 

Personality is THE most important part of choosing your photographer! 

So what will you get if you book with me? 

Personal

I'm a half extrovert, half introvert. I love a good party, and I am okay with being in the spotlight. Unlike some of my fellow photographers, I'm also pretty comfortable infront of the camera, almost as much as I am behind it! I also love staying at home for weeks at a time just spending time with my husband and our kids!

I'm a pretty easy going person, I don't get stressed out easily, and I am of the mentailty that "everything will work out." Staying positive is a huge asset in the wedding industry!

I'm going to be silly! Somestimes I might make fun of you but in an endearingly joking way. It's how I show affection, you can blame my family for that! The more comfortable I am with you, the more jabs I might throw! I hope that's okay!

As Your Photographer

My shooting style is a mix between documentary and lifestyle. I love to capture real moments so sometimes I'll stay quiet because I don't want to break the spell, and other times I'll give an action instead of a stiff pose to do, accompanied with a joke or something because laughing pictures are my favourite.

It is my goal of every session to get a huge laughing picture. No pressure. 

When it comes to your wedding day, I am commanding and confident. I can direct a crowd and use my charm to get your family members to listen to me! 

I am not a fly on the wall photographer. I love to interact with people and get to know your family and guests. I'll be the first one on the dance floor and I love chatting with the people at my dinner table. I think this gives me a more personal perspective to your day!

CONCLUSION

Why do I feel like I’m back in high school and I’m following the “hamburger” outline of an essay?

In conclusion, while budget and aesthetic are very important, being comfortable with your wedding photographer is always going to be the most important part of the decision. So if you are going back and forth between two similar photographs, choose the one that made you feel the most confident in their ability and the one you vibe with the most. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to have the same personality as you. As much as I’m an extrovert, I’ve booked many introvert couples because they want someone who will be able to bring extra fun and be very vocal about directing them, so keep that in mind!

Your wedding photographer will be with you in your most important and intimate moments of your wedding day so it is so important to feel very comfortable with them!

Follow along with PART TWO and PART THREE!