Tips and Tricks for the perfect wedding photos | Wedding Day Photo Hacks

We've compiled our top list of tips to ensure you have the BEST photos on your wedding day. After the big day is over and the cake is all gone, your wedding photos will be what you have to look back and remember all the special moments. We hope you enjoy some of our insider info for amazing wedding photography. Happy Planning!

1. Get a Hotel Room

We know that picking the perfect location to get ready on the wedding day can seem like a daunting task. Many of our brides always ask us what they can do to ensure beautiful photos on their wedding day...The getting ready suite is a big one! You will be spending a significant portion of the wedding day getting primped and taking pre-wedding portraits. The space should be not only beautiful, but have plenty of room for you, your ladies, stylists, and me! If you would like photos of the guys getting ready, have them stay at the same hotel on a different floor! If you're looking for Indianapolis hotels for your wedding day, check out some of our favorites HERE.

Please make sure to have dress unpacked and hanging in the location you would like it photographed, we do not move the dress. This ensures your gown stays pristine.

2. The window effect

Having a window in the bridal prep area allows for portraits with soft and flattering light.

3. Plan a little extra time for bridal portraits

. Getting into the dress should be a relaxed (not rushed) experience. Planning a few extra minutes for bridal portraits in the hotel is a great way to capture those moments of anticipation and excitement before the wedding. Amazing photos take time to create.

4. Have your bridesmaids get dressed FIRST!

Make sure the mother of the bride and bridesmaids are dressed and photo ready BEFORE you get into the dress. That way they are looking their best in the photos of you slipping into the dress.

5. First look with Dad

I have to admit that Daddy/Daughter first looks make me a little teary. These are precious moments to photograph and I highly encourage any daddy’s girl to make time in their timeline for this moment.

***If you're having mom help you into your dress you can plan a reveal with your leading ladies as well!**

6. The first kiss

Sometimes kissing in front of a crowd can be intimidating and jitters cause a "peck" kiss. To get beautiful first kiss photos, we suggest a three second smooch. (at least)

7. Kiss at the end of the aisle

You are HUSBAND AND WIFE!! YAY! Now take your time walking down the aisle and take it in. I love it when couples share a kiss at the end of the aisle with their guests in the background. A little confetti or petal toss never hurts either! ;)

8. Be realistic with your timeline

This is probably the most important tip to ensure you get amazing wedding day photos. We complete the photo timelines for all of our brides, but being realistic about what can fit into a timeframe can save you lots of stress and disappointment on the wedding day. Just about everything will take longer than you think and planning for extra buffer times throughout the day will help make sure when things are running behind, we aren't cutting out precious photo time. Amazing photos take time, and our bride prioritize plenty of photo time for those show stopping images.

9. Do a first look

A first look will allow us to get a majority (if not all) of the photos done before the ceremony even begins. You will be fresh out of hair and makeup, looking your best, and be able to spend time together and have a more relaxed day with PLENTY of time for epic wedding photos. -Check out our post on the pro's and con's of doing a first look

If you have your heart set on going the traditional route, that's ok too! Just plan to complete as many photos as possible prior to the ceremony and do an extended cocktail hour (1.5 hours).

10. Stay together

It's tempting to divide and conquer at the reception. We suggest staying with your love and mingling together. This makes for sweet and romantic candids.

11. Open the dance floor with a bang

Do you want your dance floor to be packed early?! We have TWO different ways to start the party off with a bang. Have the bridal party open the dance floor. No one wants to be the first person out on the floor. Having a plan for a fun song and the whole bridal party to kick off dancing is a fun way to get people out of their seats

12. Don't Skip Sunset photos

These are ALWAYS my favorite portraits of the entire day. There's just something about a romantic golden glow that makes me swoon. Sunset portraits only take a few minutes, but have a big impact!

13. Plan a controlled exit

Does your photography coverage end before the end the night?! If so, you have the option of planning a faux exit with just your bridal party! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a fun photo opp exit with just the members of your bridal party! This allows us to have more control over these shots and the guests never have to leave the party!