Where To Take Wedding Photos – Our Informative Guide

Your wedding day should be the grand event that you’d always hoped it would be, full of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Surrounded by friends and family, you’ll be treated like royalty as you step into this new season with the one you love.

On the happiest day of your life, the last thing you want to worry about is where you’ll end up taking your wedding photos. That’s why it’s best to get this aspect of the wedding planning process figured out well in advance.

Finding the perfect location for your wedding photos is a balance between selecting a setting that’s comfortable and that will also help you to pull off the most stunning images the world has ever seen.

Read on if you want the inside scoop on finding the best spot for your wedding photos.

Where To Take Wedding Photos

Should I Take Wedding Photos at My Venue?

This is a great question to kick things off, mainly due to the fact that it can be applied to every single couple.

Whether you’re having a destination wedding or getting hitched in a backyard ceremony, it’s a good idea to consider whether you’d like to take wedding photos at your venue.

Taking wedding party photos at the ceremony and/or reception venue will provide you with the convenience of being able to move efficiently. You won’t have to worry about the traffic traveling to a new destination for photos and then heading back for the reception.

Some couples, however, may want their wedding party photos to have a completely different vibe than that of their ceremony.

If you exchanged vows at city hall or a courthouse, for example, you may want to seek out a different backdrop in order to capture the perfect images to display in your forever home.

Where To Take Wedding Photos Indoors

If you plan to take your wedding photos indoors, there are a few stipulations that you’ll want to follow when it comes to location.

The most important elements you need to look out for when scouting locations are the composition, lighting, and the space of the area.

Space is definitely a no-brainer for most couples, right? It goes without saying that if you’re shooting indoors, you’ll want to find an area or venue that will allow you and your loved ones to pose and interact with one another comfortably.

As far as composition, indoor photos require a stellar backdrop, such as an accent wall, photo booth, or a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling window display.

Speaking of windows, be sure to choose a location that provides ample lighting without being too harsh; just enough to capture the joy on everyone’s faces.

Where To Take Wedding Photos Outdoors

Taking outdoor photos can be a little more challenging, but oh so worth it when done properly. If you can find a way to use the natural beauty of the surrounding area to your advantage, your wedding photos will be an absolute breeze.

When taking wedding photos outside, we recommend avoiding areas with varied or harsh lighting. Shaded areas will keep your wedding party cool and make the editing process much easier for your photographer.

If you and your soulmate are outdoorsy types, you’ll love taking your wedding photos in open fields, along hiking trails, and even in the midst of the most vibrant botanical gardens to capture those spectacular views.

Follow these tips, and whichever beautiful spot you choose, your wedding photos will be a breath of fresh air.

Where To Take Wedding Photos in a Big City

If you two lovebirds are hosting your ceremony in a more urban area, there are plenty of locations to hold your photo shoot in a beautiful city as well.

Whether you’re interested in a more industrial look or you just want to bring a little big-city energy to your event, the sky is the limit.

For a traditional tone, you can book a classic venue in the city to celebrate with all of your favorite people. To add a bit of originality to your photo session, we’d encourage you to find a mural or art piece to utilize as a unique backdrop that you couldn’t have found anywhere else.

Posing in front of a few city landmarks can bring charm and character to your photos, allowing you to have a little fun and show off your personality with the ones you love.

You can’t go wrong with a photo shoot that’s as lively and energetic as your incredible love story.

Where To Take Couples’ Wedding Photos

Your couples’ session will be one of the most important photo shoots of your life, so it’s understandable that you want to find the perfect location.

These are the photos you’ll want to be framed first, the images that should flawlessly honor your commitment to and love for one another, so you’ve got to make it count.

Above all else, wedding photographers recommend that you make privacy a priority during your couples’ session. No matter how outgoing or extroverted you are, there’s something to be said about the way people can let their guard down when no one else is watching.

Whether this means finding a cozy garden, a secluded field, or returning to the location of your engagement session, your photos are guaranteed to be a hit when you make them all about you.

After all, this is your big day, and it’s your time to enjoy this new season of life together.

Where To Take Wedding Party Photos

Once you’ve taken family portraits and gotten your couples’ shots out of the way, you may think that all is said and done.

On the contrary, there are still plenty of unforgettable memories to be created with those at your wedding party.

Only your closest family and friends receive the honor of being named a bridesmaid or groomsman, so it just makes sense to find a stunning, dedicated space for your photo session.

We recommend finding somewhere private so that you can really let loose with your wedding party, creating candid moments that you’ll want to look back on forever.

While your wedding guests are enjoying cocktail hour on the patio or in the reception hall, you’ll be living it up with your besties in a secluded photo shoot just for you.

This way, you will be free of interruption and can transition quickly into the next exciting event on your special day.

Where To Take Wedding Photos When It Rains

Hopefully, you never have to face this one yourself, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

While you, unfortunately, can’t control the weather on your wedding day (unfair, right?), you can make sure that you’re ready for just about anything.

If the clouds are filling up and you’re just getting ready for your first photo session, you may want to consider moving the shoot to the venue’s covered patio.

No patio area? Most venues allow couples to bring their own covered tents that can be dressed up to suit their unique style and vision.

If you’re at a more rural venue, try utilizing the barn as a rustic photo spot; your wedding photos will be overflowing with farmhouse charm and your wedding party will stay nice and dry.

Follow these tips and we can guarantee that no one will be able to rain on your parade.

What Kind of Lighting Is Best for Wedding Photos

Any photographer will tell you that one of the most important factors in capturing a quality image is making sure that you’ve got the right lighting.

No matter what time of day your wedding is, we’ve got a few tips that will help you to pull off the wedding photo shoot of your dreams.

In general, you will want to avoid harsh lighting, like the sort you would find in an open, shadeless area. Full sunlight can negatively affect the way colors translate in-camera, making skin tones, hair colors, and floral arrangements difficult to edit during post-production.

If your wedding is at night, your photographer will most likely be bringing an external flash, so you should be all set for your grand exit photos.

Soft, consistent lighting for indoor venues is ideal, as this will allow your photographer to have maximum control over the final product.

How Much Space Do You Need for Wedding Photos?

Your answer to this question depends largely on the overall size of your wedding party.

As a general rule of thumb, you should be searching for a beautiful spot that will allow everyone to fit into the frame comfortably, with a little extra elbow room for making quick changes.

Your photographer will need to quickly move different family members and friends in and out of frame, so be sure that there’s a clear path for your loved ones to get around.

If there’s anything that can put a damper on your wedding day, it’s your brand new mother-in-law tripping over granny’s walker on the way into the frame.

You can avoid this wedding day fiasco with a little attention to detail and ample space for your guests to move around.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, so go after the ideal spot to suit your own personal wedding shoot style, and, trust us, your photographer will thank you.

When Should Wedding Photos Be Taken?

Sometimes, finding the right location to take your wedding pictures is all about perfect timing.

Having an organized wedding schedule will allow you to make sure that you can move from space to space to capture those gorgeous images and still have time to enjoy your big day.

As your wedding photographer would happily tell you, it’s better to get as much out of the way before the ceremony as possible. That means couples’ photos, wedding party photos, and immediate family shots can all be done prior to getting things started.

Taking care of photos before your guests arrive promises free reign of the wedding venue, giving you a variety of options that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

What Are the Most Important Wedding Photos?

While we’re on the subject of time, we can’t let you go without answering one of the most difficult questions related to wedding photos: Which photos are an absolute must-have on your wedding day?

This is something you’ll have to work out early in order to prepare your venue and wedding party for the big day.

In order to find your dream photo destination, you’ll have to account for the number of people that you want to be included in the session.

Depending on the closeness of your relationship, most couples will take photos with all members of their immediate family, including parents, siblings, and even grandparents.

Of course, you can’t leave your bridesmaids and groomsmen out; you’ll definitely want to grab a few pics to look back on down the line.

Last, but certainly not least, you’ve got to dedicate some time to a romantic photo shoot with your brand-new spouse, capturing these beautiful moments of joy you will never forget.

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