The portrait session is something I get asked about quite a bit. How long do we need? Where will we go? How will we be posed? Will it feel awkward? What if we are not great on camera? And the biggest question: how will we know what to do?
One of my jobs as your wedding photographer is to help you answer these questions. Another is to make you as comfortable as possible in front of my camera. I do not want the portrait session to be anything but a joyous time.
How much time do we need?
The most important thing to me when photographing a wedding is your relationships and the moments that occur between you, not spending hours on fashion-based portraits all over the city. I would love about an hour, sometimes a bit more or less, depending on the locations. Just enough time to document your relationship when you are alone together.
During this part of the day, I am striving to create a safe space where you can feel joyous, in love, and present. If you are quiet in your affection for each other, I will not force you to be more physical than you normally would. If you are exuberant and emotive, I will not stifle that. I want to document you, not some preconceived notion of who you are.
When will portraits happen?
Portraits will take place either before the ceremony (if you do a first look) or after the ceremony during cocktail hour. If you see each other before the ceremony, we can have as much time as we allot. If we wait until cocktail hour, we have 60 to 90 minutes to complete family formals, wedding party formals, and couple portraits together.
A third option is a large gap between the ceremony and the reception. It is not the norm, but it works beautifully in terms of timing. We end up with a lot of time, the schedule is not affected by anything running late in the morning, and no one has to rush. If you have any questions about how timing is affected by the first look decision, just ask.
Where will we go?
If you are doing a first look and have an hour or more before the ceremony, you have real options. You can leave the venue, go to a favorite park or street, or plan a specific location that matters to you.
If you are not seeing each other until the ceremony, we will likely stay at the ceremony or reception location. If the day is in one place, it is straightforward. If the ceremony and reception are at different venues, we will need to decide where portraits will take place and account for travel time, traffic, and, if applicable, permits.
Many locations in New York and Philadelphia require permits for professional photography. Washington Square Park, Waterworks in Philadelphia, and Grand Central in Manhattan are examples. If we need a permit, it needs to be secured well in advance. I have recommendations for portrait locations in New York and Philadelphia, and can share the full list, including permit information.
How do you pose couples?
Many people tell me they feel uncomfortable in front of a camera. Making you comfortable is my first and most important goal during portraits.
There are two types of portraits I make: camera-aware and not camera-aware. I will get at least one portrait of you smiling directly at the camera. But the majority will be you interacting, laughing, talking, and just being together.
The laughter you see in my images, the couples talking and enjoying each other: it is all them. I lay the groundwork for that to happen. I put them in the right light so that when moments naturally occur, they are in the best setting for a great photograph. I do not stage the moment. You bring the emotion. I put you in the best light possible and document what happens.
The poses I work with are not poses so much as scenarios. The second I start directing every fingertip, people feel awkward. I will help you with scenarios that are graceful and fluid while letting you be yourselves. Tender, quiet, loud, sweet, soft, abrasively funny: whoever you are together, I will be there to document it.
What if it rains?
If it rains and you had your heart set on outdoor portraits, we will take the session indoors. I can supplement any scenario with additional lighting, but I cannot make a rainy day look sunny. If we are at a hotel, we may need special permission to shoot on the property. We can also work toward a list of indoor portrait locations.
We can also schedule a post-wedding session for additional portraits. This is a popular choice for couples whose outdoor portrait session was affected by the weather.
Just be yourselves. Do not worry about being in front of the camera or feeling unphotogenic. I promise the process will be easy and the results will reflect who you actually are together. If you have any questions, I am always glad to talk through them.
