MYLÈNEDESBIENSP H O T O G R A P H Y Y O U RP E R S O N N A LW E D D I N G P L A N N I N GG U I D E
CONTENTSH E Y ! I ' M M Y L È N E !0 1 I N T R O D U C T I O NT H E I M P O R T A N T Q U E S T I O N S0 2 T H E F I R S T S T E P ST O D O O R N O T T O D O0 3 T H E F I R S T L O O KO T H E R T H I N G S T O C O N S I D E R0 5 Y O U R O P T I O N SA L L T H E L I T T L E D E T A I L S0 4 T H E S H O T L I S T
HI, I'MMYLÈNEFirst off, congratulations on your engagement! This is a beatiful seasonof your life and I hope you will enjoyevery step of the planning process ofyour wedding day. This said, it is a lot of work to plan awedding and it can get prettystressful. With this planning guide, Ihope to take away some of the stressregarding the photography portion ofyour day. In this guide, I will help youaddress some questions and worriesyour might have : Should I do a firstlook? What's a shot list? What are myoptions ? Wether we end up workingtogether or not, this is my gift to you !Congragulations again and enjoy the process! Mylène
THE FIRSTSTEPS
Wedding photography is one of the mostimportant aspects of your big day. Afterall, your wedding photos are going to becherished memories that you will lookback on for years to come. But with somany different photographers to choosefrom, how do you know which one is rightfor you?Here are a few questions you need to askyourself before you even book yourphotographer:1. What style of photography do you like?2. What is your budget?3. What do you want covered ? Answering these questions will help younarrow down your search and find theperfect photographer for your big day.Once you have the answsers to thesequestions, it will be alot easier to start toplanning process! If you have already answered thesequestions, you are ready to go to thenext page!
THE(SMOOTHEST)P L A N A T I M E L I N E W I T H Y O U RP H O T O G R A P H E RonetwoD I S C U S S W I T H Y O U R P H O T O G R A P H E R T H EL O C A T I O N S Y O U H A V E I N M I N D B E F O R E threeC R E A T E A S H O T L I S TF I N D A W E D D I N G P H O T O G R A P H Y F A M I L YP H O T O C O O R D I N A T O Rfour
EXPERIENCEfiveE X P E C T T H E U N E X P E C T E DsixA L L O W Y O U R P H O T O G R A P H E R T O G U I D EA N D D I R E C T Y O U T O T H E B E S T L O C A T I O N SA N D L I G H T .sevenS C H E D U L E T I M E F O R A Q U I C K C O U P L E ’ SP H O T O S E S S I O N A T G O L D E N H O U R .eightT R U S T Y O U R P H O T O G R A P H E R ’ SC R E A T I V I T Y
TO FIRST LOOK ORNOT TO FIRST LOOK
THE PROSTimingIntimacyAuthenticityAs a wedding photographer, I am tremendously appreciative of First Looks for manyreasons.TimingHaving a first look allows you to spend more time with your partner on your wedding day,rather than being apart as you prepare for the ceremony. It will allow you to take manyphotos before the ceremony. You can dedicate this time to capturing photos to you andyour partner, or to have some formal images taken with your families. Either way, it willdefinitely add some flexibility to your timeline. IntimacyCouples should not only take the timing of their first look into account, but also considerthe sentimental value it holds. Seeing each other beforehand allows you to savor everymoment of your wedding day together. Some decide to exchange vows during this time,some decide to give each other gifts... it is a very personal experience and every couplecan make it their own. AuthenticityYour wedding is an intensely personal and moving experience, and a first look allows tophotograph you as a couple during the first moments of that day. It will capture both ofyour genuine reactions, in the same frame as opposed to separately during the walk downthe isle. (Many couples worry that seeing each other before the wedding will take awayfrom the "magic" of the moment when they walk down the aisle, but that's not the case! Nomatter what, you'll feel moutains of emotions while walking down the aisle and during theceremony.)The First Look is a relatively new tradition that has become increasingly popular inrecent years. It involves the soon-to-be newlyweds seeing each other for the firsttime in privacy before the ceremony. Nevertheless, this tradition is not for everyone.In order to know if it is for you and your partner, here are some things to consider.
LightingTimingTraditionHowever, there are some things to consider before diving into a the decision of having a First Look. Here they are : THE THINGSTO CONSIDERTimingYes timing is a pro, but it can also be something to consider. Depending on how early you mightwant to do your first look (some do it a few hours before the ceremony, some do it a few minutes!),you might need to start your day even earlier ! This is something to consider when puttingtogether your timeline for the day. TraditionIf you hold traditions close to your heart, and value the walk down the isle in all it's integrity, thefirst look might not be for you. If you like the idea of sharing something with your partner, there areother alternatives to capturing a sweet moment before the ceremony, such as a conversationwithout seeing each other or a first touch. LightingThe first thing to consider is the lighting during yourfirst look. If you are having a first look outside, fromearly to mid-afternoon, the lightning might be extremlyharsh. A good photographer will be able to work withany conditions, but can help you pick the best spot toensure beautiful, soft lighting for these timelessimages. In the end, your wedding day is all about you, so do what makes you happy! Whether that meansseeing your partner before the ceremony or not, is entirely up to you.You can always change your mind about seeing your partner before the ceremony-- even on theday of your wedding! A good photographer will be able to adapt to any situation and help youachieve any images you envision for your big day.
Close-up shots of the rings, cord, and veilBouquets, corsage, and other flower arrangementsInvitation Hanging dresses and suitsShoes Perfume, jewelry, cufflinks, and other accessories Bride, maid of honor, and bridesmaids getting their hair and makeup doneParents helping the bride with accessoriesMaid of honor and bridesmaids having fun with the brideBride putting dress onGroup shots with the familyCreative shots of the bride beside a big window, in the staircase, or otherstunning areas at the venueA ‘cheers’ shot with some beer or scotchGroom putting on jacket, tie, and cuff linksFamily shotsSolo pictures of the groomQuirky shots of the wedding partyDetail Shots Bridal CoverageGroom CoveragePOTENTIAL SHOT LIST
Groom and groomsmen arrivingBridal party walking down the aisleBride entering First look (groom’s reaction to seeing bride)Bride walking down the aisleBride and groom with officiant Exchange of vows Exchange of ringsThe first kiss as married coupleBride and groom walking down aisle togetherWedding party recessional Wedding cakeClose-up of table settingsHead table with wedding partyCentrepieces Guest bookGift tableDecorationsParty favoursRoom before it fills with guestsRoom full of guestsBride and groom arrivingSpeechesFirst DancesThe Ceremony The Reception
OTHERTHINGSTOCONSIDER
T E S T I M O N I A L SAfter sessions are a way for you and your partner to spend time, together,in your wedding attire, after the wedding. You can do an after session atany time—the day after your wedding, months later, or even years later.It’s completely up to you. It's a great way to make your wedding day less stressful and moreenjoyable. The bonus with the after ceremony session, is that you get tohave more control over everything, the time of day, the weather... It'seasier to reschedule a photshoot than a wedding. Take the pressure off... THE AFTER CEREMONY SESSION
THANK YOUL E T ' S S T A Y C O N N E C T E D@ M Y L E N E D E S B I E N SI N F O @ M Y L E N E D E S B I E N S . C AW W W . M Y L E N E D E S B I E N S . C A