Keep It Snappy: Fun Wedding Photo Trends

Before the Wedding

There’s a world of bridal blogs out there—why don’t you join them? You don’t have to be a talented writer to create an online record of the wedding planning process; it’s just a matter of keeping careful photographic record of what you do. When you go to try on dresses, make your bridesmaid the official photographer of the day. Keep a camera handy when you visit vendors, so you can get snapshots of your favorite floral bouquets or cake samples. And don’t forget to capture each venue you visit for consideration! Your out-of-state family and friends will be thrilled to be along for the ride—vicariously, at least—in the planning process. If you’re not feeling very tech-savvy, these photos can also be put in a scrapbook or photo album and shared with friends and family down the road.

In addition to this, let a professional take photos of you and your beloved by signing up for an engagement photo session. This session is usually done within the first two months of getting engaged, but there’s no rule that says you can’t do them the month before your wedding. Engagement shoots are a great way to “test-drive” a photographer and ensure you like their style, both personally and photographically. Many photographers add on a free engagement session when you book a wedding package with them. This is cost-effective, but not always the right decision if you’re not fully on board with hiring the photographer for the wedding.

Your photographer will be able to direct as to when and where the engagement shoot should take place, but there are a couple of pointers to follow. First, you want to set up the session when you have plenty of free time to get ready. For the best photographs, schedule in either in the early morning hours or as the sun is setting—this is when the lighting is best. Popular locations for the shoot include places near the water, such as a beach, river, or lake, or outside in a park. It’s always special to have a location that means something to the bride and groom, though, so you could take the photos on your alma mater’s campus, at the local library, or even right in your own home. 

During the Wedding



Wendy Hickok photo

On your big day, your fabulous photographer will be snapping away, capturing the first dance, the cake cutting, and the bouquet toss. Let your guests in on the photo-fun, by including one of 2011’s hottest trends in your reception—the photo booth. Photo booths are those large booths that can typically be found in a shopping mall that spits out strips of photos of the gang that’s piled inside—and it’s easier than ever to rent one for your wedding. You can expect to pay up to $1,500 for a four-hour reception to rent the booth.

At some point, you and your husband can hop in the photo booth and hold up a sign that says “thank you.” Later, print this image onto cards and send them out as thank-you notes to your guests. Even if you don’t have a photo booth, your photographer can set up a similar shot that you can use after the wedding.

Many brides set a basket of props next to the booth for the guests to use. Examples of props include one of the biggest hits of recent time, a mustache on a stick, as well as funny hats, feather boas, oversized glasses, or a chalkboard on which guests write a message to the bride and groom. You can include these photos in the guest book. Next to their pictures, the guests sign their name and include well wishes or other messages to the happy couple. 

After the Wedding



Rob Korb photo

If you’re not jet setting to your honeymoon destination immediately after the wedding, take the opportunity to get more mileage out of your wedding attire (and your photographer). Grab your new spouse, your photographer, and head either back to your reception location or to an entirely new venue to get the creative shots you didn’t have time for on your wedding day.

Finally, there’s the matter of displaying these fantastic photos. Along with the standard photos albums, there are three display options growing in popularity.

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• Coffee table books.
rThese books are becoming the new standard for wedding albums. Sleek and glossy, these are photo albums that are designed and bound just like a hardback book. They make excellent gifts for parents and other close relatives.

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• Canvases.
rTurn your wedding photos into artwork by ordering one or two of your favorite photos on large canvases. This option is growing in popularity, as canvases become a trendy home decoration.

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• Digital frames.
rIf you bought the rights to your wedding photos, share them in your home with a digital frame. This is much more cost-effective (and technologically cooler!) than purchasing frames for each photo separately.

Each display option makes your photos—from before, during, and after the wedding—easy to look back on, remember, and share with friends and family for years to come. And don’t forget to send out those photos of you and your new spouse saying “thank you!”