Photo Tips: Time of Day

As everybody seems to know, when your wedding is over all you will have are the memories and the photographs.  So, you will look at dozens of photographer’s websites, meet with several of them in person, exchange a thousand emails, talk on the phone, post on the forums, wonder if you are choosing the right person, sign a contract and pay a retainer.  In other words, you will probably spend a lot of time and energy choosing the photographer who will capture your day the way you want. But don’t stop thinking about your photography once you choose your photographer!  There are many things you can do that will help ensure great photographs of your wedding.  I’m going to start a series of posts on what you can do to make the most of your pictures and, in the process, make your wedding day less stressful and more beautiful.

Photography is all about light and light makes all the difference between good photos and great photos.  Keeping this in mind and arranging a schedule for your wedding day which takes advantage of the best light of the day will do wonders for your pictures.  In general, the best light of the day is the hour before and the 20 or so minutes just after sunset.  Here are some examples:  Carrie + Brian at BR Cohn following their sunset ceremony.

Teri + Robert, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, 15 minutes after sunset.

You can see the difference, sunset is warm and dramatic and just after sunset is soft and colorful.  Both are beautiful in their own way and timing your day to take advantage of this “Golden Hour” is a great way to make the most of your photography.  As a bonus, you and your newly married love of your life will have some time to be together to enjoy your first sunset as husband and wife.

More to come…