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6 Tips For Timeless Wedding Photos



Sure, your wedding photos may look great now, but will you cringe when you look at them in 5, 10 or 25 years? As you research photographers for your big day and start to think through what you want in your photo album, it's important to figure out how to find a balance between what's on point right now and what's truly timeless. Fashions may come and go, but your wedding photos are forever!

If you follow the idea of keeping things simple and elegant, you are on your way to having timeless wedding photography. I believe that the couple’s love should be the main focus of the photos, that is what will make it truly timeless.

You want images that won't seem stale or passé over time. That may mean avoiding photographers whose work includes images that are over-styled or have too many post-production finishes.

If you want a trendy pose for a picture, that's not a problem. But if all of your formal photos fall into that category, what are you left with? Couples should consider how they'll feel about their photos years after the wedding. Do you want 'clean' timeless images or photos that leave you saying, 'Oh, that picture is so [insert year you were married,]'?

So how do you ensure your wedding photos will stand the test of time? We asked professional photographers to share their tips for how to get classic photos that won't fade like a passing fad.

Tip 1: Review the Photographer’s Portfolio.
Before you hire a photographer, look through his portfolio and get a feel for his style. Are the images very of-the-moment? Do they rely on Instagram-like filters and finishes to get that polished look? If so, know that your album could have a similar feel to what you're seeing online and may end up feeling like a virtual timestamp of exactly when you tied the knot.
Ask the photographer you're considering hiring how he or she shoots weddings. One question I asking is, "Are [the photographers] predominately taking candid photos or are they arranging and staging pictures throughout the day to create photos that are trendy?" The way the photographer answers will reveal a great deal about their end result.

Tip 2: Your Photographer Doesn't Rely on Postproduction to Create a Look.
These days, wedding photography is often synonymous with postproduction, where everything passes through some form of edits, including a coloring and shading, and overall style is finessed until it's just perfect. But that kind of styling can lead to images looking quite dated.
As long as the photographer isn't heavy handed with the post-production filters and processes, the couple isn't going to get many images that could be considered 'dated, remember simple elegance never goes out of style.

Tip 3: Avoid Gimmicks.
Classic photos don't rely on gimmicks to tell the wedding story.
Timeless images are those of the bridal couple doing things they would have done yesterday or 50 years ago: walking, talking, kissing, and looking at one another.
Go gimmick-free and steer clear of what Corey calls 'Pinterest inspiration.' That means "no random objects in the hands and no bridal party running away from a dinosaur" in her book. Instead, she recommends sticking to natural moments that aren't forced.

Tip 4: Avoid a Super Specific Shot List.
Sure, you have specific photos you want for your album (or grandma's mantle), but you might end up hampering your photographer's creativity with a must shoot list.
Once you start telling a photographer that these are the 100 'must have' photos during the ceremony, you're taking all of the spontaneity out of the process.
Besides, many of the photos on shot sheets are often trendy and will create dated photos. Do you really want that shot with everyone in your wedding party jumping for joy? Or one with you and your spouse forming your hands into a heart a la Justin Bieber?
You should still definitely let your photographer know the specific people or backgrounds you want in your images, such as a family portrait with your grandparents or pics of the ceremony site pre-vows.

Tip 5: Say No to Trends.
Being trendy will make your pics look very dated sooner rather than later. Remember the selective coloring of the 80’s and 90’s with a black and white image but a colored rose? Yeah...we can't forget that either.
The 'vintage' look has been very popular for the last several years, but if you can look at a photo and have no idea when it was taken, then you have a timeless photo, when you look back at photos, you want to be immediately transported back to that day emotionally and not be stopped by thinking 'Oh, why did we do that trendy thing?

Tip 6: Hire the Right Photographer.
Make sure you click with your photographer and love his or her style. Your relationship as a couple will be evident in your connection with the photographer.

The truly great photographers will have a photographic 'style' that is their signature. Do not hire a photographer and ask them to shoot as another photographer would.  Asking your photographer to be like someone else will likely backfire, so don’t do it.









5 Wedding Splurges That Are SO Worth the Money



Chances are your wedding budget isn't unlimited, so it's all the more important to get a whole lotta bang for each buck! Since it isn't always easy to decide when to fork over the cash and when to tighten those purse strings, we've put together a list of splurges that are so worth the money.

1. Your Bouquet
While flowers are prominent on your wedding day, your beautiful bouquet is the floral focus!
This is the one floral arrangement that’ll be seen by everybody on the day of the wedding, and will be front and center in most of the pictures after the wedding’s over.

2. Lighting.
Shine some much-deserved attention on your wedding with customized lighting including uplights, candles, and spotlights. It creates ambiance, adds that touch of magic, and highlights key elements such as table décor and flowers.

3. Rentals
Sure you could use the venue’s standard linens, chairs, and drinkware but renting higher quality options can really elevate the look and feel of the reception.
Nothing will quickly cheapen an expensive venue or a Dupioni Silk Table linen in Marsala than ordering lap length instead of floor length linens for your guest tables.
You should splurge on things that will give you the most impact. For example, don’t spend $10 per chair for a 20-minute outdoor ceremony if you want expensive table cloths that will be enjoyed for hours at the reception. Renting charger plates is another easy way to step up your place settings.

4. Photography
Quality photography is always a worthwhile purchase; your photographs are one of the few tangible things you’ll have to keep after your wedding day is over.
Hiring a phenomenal photographer can mean the difference between getting OK wedding photos and totally wow-worthy images.

5. A Wedding Planner
Even if you've been planning your wedding for years (and have the scrapbooks and Pinterest boards to prove it), hiring a professional coordinator is a super smart splurge.
Here’s why: You’ll get logistical help like planning the seating chart or coordinating details with vendors like your photographer and your caterer. Plus, you might just get industry discounts and deals you wouldn't have known about and cost-saving tips from a professional.



What will you splurge on for your wedding day? We want to hear it!