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Proud pup mom, type A creative, lover of the outdoors, Top Chef fan girl, and wedding and portrait photographer. Welcome to the blog!
HI, I'M RACHEL!
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As a Washington, D.C. area wedding photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to observe lots of wedding days and the resulting images from the day. It’s let me see that there are three key investments for beautiful wedding photos. I’m excited to share some tips about that with you today!
Weddings are big investments made up of lots of smaller and medium sized investments. I imagine facing those choices can be overwhelming. That’s why today I’m happy to help you navigate those decisions and make it super simple for ya to narrow things down!
Photography is one of those medium sized investments (alongside catering, venue, and rentals). The unique thing about your photography, is that those images will be the one thing you’ll have to reminisce on your overall day and all those other investments you made. You’ll want those photos to look awesome!
The best starting point is to hire a competent, talented wedding photographer who is going to give you a wonderful experience as well as beautiful photos (more on that here). The next thing you can do is make three key investments for beautiful wedding photos. Those three little secrets are what I’m going to let you in on today.
Here are three key investments for beautiful wedding photos:
1. Impressive Florals
Florals dress up a space and photos in general so much! Like, so much. It’s a simple way to make all of your photos look high end.
Floral arrangements fill up a ceremony and/or reception venue. Without ample florals, a ceremony and reception space can end up looking somewhat empty or bare. Check out this beautiful white tent that looks vibrant and full because of the abundant floral accents:
I’ve also noticed florals on your archway, chuppah, or mandap help differentiate it and stand out from the background. Especially if there is greenery behind it, like this:
A lush bouquet sets the tone for your big day. It’s the heavy hitter – it will be involved in literally every portion of your wedding day, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
It’s the perfect way to incorporate your wedding colors into your details photos, bridal, and newlywed portraits. And it can double as the centerpiece on your sweetheart or head table at your reception later in the day.
Boutonnieres will do the same thing! They tie in the wedding colors and in your details photos.
2. Hair and Makeup
Your face and hair will be in about 90% of your images, so you obviously want to look your best!
A wedding day is long – 8-12 hours. You’ll be smiling, sweating, moving, kissing, embracing. The best way to give your hair and makeup a fighting chance of holding up through all the adventures of your wedding day is to have a professional do both.
In addition to that, professional makeup artists know how to do your makeup so that it looks good on camera. They know what to highlight, the appropriate finishes to use so that your skin looks fresh and soft (not shiny), and what colors look best with your skin tone and hair.
3. A Stunning Dress and Classic Suit or Tuxedo
Again, if we’re thinking of things that will be in 90% of your photos, we need to talk about the dress(es) and/or the suit(s). My suggestion is to go the extra mile and get looks that will be super photogenic!
Here are some things that make dresses look fantastic on camera:
* striking silhouettes
* at least a little movement
* some drama (like a train, low back, or unique neckline)
* fits you perfectly and flatters your figure
And things that amp up a suit for photos:
* classic and timeless colors like black, navy, blue, or grey
* tuxedos always, always look great on camera and make your photos look high end
* make sure the suit matches the level of formality and coordinates well with the dress
Did this post get you excited to book your own wedding, elopement, or engagement session?! If yes, send me a note and we can chat about what you have in mind: contact me
Hi – I’m Rachel! A wedding, engagements, and headshots photographer in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and northern Virginia. I love taking photos of elegant people who love to laugh, as well as of much in-love couples. If you’re a dog owner, that’s a plus! I’m currently booking 2020 portrait sessions, as well as 2020 and 2021 weddings.
HELLO@RACHELEHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
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Rachel is a wedding and portrait photographer
Serving brilliant, elegant couples in Washington D.C. + Beyond
Copyright 2022 Rachel E.H. Photography | Website by Alex Collier Design
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