Thank you for trusting me to be your wedding photographer!
I want you to know that I have poured my heart & soul into
photography, as this is my dream job!
Your wedding is going to be an incredible and magical experience
and I am honored that you have selected me to document it.
Having photographed numerous weddings, I created this guide
to share with you some of my expertise that you will hopefully find
usefull.
I hope that this will help answer any questions you might have and
explain my work process.
Are you ready to dive in?
Thank you for trusting me to be your wedding photographer!
I want you to know that I have poured my heart & soul into
photography, as this is my dream job!
Your wedding is going to be an incredible and magical experience
and I am honored that you have selected me to document it.
Having photographed numerous weddings, I created this guide
to share with you some of my expertise that you will hopefully find
usefull.
I hope that this will help answer any questions you might have and
explain my work process.
Are you ready to dive in?
experience
Elias
I know how important is that you feel relaxed in front of the camera, and I will make sure you will. Thus I never force a smile or a pose where it doesn’t fit. After all the years of my experience, I also know when an emotional moment is about to unfold, so I will stay back and document it in all its authenticity! Like actors at your own personal movie, you don’t have to look at the camera unless told so. I will always let you know when it’s time to have camera-aware photos. The rest of the time, I love to document what is happening without you feeling the presence of the photographer in the image. You’re going to be the stars of your show!
I like to have a very hands-on approach to setting up the wedding
day timeline, and my goal is to ensure that you have the best
natural light for each part of your celebration. I also prefer to help
build a timeline (together with your planner/designer) that gives
you plenty of time for all photographs throughout the day with the
necessary buffers to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable
experience. I balance art directing, styled detail shots and portraits,
and capturing the moments that happen organically through
photojournalistic coverage. The end result yields a beautiful
balance of people, details and emotion.
Let’s take it step by step.
getting ready
In the quiet hours before the ceremony, I
love to capture the wedding preparation.
Whether you choose a bridal suite, hotel
room, or other location to prepare for
the wedding, consider the backdrop for
these images. This location is where I
photograph the majority of your details
and initial portraits. As such, I recommend
selecting a spacious, open location with
ample natural light and similar decor or
feel to your wedding so the images flow
with the rest of the day That includes
the shoes, the rings, the flowers, the
stationery and of course capturing the
excitement on everyone’s faces!
Some things that are important to do or
have in your preparations are:
The rooms that you are getting ready
to be clean from clatter. Suitcases, bags
and other things that can be really helpful
for your trip, usually are distracting as a
background.
Where are you getting ready at
It is certainly very helpful for the
photography and videography crews,
if you have your preparations close by.
Keeping distances close, means that
you minimize the transfers needed. Your
planner will have one less thing to worry
about and I will spend more time doing
my work than driving/walking around.
As you may not have visited the place
you’re getting ready at, it would be best
to advise me to check that it provides
a good opportunity to have beautiful
pictures with your families & friends that
will join you at your preparations.
Make up and hair styling
This is really important, as in many cases things might get out of time. A good practice is to inform your make-up artist and
hairstylist of the number of people they have to prepare. The MUAH (make up artist & hairstylist) should tell you the exact
time they need. Add a buffer to that as sometimes things might take longer on their end. Having your pictures taken is a fun
process if you are relaxed and not worried about the extra time the MUAH needed.
Simply look like a more polished version of yourself.
-Harold James / MUA Paris
I am sure you spent quite some time to find your perfect wedding dress. I would love to have time to take pictures of you in your beautiful gown, so ideally we would need 20’ for that. Did your engagement ring come in a beautiful box as well? Why not bring it along and have a nice image of it too! I own a variety of props and boxes that I will bring along but please know that there is also the option of ordering a special ring box with your initials on from 'The Mrs. Box'. They have a huge variety of gorgeous boxes in all shapes and colors! That would be a very stylish idea to enrich your flatlay photos. If you’re interested in the idea, please let me know as I have a special discount with them. Please bring with you also the stationery suite that you used, the invitations that you sent out, as it would be great to have pictures of them too. After all, your invitations are your wedding’s first impression! Begin your preparations early enough, so you can have time to relax before you leave the room and avoid stressing out if things fall behind schedule a bit. Have the people closest to you, your bridesmaids, your family to be in your room at least half an hour before you leave so you can enjoy a glass of champagne and have some nice photos all together. Same for the groom’s side, of course! Sometimes the men, thinking that it’s “easier” for them to get dressed are the ones who actually delay. Having to tie your bow tie or trying to find where the shoes are can seem funny but can also be pretty time consuming. Gentlemen, please practice tying your bow tie beforehands, or if you have one with a clip-on, that is already properly adjusted. It goes without saying that all people in the room, should be fully dressed up before the bride and groom.
1. The most important. ENJOY your day! The more fun that YOU will have, the better the pictures will be. Simple as that.
I will find the best light and background available, but I still need your great vibes to make it happen.
2. Be camera-aware. In the sense that you know you are getting photographed. Be aware of your moves and smiles. The more elegant they are, the more elegant the pictures will look. The more you let yourself go, the more emotions your pictures will have.
Great pictures don't just happen, it takes an effort both from the photographer and from you! So relax, have fun and live every moment of your dream wedding!
Should you make a list of desired photos?
While it isn’t necessary to create a shot list for the entire day (I’m very thorough
and detail-oriented), I do recommend bringing to my attention any special people,
moments or details you’d like to capture. On your wedding day, please place the
rings, dress, shoes, jewelry and any other heirlooms you’d like in the photos in the
bridal suite.
Bridal Party
Sometimes bridal parties can be really big and pictures can take much longer than
usual, if they are not organized properly. It is very helpful for my work and for saving
time and being stress-free, to allocate someone from the bride's and groom's part
respectively, as the coordinator. I will make sure the pictures with your bridesmaids &
groomsmen will be relaxed and fun.
I’m a huge advocate of the First Look for many
reasons, it helps so much with everything
during the wedding day.
The First Look is a modern approach to the
wedding timeline that creates a private moment
between the bride and groom before the
actual ceremony. The First Look is, of course,
something optional and a decision that only can
be made by you.
The wedding day goes by in a blink. Doing a
First Look prior to the ceremony, means you
will get to spend more time together on your
wedding day.
For the First Look, I will pull you away to a
secluded area and you can see each other all
dressed up before the wedding. It’s a great
opportunity to share a private moment together
before the wedding festivities begin.
It will also help you release some of the tension
of the day, as you will get to spend time
together, just the two of you. It’s an emotional
moment for everyone and we might all be
crying but the memories definitely worth it!
The First Look can also help to make the rest
of the wedding day run smoother. After you’ve
seen each other we can sneak away to take a
few couple’s portraits.
It’s imperative to know if you want to opt-in for
a First Look early enough, so together with your
wedding planner, we can incorporate it to the
timeline.
The concept of the First Look is simply so
beautiful and helpful for the day's timeline!
Please allow me to elaborate on some bonus
tips
Bonus tip 1: You can exchange your private
vows after the First Look. Say the things you
want to your better half, in total privacy! That
is something very romantic and special. Plus,
if you have a videographer, they would love to
capture the audio and use it in your movie. Told
you, you’re stars!
Bonus tip 2: A First Look doesn’t necessarily
have to be one. No pun intended. You can also or alternatively set up a daughter-father First Look!
I’ve witnessed some very emotional moments in
situations like this! Or have a First Look with your bridesmaids.
Bonus tip 3: Family formals. At certain occasions,
we have done family formals right after the first
look and your couple’s session. Thus, reducing
the time that I’ll need to steal you away from your
guests after the ceremony.
However, for some people, the first look takes
away the beauty of seeing each other for the first
time in the ceremony. If you choose not to have a
first look, it’s definitely not a problem and we will
plan together plenty of time into the schedule to
ensure you get all the portraits you would like.
This option means that the ceremony will have to
be later in the evening, for the light to be softer
at every part mentioned previously. This option
will allow you to relax after the ceremony without
having to worry about making time for all the
photographs. Which means more time for partying
and hanging with the people you love!
During the ceremony, I always try
to capture these moments in a very
discrete way and with a variety of angles.
It’s equally important for me to have
gorgeous pictures but also not to intrude
or obstruct your guests viewing this
important part of your day.
Suggestion: Going Unplugged
I get that we live in a modern world where
everything is documented by everyone
and every action is captured by dozens
of cellphone cameras. However, do you
want photos of you as bride and groom,
walking down the aisle surrounded by
cellphone screens or do you prefer
the faces of the people you care about
the most? There is a recent trend in
weddings, promoting ‘unplugged’
ceremonies where ALL the guests are
highly encouraged and asked to put away
their cellphones and cameras for the
duration of the ceremony. An unplugged
ceremony allows your guests to be
entirely present during your time together
and as a bonus, allows me to make sure I
capture the best moments, without being
obscured by a cellphone screen or an
enthusiastic guest with an iPad.
Consider: Repurposing flowers
There are some advantages of repurposing ceremony flowers for the reception, allowing you to purchase more ‘expensive’ and beautiful flowers.
A stunning ceremony arch doesn’t need to go to waste. You may be using floral arrangements on the ceremony aisle. These can be used again. Of course please consult your floral designer about the pros and cons on your specific design and flower choices. They are the experts.
The below two images are a great example of repurposed flowers.
Drone shots
The latest addition in my camera bag is
my beloved drone. I love the opportunity
it offers me to have a bird's eye view.
Please know that not disturbing your
guets is a priority to me. Flights will be
planned beforehand and brief, to capture
the magic from up high. Some high angle
shots you have seen on my portfolio are
not from a drone, rather from a room
with a view to the ceremony area. If
these types of pictures are important to
you, please consider booking a room
that offers a view to the ceremony area.
Drone flights will always be respectful
towards your guests and you as I wouldn't
want the drone attracting the attention.
First Dance
If you are doing a First Dance, please
remember that nobody will judge of how
good a dancer you actually are, so no
reason to stress. The only thing people
will be looking at is how happy you are
and that you are sharing this positive
energy and joy! Just relax, enjoy and take
it all in! Friendly tip that I learned from
my own wedding. The more good vibes,
smiles and positive energy you let out,
the more you will receive!
Dinner & Reception
Since no one wants pictures of
themselves eating, now is the time for
me to take a break, grab a bite, get fresh
batteries and memory cards and set up
my lights for the reception. During dinner
time, it’s custom to have speeches from
families, best friends and the bridal party.
My advice to you, is try and add as much
ambient light as possible. Fairylights and
candles are excellent to create a beautiful
and romantic atmosphere for your guests
but also for me (and your videographer) to
avoid using artificial lighting.
Giving a speech can be quite fun or emotional,
sometimes both. I was photographing a wedding where the groom was getting married for the second time and his best man opened his speech by saying "Welcome back everybody!" You can imagine the laughter. Speeches can be
entertaining and bond your guests together.
Party
It’s party time! Throughout the party time, I will
wander around the dancefloor photographing
everyone having a blast and capturing all of
the fun moments.
A really good advice that will make a big
difference, is to keep the bar close to the
dancefloor. Sometimes the party doesn't go
as well as you would like and it's not the DJ's
fault. It's because the bar is away from the
dancefloor, thus your guests are queuing away
from where others are dancing.
Suggestion: Keep the bar as close as you can to the dance-floor. No matter how hard your DJ will try, you don't want to have your guests queueing up at the bar and being far away from where the action is supposed to be taking place.
This is just an example chain of events to get
you thinking about the process of documenting
a wedding from start to finish!
Let me know
what you are planning and we can create a
custom timeline for your special day!
I have prepared a suggested timeline you can
find below, so you better understand the idea
behind it. One thing you must always keep
in mind is that there should be buffer zones
between activities. That way, if something falls
out of plan, you will have room to cover for it.
Please mind that the afore mentioned timeline
does not include any required transportation
times. That’s why we'll shape the perfect timeline together with your wedding planner.
Check if your reception venue has a curfew
That means you’ll have to end the reception
at a specific time. This shouldn’t mean moving
your wedding day all the way in the morning
so you can have time to party with your friends.
I’ve witnessed weddings where people were so
exhausted by the heat that they had no energy
to dance. It’s better to spend some quality time
with your guests rather than tiring them. And
this will also most probably have a huge impact
on your photos as it would mean you will have
to take some portraits in the harsh mid-day light.
Trust me, you definitely want to avoid that.
Sunset Time
Another tip I would like to share is about sunset
time, as I get asked this a lot. When checking
the sunset time on your location, please mind
that this time refers to when the sun meets
the horizon in sea level. So, be aware if, for
example, there is a hill or a mountain west of
your reception venue, then ‘sunset’ is going to
be earlier. Have a consultation with me or your
wedding planner to know the exact times. I’m
sure you would love to have some romantic
sunset photos of the two of you, right?
Also, just after sunset, there is the Blue Hour.
Depending on the location, the season and
atmospheric factors, the sky turns blue right
after sunset. It’s a very delicate soft light for
portraits and reception shots.
Logistics
Maybe I shouldn’t say that as it seems trivial but
I’ll do it anyway. Make time to have a proper
meal. You don’t want to be 'hangry' during the
most romantic day of your life.
The more transportations you add to your
day, the more complicated your timeline gets.
You can run into traffic or miss a shuttle bus
and confusion starts. Then things can go
south easily. Your wedding day shouldn’t be a
choreographed movie of jumping obstacles and
running to catch up. It should be a relaxed day
to enjoy with your loved ones. Let it be that!
Videographers
I have worked with a lot of other professionals
and being absolutely honest with you, there are
some that are more team players than others.
Your choice of the videographer is a crucial
one. Photographers and videographers have
to share the space and time to provide you
with the best possible outcome. Your selection
of videographer will affect the quality of the
pictures. Please take into consideration the
style and approach. My style of photography,
would say it’s on the romantic, luminous side.
Would be more difficult for me to work with a
videographer who has a darker or moodier
style (as we will look for different quality of light).
If you feel that photography is even a tiny bit
more important to you, I would kindly ask you to
advise me on your selection of videographers
before booking any.
Another lesson I got from my own wedding and
I advise you to do, is ask your videographer to
capture as much audio as they can. Listening to
your beloved people's voices in your video will
be a keepsake.
Other equipment
Very close to the theme of cell phones,
is the issue of other large equipment like
speakers or giant poles. Not everything can
be photoshopped out, sorry. Please consult
your wedding planner how the ceremony
and reception areas are going to look. As all
vendors to respect the space and hide as many
of their equipment as possible.
Delivery of goods
The photos of your special day need the care and attention to be edited, as much as they were initially
composed. Only part of the work was done on the day of your wedding. I am trying my best to deliver your
wedding photos soon enough (current delivery time is less than 30 working days). You have the option
to ask for speed delivery by skipping the line. Once the pictures are ready, you will be provided with an
online gallery of all the photos in high resolution. You are more than welcome to share this gallery with
your friends and families so they can download their favourites. Your gallery is directly connected with a
Print shop, so you can order special prints right from there. Your guests can do the same of course. If your
package contained a proof box, you are kindly asked to select your favourite photos and let me know so I
can prepare the prints and shipping.
Walking out the aisle
Your first steps as husband and wife are walking out the aisle, while everyone will be cheering and applauding you! I've witnessed a lot of beautiful moments taking place when the couple enjoys these moments. Remember to keep your heads high, smiling to your guests and really feeling every vibe. It's one of my favorite moments of the wedding day and as your energy will make some great pictures!
Family Formals
Usually taking place after the ceremony or after the First Look, we will do the family formals. You can provide me with a list of all the photo combinations you would like, to make this go quickly and we don’t miss a single shot!
It’s very helpful for everyone and surely stress reducing if you assign one of your close people to be the FPC (Formal Pictures Coordinator) Yes, I invented the term! After the ceremony, people can easily get scattered. If we can have someone to call them for the family pictures, will save everyone lots of time. I will first photograph you with your immediate family members (parents and siblings) and grandparents (if applicable) during the allotted formal family time. If you have groupings outside of immediate family, please send me a list at least two weeks prior to your wedding so your wedding planner and myself can schedule our time accordingly. Additionally, please inform me of any special groupings due to family circumstances (i.e divorce, stepparents, etc).
Couple’s Portraits
After the ceremony, I will need to ‘steal’ you two away from the party for a bit to capture some sunset photos. This is a great chance to breathe and relax before seeing all your guests again. I generally try to schedule this portion of time when the sun is lower in the sky and the light is soft. Depending if you opted in or out of the First Look idea, we will need 15 or 40 minutes for portraits to ensure that you have plenty of beautiful pictures. We will of course coordinate with your wedding planner on the time of the ceremony as I want to make sure you will have the best light for every situation. I know, I’m repeating myself, but having gorgeous light is key!
KEY TAKEAWAY
Avoid looking down as you're walking out. Instead look at your guests and share your best smiles!
Most people have never been in
front of the camera of a professional
photographer, so when it’s time to smile
away, how do you ensure success and
avoid awkwardness?
Photographing destination weddings
means my clients live all over the world.
Most often we do not have an opportunity
to meet in person during the booking
process. An engagement session is the
perfect chance for us to get to know one
another, for you to feel comfortable in
front of the camera, and to experience
being photographed together. I find
that an engagement session helps my
clients feel more at ease on the big day.
Furthermore, engagement sessions are a
lot of fun and an excellent opportunity to
create amazing and adventurous images
without the restrictions that a wedding
day can bring.
Taking it a step further, as I am traveling
all across Europe, we can find the place
and time and have your engagement
session anywhere you like. Maybe it
can be in Paris, or Tuscany, Provence or
Venice, the options are endless.
Besides,
we both love traveling!
1. The style of photography is so
important.
My style of capturing portraits is finding a
sweet balance of casual images that let
you be yourselves and a bit of help with
the posing when needed. I always prefer
to have a strong emotional image over a
perfectly posed one! I just love backlit and
soft images that are more romantic.
2. Dressing stylishly and timelessly
Try to stay away from anything that is too
trendy or graphic, and stick to solid colours,
or classic patterns like stripes. Wear clothing
that you feel comfortable in as ultimately,
you want to feel 100% you when your
photos are being taken. If you can, change
into your outfits when you arrive at your
engagement photo destination as this will
keep your clothing from becoming wrinkled.
Coordinate but don’t match: Couples who
match their clothing can be adorable but
for your engagement session, I think that
it’s best to go for a coordinating look as
opposed to something too matchy-matchy. If
you are coordinated nicely your photos will
come across looking much more authentic
then say matching his tie to your dress.
3. Focus on each other – not the camera.
Hold hands, make each other laugh, be
with each other together right there in
the moment! Do your best to quiet your
thoughts and be present, focused on
each other. Trust me, if you ignore your
photographer and give all your attention to
one another, you will create authenticity just
by being yourselves.
After all, an engagement session is also
helpful to us, photographers. We start to
understand you better, see how you react
when smiling at each other, how you prefer
to walk, what makes you laugh, so when it’s
time we can throw wood to your fire!
Hope you found this Bridal Guide helpful. If you have any questions, even if they feel remotely related with photography, please don't hesitate to let me know.
We're just an email or phone call away!
info@eliaskordelakos.com
mobile +306976806800