{"id":18081,"date":"2016-07-14T11:30:40","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T16:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/houstonweddingblog.com\/?p=18081"},"modified":"2016-07-15T11:48:15","modified_gmt":"2016-07-15T16:48:15","slug":"guest-post-pro-photographer-taylor-golden-on-7-must-have-wedding-day-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weddingsinhouston.com\/blog\/guest-post-pro-photographer-taylor-golden-on-7-must-have-wedding-day-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Pro Photographer Taylor Golden on 7 Must-Have Wedding Day Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Guest<\/p>\n

Photo: Taylor Golden Photography<\/a><\/p>\n

Your wedding day will come and go\u2026FAST. And your wedding photos and wedding video are the only ways you\u2019ll be able to look back and reminisce. Plus, planning a wedding is basically a full-time job, not to mention that it\u2019s more than likely this will be your first time putting a wedding together, so it can be difficult to predetermine what moments or images are going to be important to you.<\/p>\n

Aside from the standard \u201cfirst\u201d shots\u2014your first kiss, first dance, etc.\u2014this is a day for gathering family members and dear friends. Having so many loved ones in one place, at one time, all beautifully done up and turned out, happens\u2026almost never. So make sure you take full advantage of the occasion by capturing the most important people in your life in photographs to cherish.<\/p>\n

Here are my 7 must-have wedding photos of the wedding couple, family and friends, to help you prepare for your big day. Oh\u2014and one more thing: When selecting a wedding photographer, make sure she or he has ample experience in photographing each<\/em> of the elements below. You can do this by asking to see at least\u00a0a couple of weddings the photographer has shot, to make sure their talent and capabilities are consistent. And now, it\u2019s time to smile\u2026<\/p>\n

1. Family Formals<\/strong><\/p>\n

This may seem pretty basic, but these classic family wedding portraits are also incredibly important. Remember, your wedding is likely to be an activity-filled day, and you may not be actually be around your family members all that much. These family photos may be the only pictures you have with your nearest and dearest, so you\u2019ll want to make sure you take a family photo with anyone that is important to you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to select a photographer that is comfortable and experienced in a variety of different lighting scenarios. Family formals typically happen immediately following the ceremony, and if that ceremony happens to be in a church, the lighting may be extremely dim and poor quality\u2014for photos, that is.<\/p>\n

When selecting a photographer, be sure to look at that photographer\u2019s examples of family wedding formals to see if you like the posing, lighting and composition the photographer offers. It also helps to create a list of the different family groupings you want to document. Your planner or maid of honor can assist during this part of the day by calling out people\u2019s names for each picture, grouping them, and crossing them off your list once the photo has been shot, to ensure you don\u2019t miss anyone!<\/p>\n

2. Individual Spouse Portraits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surprisingly enough, these individual portraits are often overlooked by many couples and photographers. There are a few variations of each portrait you\u2019ll want to consider. For each portrait, you should have a close-up, a mid-waist, a full shot and an artistic shot. Diversity is key, so you\u2019ll also want to include a mix of expressions, such as looking at the camera vs. looking away, and maybe some shots with movement, such as twirling the dress, or straightening the bowtie. It\u2019s up to you!<\/p>\n

3. Family Candids <\/strong><\/p>\n

These unposed, joyful shots are some of my favorites. As I mentioned previously, pictures with your family on the day of the wedding are sometimes hard to come by. For this reason alone, I always suggest that my clients have their immediate family with them while they are primping and getting ready for the big day. This is a great time to capture candid family moments that show more personality, and are often more emotional than family formals. I\u2019ve also seen some fun parents join the bridal party for pictures on location\u2014again another great opportunity to capture some unique and candid images with your family.<\/p>\n

4. Wedding Party<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u00a0are many variations for this category. They may include:<\/p>\n