Guest Post from Andrew Geddes Photography

Ottawa may lack some of the features that larger cities can offer your wedding day but one thing we're not lacking is professional photographers.

In our line of work, we work closely with the photographer the day of the wedding and we're always surprised with the jaw dropping shots they can create (sometimes it takes forever to choose what photos to use in this blog!).

When it's all said and done, the only thing that you have left over from your wedding day are your photos, so we can't stress enough how important it is to hire a professional for the job.

This week, we were lucky enough to have one of our city's incredibly talented photographers Andrew Geddes from Andrew Geddes Photography http://www.andrewgeddes.com/ stop by and do a guest blog post for us from the eyes of a wedding photographer. Listen up brides- this is fantastic advice entitled "Five Things Wedding Photographers Love"

The wedding season is in full swing! I thought I'd share a few quick tips on how to get the best possible photos on your big day. I can't speak for every wedding photographer, but in my experience the following five items can help make your wedding images outstanding.

Engagement Shoots
Once you have booked your wedding photographer, doing an engagement shoot is a great idea. Not only do you get beautiful pictures of you and your fiance, but it's also an excellent way to get to know your photographer, and to see how he or she works. We're all a little camera shy, and your they will no doubt give you tips on how to look and feel more comfortable in front of the lens. Also, your photographer can put together a fabulous guest signing book, featuring the engagement images, which makes for a beautiful addition to your reception.

Wedding Planners
An experienced planner can make a huge difference in the quality of your wedding photos. I've found that they help us photographers out in three major ways:

1 – They make venues look great.

2 – They help weddings run on time. This ensures that the time set aside for photos doesn't slowly disappear due to scheduling problems.

3 – They make for happier, more relaxed brides (and grooms and mothers-of-the-bride...). Stressed out people look, well, stressed out, which isn't especially flattering.

Lots of Time for Photos
Wedding photography is likely one of the larger investments you'll make for your big day. In order to get the most bang for you buck, you should discuss your itinerary with your photographer before you finalize it. They can provide valuable input on how to maximize shooting time and get you back to your friends and family ASAP.

In my case I'm shooting candidly most of the day, however, brides often book me because they're after artistic couple shots. Wedding photographers are used to working fast, but the more time you give us, the better, and more varied your shots will be.

Family Photos List
Photojournalistic wedding photography is the way to go (in my humble opinion), but you might be disappointed if you don't get some family group shots. To save time, alleviate unnecessary stress, and make everyone happy (including your wedding photographer) be sure to have a list of family groupings ready to go.

Cage veils and Other Standout Items
I'm far from an expert on bridal fashion, but I have seen enough weddings to know what makes great weddings great - attention to detail. Whether its help from your planner in selecting an awesome venue and decor, or your own unique fashion sense and style, photographers love things that help make a wedding stand out. Unique accessories, colours, themes, and anything else that personalizes your wedding, will ultimately make for fresh and exciting photos.

If you have any questions about this post, or about wedding photography in general, feel free to get in touch with me over at my website: http://www.andrewgeddes.com/

You can also see what I've been up to lately over at my blog: http://www.andrewgeddes.blogspot.com/