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What do I do as a wedding photographer on your wedding day?

Well, for me the wedding day still always starts nice and early. I leave the house approximately one hour earlier than I usually would need to for the designated arrival time.

It allows me plenty of time to arrive on time. It ensures that should there be traffic or an accident or any other thing on the route that delays my arrival at the wedding venue.

So when I arrive at the wedding venue, I usually take a short walk around the venue gardens and take a few wedding pictures of the building and the setting for the day.

I like to do this regardless of whether or not I have photographed a wedding before at the venue. I still want to take this short walk and take different photos from different angles. Other positions that I might have yet to capture in the past.

Once I have done this, I slowly make my way to the bridal suite to say good morning to the bride and the Bridal party. The girls are usually in the process of getting ready, having breakfast, drinking prosecco and looking forward to the day ahead.

Once I've had a short conversation and maybe a cup of tea, I get a camera and take candid pictures of the room, the setting and any activity taking place.

I like to keep it very relaxed and informal, letting the morning progress as it does and just capturing and telling the story along the way.

Usually, by this morning, we typically have makeup artists and hair stylists, bridesmaids, moms, and the bride getting ready. I also take the time to take photos of the wedding dress, shoes, jewellery, flowers, and other unique and special items.

Sometimes, this is in the room, the corridor, and sometimes somewhere else within the venue that I've seen that would make a good backdrop for these wedding detail photos.

As the morning progresses, I usually change places with my second shooter, who will stay with the bride in the bridal suite.

I will photograph the groom, the groomsman and any guests arriving early for the ceremony.

I will also photograph the wedding breakfast room and ceremony area before returning to the bride, just as she's due to get into her dress.

Once the bride is dressed, I usually get photos of the bridal party, helping with the finishing touches. I often get pictures of the bride on her own before Dad or whoever will be giving the bride away comes in for the first look.

At this time, my second shooter often takes pictures of guests arriving before the ceremony whilst I follow the bride to meet the registrars and into the ceremony area.

Most of these photos are candid, taken from different angles, telling the day's story and not posed in any way, shape, or form.

As the ceremony starts, I position myself at the front, with my second shooting assistant standing at the back.

As the bride enters the room, I try to get pictures of the groom and his reaction as the bride comes down the aisle. Sometimes the groom looks, and sometimes the groom doesn't.

Photographing the wedding ceremony is essential to me as it's the formal part of the day. I must capture the vows, the exchange of rings, the all-important first kiss, and guest reactions throughout the ceremony.

A couple of formal photos of the signing of the register, pictures with the witnesses, and then walking back down the aisle as a newly married couple.

Once we move out into the gardens, I like to give the bride and groom 10 - 15 minutes to meet their guests. Sometimes, the best reactions come from people crying, sharing emotions, and congratulating the bride and groom on becoming newly married.

Once the bride and groom have had a chance to meet some of their guests and be congratulated, I organise the confetti-throwing shot. Occasionally, I will do this in a group shot with everybody behind the brewing groom. Sometimes, I'll do this in two straight lines and ask the bride and groom to walk through everybody, giving them all opportunities to throw loads of confetti.

I follow this with the formal group shots. As part of each booking, I send the couple a wedding questionnaire. In that wedding questionnaire, you can specify your group combinations. I recommend at most 10 group shots.

For this time of the day, I will also ask you for a helper from each side of the family to help organise these group photos.

It will mean we can complete this formal part of the day as soon as possible.

I usually give the bride and groom more time to have drinks and canopies and spend time with their guests before I take you off for some relaxed and fun wedding portraits. This photo session is usually only about 10 minutes, just enough time to capture lovely photographs of you on your own.

The day's next task is to photograph the wedding breakfast room and guests taking their seats before the newly married couple makes their grand entrance.

Once the wedding breakfast is underway, I'll leave the room so everyone can enjoy their food. I then usually return to the room just before speeches.

I photograph the speeches from as many angles and positions as possible, covering the whole room and photographing the guest's reactions.

Depending on the time of the year and weather, usually after the wedding breakfast, I'll take the couple back outside for a few more photos.

Most wedding venues turn the room around before your DJ, band or evening entertainment arrives. As the wedding band or DJ set up, I usually set up some off-camera flashes in the room and prepare for the cake cutting and the first dance.

Once I've captured the first dance and some dance floor action, most wedding photographers finish at this time. I like to stay a little later because sometimes the best dance floor action happens later in the evening.

Once nighttime falls, I like creating some wedding photography magic. I'll find a location within the hotel or the wedding venue grounds where we can create something unique from what is relatively nothing.

I use multiple off-camera flashes and colour gels to make these photos; this is my favourite part of the day. I spend time with my second shooter, setting them up and getting the settings correct. As soon as we are ready, we can come to find you so we can get the photos quickly, and you can return to your guests and the evening reception.