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THIS IS NOT A WEDDING GUIDE,
these are just a few suggestions
to make the day worthwhile.

 

Each wedding is typically divided into 4 sections: preparations, ceremony, cocktail/banquet and open bar.

Through our experience, we observe many important details and decisions to consider in order to ensure the final result is perfect.

1 – PREPARATIONS

1.1 – PROVIDE A WELL-LIGHTED ROOM.

At the location where you decide to get dressed, (hotel, venue, private home…) in the first minutes the photographer and videographer will decide the best room or place to start creating content with your accessories and complements. Minutes later, we will start with you. The larger and brighter the room is, the better result we can obtain. Textures also usually help us a lot (furniture, props, flowers, petals, mirrors…).

1.2 – WE PREFER OUTDOOR STAYS.

Whenever possible due to the type of light and weather conditions, we will choose an outdoor room for your change (a terrace, a balcony…).

Especially if in this outdoor room there is flat light, with the minimal difference or contrast between very high lights and shadows. (In the shade we get a softer and filtered light).

1.3 -BE FULLY MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLED WHEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER ARRIVES.

Each provider has their own schedules so when you arrive at your address, it is very necessary that you are fully made up and hair styled. Wearing a robe bride or comfortable clothing, as soon as we arrive we usually photograph this acting so that the hairdresser or makeup artist can be free as soon as possible, also making their work easier. If you are not fully made up and hairstyled when we arrive, you will inevitably take away from our time to work and create our content (photo and video).

1.4 – TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE WRINKLES IN CLOTHING.

Sometimes, especially when you dress up with more friends or guests, the number of robes and clothes increases. The more ironing and fewer wrinkles all the clothes have, the more it will help us with post-production and the more natural all the textures will be in the final result.

1.5 – THE FAMILY AND GUESTS MUST BE DRESSED.

Except for bridesmaids or guests who wants a photo with them in a robe documenting the preparation, all guests must be dressed when the photographers arrive. Very shortly after photographing your accessories, we will take some other group and family photos before leaving for the ceremony.

2 – CEREMONY

2.1 – SYNCHRONIZE AND COMMUNICATE WELL THE TWO ARRIVALS.

Upon arriving at the ceremony location, it may happen that the engaged couple meets before reaching the altar, or that the first couple enters the ceremony without notifying anyone. That is why communication with Wedding Planner or photographer is important so that this does not happen. When the first one is waiting at the altar with all the guests, the second fiancé will enter.

2.2 – IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY CHOOSE A PERMISSIVE PRIEST.

Although our intention throughout the day will be to go as unnoticed as possible, we like to document everything as best as possible. The more permissive the priest officiating the ceremony is, more content we can get during this section.

2.3 – IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY CHOOSE A BRIGHT CHURCH WITH A LONG CORRIDOR.

A ceremony with a long hallway will prevent us from discarding photos of the entrance due to the strong backlighting, which is usually caused by the main door of the church. Also the longer the corridor, the more content we can obtain and better quality.

2.4 – IN CIVIL CEREMONY, TAKE CARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ALTAR.

Lighting is a very important factor in photography. The ideal situation or light would be in the shade.

If the civil ceremony is held in the morning, you must avoid exposing yourself too much to the sun. In addition to the fact that it can be very uncomfortable for you, it can also burn the skin on your face, neckline, shoulders… which we will then have to retouch, increasing our work time. Umbrellas can be very helpful to guests during the ceremony.

If the civil ceremony is held in the afternoon, we must prevent light from filtering through foliage and vegetation. This can create very uneven lighting on the stage (Dalmatian effect) with very contrasting lights and shadows, which in addition to being very unfavorable visually, is very difficult to correct.

2.5 – IN CIVIL CEREMONY, TAKE CARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE.

Try to locate the altar as isolated as possible from outside noise (water fountains, construction machines, children…). This will help us enjoy the ceremony more, putting all our attention on what is really important. We can also get cleaner and better quality audio in the case of video.

2.6 – AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, ALL GUESTS EXCEPT THE FAMILY OR BEST GUESTS MUST LEAVE THEIR SEATS.

The priest or officiant of the ceremony should be aware that when finished, ask the guests to leave and wait outside for a few minutes, so that we can take some group or family photos at the altar. If the guests are not reminded of this, it is very possible that at the end of the ceremony they will come to congratulate you twice: on the altar itself and also after throwing rice or petals. This can greatly delay the rest of the following sections of the wedding, such as the quick photoshooting before the cocktail.

3 – COCKTAIL / BANQUET

3.1 – FOR THE QUICK PHOTOSHOOTING BEFORE THE COCKTAIL, CHOOSE A NEARBY LOCATION.

The most important thing is that you enjoy the day as much as possible, so it is highly recommended to choose a location close to the cocktail to save as much time as possible. If the location is far away, there is a risk of enjoying the cocktail less time.

3.2 – PHOTOGRAPHERS MUST MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT AT THE BANQUET.

To avoid missing any gift or improvised action during the banquet, we always recommend maintaining eye contact with you and all the guests at all times. Having a table in the same space is enough.

3.3 – ROUND TABLES BETTER THAN LONG TABLES.

We document each wedding as if it were our own, which is why we usually photograph all the guests at each table. We wait for the right moment to ask each group for a photo and in this way you will have a memory of all the attendees summarized in very few images. Round tables usually make this much easier than long ones because the groups are more defined.  Ideally, we would manage it with you and take advantage of the moment when you get up to greet them.

3.4 – DECORATION OF THE TABLES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

If you decorate the tables with flowers or another type of object, it is better to do so with the lowest possible heights. If the objects are too high on the tables, it will make it difficult to photograph the guests or prevent you from documenting some actions that happen during the banquet.

3.5 – SPEECHES

If these actions are carried out, the best time to do it is during dessert. This way we will avoid breaking some natural rhythms during the banquet.

3.6 – WEDDING DANCE

If dancing is performed, the longer and more time it takes, the better we can document it, obtaining a better result. We also recommend choreography with a 360º orientation, trying to make it as attractive as possible for all guests. If you close the dance with some choreography or action, also try to do it at 360º to avoid spontaneously turning your back on the photographers.

4 – OPEN BAR

4.1 – AFTER THE WEDDING DANCE, DO NOT LET THE RHYTHM GOES DOWN.

Only in this way can we document this section in a faster and more natural way. If any other action is taken after the wedding dance, such as projecting a video or diverting attention to something other than the open bar itself, it will cause people to become distracted, disperse and may leave.

4.2 – OPEN BAR MUST BE IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE DANCE ROOM.

To also prevent people from abandoning the open bar and their ability to concentrate, it is important that the open bar is located in the same space as the dance room. It is highly recommended that you do not have to open any doors to go from one to another, for example, placing in different rooms, because then people will disperse and separate.

4.3 – DO NOT OVERLOAD THE OPEN BAR WITH TOO MANY SERVICES OR STANDS.

If you hire too many services for the open bar (360º camera, photo booth, etc.), you’ll distract your guests and it won’t truly be a party bar filled with dancing and spontaneity… which makes creating content more difficult and slower. These services are recommended, but only the necessary ones.

4.4 – LIGHTING AND FREQUENCY OF LIGHTS.

Remember that lighting is a very important factor in the development and photography of your wedding. The better and more careful the lighting in the dance room, the more special and magical this environment will seem. Depending on your tastes:

If the dance hall is at night and outdoors, garland lighting can be very beautiful, but the scene in general will be quite dark or black.

If the dance hall is indoors, neon, balls, or LED panels help us a lot to create fun moments, but it is important to mention care with the minimum frequencies of 120/150Hz of these lights, to avoid flickering or flickering with video recording devices.

4.5 – DETAILS, ATTIRE, SURPRISES.

The more resources we have during the open bar, the better the quality of the final result. We always appreciate any type of resource with which we can play and enjoy with you during this moment: stickers, luminous capes, smoke cannons, wigs, masks, surprise guests… it will allow us to tell the story in a much more attractive way, dynamic and fun.

4.6– DO NOT USE LASER LIGHT PLEASE.

The use of laser light during the open bar can cause the sensor of our photography or video cameras to break. It is irreparable damage and the most expensive that exists, which is why we will refuse to work under these conditions. We always recommend other lighting alternatives such as LED disco lights, rotating balls…


This guide is intended to help with preparations and provide useful information by outlining common wedding situations. 

For further questions and information
info@josemartian.com
+34 660898873

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