7 Moments Your Wedding Photographer Shouldn't Miss

Whether you're in the beginning stages of planning your big day or you're only a few weeks away and are starting to go over your day-of timeline with your wedding photographer, there are a few key pieces of the celebration you'll want to have on camera. Some of the following moments are probably obvious, but be sure to consider the ones you might not have thought about yet — and will surely miss down the road if they aren't captured on your wedding day.. 

Getting Ready with the Bridal Party

When brides and grooms are getting ready for the ceremony with their closest friends and family, there are several fun and emotional moments you'll want to remember after the day is over. Even if you're a more laid back couple, the wedding is likely going to fly by so quickly. When all is said and done, you'll want to enjoy looking back on the day from the beginning. 

And if you're really hoping to get the most out of your getting ready photos, bring some gifts to give to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or pop a few bottles of champagne to kick off the day! 

All the Small Details

After spending months planning such a big event from top to bottom, there are a dozen small details you'll want photographs of to remember down the road, especially for your wedding album. Although mostly about your love for one another, a wedding is also a combination of careful planning and characteristics that speak to who you both are as a couple. 

If you have a theme, setting or style that says a lot about you and the love of your life, have these factors captured on camera — especially anything with significant meaning! From any family heirlooms worn on the day-of and letters written to your parents, to the gift you give to your soon-to-be spouse, ask us to be there for the moments you'll cherish for years to come.

First Look 

Whether you plan to do a formal "first look" moment or you want a traditional first look down the aisle, this is one of the most emotional times of the day and surely one that shouldn't be missed! And it's also one you should have two photographers present for (such as us!), since you'll definitely want to have both of your reactions captured on film. 

Also, be sure to have your photographer capture your first look with your dad, bridesmaids, and/or mom. Sometimes, these can be very emotional and are very worth capturing! Dads especially are often very emotional about their "little girl" growing up and getting married.

First Kiss

Although an obvious one, this moment is a beautiful tradition at the end of the ceremony you'll want at least one great photo of. You might even talk to your fiancee in advance to talk about your plans for your first kiss "style" — will you do a simple, emotional embrace or a dramatic kiss to get everyone cheering? 

Exiting the Ceremony

And right after the ceremony ends, there's nothing quite like that feeling of leaving the altar hand-in-hand with your true love! Be sure to ask your photographer to be ready as you exit the ceremony, but also don't be afraid to raise those hands, kiss again or dance your way to the reception. 

Spontaneous Moments with Family & Friends

The rest of the event should feel less about posed images and more about the celebration with those you love the most. One of the things we love most about wedding receptions is capturing images from a fly-on-the-wall perspective, without your guests ever realizing we were taking photographs of those moments.

The laughs, the tears, the hugs . . . there's a lot of great emotion happening on this day and you should be happily surprised to see them in your wedding photo gallery!

Grand Exit

If you're using flower petals, sparklers or any other fun grand exit style, tell your wedding photographer about it! We love to prepare for these exciting and scenic traditions so that we make sure to capture photos you'll love looking back on and sharing with others from the big day. 

Have another moment you think wedding photographers shouldn't miss? Let us know in the comments!

Contact a Lexington Wedding Photographer Team

We’re Jeff and Michele, a husband and wife wedding photographer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. Your engagement and wedding photography experience is our top priority — we want you to cherish it forever!

We’d love the opportunity to be your photographers. Reach out to us online or give us a call at (502) 551-5799. We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more about Louisville Wedding Photographers and Lexington Wedding Photographers, Jeff & Michele by clicking here!

Best Outdoor Wedding Venues in Louisville Ky

Have you always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding or can't imagine not enjoying beautiful weather for your special day? Luckily, there are several outdoor venues in Louisville, Kentucky to celebrate with all of your loved ones! 

Not only do we love these locations for the abundance of natural light, but being familiar with a venue before the wedding day allows us to get more creative and plan in advance of the celebration for some of the photo locations we'd love to take our couples to.

If you're in the early stages of planning an outdoor wedding in Louisville, we highly recommend taking a look at some of the most stunning outdoor wedding venues in Louisville, Ky that we've listed below. 

BONUS: Want a free consultation with us to see which venue is best for your style? Schedule a free consult by clicking here!

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

A very popular location is the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens . It's a stunning natural setting, with dozens of rare flower gardens and truly unique architecture that's just perfect for organic, boho or romantic styled weddings. The venue even has a castle on site that offers a really beautiful stone background for portraits!

If you'd like to see more Yew Dell Wedding Photos, be sure to check out one of our weddings at Yew Dell!

Want to chat with us for tips about having your wedding at Yew Dell? Schedule a free consult with us by clicking here!

Oxmoor Estate & Gardens

The Oxmoor Estate is a historic plantation in Louisville, as well as a beautiful Louisville wedding venue. With gorgeous gardens, a 16,000 square foot home, and a jaw-dropping grand library, The Oxmoor Estate is definitely one of the most highly revered outdoor wedding venues in Kentucky. 

If you're searching for an elegant venue with rich history and opulent offerings, look no further than The Oxmoor Estate & Gardens as your wedding venue!

Peterson-Dumesnil House Wedding Venue

The Peterson-Dumesnil House is truly a landmark in Louisville, and a lovely venue for outdoor weddings. There interior rooms are large enough to host your getting ready for both the groomsmen and bridesmaids.

The mansion is filled with eclectic, vintage decor and is spacious enough to host guests as well as your getting ready.

If you'd like your reception to be outside, there's a plot designed to host a tent.

While the lawn offers a wide space for ceremonies (complete with a brick pathway down the aisle!), the outside porch is a great option for those wanting a covered area without having to put up a large tent. It definitely brings a warm and inviting vibe for your guests as they arrive!

Whitehall Estate Gardens

There's something so elegant about a classic mansion with a lot of history, and the Louisville wedding venue Whitehall Estate fits this description perfectly. The gardens at this venue include stunning archways, colorful blooms throughout the year, and stone covered pathways just waiting for your walk down the aisle!

Hermitage Farm

About 30 minutes northeast of Louisville is the Hermitage Farm, which is a great space if you're looking to have an outdoor wedding venue with the ability to have some of your guests stay overnight. When you book this location, you also have access to the indoor areas for small gatherings, as well as sweeping views of green rolling pastures on the grounds.

Gardencourt Wedding Venue

This gorgeous location is not only over 100 years old and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, but Gardencourt is also a stunning wedding venue. With brick-lined pathways through manicured gardens, a fountain in the courtyard, and elegant furnishings inside like the marble fireplaces and a grand staircase, there's lots to love about this venue.

One of the best perks of Gardencourt? You have your choice of saying your vows outside in the Rose Gardens or South Lawn, or, if you want an indoor option, you can also book Caldwell Chapel, which is on the same campus.

21C Museum Hotel Wedding Venue

One of our favorites is the 21C Museum Hotel for a variety of reasons. If you're looking to make your wedding easy and relaxed, you can have your getting location, ceremony, and reception all in one place!

It houses a private rooftop penthouse and open/outdoor rooftop overlook with beautiful views of Louisville and the Ohio River! Between exposed brick walls, unique architecture and an outdoor rooftop area, it's a venue that's hard to beat.

The Olmsted Wedding Venue

Another elegant option for an outdoor ceremony location with an indoor backup option is the historic Olmsted. You can say your vows outside on the lawn underneath some of the tall oak trees, and celebrate with your closest friends and family in a dining hall that still has lots of natural light (and some gorgeous chandeliers!).

If you'd like to see more The Olmsted Wedding Photos, be sure to check out a blog post of one of our weddings at The Olmsted!

Wedding photo taken at The Olmsted of Bride & Groom

Indoor ceremony setup at The Olmsted, Louisville Ky

The Ice House Wedding Venue

And last (but definitely not least!) is the Ice House, which is the perfect space for indoor/outdoor weddings of almost any size! You can have your ceremony outdoor on the East Terrace and easily allow your guests to head straight into Main Hall for an indoor reception. Or you can use their Rooftop Garden, with a truly unique "green space" that has a view of Downtown Louisville!

Did we miss a venue that you think would fit well on this list? Let us know in the comments!

Talk with a Husband Wife Wedding Photographer Team in Louisville Ky!

Once you've selected a date and venue, you should start looking for the right wedding photographer (or photographers!) for you. We’re Jeff and Michele, a husband and wife wedding photographer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. Your engagement and wedding photography experience is our top priority — we want you to cherish it forever!

We’d love the opportunity to be your photographers. Reach out to us online or schedule a quick consult with us! We look forward to hearing from you! 

---

Other Featured Blog posts

---

Jeff and Michele's Favorite Engagement Session Locations

While there are dozens of locations to choose from for your engagement session, it's best to find ones that offer a variety of spots and backdrops to use for portraits and all within a close range to one another. Our couples often ask for suggestions when it comes to engagement session locations, so we wanted to offer some insight about our favorite places to determine which might be a great fit for you! 

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

One of our all-time favorite locations for engagement sessions is the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest -- for many reasons. Not only does the Bernheim have over 15,000 acres of land, including a 600-acre arboretum, there is a lot of gorgeous natural light to match the endless amounts of space there.

It's also a fantastic choice for a spring or summer engagement session with a natural or organic vibe, since the endless varieties of flowers and shrubs offer beautiful backdrops for engagement photos.

There is a $5 per carload fee that Bernheim charges visitors. Sessions do not have to be scheduled with a Bernheim representative.

Historic Whitehall House and Gardens

For a more elegant engagement session, one of our top recommendations is the historic (and beautiful!) Whitehall Mansion and Estate Garden. The mansion itself is a classy two-story building with tall white pillars that give off a timeless vibe we just love. And when you combine the home with the arboretum and gardens, there are few places in all of Kentucky that match the romantic ambiance of this place. We have loads of unique floral and greenery backdrops to play with for engagement sessions here, and we simply can't rave about it enough!

Whitehall charges a $100 fee and requires that sessions be scheduled in advance.

Falls of the Ohio

Although this one isn't actually within the Kentucky state borders, the Falls of the Ohio State Park is so close to Louisville (right across the Ohio River on the Indiana riverside) and is an option we love to suggest to our couples! Most people come here to look at the fossil beds, but we come here for the walking trails and the riverside views, which are perfect settings for scenic and fun engagement sessions!

Falls of the Ohio charges no fees to use the ground at the time we're writing this article! However, if you're coming from Kentucky to the Falls, there is an avoidable toll bridge. Sessions do not have to be scheduled with a Falls representative.

Yew Dell

Are you sensing a theme here? What can we say: we love gardens for engagement sessions!

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is another top-choice engagement location in the Louisville area that we can't get enough of. Between the abundance of natural light, colorful plants, fountains, and brick pathways -- not to mention a simple yet stunning stone castle! -- there is a lot to love about this engagement session option.

Yew Dell does charge a $75 fee to host an engagement session. All session must be scheduled in advance.

Wallitsch Garden Center

For a great indoor option on a rainy day, we love using the Wallitsch Garden Center! The greenhouses on site have a nice balance of giving an outdoor feel and natural light, all while being "inside" so we won't have to worry about a gloomy day.

Wallitsch hosts our engagement sessions at their discretion and must be verified in advance.

Waterfall Destinations

If you're interested in finding a more epic and scenic location to make an adventure out of your engagement session, please message us. We have a few waterfall places that are perfect for engagement portraits, and would love to bring a couple adventurous souls to our secret spots!

Want to try another spot?

We like to pick locations that allow us to shoot in various lighting conditions. A location with high trees or buildings that also has areas that aren't surrounded allow us to shoot with plenty of good light, regardless of where the sun is. With that said, we're open to any sentimental, destination, or other types of locations you have in mind. 

If you have a spot that you'd like to try out, let us know!

If you enjoyed reading about our favorite engagement session locations, head on over to read another great blog post, How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session! 

Looking for an engagement photographer? Contact us!

We’re Jeff and Michele, a husband and wife wedding photographer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. Your engagement and wedding photography experience is our top priority — we want you to cherish it forever!

We’d love the opportunity to be your photographers. Reach out to us online or give us a call at (502) 551-5799. We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more about Louisville Wedding Photographers and Lexington Wedding Photographers, Jeff & Michele by clicking here!

How Do I Choose a Wedding Photographer?

So, you've gotten engaged and you've been plunged into the strange world of planning out your wedding! Isn't it wonderful?

Of course, right?!

If you haven't started looking at photographers already, you've probably heard that they're the most important and critical vendor decision you'll make. If that's not intimidating enough, you've maybe realized that the choice isn't between a few good options — there are about a million photographers out there!

And truth be told, some people have had not-so-great experiences that have left a bad taste in their mouth about their wedding photos, so the choice is a big and important one for sure. 

This is exactly why we created this tips for choosing a wedding photographer guide! We want to help. Allow us to explain: One night after an engagement session, we discussed with one of our brides some of the things she learned that helped make her feel confident and relieved about choosing her wedding photographer. After hearing her story, we decided that other brides would benefit, just like she did.

Simple enough, right?  

So, without further ado, let's jump right in the guide on how to choose a wedding photographer!

Some Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Photographer

We feel that there are categories of things to look for when it comes to finding the best wedding photographers to care for your wedding.

We've broken it down :

●Pricing: We won’t focus on that much here, since it’s covered largely in our “How Much Should I Spend On My Wedding Photographer Post?” Check it out!

● Perspective Approach and Editing Style: Their photos should make you feel the way you want them to make you feel while retaining a timeless and talented look that won’t quickly go out of style. You can learn more about the importance of Approach and Style by visiting our post on “Which Photography Style is Best for My Wedding?”

●Interpersonal Skills & Client Care: Your wedding photographer should have the ability to make you comfortable so you look relaxed and enjoy having them there. Also, they need to be able to manage their time and others, not only to help your big day stay on schedule but to rescue it from being "too behind." They also need to be able to confidently direct groups of people for formal photos, without seeming like a pushy jerk. 

● Photo Care: They should have the know-how and equipment to ensure that your photos are kept safe, even when hard drives crash.

● Business stability: Let's face it, if they don't have their actual business in order, it will affect how well they can serve you. In Louisville, there was a photographer that made the news because of her shady business practices that left couples high and dry.

● Business Offerings: Will they also include and/or design an album? Can they rush order your save the dates? If the photographer isn’t offering some things you want, then you may need to look elsewhere.

Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer — Ask These 11 Questions

Now it’s time for the list! Ask these 11 questions, and you'll be well on your way to finding the best photographer for your wedding.

1. "Do their photos make me feel the way I want my photos to make me feel on our 25th anniversary?"

This is a question for you to ask yourself. Are their photos so trendy that it'll be yesterday's fad by the time you hit your 2nd anniversary? Does it look like they're throwing Instagram filters on it, or adding a bunch of flare to make up for their lack of ability?

Also, something to consider: are they including a distracting watermark on all their images? Perhaps they won’t deliver files with watermarks to you, but some do! So, be sure to ask ahead of time.

2. "Do they have lots of good photos in both bright and low-light or do only the first few on their website look good?"

Look beyond the first few photos! Pay special attention to color photographs as black and white are more likely to hide imperfections. Look for too-white wedding dresses or too-dark tuxes; the wedding dress shouldn’t be a giant white blob in every photo.

Make sure their photos are consistently in focus, especially in low-light. Ask to see full weddings, and look for consistency in how the photos make you feel. If they refuse to show you a full wedding, take that as a red flag!

For some more in-depth tips on looking for a wedding photographer that can shoot in low-light, be sure to check out our post on How to Know If a Wedding Photographer Can Shoot In Low Light!

3. "Do they have good, consistent reviews over the years, and at least some recent good reviews?"

Photographers that care about their business are constantly trying to serve their clients in a way that leads to 5-star reviews. Be sure to check their reviews on regulated websites such as TheKnot.com. Many websites such as Facebook are very unregulated when it comes to reviews.

Don't worry if they don't have "the most" reviews. The style you choose may not be the most popular, or the photographer you're looking at may do higher-end weddings, but a lower volume when compared to someone else. As long as they have consistent, good reviews, you're probably good to go on this point. 

4. "How many backup cameras and lenses do you have and are they as good as your main camera in low-light?"

If they don't have extra cameras and lenses, watch out. Camera shutters and lenses can fail! Having at least one backup camera and a few lenses per shooter is absolutely standard. 

5. "Will you have a second photographer?"

Having two shooters to capture both you and your fiancee's reaction during your first look or when you walk down the aisle at a minimum is best. Also, do you want to have another way of ensuring you have more backups of your photos?

Then make sure there's going to be a second shooter. If possible, use a husband and wife team. Sure, we might be biased, but having two people that have been through it all, and who also work together as a team all the time is a huge advantage to ensuring a smooth experience.

Additionally, you probably want someone to be there with you and someone to be there with your fiancee during the getting ready portion of the day. 

*Bonus. Ask: "What's the second shooter's experience with photographing weddings?"

If the photographer seems to get uncomfortable, I wouldn't put much stock in having that second shooter. A second shooter could be anyone, even someone with hardly any skills that was booked perhaps even the week before your wedding. However, a caring and wise photographer will hire someone with credentials.

6. "How will you keep our photos safe during and after our wedding day?"

Make sure they back up your photos multiple times! We personally use cameras that back up data to two cards at once. This, coupled with shooting film means that we have our clients wedding photos on up to 7 different sources at any given time.

Once we get the photos uploaded to the computer, we back them up to another hard drive, which is backed up again, and then finally backed up again to a hard drive that is taken off-site for extra protection against destruction by potential flooding, tornados, or fire.

If the photographer you’re considering doesn’t have a plan to backup at least three times, and preferably one in a different location from the rest of the backups, be wary. God forbid, but if their house burns down before they deliver your photos, will the original files be safe?

7. "What size files will you be delivering? Will I receive printing rights?"

This is a two-part question. If you want to have the freedom to make large prints for years, make sure you'll be getting the high-resolution files. These files are typically 3mb-10mb, sometimes a little smaller or larger.

It’s nice to have smaller files (500gb-1mb typically) for uploading to social media. These files still look great but aren’t compressed to look pixelated. But, if you’re printing above a 5x7, be sure to get larger files that will look great printed!

It's OK if they don't include printing rights, but just know that, if you want prints, you'll have to purchase from them directly. If that's the case, then ask for a list of the cost of prints, and make sure it's worth it. It can be a huge advantage to order directly through the photographer if they calibrate their monitors to be color accurate and use a professional lab.

Often a photographer may refuse to grant print rights. This is not intended to be mean or to get more money out of you, but because they care about their craft so much and want to ensure that the final product of the print comes out looking as amazing as it is supposed to. While you may have access to less expensive printers, oftentimes these can show inaccurate colors and not last nearly as long as professional prints.

We offer both print rights and custom printing so that our brides have a choice.

8. "Do you have business insurance?"

If they don't, sometimes venues won't even allow them to photograph on the premises. But perhaps even more importantly, having insurance is also a good sign that the photographer has invested not only in quality gear but also in their business as a long-term craft and means of earning a living. These types of photographers are more likely to provide an awesome experience and a quality product.

9. “What will happen if you can’t make it to the wedding?”

Although this is probably the last thing you want to think about, making sure that your candidate has a legitimate backup plan provided they can’t come is HUGE! Be sure to ask who their backup is. Are their backup photographer(s) of comparable style and ability?

10. “May I see your contract?”

A good photographer comes with a good contract. Reading the contract before booking is a really great idea! We suggest asking for them to explain any terms you don’t understand. If the photographer does not have a contract, even if they are a family friend, don’t book them!

After you've talked with the candidate photographer ask:

11. “Who really stands out to me the most?”

Ask yourself:

Out of all the photographers that I’ve considered…

…who’s photos did I like the best?

…who seemed the most professional?

…who did I like on a personality level the most?

This is one of the MOST important aspects of choosing your wedding photographer. Make sure you love the photos the photos they produce, that you love their professionalism, and that you love their personality! If they don't make you feel comfortable and relaxed with a healthy combination of those traits, that unease will likely follow you throughout the day and shape your experience. Again, they will be with you the WHOLE DAY.

Natural looking photography is a product of having a natural energy and rapport between yourself and the photographer. This might not be an immediate rapport, especially if they’re a little shy, but if a photographer really rubs you the wrong way, don’t go with them just to save a buck.

You don’t have to meet them in person, although you can if they are willing. A phone call or Skype session should be enough to find out if you click! Remember, the photographer will help make or break your wedding experience and how you look in your photos (and how you feel about them later)!

Let's Wrap It Up

Now, no photographer will meet all the standards perfectly, but they should aim for excellence in all these areas and should be able to address each one of your questions.

Hopefully this post has helped you answer the question, "How do I choose a wedding photographer?". If you found this resource helpful, please share to help others!

If you're a bride, planner, photographer or someone else with an opinion, tell us what you think in the comments! What other important questions did we miss?

If you have any other questions for us or would like to reach out and share your experience, please feel free to contact us!
 

Thank you and happy wedding photographer hunting!

Warmly,

Jeff & Michele
 

How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session

One of the things we love most about our work is getting to know our couples prior to the wedding ceremony. And engagement sessions are the perfect way to do just that!

However, we also know that this is the first time many of our clients are taking professional photographs together — which often leads to a little nervousness in the beginning of the session. Whether you’re unsure about what to wear to your engagement session or how best to prepare for it in advance, we’ve got a list of quick tips to help you:

1. Choose an outfit that will look flattering and great on camera.

When going through your closet or maybe even ordering something special from to select your engagement session outfit, look for clothes that are soft and muted in color or go with something white, off-white, or blush — what we like to call “neutrals.” Tight, repetitive patterns and flashy colors can drag the eye away from focusing on the intimacy of you and your soon-to-be spouse.

And if you have a hard time selecting just one outfit, bring a backup option. Although we like to focus most of the session on your top choice, it can help ease nerves a bit to know you have a second outfit ready to go. When in doubt: ask our opinion, we love to help!

Want more inspiration for your outfit? Be sure to check out our Engagement Session Wardrobe Board!

Also, if your looking for something fun to wear just for your engagement session, consider something like Rent the Runway.

2. Use the opportunity to get dolled up.

It’s not every day that you get portraits taken together, so use the engagement session as a chance to get your hair and makeup professionally done! It’ll also immediately make you feel more confident going into the session, especially since these photos are ones you’ll likely want to hang on your walls!

And if you already have your hair and makeup artist selected for your wedding day, you may ask to use this as your “trial” with them to test out a few looks before the session. Or head out to dinner after we’re finished taking photos, since you’ll both look dressed up and ready for a night on the town!

We HIGHLY recommend wearing SPF free make up, especially in the case of doing an indoor engagement session. SPF make up may make your face look paler due to how it reflects certain types of light. 

3. Know what to expect during the engagement session.

Looking for a little insight into what your engagement sessions will be like? Although every photographer is different, we tell our couples that you’ll quickly learn our four basic poses so you're not left wondering how to stand. From there, we may make slight adjustments here and there. You both will catch on pretty quickly, so no need to worry!

We also suggest to remember that this is a time when you two are simply spending time together. Remember to breathe, feel as relaxed as you can, and be conversational (both with us and with the love of your life!). It’s totally normal to feel nervous, but know that we have you covered and want the entire experience to feel personable and easy. Be yourselves and enjoy the moment!

4. Can we bring our pet?

Our policy=Absolutely! We love having your furry friends join us. We suggest having someone else come along so that your pet(s) can go with them after their done with their photos.

Another great tip if you're hoping to bring your dog along: take them to a dog park and let them run around for a few minutes before your session! This will help them to be a little more relaxed since they'll likely be more worn out and ready to sit for a few poses.

5. Where should we have our photos taken?

We have a few favorite places that we suggest. Generally, we are looking for a location that has several different scenes that are close together. That way we aren't spending too much time going from one place to the other. 

We typically prefer outdoors with plenty of color, although indoor locations can also work great, especially when well lit!

If you're interested in checking out some of our favorite locations, be sure to see our Favorite Engagement Session Locations!

6. About what time should we plan to begin taking photos?

About 2 hours before sunset is the best time since the light is prettiest. So, for example, if sunset is at 7:30pm, we'll usually plan to start around 5:30pm.

Looking for an engagement photographer? Contact us!

We’re Jeff and Michele, a husband and wife wedding photographer team based in Louisville, Kentucky. Your engagement and wedding photography experience is our top priority — we want you to cherish it forever! We’d love the opportunity to be your photographers. Reach out to us online or give us a call at (502) 551-5799. We look forward to hearing from you!