How to get THE BEST wedding portraits?

‘Golden Hour’ wedding portrait by Mark Hooper Photography

So you are planning a wedding in the Yorkshire area? Well, firstly a HUGE congratulations on your engagement! What wonderful news! Soak up those really special first moments as an engaged couple. Feel all the love from those around you – it can sometimes surprise you how much love and support there is and how happy others feel for you! 

Your wedding day is such a huge life milestone that you share together and celebrate your commitment to each other. It’s so important to capture those magical moments on your special day so you can relive them over and over again and share them with loved ones too, both now and into the future. Being a wedding photographer in Yorkshire, I know it’s a big decision choosing the right person to shoot your wedding day, and it’s always a total honour and privilege when a couple trusts me to document their special day.

During the planning of your wedding day, as you are beginning to figure out a rough order of timings for the day, I am so often asked 2 questions;

1.  Should we build some time into our day for wedding portraits?

2.  What time of day is best for photography?

These are two fantastic questions, and I decided that since I get asked these questions so frequently I would write this blog to share my advice! I hope this will be really helpful (whether you are getting married here in Yorkshire, or anywhere else across the UK and beyond).

Wedding Portrait taken in Yorkshire by Mark Hooper

Should we have wedding portraits?

Many people feel a bit nervous about being photographed and are not sure about whether to have some wedding portraits taken. This is totally understandable, after all for most of us, it’s not a frequent experience to have a photographer in tow across your day!

However, in my experience it is these images that are often the photographs that my couples treasure the most. These are the photographs that capture those intimate and precious moments; they encapsulate how you feel and the commitment you have just made to each other. It’s also a chance to show those real emotions you are experiencing, that sense of genuine joy and laughter in those first special moments together as a married couple. Don’t forget, it’s my job to make you feel relaxed and to make sure we have a great time together; it’s honestly great fun! 

A further benefit of building a short window of time into your day for portraits is to have these 15-20 minutes together, away from the wedding party to have some time just for yourselves. Your wedding day will be the one most special days of your life, with everyone you love in one place all together. However, almost every couple I have photographed has commented on how nice it was to take a short breather, to take a step back, take stock of the day so far and to have a few moments together as a newly married couple.

‘Golden hour’ wedding portrait taken by Mark Hooper Photography

When is the best time of day for the Portrait shots?

I am often asked when in the day should we make some time for these portraits. The honest answer here is that it’s your wedding day so it’s crucial that whatever we plan suits you and how you would like your day to unfold.

Taking these shots in between the ceremony/service and the wedding breakfast being served is always a good moment from a logistical point of view, as your guests enjoy some nibbles and a drink (or two).

However, my personal favourite time to shoot is during the ‘golden hour’ before sunset. ‘Golden hour’ is the time shortly before sunset when the sky lights up a beautiful warm golden colour, and the light is soft and has a very flattering (and almost magical) golden hue. During a wedding day, even if we have shot at some portraits earlier in the day, I often suggest a 5-minute impromptu shot or two during this time, knowing that you will LOVE the results!

This ‘golden hour’ light happens all year round, however If you are planning a spring/summer wedding in Yorkshire when the days are longer, then we are lucky enough to have an extended period of ‘golden hour’ light to enjoy.

Overall, the main thing to remember is that it is your wedding day, and despite what some might say, there simply are not ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way of doing things. Furthermore, however you choose to plan your day, it’s my job as a photographer to make you feel confident, at ease and to deliver a stunning set of relaxed portraits in your gallery, that I know you will treasure forever.

If you want to hear more about my wedding photography, and how I can shoot some beautiful ‘golden hour’ wedding portraits on your special day, then you can find our more here.