Wedding Planner POV: How to Plan to Get the Best Photos | by Dominique Mattessino of Soul Agave
Welcome to Ethan’s Blog! I'm Dominique, your no-BS best friend aka wedding planner, here to guide you through planning a wedding where the photographers have the opportunity to capture stunning photos. At Soul Agave, we specialize in planning weddings for busy couples who crave an authentic beginning. Our couples are all about their distinct style & they obsess over their love story. Prioritizing creativity, nontraditional ideas, and breaking societal norms is a standard. We both agree that the real magic lies in soul-searching conversations, setting healthy boundaries, and kicking off this new journey with purpose. HENCE, why our couples zero in on Ethan’s work and love him as a human!!
It's an honor to be here with you, thanks for reading, let’s get into it.
If you’re reading this, then you must care about getting the best photos from your wedding day. But first, let’s clarify what we mean by “best photos”. I cannot tell you the EXACT photos that I recommend taking, but what I can tell you is how we plan our weddings & where we build in– authentic moments, strategic buffers, and when to be ooober intentional.
The best photos for each couple look wildly different. And since I don’t know you, or your story I can’t be specific (but my enneagram 3 wants to be, iykyk). Taking into account a couple’s style, wedding design, the created experience and priorities shapes what “best photos” become.
Sorry to break it to ya, but that means you need to do some work here too. But I promise it’s worth it!
Here’s our best advice:
1. Add buffers to your timeline
Your wedding day timeline is the canvas for your photos. We recommend meticulously weaving in moments for photography, ensuring there’s time to capture without feeling rushed.
Each wedding should have multiple timelines (planner, photo, DJ, etc); ensure the order of events matches.
Your planner’s responsibility is to make sure all vendors have the time and space they need to do their job (within our reach, we’re not magicians). That’s why we don’t craft timelines that are minute by minute, we use timeblocks – all vendors do their best in the allotted time they have!
What does that mean for you?
Listen to your planners when they are creating buffers in the timeline. If you don’t have a planner, assume that everything takes double the amount of time.
“Why does the timeline have 30 minutes to put my dress on? I don’t think it will take me that long to get dressed”
ONE WORD ANSWER: LIES
FURTHER EXPLAINATION: Time buffers are there so you don’t feel rushed, and stressed and create a horrible environment for those “best photos” you're looking to get!
Listen to your photographers when they allot a time block for photos. Every photographer knows how long they need for set up, shooting, and creativity.
If the photographer says they need 45 minutes to do all family photos and group shots…LISTEN. If your planner doesn’t listen, get a new one LOL kidding, but not really.
2. Carving in Intimacy
Intimate moments are the heart of your wedding gallery, the GREAT BAMBINO of photos (sandlot reference), aka the photos we’ve all dreamt of! We recommend planning little escapes – quiet moments away from the chaos, first looks while reading private vows, or private last dances – where your connection can truly shine. These are the unguarded, raw moments that make for PHENOMONAL photos.
Create spaces and moments for connection with family and friends too. Our new favorite is a post-ceremony gathering with just immediate family where they all come running after you to congratulate you. Picture this: Right after the ceremony when Mom is still crying, Dad is pretending like he’s not crying, your wedding party is SO excited, you’re feeling on top of the world (because you are grateful that part is over) and you have all that emotion captured so authentically!
PRO-TIP: Don’t forget to communicate your plans to EVERYONE involved. Seems silly to mention, but it’s not. Make sure everyone is clear on where they are going and when.
3. Create photo moments
Staged doesn't have to mean stiff. We design photo ops that invite fun and spontaneity. Picture a vintage car for stylish exit photos or a whimsically decorated swing. These are playful, interactive design pieces, yet photogenic setups that encourage natural smiles and laughter.
More examples: Personal letters as a seating chart, as people read them it will invoke so many emotions to capture. A “photo with the couple” activity is always a good way to make sure to get a photo with everyone (we love to use these as digital thank you cards for after the wedding).
PRO-TIP: Anytime you can create an opportunity for people will laugh, or naturally get excited over what you are looking for here. This is where your love story and personality matter because it has to make sense to you as a couple, and what people know you for.
4. Clean sh*t up
A serene space makes for serene photos, DUH. It sounds silly but know your surroundings. Photographers cannot change what they are capturing, they only do the best with what we provide them.
That gorgeous AirBnB you booked to get ready at will NOT be in your photos if the place is trashed when the photo team arrives. Keep all areas tidy and clean (remember what it looked like when you arrived). No one wants Susie's underwear on the floor, half-eaten lunches or a bathroom destroyed by hair and makeup in your photos.
PROTIP: Assign a bridesmaid(s) or groomsmen to clean the places up before the photo team arrives. If you are at a hotel or resort, call housekeeping (PRO-TIP: Be good human and tip the housekeeping service).
5. Location matters
Location, location, location! Whether it's a historical building with dope architecture or a garden with 360 views, diverse backdrops add layers to your photo story. Use your photographer's galleries as inspiration to see the locations of your favorite photos. Ask yourself: What stands out? Indoor/Outdoor? Walls or landscapes? Light or Dark? Will flash be needed? Do you like flash photos?
When scouting locations make sure to keep track of these details and take photos of all the spaces to refer back to. Your venue dictates a huge part of your design. It is VERY expensive to redesign a “Space A” to look like “Space B” when we could of booked “Space B”. The key to getting great photos is being as intentional as possible in your decision-making. How do you become intentional? Craft a very clear vision/design or moodboard.
6. Intentional Photographer
Choosing a photographer is like choosing a new friend – ETHAN, SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK lol. You can speak on this way better than me, BUT i’ll give my two cents.
Find a photographer whose style you adore and whose personality you click with. Their lens will see your day unfold, so it’s crucial they understand your vision and you feel as comfortable as possible.
The same goes for us wedding planners, if you do not like who you hire it’s not going to be the best time and you’re probably not going to get the “best photos”. #SorryNotSorry
PS. Work with vendors that stress the importance of your relationship. The vendors you hire are the ones who are responsible for executing the wedding you imagine in your head – make sure they hear you, understand your wants and needs, and you feel 100% they will show up and show out for you. It’s you’re wedding day, you can’t get it back!
So, it’s good to interview multiple people, do your research, and read reviews/comments before you commit to a vendor. We follow the same practice when finding new vendors to work with. If your planner recommends a vendor, they take on the social responsibility. Planners should only be recommending vendors they trust and have worked well with numerous times. Shameless plug: another time-saving reason to hire a good planner. They negotiate and do this work on your behalf.
7. Highlighting Your Story
Your wedding photos should be a visual journey of your relationship aka the concept of the design. From the decor to the vows, every element should echo your story. Share the elements you want to be captured with your photographer.
(Ethan, you may hate me for this one LOL)
But we recommend creating a shot list of artist shots you find on Pinterest or Instagram or even art collections. Find shots that you want to see of your design for the wedding day. You won’t always have the opportunity to see the wedding fully set, with no guests.
Our favorite right now is the ends or in-between of the dinner tables (drooling).
We love to use these photos for large-scale prints for your home. Not everyone loves the idea of printing numerous photos of themselves all over the walls – this is another way to showcase your wedding.
Details shot hung in the bathroom?! Or in highend coffee table book?! (Drooling again)
Disclaimer: Not all shot lists are created equal, meaning they are not a checklist for the day. DO NOT give your photographer a run-on checklist, you will completely remove their creativity. The “pinterest shot list” is for inspiration, IF and only IF, the photographers have the time to get to them.
8. Knowing Your Angles and Practicing Poses
Get comfortable in front of the camera by knowing what works for you and what doesn’t. An engagement shoot can be a fun way to practice. It’s also a chance for your photographer to understand your best angles and how you interact as a couple.
You're the expert on what you love (and don't love) about yourself in photos. You have to let us in on that. We are on your side, we are not going to judge.
But if you don’t tell us you “hate when your ears”, we won’t be able to remind you to fix your hair.
Make sense? It’s ok to ask for what you want. But if you don’t speak up, we can’t read your mind!
Ethan can correct me if I'm wrong, but it's easier to fix it in person rather than later on in Photoshop!
9. Embrace the Unexpected
Some of the best photos come from unplanned moments. A sudden rain shower can make for a romantic umbrella shot, or a burst of laughter can lead to a beautifully candid photo. Embrace these surprises as part of your story. Be yourself at every moment.
If you need a minute? Tell us you need a minute – we are here to help, and we roll with the punches.
As much as we wish we had magic powers, we cannot control everything. If there are delays, we don’t get to capture all the footage we want. And when it happens, it sucks majorily. Hire a team of vendors that no matter the drama that unfolds are willing to adapt and pivot to give you the best wedding experience. Always get a day of coordinator, but that’s a whole other conversation.
10. Quality Over Quantity
It's not about having thousands of photos but about having the right ones that capture the essence of your day. Discuss with your photographer about focusing on quality, and capturing moments that matter most. When you create a shot list, I recommend prioritizing it. Or color code it in order of importance. Want to feel better safe than sorry? EXECUTE these tiny details! They end up mattering. Details.Over.Everything.
Planning for remarkable wedding photos involves more than just posing. It’s about crafting a day filled with genuine emotion, stunning backdrops, and moments of intimacy, learning to let go, be yourself, and savor every moment.
Ethan, thanks for having me as a guest blog feature! Honored as always!!!
If you’re still reading this… have fun planning your wedding & congrats again!!!
xoxo
(Headshot by Ethan, DUH)
—mommadom
