Get Better Utah Wedding, Engagement & Portrait Photographs

Tips While Shooting

Arrive EARLY, and if you're running late or think you will be, please call. Not only is it rude to your photographer to arrive late, you'll need extra time to get into your clothing, or to finish preparing for the shoot. If your photographer asks you to be there at 5:30, you need to be there and be ready at 5:30. If you need to change, or get into a dress, that means you need to arrive at 5:00. Arriving on-time and early if you need prep means we'll spend your scheduled time shooting, giving you more pictures than waiting while you dress and do make-up/hair.
The best time of day for photographing is the hour after sunrise, and the hour before sunset. This can vary in some locations, as the sun disapears sooners up canyons and in urban places. We usually try and schedule 2 hours before, so that we have plenty of time to shoot without feeling like we're losing daylight too fast.
Bring comfortable shoes! On bridal sessions, engagement sessions, and even on your wedding day. We cant tell you how many brides/couples arrive for mountain setting photographs in their formal shoes and a full dress that covers the shoes anyway. If you're in doubt, wear your formals but BRING some comfortable shoes that you can do some climbing in.
Bring an assistant, but not the whole family. It's always nice to have someone who can help you get around, carry extra clothing, and things like that. Some photo shoots can go long, we dont place time limits and if we're getting grerat shots we've been known to shoot for 1.5 hours and longer. If you bring along anyone else who is likely to get bored, we'll have to cut it short.
Good posture can dramatically improve your appearance in pictures. Sitting or standing up straight will make you look healthier and more alert. Bad posture can make you look heavier, tired, etc.
Be well rested before your session. If you're tired it will show. This is especially important on wedding days. Tired brides and grooms that are normally spunky, and full of personality just arent themselves in front of the camera.
Relax. Many people end up looking odd in photos because they freeze into odd facial expressions with a "say cheese" type of smile on their face. If you're used to having bad pictures taken of yourself, you probably get nervous in front of the camera, and this can make things even worse. Practice smiling in front of the mirror. In no time you'll know which smile looks fake and which is the most flattering.
While you do not HAVE to bring a bouquet to your bridal sitting we do recommend it, there are a LOT of really fun shots that involve the flowers. if you would like to bring a bouquet but are on a budget or too short of a time frame to order one, Costco and Sam's Club have beautiful bouquets of cut flowers for very reasonable prices. You can just tie a ribbon around them for a quick and affordable bouquet.

Tips for Clothing, Hair & Make-Up

Make sure clothes are pressed and/or steamed. Wrinkles make nice clothing look cheap and used, especially wedding dresses and nice shirts.
Keep clothing simple: Solid colors are best busy prints distract from your face
Try to match clothing to the setting. Formal Dresses and Suits & Ties for your egnagements will look better downtown, or in settings that would call for formal wear. Khakis and sweaters match photos up the canyons, etc. This helps your photos look like shots of you out having fun, instead of getting your pictures taken. Bridals are the one exception to this rule, where-in brides will never blend in with their surroundings and the contrast is interesting.
In group portraits keep clothing styles similar, dont mix formal and casual wear.
Boys check your socks, dont wear white! Make sure your belt and shoes match each-other and the style of clothing you're wearing. Also, make sure your shoes are clean.
Scoop necklines or v-necks flatter fuller faces and shorter necks Turtlenecks & higher necklines flatter slender faces and long necks.
Wear sleeves if you are self consious of yoru arms, it will make them appear smaller.
Good undergarments go unnoticed, bad ones don't
Brides: when possible try your choice of hairstyle prior to your wedding day. this will assure that you love your hair that day. your bridal sitting is the perfect time to test drive all of your wedding day attire/accesories.
contrary to popular belief your make-up does not need to be far heavier than your everyday look. a little extra goes a long way. you will be much happier looking more like yourself, rather than wearing a mask. not to mention if it happens to be a hot day, too much make-up tends to melt right off of your face.
Grooms: it is unwise to cut your hair immediately before your wedding. a week or two before will ensure a clean look, but it will also allow a bad cut to have a little time to grow back. A fresh, close shave is absolutely necessary; neatly trim beards & mustaches
Bring your lip gloss and powder along for any on-location touch-ups that you may need.
Buy clothes that fit you. Whether you are a size 8 or a size 48, if you wear the wrong size clothes, you'll end up looking bigger than you are. Wearing clothes that are too tight leads to bulges and lumps, so try things on before you buy them. And choosing clothes which are too big adds to your size and makes you look larger.