Your wedding photos aren’t a smile-and-say-cheese situation. For truly beautiful portraits you’ll treasure for years to come, take pointers from real couples who’ve mastered the artform—and the photo pros who captured them.
Taylor Little + Brad Wolff
October 10, 2020
The Takeaway: Every photographer’s style is unique. Find the one that’s right for you.
When selecting a photographer for their big day, Taylor Little and Brad Wolff wanted someone who would not only capture the major mo-ments, but the smaller ones as well—those that happen in a blink of an eye but are meaningful nonetheless. “While posed photos are beautiful and definitely have their charm, what we really wanted to remember was not only how our wedding looked, but how it felt,” says Taylor. The couple ultimately decided to go with Grant Daniels, not only because of his talent, but because he felt like a friend. His editorial style perfectly matched what Taylor and Brad were looking for. “All of my favorite photos from our wedding day are those that were unposed, and many I didn’t even know our photographer was in the room,” says Taylor. “Grant has such an eye for capturing those intimate moments that you always feel but never really get to see come to life.” —Lydia Brooks
Allison Golden + Scott Tucker
October 3, 2020
The Takeaway: Trust your photographers—even if it feels a little silly.
Photographers Matt and Julie Norine of Matt and Julie Weddings captured Allison Golden and Scott Tucker’s wedding-day bliss in this breathtaking shot taken moments after the two said “I do” at Marie Gabrielle. But as Julie admits, getting such beautiful results sometimes requires some less-than-natural circumstances. “We usually get this shot while I hold the veil and Matt gets underneath with the camera,” she says, admitting that it can feel silly for some brides and grooms. Fortunately, Allison and Scott fully trusted their team and went along with their direction. “They recommended different poses that still felt natural and not overly stiff,” Allison says. “I almost forgot we were taking pictures and just enjoyed each moment.” Allison said this particular shot took a few tries, manipulating the veil and trying different angles, but in the end, the photo became a precious keepsake. “Just trying to relax and have fun is the most important thing to do to have great photos,” says Matt. “When you trust your photographer, that’s when the magic happens!” —Haley Davis
Melissa Chiranky + Nick Bozich
June 15, 2019
The Takeaway: Make your portraits personal.
Having grown up listening to the Beatles under his dad’s musical tutelage, groom Nick Bozich (center) took a page from the Fab Four’s play-book to capture this significant moment on his wedding day. “This is my dad, me, my two brothers, and one of my dearest friends, who is the reason I met my wife,” says Nick. “This picture has some of the most important people in my life, in the style of one of the biggest influences of my life.” A Sea of Love photographers Morgan Chidsey-Brosnan and Blake Brosnan set the scene on the streets of downtown near the Joule, where Nick would tie the knot with bride Melissa Chiranky. “This was the first time I did an Abbey Road lineup shot,” Blake says, “but after this wedding, I now do it with every groomsmen group.” —Haley Davis
Allie Anderson + Austin Billner
October 3, 2020
The Takeaway: The right prop can take a photo from good to great.
When planning her wedding to Austin Billner, Allie Anderson was inspired by a trip she’d taken to London, even hiring Rebecca Langford in part because the photographer’s color palette had an English garden feel. As a nod to Austin’s affinity for classic cars, a love he inherited from his grandfather, the couple rented a 1961 Corvette for their getaway and decided to use it in their photos. Rebecca’s choice to frame the couple in the windshield, with the reflection of the trees at Hillwood Manor, made for a timeless image that captured the couple’s love—and called to mind the stylish getaway made after another Anglophilian nuptial. (Harry and Meg, anyone?) “Although I love the artistic elements of presets that modern photographers use,” Allie says, “I wanted our photos to withstand all the trends to come.” —Lydia Brooks
Jordan Heigel + Brandon Perdue
October 3, 2020
The Takeaway: Timeless portraiture will never go out of style.
Jordan Heigel admits that she and husband Brandon Perdue aren’t exactly naturals in front of the camera. But thanks to the professionalism of their wedding photographer, Ellen Ashton, they were able to commemorate their special day in beautiful ways they never could have imag-ined. “For two people who don’t love taking photos, we were completely at ease,” says Jordan. “Having a photographer we were comfortable with and trusted made it a wonderful experience.” Combined with the timeless architecture of Union Station, the grainy black-and-white treatment that mimics the look of film makes for a dreamy portrait that could just as easily be from last year or last century. “I love timeless and romantic imagery,” says Ellen. As for the striking pose, the photographer laughs, “My clients know that I get ‘visions’ of poses that I want to create—it’s a running joke with a lot of my brides to ‘trust Ellen’s visions.’ This shot was one of those.” —Kate Foster
