What I need for ya big day!

Hey Team!!
Not long to go until your big day!!
Just touching base to get the last bits and bobs, so when you get a chance, take a read of the information and flick me through the essentials listed below.

Check your photo coverage you booked with you package and make sure you have enough to cover what you want on your wedding day!

- make up/hair time (usually start when it’s your turn for make up)
- groom location (actual street address - not to get ready til I arrive)
- bride location (actual street address)
- ceremony location (actual street address)
- Timetable/run sheet the for days events
When setting your timeline - work to the timeframe of when you actually plan to arrive for the ceremony eg if you’re going to be fashionably late then have that in the runsheet timeline. Also, if you plan to have any events happen past 8.30pm, extended coverage will be required.
- if you guys can have your accessories out for me to photograph eg rings, shoes, perfumes, wedding stationery and anything else important
- vendor list; cake, dress, hair, make up etc
- key contacts; MC, bridal party contact, groom party contact
- names of parents and bridal party
- any surprise/secret moments that are planned eg gifts, hakas
- any family issues or touchy subjects eg people not wanting to be on social media
- finally, if you're having a videographer, please let me know who it is so I can get in contact with them before the wedding (more info on videographers below)

Fill in either one of the runsheets below, whatever is easiest and most convenient to you.

Family Photos after Ceremony

With regards to group/family photos - usually 6-12 combinations is plenty e.g. bride+groom+parents etc if the MC + a helper or two organises and gathers each group for the photos makes them run way smoother (plus it’s easier for them to gather people as I won’t know them and I can just focus on smashing out the photos).

If you have a massive family or list of photos, make a numbered photo group list signage, so your guests can see what photo combinations they are in, rather than the MC having to call out every single name.

The MC or person in charge of rounding up the family for photos, it’s so crucial they are assertive, have a loud voice, can read a list and doesn’t go missing during this time. And by starting with the full extended family then dropping off people until we get to your parents is the best way of doing things and also any super old people and kids should be done first too.

If you or your partner hate photos - keep this list short, sharp and just the most important snaps. You’ll both hate life if you’re standing there for 60-90+ minutes. Narrow the formal list down and if we need others we can capture them while you’re mingling and I’m floating around, you’ll enjoy your day way better.

Also the way I shoot the majority of the time is candid documentary, so I will be floating around during the day getting clumps of candid group photos - so try keeping the family group photos short and simple!
We won’t rush into them, spend that first 15-30 minutes once you walk back down the aisle to greet and hug ya guests, have a drink and some canapes. I’ll tap you guys on the shoulder once I think we’re good to go!

Standard Family Shot List (supply to MC)
A good time guide is 2-3 minutes per combination
B+G + B Extended Family (Aunties, Uncles, Cousins etc)
B+G + B immediate Family (brothers, sisters etc)
B+G + B Parents
B+G + BG Parents
B+G + G Parents
B+G + G Extended Family
B+G + G immediate Family
B +G + B Friends group
B+G + G Friends group

Full Wedding Group Shot (The Full Wedding Group shot is sometimes easier to do at the end of the formals, and allows the guest to keeping enjoying the wedding day. It’s becoming more common to forgo this particular shot, so if you don’t want to do this one means less admin and leads to a more relaxed wedding day for everyone)

Choosing your Photo Coverage

Depending on what photo coverage and distance between locations, I’ll either start with the other half and get them suited and booted or once the bride is up for make up. If you can do hair + make up onsite rather in the salon/s, even better, makes for a more relaxed day and nicer photos. Also if the distance between the bride prep location and groom prep location is more than 20 minutes drive or 30km+ or if you're planning an early first look, I highly recommend adding on a second shooter option :-)

If you’re having a cake, do the cake cut snap there are a few ways to do this. Either after the ceremony so it can be served with canapes; once your welcomed into the reception; or before/after the speeches pre dinner.

First dance wise, if you’re wanting that captured, don’t plan that right at the end of your photo coverage, allow 15-20mins post first dance for dfloor snaps or if the evening runs late.

Workout what is important to you and allocate your package photo coverage around that. If you’re trying to squeeze in an early start with a first look and pre ceremony bridal photos or a late first dance, you’ll need to make sure the package you’ve chosen allows for this - if not, get in touch and we can add on more coverage if needed!

When to have the ceremony?

The ceremony is the key time for the wedding day, so once you figure that out you’ll be able to decide what photo coverage will suit your needs.

Summer Weddings between Nov-Mar for a standard wedding day ceremony, having it start from 3-4pm is a great time. Especially in peak summer, having the ceremony later means the oldies are out of the scorching sun and you’re not having to rush the morning, also we won’t have to worry about losing light as sunset is a lot later.

Winter Weddings between Apr-Oct when daylight savings finishes means the sun will set earlier, so you’ll have less light time for photos, so an early ceremony time is recommended. Having the ceremony start from 1-2pm is ideal. When you’re in the middle of winter between Jun-Aug, 1-1.30pm is the go.

Once you have this set, plan the rest of the wedding day around this, sunset (when we will lose light) and dinner time.

Try to do the cutting of the cake after the ceremony or once you’re announced into the reception and just smash those speeches out pre dinner, go hard and go early on them, then all the formalities are done and you can just enjoy the night away!

Base your package around what you want captured - is it enough to cover what you want? If not, I’m happy to chat about adding on extended coverage.

Not sure when sunset is? Checkout the link for your date and location, and also a draft timeline example depending on photo coverage for summer weddings.

How I approach the day

The way I approach the day is my focus is making sure you guys, your friends and family are enjoying the wedding and making the most out of the day and time together. What this means photo wise is I try not to manipulate or force anything. If you or your partner aren’t big fans of getting photos done, I try to make them as fun and cruisey as possible, plenty chat and jokes.

With the aim of getting them done in the shortest amount of time as possible so you can get back to the party (45-60mins is plenty) - we won’t be away from the wedding for 2-3hours the bulk of photographers love to do.

Check out my reviews as they describe the vibe of the day best.

Winter Weddings

Getting married in Winter? There are a few more things to factor in. Daylight savings means it gets dark earlier, so from May-August that means it will be dark from around 5pm - so keep this in mind when booking your photo coverage and planning your day around the available light. A good time for the ceremony for winter is around 1-2pm so you’re not having to rush any formalities before it gets dark.

You’ll definitely need a plan B aka inside option for ceremony and photos. Does your location or venue have a wet weather option, plan ahead, don’t leave to the morning of the big day. Winter also means it is cold, so a coat, jacket or throw to keep warm is essential. Umbrella or two wouldn’t hurt to sort as well.

The Space

Think about the space you'll be getting ready in. I usually recommend getting ready at home, at your friend/relatives homes or an Air BnB. Rather than a tiny hotel room, you’ll have more space, nicer light and you’ll feel a bit more comfortable.

Try to keep the space clear of empty water bottles and make sure the MUA artist sets up in front of a large window with heaps of natural light (not locked away in a tiny dark bathroom!). And if you’re getting ready where the wedding is, please don’t close all the curtains, I need that nice natural light. If you’re worried about people seeing you pre ceremony, get a few young whipper snappers as ushers to direct them away.

Also, if you've got a videographer, that's possibly 3-4 people with cameras, so the more space the better!!

Location, events and access

Please let me know if there is specific access tips to get to your locations on your wedding day like roads to avoid or if there is incorrect information on Google eg says your property is way further down the road than it actually is, especially for rural farm weddings with no cell reception or one way gravel roads.

Also, it’s always good to check what local events may be on during the weekend of your wedding (concerts, sports events, festivals) that may cause traffic disruptions and delays - don’t just let me know, let all traveling vendors know.

Wanting to jump fences into someones paddock, get their approval, a bottle of wine or box of beer usually does the trick, and remember to close gates and take our rubbish.

Lastly, if there will be limited parking to any of your locations on your wedding day.

If you plan to do a first look pre ceremony!

If you guys are wanting to do a first look/pre ceremony bridal photos - just take into account timeframe and if your package you’ve chosen will cover up to the first dance.

Allocate a hour per bridesmaid for hair/make up + yourself and then depending on photo locations and travel time needed to get there and back.

1/ This is usually the most harsh lighting for photographs during the day, not the soft and dreamy look you may have seen on pinterest. So choose a location with either shade or nice evenly lit area. Otherwise a few harsh shadows will be happening.

2/ You’ll be worried about staying clean for the ceremony which kills the candid dress dragging vibes and that worry and overthinking will show in your face.

3/ You’ll have to be ready super early and feel rushed, no one wants that on a wedding day.

4/ Heading to a field, farm or a forest, or maybe it has rained? The bottom of the dress will get a few marks/twigs/dirty etc I won’t make you stand in mud but it’s something to factor in.

5/ Planning on using someones property that we don’t know - hit up the property owners and have a box of beer or bottle of wine as koha and always close gates and take ya empties when we are done.

Finally, if there is a fair bit of travel between locations (anything over 20mins drive), either where each of you are getting ready or if you plan to drive to a location for an early first look, I recommend adding a 2nd shooter.

Your Dress

If you’re wanting those sweet sweeping meadow/field shots - your dress will get dirty, it will pick up twigs, grass, bugs and scuff marks - they won’t show in the photos, but you’ll notice them - so it’s something to come to terms with haha try not to stress about it - the photos always end up looking awesome. Embrace it!!!

Getting photos done on a farm, your dress will get dirty.

PS if you want nice photos of your dress (and bridesmaids ones) in the morning, make sure you have nice coat hangers (but they look way better on people than hanging up).

Rain on the horizon

We can’t control the weather, but we can always plan. If your venue doesn’t have an indoor option for photos. It is advised to look for an indoor alternative space to go to. Museums, libraries, train stations, botanical gardens with glass houses - these are great indoor options for photos - some charge a fee you may need to pay to use the spaces so reach out and enquire if rain is forecast.

Light and Placement

Photos is all about how light is portrayed. So really think about where the sun will be and how it is lighting you in key points of the day. Try to avoid setting up with the sun coming in from one side as this may have half the people in shade and half in light. Or having half the ceremony in shade and half in full sun. That is also something to consider if you are having first looks or photos before the ceremony, which are usually planned for in the worst photo shooting conditions.

Ties, Pants and Sunnies for the boys!

If the lads in the bridal party are wanting to wear sunnies during the ceremony, that’s a big no from me. It looks super tacky and takes your wedding from beautiful to bogan. It also disconnects groom/groomsmen/people wearing them from the guests and spoils the photos.

15-20 minutes sunnies free during the ceremony is easy. But I’ll leave it up to you if you mind if they are worn during the formal family and group photos.

Do the boys have ties, get them to practice the week leading up to the big day or at least the night before, so they know what they’re doing and we’re not spending 20mins trying to find a youtube video - also make sure the boys try their shirts on a couple weeks before right up to the top button, give yourselves time to get it tailored for the big neck boys.

And finally, take all them phones, keys and vapes out of their tight pants pockets, they don’t look good in photos. Let’s keep it all natural.

PS if the boys have no idea what to wear, a well fitted black dinner suit is classic and always looks sharp, no matter how rough the boys are.

Content Creators

We live in the world of instant content and you might be thinking of doing that on your wedding day, which is awesome. The best content creators are your friends and family at the wedding.

I really recommend not paying a instagram kid with a phone whose going to get in the way of photo and potentially video - also that’s potentially 3-5+ people all having to find space to capture your day.

Finally, hair and make up and even celebrants seem to be going heavy with the on day content. I’ve done a fair few now where the day has run 45-60mins behind schedule because of them wanting to get reels and tiktoks - you’re paying them for a specific job, if they eating up time for self promotion, that needs to be knocked on the head and made clear before the day and before they start.

Vendors for the Gram

PSA to pass on to your make up artist or other vendors - if they love sharing images to the gram or Tiktok of you guys all dolled up - you might want to let them know to do it the next day or atleast after the ceremony - as there has been the odd occasion they’ve posted on the day before the ceremony and your lover, family and guests have all seen you before you already know!

Tiktok is strife these days, if you or the make up/hair stylist want to do them, go for gold, but factor in the 40-60min of time these guys eat up doing them on a wedding day.

Videographer

If you’re thinking of getting a videographer, do it! But a couple things to think about is, is their vibe, shooting style and way they work compatible to mine? I like to shoot pretty off the cuff and candid, so if your videographer likes to contrive or set up a lot of shots eg make you do a first look 3 times, make you re-give gifts so they can walk back in the room with you or other weird shit, it will have an effect on the day. No videographer is better than a shit cheap videographer.

Also, find out how they set up for a wedding day - do you want 6 tripods set up at the ceremony and venue ruining your beautiful setting or view? Will they fly a noisy drone up just as you’re saying your vows? Don’t let them kill your vibe!

I have a photo video package called Stills x Motion with Sink or Surface, who is an ace, his wedding films are beautiful, our work is cohesive and you’ll know that both your photo and video with have the same feel, look and vibe.

Check out the link below for a bit more info.

Do we need to send you a shot list?

Yeah and nah. Nah to a shot list a wedding blog or mag has said to give to your photographer. Trust me to do my thing and I’ll usually cover all the standard stuff anyway. And yeah to important people, like old Popper Joe, Granny Betty or your little brother who hides away from photos, point them out and let me know before the wedding day, if you don’t let me know, I won’t know.

Oh and if you have a special event happening during the ceremony or something 'out of the ordinary', definitely let me know eg gifts you’ll be giving each other or some dirty dancing flash dance type dealio.

The only official shot list we do need is the family and group list as mentioned earlier for the MC and me!

The Kiss

So you’ve said your vows and you’ve made it official. Make that first kiss as lovers for life a decent one. Go in for a couple of decent pecks or kiss before and after the signing. Whoever your celebrant on the day is, ask them to stand to the side out of shot before they announce the kiss - they’re never fast enough to walk out of frame, get them to do us a huge solid and geeet outta there to start with haha.

If you’re planning on doing the trendy halfway down the aisle kiss, let me know before the ceremony.

How do we pose??

Not full time models for an agency? Take a look at this sweet posing film by Phil Chester to give you a few ideas and to practice in front of the mirror together.

Golden and Blue Hour Photos

Nope these don’t take a hour, but it’s the super magical awesome amazing golden and blue light around sunset. All I need is 5-10 minutes of just you two lovebirds. Depending on daylight savings/season/weather will depend on when golden hour is, but usually before/after dinner/speeches/dessert depending on time of year is usually when it happens!

A/ makes for super sick lovely lit photos

B/ gives you two a little quiet time together for 5 mins, I’ll take my couple snaps then leave you two guys alone to enjoy each others company and soak in the awesome day you’ve been involved in

C/ for summer weddings after dinner or before the first dance is usually the best time to sneak away.

Your MC

The MC has probably the biggest role on the wedding day for whomever you choose (and do have an MC as they are the voice that communicates what is happening next for everyone). Someone with a clear, loud voice with good time management and who doesn’t stress is great.

Please do mention to them to communicate with me throughout the evening events so they don’t start speeches or announce the cutting of the cake while I’m mid dinner or off to the bathroom.

Old Gazza who likes to get on the piss and tells the odd crass joke probably isn’t going to be the best MC - it’s actually a helluva job to put on someone and they become the main contact on the day for all the working vendors after the ceremony till the first dance. They really do need good on the fly people skills, communication and the ability to plan and kept things rolling. If you need, pair Gazza with Shazza or someone who can do the adult decision making portion of the MC duties, the funny with the doooey.

Better yet, ask your celebrant to be the MC, and let your guests enjoy your wedding day. Here’s a bunch below who are brill celebrants and even better MCs.

Hogan Gill | Lucy Willoughby | Abbey Carver | Lisa Langsford | Marry all the People

Wedding Planners and Co-ordinators

More often than not they are more of a hinderance than help on the lead up and on the day. If you do get one on board, make sure they are good, know key timings like sunset and definitely get a truck load of references especially from other photographers they may have worked with. I’ve worked with a few, so know of good ones that do a tonne of work behind the scenes without making their presence known.

The best ones get stuff done without being seen, know how a watch works and know what google maps is. We don’t need them following us around getting in the way for photos, their core role is making sure the day runs to schedule and to take all the thinking and stress away from you.

A few below that I highly recommend.

George & Co | Mustard Folk | Paula Bevege | Flock

Dinner Time

Please feed me at dinner time, I am human.

I’ll be hungry and it’s my first real break all day and please treat me like a human haha - usually the caterer has a vendor meal option too. If the meals are super duper fancy (I don’t need to eat what you guys are eating, just some type of food and water/drink combo usually does the trick and would be much appreciated).

If you mention to the caterers if they can feed me at the same time as you guys at the head table get served, I can be done and ready to be back on the tools for the next set of speeches or able to whip you guys out at golden hour. If I get the meal at the end of service, a lot of the time it clashes with when things start kicking back into action. Also Auckland caterers/venues are notorious for not feeding photographers too, so definitely mention it to them! If feeding me at dinner is an issue, we can’t be friends.

PS I don’t have any allergies or special dietary requirements :-)

First Dance

For the first dance, If you guys are doing one. I’ll need to know where you’ll be dancing at the venue so I can set up for the lighting. 

A couple minutes heads up before you boogie is what I need chur chur! (The lighting set up from speeches/cake cutting to first dance is quite different - so I really need a couple minutes to set up for it pretty please)

If you plan to do your first dance later than 8pm, you may need to look at adding extended coverage. Don’t plan your first dance right at the end of your photo coverage time - allow 15-20mins post first dance so dancefloor shots can be captured or buffer if the evening events run late.

The bridal table during speeches

I know bouquets in vases on the head table look nice and you may have a bottle of wine or two on your head table, just think about their placement as they may create a barrier between me and you during photos during speeches - so just keep an eye out for stuff that may be in front of you during that time! (I’ll probably crab walk up and move stuff if needed as well!)

As mentioned early, just smash out those speeches in one set and then enjoy the rest of the night!

Slip, slop, slap and wrap

If it is summer, cover up the week of the wedding! If your dress shows off a bit of skin e.g. your neck, your back, your shoulders and just make sure you avoid getting sunburnt. Unless you want those singlet or t-shirt tan lines in all your photos, help me to help you.

Photoshop

"You can photoshop that out right?" Yes and no, I won't make people "skinny" (ps love that body you’re in!) or chuck in a fake rainbow (as you know by looking at my work).

I will remove any pimples or sores on key images that may pop up unexpectedly on ya day. And during the morning prep especially, random empty drink bottles and hair ties on peoples wrists - just get rid of them, help me to help you haha. Get your hair sorted for any regrowth the week of the wedding and get those shirts and silky robes ironed and steamed of any wrinkles or creases the night before!

Any advanced photo manipulation and photoshopping like removing a brothers ex girlfriend or cloning out the regrowth will be an additional charge per hour.

Fake flowers and greenery

Don’t do fake flowers or greenery. If budget is a deciding factor, you’re better off just investing in one lush bouquet for yourself rather than cheaping out on 4-5 fake bouquets. It’s not 1985 anymore and they just don’t look good.

And if you need or want some to decorate table settings or archways - go foraging or send a ya mum or aunties to go forage for you!

If you’ve run with the plastic bouquet, apologies and forget what I said above, you do you.

Hype Squad

It’s your wedding day, you want to be relaxed, having fun and enjoying yourself. Think about the people who will be getting ready with you in the morning. If you know someone is a negative nancy or isn’t a yes man. Cut them from the morning prep - you don’t want or need that negative energy! So outside of your immediately family and your bridal party/good mates. Just tell Grumpy Betty from accounts you’ll see them at the ceremony!

The more yes people and hype squad you have around you, the more you’ll relax and enjoy the day.

Transport & Safety

The photography/vendor retains the right to refuse flying, boating and use of other vehicles if safety is of concern - this decision is the right and discretion of the individual photography/vendor. In regards to Helicopters and Aircraft, I will only fly with commercially operating companies in commercially licensed aircraft, with professionally licensed pilots. Please note we have the right to refuse any light aircraft particularly ROBINSON aircraft and small farm owner-operated machines. We strongly recommend using only preferred companies. If the weather is not ideal flying conditions all those working under the David Le Photography brand retain the right to refuse boarding aircraft.

You’re a Fire Starter

Smoke bombs, fireworks, sparklers and confetti cannons. All those fun little trendy toys people like to sometime use at a wedding day. First off if you wish to use any, that’s cool with me, just know the risks, find out if there are fire bans in the area or venue and the conditions you’ll be using them in. If it is super windy it’s better to not use these items as the risk of things going wrong and the margin of getting a successful shot decrease.

Planning to use confetti cannons outside. If it’s windy, that confetti isn’t going to fall nicely but just blow up and away never to be seen again haha. So if it is windy, try saving them for the first dance or when the wind has died down - on windy days, hand thrown confetti and lots of it works 100x better than a cannon too.
(biodegradable or natural confetti is also always the way to go).

Smoke bombs and grenades do heat up (if you plan to hold) and can spark so there is always a chance your dress/clothing will get a little singed or stained.

With sparklers, it is a big mission to organise 100+ people together and get them to listen and to use fire (on top of which may have had a beersie or three). So plan to do this early, just after sunset at dusk is the best time to do any type of sparkler exit shot and please bring multiple trigger lighters, don’t try to light them with a little tealight table candle haha. You also want to have the big long monster sparklers and not the cheap little ones that go out after 10-15 seconds.

With these types of things, all have water on hand to put out any embers and something to collect the waste afterwards. If you wish to use these things on your wedding day you accept the risk and liabilities.

Confetti Cannons | Pyro + Smokebombs

Wedding Insurance

Things can happen. Your booking retainer is non-refundable and the same will most likely apply to the rest of your vendors and suppliers you book. If you have an inkling something could pop up or you’re planning your wedding from overseas. I highly recommend getting wedding insurance to cover any costs if you do have to cancel ya big day!
Event Cover | Canstar | Crombie Lockwood

Your Privacy

I’ll send you your preview gallery the week or two after your big day so you can share with friends and family. Once you’ve been able to get the snaps shared, I’ll wait for your approval to share a few on my socials and with the vendors involved.

If you wish to keep your wedding off socials/web and/or their are specific people who you want to keep off like children, this is no problem, your privacy is important.

Zooms, emails and catch ups

As I’m usually shooting weddings Fri-Sun in the weekends, best time to catch up/call/zoom is Monday-Thursday 9am-2pm. Once you’ve booked, I’m happy to catch up for a cuppa a few months out from your wedding day to go over any specifics and help you plan the timeline for the big day.

If you use technology, fire me through any questions via email and I’ll happily answer (try to keep our emails in the same email thread so all our chat is in one place and save up your questions for one hearty email so I’m not having to respond to 87 individual questions - use the search function in mail to find our email thread to keep our chats all in one chain)

When do I get my photos!

As above, I aim to get a bunch of sneak peeks to you the week or two after your wedding day. I’m a one man band so during peak season Oct-Apr completed wedding collections will take between 8-12 weeks.

If you’re getting an album or magazine over the Christmas/New Year period too, printers suppliers shut down, so expect a bit of a delay there. The rest of the year, you’ll be looking at around 6 weeks. If I can get your wedding completed faster I will!

Last minute Prep Talk