Wedding Tips: Keep checking this page for new tips!  Then check the BOLG for all the tips: http://charsphototips.blogspot.com/ Tell your friends and other brides as well. Bustling the dress Many gowns need to be bustled after the ceremony to allow you to move more easily. However, frequently these are complicated systems. Practice with the person who will help you several times so you know where all the loops and buttons are located. Make sure that the systems are secure so your bustle does not fall down. ( I see this happen frequently) Bride Room Many brides want a photos of them getting ready, especially being buttoned into her fabulous gown. Have the room picked up. Place all the makeup and bags in one corner where they will not be in the way of the photos. Tears Tears. Have the groom carry a white cotton handkerchief in his pocket. The bride has no where to put one. This way if she tears up the groom can take out the hankie offer it to her or dab the tears himself. It will be a beautiful moment for everyone. Who knows, plenty of grooms tear up too. Portraits Family Portraits are an important part of wedding photography. These are usually taken right after the ceremony. However people are understandably impatient to get on with the party. So to make the process as short as possible, organize. Have a list of exactly the photos you want and a good family organizer gathering people together to prepare for their photos.   Gum Do you or your wedding party chew gum when you are nervous? Well, tell everyone to dump the gum before they head down the aisle. Gum whether chewing it or storing in the cheek distorts the face. Good photos = no gum.   Makeup Wear powder foundation to avoid face shine. Ask your attendants and the Mothers to do the same. Everyone will be happy to see their faces with our lots of shiny areas. This is especially important for summer weddings.

Other Photographers

If you have a friends who are taking videos and photographs tell them to stay out of the view of your professional. Otherwise you will have beautiful professional photographs with your friends in the background spoiling the shot.

Summer Heat

When deciding on a venue for your wedding and or reception check on the cooling system. Many charming old houses are miserable in the summer since they do not have sufficient cooling systems for large groups. If you hit a hot humid day you and your guests will have nowhere to get relief from the heat. Sweaty faces do not make for great photographs.