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Picture Perfect: How to Take Gorgeous Wedding Photos

Beautiful wedding photos make for everlasting memories. Here’s how to capture each and every special moment in glorious light and detail.

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  • Savor the Quiet Moments

    Savor the Quiet Moments

    A pensive moment: “This image is so still and quiet that it allows the viewer to experience a variety of emotions,” Messina says.

    “A wedding is full of emotions and beautiful moments, and it’s the perfect place to create meaningful photographs.”

    Tip: Remember that there’s more than one way to shoot a wedding. What’s your style? Do some research to find work that speaks to you.

  • Be Impulsive

    Be Impulsive

    “Weddings are the heart and soul of a couple’s love story,” she says. On the spur of the moment, Messina drew a heart on the chalkboard wall backdrop. “I am always following little impulses like that. The important thing is to be open.”

  • Use Photos within a Photo

    Use Photos within a Photo

    This couple took turns taking portraits with a Polaroid camera, then used the pictures as props. “I thought it would be cute to take a portrait of them holding each other’s images.”

    Tip: Before you book, consider: Do you go for dreamy, candid imagery and natural light, with lots of emotion? Or are formal, posed portraits more important?

  • Dress Up Your Flower Girl

    Dress Up Your Flower Girl

    A flower girl is transformed into a tiny angel. “I often bring a bag of props,” Messina says. Essentials include fabrics, vintage cameras, signs and crowns.

    Tip: Typically, photographers cherry-pick their best shots for their web sites. Ask to see a full range of photos from a wedding to see how the work is carried through from start to finish.

  • Reflect Upon the Moments Before the Ceremony

    Reflect Upon the Moments Before the Ceremony

    The time right before a ceremony is so full of emotion and beauty, Messina says. Taking advantage of this tender moment, she had her bride look toward a window as the sun sets.

    “I don’t think of shooting wedding portraits as a job but rather as an honor that’s been bestowed upon me. Capturing everything from the tilt of a bride’s head as she puts on her shoes to the color of the sky on the day a couple gets married to the bouquet the bride carries down the aisle—these are subtleties of the day that carry meaning for the couple and are important to document.”

  • Change the Focus

    Change the Focus

    A delicate floral crown is the focal point of this ethereal image. Veil by Delphine Manivet.

    Tip: “I like to start shooting at least two hours before the ceremony,” Messina says. That’s if she’s not doing group shots ahead of time, but only images of the bride getting ready and some detail shots. Otherwise, she begins her work three or even fours hours ahead.

  • Add Fun Props

    Add Fun Props

    This charming metal heart is crafted from a piece of an old wine barrel. “The heart acts as a frame within the frame and accentuates the light on their faces.”

    Tip: Ask your photographer to provide you and your fiancé with a detailed shot list for review prior to the big day. 

  • Take Advantage of a Rainy Day

    Take Advantage of a Rainy Day

    Although rain is not ideal for a wedding day, it certainly can add to the beauty of an image, especially when printed in rich sepia tones.

    Tip: Set up in-person meetings with any photographer you’re considering. You’ll be spending hours with her on a whirlwind of a day, so the chemistry has to be spot-on.

  • Get Silly

    Get Silly

    Props can be used to help tell a story or add another dimension. This “kiss” sign from modern-letterpress.com is one of Messina’s favorites.

    Tip: Your photographer should be in on the creation of a wedding-day timeline. Make sure your shoot schedule coordinates with your event schedule.

  • Don

    Don't Forget the Details

    Glittery wedding shoes are paired with a crown and vintage books from Messina’s whimsical collection.

    Tip: Consider behind-the-scenes moments and details like flowers, seating cards, the cake—all can be memorable images.

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Picture Perfect: How to Take Gorgeous Wedding Photos

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Hurricane Sandy Couldn't Stop This Wedding

Catherine Scrivo and Andrew Baker, from Astoria in Queens, NY, planned on having a simple City Hall wedding on November 2, followed by dinner at a nice restaurant with their immediate families. Then Hurricane Sandy hit the area, and their seemingly-simple wedding suddenly became a lot more complicated.

battery park wedding

At first, the couple considered rescheduling, but travel arrangements had already been made and paid for by their families, both traveling from Buffalo, NY, and finding another time for everyone to come into town seemed nearly impossible. 

A day before their scheduled flight, Andrew's parents found out it had been cancelled. Instead, they packed up the car and made the seven hour drive. Catherine's parents also drove.

The couple and their families had made arrangements to stay at the Conrad Battery Park Hotel, but once Sandy hit, they had to evacuate. They were able to get reservations at the Hilton 57th Street but later had to evacuate that hotel as well, due to a dangerous dangling crane across the street. Luckily, the Conrad hotel reopened shortly after, thanks to a large generator powering the hotel.

The day before the wedding, City Hall was still without power. Unsure whether the marriage bureau would reopen in time for their wedding, they scrambled to find a new officiant and luckily secured Judie L. Guild with 24-hours notice. 

battery park wedding

How to Survive Election Season (When You and Your Spouse Disagree)

Did you vote for a different presidential candidate than your spouse or fiancé at the polls today? If so, you’re not alone—researchers estimate that roughly 25 percent of married couples vote a different way. The most heated arguments in marriage often revolve around money, family, or sex, but in a bipartisan relationship, a casual discussion about the merits of team Barack or Mitt has the potential to turn into an ugly shouting match that can be just as damaging.

Right now, you might be thinking, "Well, so what’s the point if I call my husband a $&*% buffoon for backing someone else?" But in this year’s tight race, undecided voters can be just as persuaded by their partner as they are by all of those political ads and shows that we watch on TV. The New York Times reports that the political orientation of a undecided voter's spouse is so important, that it actually influences how Obama and Romney’s campaign organizers court voters. A new poll by The Times and CBS News this week reveals that the majority of Romney supporters are male (51 percent) while Obama backers are primarily female (52 percent).

An Inside Look at the Obamas' and the Romneys' Marriages

Today, we face one of the most polarizing elections in recent history. While President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney may not agree on much, one thing these candidates have in common is their devotion to their families. 

Let's take a look back at how these couples met and fell in love.

Michelle and Barack Obama


Photo via Michelle Obama/Pinterest

How they met: The President first met Michelle working at the Sidley & Austin law firm in 1989. The pair spent their first date at the Art Institute of Chicago and walking down Michigan Avenue, followed by a Spike Lee movie and drinks on the 99th floor of the John Hancock Center. "We clicked right away... by the end of the date, it was over... I was sold," Michelle told CNN. 

How he proposed: While out to dinner to celebrate Barack passing the bar exam, he secretly coordinated with the maitre'd for an engagement ring to be served along with Michelle's dessert. 

Wedding date: October 3, 1992. In their vows, "Barack didn't pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise, he delivered." Michelle told ABC. Michelle wore an off-the-shoulder duchess satin gown with a sweetheart neckline. 

November 6th

Photo Credit: Cory Ryan Photography 

Tip of the Day: Lighting is extremely important for any wedding setting—some say it's just as important as your flowers. Different hues can evoke a specific mood for your event. For example, bright yellows and pinks make your room look bright and cheery during the daytime, while purples and blues give nighttime weddings a chic lounge atmosphere. You can also use lighting to make your venue look larger. Fun effects (like projecting designs onto the ceiling) can transform even the plainest ballroom into an ultra-luxe environment for your guests.

Plus, check out 15 Fun Ways to Light Up Your Wedding!

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