Time management tip - taking time for portraits

Taking time for portraits

Portraits are arguably the most important photos of the day - these are the photos where we are able to take our time, ensure that clothes and hair are straight, focus is perfect and body positioning/facial expressions are flattering.

Photojournalistic images are great and evoke emotion and memory, but wedding portraits are the photos that we keep in our wallets, place on our mantle and share with generations to come.

They're the photos that people will "ooh" and "ahh" over, so it's crucial to a wedding photography session to set aside at least 30 minutes where the photographer can work directly with the wedding couple.

Also, ensure that your wedding party has a place to go during your portrait sitting to avoid distractions. It's tempting to combine group photos with portraits to save time, but creativity and inspiration draws from concentration. Having friends and family standing around with nothing to do puts a couple in a "hurry it up" mode, which doesn't lend itself to creating art.

Be patient during your portrait session as well - sometimes a good shot can turn into a great shot when the photographer can take a step back and wait for a cloud to pass overhead or change his or her angle a bit. Remember that portraiture is all about quality, not quantity!