Your Big Day Photo: Why Venue is Important

Setting Yourself Up For “Success”
The pictures you capture of your wedding will likely be passed down through the generations. Don’t you have access to photos of your grandparents’ wedding? Not everyone does, but usually, in the modern world, there’s a physical photo album somewhere with black and white photos. Some families may even have ancient daguerrotypes; though that’s quite rare.

Today’s cameras provide much more “bang” for your “buck”, as it were. If your great grandma could have been followed around on hillsides by a photographer capturing color images, you can bet there’d be more than one photo where everybody looks straight ahead without smiles. In fact, over time, we’ve seen that transition.

As cameras became more accessible, events that should be photographically commemorated began to get wider coverage. Now, everyone has an amateur photo studio on their phone; but don’t lean on that during your wedding day. Sure, have bridesmaids and groomsmen capture some “candids”, but you want a professional photographer/videographer for “the big stuff”.

That’s the purpose of this writing. Just as getting a pro behind the camera results in better photos, picking a venue that recommends itself to photography provides better photo opportunities. It’s easier to get awesome photos at a redwood wedding than one in some local clubhouse. With that in mind, here we’ll explore venue strategies for fine wedding photos.

1. Determine If You’re Going With an Interior or Exterior Event
This is the most important wedding venue choice when it comes to photography. If you’re doing an indoor event in winter, some pictures of the bride and groom playing in the snow are fine, but likely enough, the majority of photos will be indoors. That means you want a location for your wedding photography venue with a little pomp and circumstance, as it were.

In Glacier National Park, there are a few exceptionally ornate lodges perfect for the purpose; though they’re best found in Summer.

In contrast, if you’re going with an exterior event, you’ll want to be sure guests are warm, but not too hot. Most exterior wedding events are in spring or summer, but winter and autumn weddings have their place; especially in southern areas.

2. Assure Excellent Photo Areas Are Easy to Access
Inside or outside, you want there to be some spots you’ve thought about in advance as excellent photography locations.

If you’re going with that ornate, indoor option, find a ballroom or something that looks downright luxe. If you’re in the redwoods, reserve an area with a trail that goes to some fine photo opportunities. This is the kind of thinking to have before you choose.

3. Hold the Event When Light is Good
This one is a bit more “tricky” than you may have thought. You’re booking your wedding nine to eighteen months in advance. If you’re going with an outdoor wedding, you want to have the ceremony after the golden hour in the afternoon, or after the golden hour in the morning. Most couples opt for the evening option owing to the wildness of bachelor/bachelorette parties.

Spring and Autumn’s weddings are ideal for photography because the sun rises later and sets earlier, narrowing down the two times in the day near sunrise and sunset when exterior photos look the best as regards lighting.

You can get the pictures at six or seven, have the event done by eight, and retire to the reception by nine. Morning weddings provide wilder evening receptions, so factor that in.

Finding the Perfect Location
Lighting, ease of access to photo opportunities, and determining whether the event will be indoors or outdoors represent some of the most important considerations when choosing a wedding venue. Thinking these things out will result in better photo opportunities, helping you capture those important memories for yourself and future generations.