On Saturday evening, with the sun starting to dip in the sky, we photographed a ceremony at New Kent Winery. At the end of the night, we felt lucky to be starting our season with such a perfect wedding. Emily & Brian had all the right ingredients; madly in love, family and friends to celebrate with, and a gorgeous setting in which their day could unfold. But there was one thing that really made this wedding stand out. It wasn’t the decadent food stations or her elegant wedding dress (although both of which were incredible!!). The best part of the night was how Emily and Brian set aside an entire hour just for bride & groom portraits. It may not sound like much, but in wedding day time, it’s huge. Time for portraits is like gold to photographers!
It meant having the time to make a good shot into a great shot. It meant we could give the couple all the photos they imagined, and then some. It gave us the freedom to play a little bit, to push beyond what we normally expect out of a portrait session. Most of all, it gave Emily and Brian something tangible that they’ll be able to treasure for the rest of their lives. Because once the dress is put away, once the last slice of cake has been eaten, and the presents have all been unwrapped, the photos will stand the test of time. The couple portraits are the photos that most capture the essence of the day. It all boils down to a love story between two people, and the more time you give to those photos, the more you’ll receive. Besides, who wouldn’t mind spending a little extra time snuggling with their brand new spouse?
We hope you’ll take this into consideration as you plan your day. Think about making the investment of time. Trust us, we know you want to get to the cocktail hour, the first dances, go get the party started! Just remember, the room that you make for the portraits will pay off tenfold. Decades down the road, when you’re showing your album to your grandkids, you’ll be so glad you did.
We’ll have more of Emily & Brian’s gorgeous winery wedding coming soon, but for now here’s a favorite from the portrait session!
What a lovely, natural shot. Thanks for sharing! <3