Wedding Photography Mistakes To Avoid

Not Assigning Enough Time For Photos

Romantic portrait photos are some of the most meaningful and cherished images from your wedding day, and it’s essential to leave enough time in your timeline to capture them properly. These photos aren’t just beautiful, they’re the moments where you and your partner get to pause, breathe, and truly take in the joy of the day together.

Weddings move fast. Between the ceremony, family photos, mingling with guests, and the reception, it’s easy to feel swept up in the schedule. Without intentional time set aside for couple portraits, those quiet, intimate moments can be lost in the rush. This time allows you to connect with each other away from the crowd, and that genuine emotion shines through in the photos.

From a photography standpoint, your portrait session is when we get to use the best lighting, composition, and creative direction to capture stunning images you’ll treasure forever. Rushed sessions often result in stiff poses or missed opportunities. Allowing 30–60 minutes for portraits gives your photographer the flexibility to guide you naturally, find beautiful locations, and take advantage of golden hour light if possible.

These are the photos you'll frame, include in albums, and look back on for years to come. They're a visual representation of your love and the beginning of your marriage.

So don’t squeeze your portrait session into a hectic schedule. Plan for it. Prioritize it. Because these moments and the memories they create are worth every minute.

Focusing Only On Price

When choosing a wedding photographer, it can be tempting to focus primarily on price, especially when planning a wedding on a tight budget. But photography is one area where cutting corners can lead to long-term regret. Your wedding photos are the lasting record of one of the most important days of your life. After the cake is eaten, the dress is packed away, and the guests have gone home, your photos are what remain.

While it’s important to stay within budget, selecting a photographer based solely on the lowest price often means sacrificing experience, quality, and reliability. Professional wedding photographers do more than just take pictures, they manage timelines, understand lighting in all conditions, know how to pose couples naturally, and anticipate key emotional moments. The investment reflects not only their time on the day itself, but also their expertise, editing, equipment, and years of experience.

A cheaper photographer may lack the skills or resources to deliver the consistent, polished results you deserve. Worse, if something goes wrong, you may be left with poor quality images or none at all.

Instead of focusing solely on price, consider value. Look at portfolios, read reviews, and meet with photographers to understand their approach and how they make couples feel comfortable. A professional who genuinely connects with you and takes the time to understand your vision, is worth the investment.

Remember, you’re not just paying for pictures, you’re preserving memories. Choose a photographer who will do that beautifully and professionally.

Getting Your Friend To Do Your Wedding Photography

Relying on a friend to photograph your wedding may seem like a great way to save money, but it often leads to disappointment. Wedding photography is about so much more than having a good camera or a creative eye, it requires experience, technical skill, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Professionals know how to handle tricky lighting, fast-moving moments, and high-pressure situations, ensuring nothing important is missed.

Your wedding day is filled with once in-a-lifetime moments that can’t be recreated. A friend may mean well, but they likely won’t have the expertise to anticipate emotional moments, manage timelines, or direct poses in a way that feels natural. Plus, being both a guest and the photographer divides their attention and increases the chances of missed shots or technical mistakes.

A professional photographer brings consistency, reliability, and a commitment to capturing your day in a way that tells a full, beautiful story. In the end, when the flowers fade and the cake is gone, your photos are what remain. Cutting corners on photography often leads to regret, because there’s no second chance to capture those memories the right way. Invest in someone who will treat your day with the care it deserves.

I customize every couple’s photography experience to reflect their unique story. You're not just another client, you're the reason I do what we do.