I get a lot of questions about what couples can do to make their wedding day photos the best they can possibly be.  Most of it comes down to me.  I will make sure everything is taken care of to make you look your best.  However, if you're relaxed and enjoying yourself during your wedding day, the emotional quality of the photos will certainly come through.  So, to help you out with some things to give you peace of mind, I asked a few of the women in my life to offer their advice.  Here's what they had to say...

Wear Long-Lasting Makeup
Most brides cry at their wedding. Even if you're not the type to cry, don't take the chance at wearing anything other than waterproof mascara.  And, if you're wearing lipstick, use something that's long-lasting. But, from what I've heard, you'll need to practice several times as it can be tricky to apply the color evenly and perfectly. It's hard to remove, so you want to get it right the first time.

Create an Emergency Kit
Some of the most utilized things during a wedding day include a small makeup kit, some clear nail polish for runs, snacks, and a small sewing kit.

Get Pearly Whites
If you can afford it, spoil yourself with professional teeth whitening. You'll look and feel like a celebrity with pearly whites.

Make an Itinerary
Whether you're working with a planner, or doing everything yourself, make a rough timeline for the day.  Hand it out to a couple key people so everyone is on the same page.  Wedding days never run perfectly according to schedule, but at the least, this will keep everyone working together.

Bring Some Comfy Shoes
If you can, don't be afraid to bring comfy shoes for the reception after all the formalities are finished. Besides, you'll be able to bust out your best MJ moves if you're not in heels.
Delegate. Delegating tasks to the people around you will give you the space to enjoy your wedding.  Put someone else in charge of paying vendors, moving things from site to site, and all the other small tasks throughout the day.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast
The wedding day moves fast, and before you know it, you'll have gone half the day without anything to eat. Speaking for myself, I get pretty grumpy if I don't eat. Having a protein-rich, low-carb, healthy breakfast will give you energy for several hours without making you crash.

No Hangovers
I know it's fun to get a little saucy before your big day.  But, the last thing you want is to have waves of nausea during the ceremony.  I've heard horror stories of brides having to excuse themselves during the vows to go toss their cookies.

Relax
No doubt you'll get a little wound up during your wedding day.  When you feel yourself getting stressed, remember to look around and take it all in. This is your day, and you owe it to your self to enjoy it.

Are you a Bride-To-Be?
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Are you a photographer?
I would love to hear what you think makes for great engagement photos.  Please comment below.

Making my clients happy, makes me happy.  And, one of my first opportunities to give my clients beautiful pictures, and an experience they'll remember forever, comes during the engagement session.  It's my first opportunity to get to know my clients, and to exploit their personalities, in a good way of course.  And, it gives my clients an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the lens without the stress, and fast-paced nature of the wedding day.

I get a lot of questions about engagement sessions, and thought I would share my thoughts on how you can help make your engagement photos look great.

1. Location
The most common question is always about location.  There's no doubt that location plays an important role when it comes to engagement photos.  But, it's not the most important factor when it comes to the aesthetics of the final product.  The most important thing is that you choose a location that is important to you.  It could be the place you first met, or any other place that is significant to the both of you.  Choosing a location that you both care about will allow you to relax a little more, and will give you those warm fuzzies that I'm looking for.

2. What to Wear
Simply, look hot.  Don't be afraid to dress up.  The more personality you put into your attire, the more personality will show up in your photos.  Exploit who you are to the extreme.  Simply put, don't be a Schlumpadinka, as Oprah would say (yes, I watch Oprah). 

And no matter what you decide to wear, put on some great shoes.  Pimpin' shoes make the outfit.  Don't overlook this key detail.

3. Props
No, I'm not talking about props like, "you gotta give that girl props for her shoes."  I mean props like stage props, without the stage of course.  In addition to pimpin' your clothes, bringing something along that express who you are as a couple never hurts.  Your dog, funky cars, hats, skateboards, or whatever you share with your honey are all things that will add to your photos. 

4. Time of Day
A lot of people also ask me when the best time to shoot is.  Although I can shoot any time of day, the best time is late in the day when the sun gets lower in the sky.  The light gets softer and more golden.  Besides aren't evenings more romantic?

5. Get Comfy
One of the most important things you can do is get comfortable in front of the camera.  A lot of people have never been photographed before, and the thought of someone firing away with a big camera in their face is terrifying.  Although I'll do everything I can to put you at ease, the simplest way to relax is to focus on your loved one, not me.  Forget me.

I guarantee if you do the things above, and immerse yourself in the moment with your loved one, you'll end up with some beautiful pictures, and an experience that you'll cherish for a lifetime.