Bring
Back the Moment
For the Bride-to-Be
A couple of years ago, two of my daughters got
married within a couple months. We learned several things from
the first wedding that made the second wedding, and subsequent
album, go much more smoothly. So, if a wedding is on the horizon,
learn from my experiences. Here are some simple steps to help
make your wedding scrapbook come together as beautifully as your
wedding.
1. As soon as there is a hint of a wedding,
set up a file to collect pictures and other memorabilia. Because
you're going to be so overwhelmed with wedding preparation, don't
take the time to evaluate every saved item or create pages for
your album. Just collect everything that comes along -- you'll
be able to sort the items once the wedding day is over.
2. As wedding plans get underway, keep your
camera handy at all times. Taking pictures of the preparation
and times with friends and family is just as important in preserving
the memories as the formal pictures taken on the actual wedding
day. Take pictures as you hunt for a dress, address invitations,
and attend bridal showers and parties. If your future-in-laws
or friends are taking pictures, ask them to have duplicate photos
made and share them with you. (Check out the Personal
Photo List for moments you'll want to capture on film.)
It's especially important to record things that
are unique to your family or traditions that have been handed
down through the generations. For example, our daughters both
kept paper countdown chains. I took pictures of each couple with
their chain and saved several links from each chain for their
wedding books.
3. Choose a photographer. Selecting a photographer
for the wedding is one of the most important decisions you will
make. After the wedding day has passed, the pictures may be the
only physical reminder of the event. This is not the place to
cut the budget -- it's worth the money!
You may want to ask friends for recommendations,
in addition to reviewing samples of photographers' work. Also,
take some time to talk directly to potential photographers and
ensure that you can communicate easily with them. Once you've
chosen the right photographer, schedule him or her as soon as
possible -- photographers' schedules can fill up quickly!
Now that you've got a photographer, don't be afraid
to speak up about what things you do or don't like. For example,
we told our photographer to avoid taking too many pictures with
a soft focus because my daughters didn't like the style. Do keep
in mind, though, to respect the photographer's experience and
listen to his or her suggestions.
Finally, it's also important to discuss the pictures
you want to have the photographer take. You may even want to compile
a checklist for your photographer to follow. (See the Professional
Photo List for photo ops you won't want to miss.)
Our photographer for both weddings, Suzette Skouson-Pine,
of Skouson Photography in Orem, Utah, has some important advice
about professional wedding pictures. She emphasizes that a professional
photographer is worth the expense, but you need to make it worth
your money. "One of the main snags I run into is that family
members and friends don't know where to meet for photos."
Be very specific in communicating these details to your guests.
When it comes to dealing with your photographer,
I have a few suggestions. First, consider talking to your photographer
about your budget constraints. Most are willing to work with you
to get the best selcetion of pictures your budget will allow.
Knowing that we were going to create a scrapbook and and didn't
need a proof album, Suzette allowed us to trade the price of the
album for enlargements.
Also, many photographers mount all 8"x 10"
and larger pictures. If you're ordering enlargements for your
scrapbooks, make sure your photographer knows that you need them
unmounted.
Finally, be sure to ask the photographer how long
he or she keeps negatives. It's important to know if you'll be
able to get additioanl prints in the future.
4. Solicit help from a couple of family members
or friends to take candid pictures throughout the wedding day
(so stock up on plenty of film!). Ask them to take pictures
of the people attending the wedding and reception, as well as
candid shots of your and your groom. Tell them you want a story
of the day and not a duplication of what the professional
photographer does. (We became good friends with Suzette, so we
also asked family members to take pictures of her in action.)
You may want to place disposable cameras on the
tables at the reception to get additional candid shots. But keep
in mind, these photos are not necessarily going to be the best
quality.
5. Ask someone to record your day on video
or audiotape. After the big day, you may consider transcribing
the tape and including it in your wedding scrapbook.
Fun idea: Instead of buying guest and gift
books that would be stored separately from your scrapbook, we
created our own guest and gift pages that can easily be slipped
into page protectors and stored in our wedding album. I purchased
a clear, acrylic clipboard and decorated the clip with flowers
and ribbon, then placed the clipboard and guest list at the guest
book table. These pages, complete with signatures of friends and
family, will make a wonderful addition to your scrapbook.
Your wedding album will undoubtedly be one of
your most prized possessions. With preparation -- and help from
family and friends -- you'll be able to create a wedding album
that will preserve your precious memories.
Reprinted with permission from Creating
Keepsakes. This article originally ran in a special wedding
issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine.
