SIX TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR WEDDING DAY TIMELINE

You’re engaged and now you have a long list of things TO DO to prepare for your big day. One of those important tasks to do is to make a timeline for your wedding day.

After wedding couples book me as their wedding photographer, we plan to meet together about a 2-3 weeks prior to their wedding date to discuss final timeline details. At this meeting we discuss not only the wedding day timeline, but important must take photos for the couple, confirm details, and answer any questions that may come up. The following are tips on how to create the timeline for your wedding.

1. Start with the ceremony

The ceremony start time is a set time to work your timeline around. From that time, you can put a 30-45 minute block prior to the start time where everyone is hidden until the ceremony. This time allows for the bride and groom to touch up makeup, relax, grab a snack, use the restroom, and prepare for their ceremony.

2. Determine if you will see each other prior to walking down the aisle

I typically recommend seeing each other prior to the ceremony. This can allow you both to get the butterflies/jitters out and feel more comfortable. In addition, it’s better to get photos of the two of you while your hair and makeup are fresh. Lastly, this allows for most of the photos to be taken prior to the ceremony which then allows you to relax and enjoy being married after you say your vows. If you are going to see each other before, plan to have a “First Look” with each other. I always recommend this be done just the two of you alone. No spectators besides the videographer and the photographer. This is a special moment that is perfect for just the two of you.

If you do not plan to see each other, make sure there are separate times on the timeline where you are getting photographs done prior to the ceremony with your bridesmaids or groomsmen. And, you need to make sure there is plenty of time between the ceremony and the reception to take all formal family photos, whole wedding party photos, and the photos of just the two of you.

3. Dismissing guests from the ceremony

Your ceremony length should be known ahead of time. If you are Catholic, the ceremony typically lasts about an hour. Once you know the length of the ceremony you need to determine if you are planning on dismissing pews yourself, having a receiving line, or just allow ushers to release your guests from the pews. Note: If you are planning a receiving line, you must take into consideration how long it might take to get through your total number of guests. Dismissing 200 guests could potentially take 45 minutes. Having ushers release your guests will take the shortest amount of time.

4. Formal Family Photos

These photos can be taken prior to the ceremony or directly after the ceremony. Having a list of names for every single group to be taken is wonderful for the photographer to have. I use this list to call out names of individuals in each photo and check off the photos taken as we go through the list. I typically account for formal family photos to take about 30 minutes. Make sure that all members of your family who you plan on being in the photos arrive at least 10 minutes before these photos are scheduled.

5. Determine schedule for your reception

Your reception time should also be a set in stone time. When you have that in the timeline, you can determine if any photos should or could be taken between the ceremony and the reception. The reception schedule should be discussed with the venue coordinator, the DJ, the videographer, and the photographer. Plan an order of events and how long each of those will take. This list should include entrance/announcement time, any speeches, the blessing of the meal, dinner, cake cutting, toasts, first dances, extra dances(ie. generation dance), bouquet/garter toss, and exit(ie. sparkler exit).

If possible, allow time for the photographer to photograph the venue and reception area before your guests arrive to the venue. This allows the photographer to get photos of the details of the reception and the whole room set up before anyone enters. It also gives the photographer time to set up lighting and prepare for the reception.

6. Arrival of photographer at beginning of wedding day

After you have determined your reception timeline, you can review how many hours you have for your wedding day photography. Then, determine what time your photographer can arrive. I take all of the wedding day detail photos at the beginning of the wedding day and allow about 45 minutes for those photos. Next, schedule in the time for getting ready photos, stepping into the dress, etc.

Having a written out timeline also confirms when your vendors need to be there and when they are finished. You can also hand out a simpler form of the timeline to your wedding party and important family members so they know how the day plans to flow as well.

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I hope this information helps you create and perfectly flowing timeline for your wedding day. If you would like more information on booking me to photograph your wedding, please contact me here or email me at hello@jenndavisphoto.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

With love, Jennnifer

HOW TO USE YOUR BRANDING PHOTOS :: INDIANA BRAND PHOTOGRAPHER

You’ve had your brand photography session. NOW WHAT? What do you do with all those great photos you have within your business?

Here are a few suggestions on where to use your brand photos. Work through these suggestions to get the most out of your brand photography photos.

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Update headshots throughout your social media

Spend time going through all of your social media accounts and replacing your old headshot with the beautiful new one!

• Facebook

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• Twitter

• Etc. Any location you have a photo of you.

Freshen up your website

STOP using stock photos! You have beautiful new images that are unique and totally YOU! USE THEM!! Put them throughout your website. On the Homepage. On the About Me page. On the Contact Me page. Everywhere! Let your client see you and your business! See how my friend, Sarah, is using her brand photos in her about me page below.

Include within your newsletters and emails

Most people have email signatures at the bottom of their emails. Why not include a photo of you there, too!?

New business cards with updated headshot

Clients can make a connection through seeing your beautiful smile. Include one on your business card!

Use images + words

You can include text with your images to use for marketing and advertising. I use Canva.com to create advertising using the images from my brand photography session.

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After updating and using your brand photos in all areas of your business, you can celebrate and cheer! It will feel SO GREAT that you invested in beautiful, authentic images for your business and brand! Use that content and reap the rewards!!

If you haven’t had a brand session with me, reach out here to get more information.

With love,

Jennifer

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY SESSION :: Greensburg, Indiana Family Photographer

Planning for an extended family photography session can be a stressful process. Below is an idea of what you can expect from your extended family session and a few tips on how to prepare before the session.

Extended family sessions include more than one immediate family and usually has multiple generations on family members. It can include grandparents, siblings, children, cousins, grandchildren, etc. Gathering all of these family members together at a time that works well for everyone can be challenging. I offer these sessions throughout the week and even on weekends because that might be the only option to get out of town family together. The session lasts about an hour depending on size. The session can last longer to allow for all the desired combinations to be photographed.

Here is how I normally work through my extended family sessions.

1. I start with the whole family. Get everyone together looking and smiling. Then, I might come in close to do tight shots of the kids or couples just being casual and interacting with each other.

2. Next, I start photographing each individual family unit. Within each family unit I will photograph that family as a whole, each individual child, just the children, parents together, etc.

3. After I get through each family unit, I will get grandparents with all the grandchildren. Followed by just the grandparents together.

4. Last, I will photograph any other combination requested. Examples can be, all the adult siblings, the in-laws, grandmother with her daughters, generational picture(ie. grandfather, son, grandson), etc.

NOTE: This workflow may change depending on each family, how the session is flowing, etc.

When it comes to determining what to wear for an extended family session, I always recommend starting with a color that isn’t too bold and working out from there. The outfits to compliment each other and not be too matchy-matchy. Once the primary colors have been chosen, family members can find outfits that go together. I suggest adding in textures and some pattern to give the photos some dimension.

Here is a link to my FREE guide of 5 Steps for What to Wear for your session. By singing up for my email list, you can get this free guide. It has great tips that can help when picking outfits for your session.

Last, remember to relax and have fun during your extended family session. We only have a short time together here on Earth. Showing that love, respect and kindness for one another is so important. And it shows in your photos!

If you are interested in booking an extended family session, please reach out to hello@jenndavisphoto.com or by clicking here. I look forward to meeting your family and getting to know everyone in the crew!

With love, Jennifer

Baby Lyndon :: Lifestyle Newborn Session

I absolutely LOVED this session. This beautiful baby girl is the perfect addition to this sweet family! Dad is definitely out numbered, but I don’t think he minds. I’m sure these little ladies are going to be best friends as they get older. We will see if they all end up being red heads!

I’m so thankful that I was given the privilege to get to know this family. I have been photographing their growing family since 2017. We have shared together and cried together. We have watched each other grow in so many ways. <— THIS.

This is why I love what I do. Those bonds and connections made with clients who become friends is SOOO important. This job is so much more than just taking photos. It’s a mission for me. It’s one of my talents given to me from God. I cherish getting to see my clients and have genuine conversations with them.

Here are a few of my favorites from their lifestyle newborn session. Enjoy!

If you are interested in a lifestyle newborn session, please reach out here or email me at hello@jenndavisphoto.com.

With love, Jennifer

How to Prepare for Your Lifestyle Newborn Session :: Indiana Newborn Photographer

When we had our first baby, we had a lifestyle newborn session. I love the photos from that session. I loved that we didn’t have to pack up to go to a studio for our session. I also loved that we now have photographs of our first home and his nursery.

When I started photographing newborns, I was doing the studio, posed newborn sessions. However, I felt like I was not sharing the full story of those newborns. Now, I only do lifestyle newborn sessions. In this blog post, I am going to share some tips on how to prepare your family for a lifestyle newborn session.

1. Declutter Spaces

I am NOT telling new parents to deep clean their homes. Trust me, you will not notice if there is dust on the baseboards. However, cleaning up items around your house that might be distracting in photos is very important. For example, if you have phone chargers, a glass of water, books, etc. on your nightstand, put them away.

2. Timing

Lifestyle newborn sessions are scheduled for late morning. This time allows everyone to get up and get ready without feeling rushed. I recommend keeping little baby awake and active for the hour before I plan to arrive. One way to keep baby from sleeping would be to remove clothes and just have a diaper on. Then, when I arrive, change the diaper and feed baby so that he or she sleeps during the session.

Late morning is also a good time if you have siblings who still take afternoon naps.

3. Rest & Eat

Make sure everyone in the family gets plenty of good quality sleeps the night before. I know this can be hard for young parents. But, it’s especially a good idea for older siblings.

Making sure everyone has had a snack before the lifestyle newborn session is a great idea as well. There is nothing worse than a grumpy, hungry toddler!

4. Don’t Stress

I know….easier said than done. Just enjoy your new baby and your growing family. Allow me to guide you through your lifestyle newborn session. I will give you cues and prompts to get some awesome photos for your family. Being playful with older siblings and loving on each other makes those connections stand out.

5. Plan Outfits

I highly recommend planning the outfits for the family before baby’s arrival. Wearing light colors for a lifestyle newborn sessions is a good idea to reflect light onto the new baby. I bring wraps and nightgowns for your new baby to wear, but you can also put them into something simple for the session.

Here is a link to my FREE guide of 5 Steps for What to Wear for your session. By singing up for my email list, you can get this free guide.

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If you are interested in booking a lifestyle newborn session, please reach out to hello@jenndavisphoto.com or by clicking here. I look forward to meeting a new babies and their families!

With love, Jennifer

TOP 10 LOCATIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS :: INDIANA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

There are SO many locations that I could have chosen to include in this blog post. I have narrowed the list down to 10 spots. To be honest, I can shoot about anywhere, but I do have my reliable go-to favorites that I recommend. I have divided these into Indianapolis and Souteastern Indiana(around Greensburg where I am located).

INDIANAPOLIS LOCATIONS

Coxhall Garden

This park is located in Carmel, Indiana at 116th Street and Towne Road. This location has both urban/stone look and country/barn look. It is very versatile and I typically shoot my fall mini sessions at this location.

Southeastway Park

This park is located off of I-74 southeast of Indianapolis. This location is spacious and has a lot to offer. Grassy meadows, paved walking paths, large trees, and even a playground for when we are done with the session. Your kids can run around and have fun! If you are looking for that wooded vibe for your family photos…this is it! This location does require an additional $30 fee to have your session here.

Lockerbie Square

This is a beautifully manicured neighborhood in downtown Indianapolis. It has a gorgeous cobble stoned road that adds great texture to photos. I would recommend this location for engaged couples or families with older kids since we are close to busy streets.

Downtown Zionsville

Having lived in Zionsville, I am very familiar with this location. There are several side streets and park near by that offer a variety of different looks. This location is also well manicured and has some great dinning options for after your session.

Creekside Nature Park

This is one of my favorite hidden gems! This park is located in Zionsville across from Lions Park. This location offers a grassy meadow surrounded by beautiful woods. There is also a paved path that wraps around the park with an entrance down to Eagle Creek. If the water level isn’t too high, hoping down there for a few creekside photos is a must!

SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA LOCATIONS

Downtown Greensburg

Of course, my own town is a great spot for local clients to this spot in their photos. There are a couple cute streets and alleys. Right on the square there is a brick sidewalk that is unique and adds texture. And you can stop by my favorite coffee shop!

Rebekah Park

This is another local spot in Greensburg. This park offers an open grassy area that bumps up to a wooded nature area that is the perfect backdrop for a session.

Downtown Columbus

This super artsy downtown offers a variety of alleys and spots to get some great photos. One of my favorite spots in Columbus, Indiana is the Cummins building that has neat columns with greenery and vines. Another nice perk of being in Columbus are the many options for small town restaurants nearby.

Mil Race Park

This park is located in Columbus, Indiana on the west side of town. It offers a lot of grassy/wooded areas, a covered bridge, pond, and access to creekside. This is a great spot where families can let the little ones run around.

In Your Home

A lifestyle session in your home is always a great option when determining where you want to have your session. It allows your home to be captured on camera and remembered. You have so many moments in your home that picking this as your location is a great option. I do most of my in home sessions for newborn sessions, but don’t let that stop you from having your family session in your home!

Are you ready to book your session?

Once you book your session, I will work with you to determine what location would work best for your family’s photography goals. But remember, no matter where your sessions is located, we will be having fun and making memories for you and your family.

Reach out here today to get your session on the schedule!