We’ve all been to a wedding where the couple spent the entire time taking photos, and didn’t visit with guests. If they didn’t visit with guests, they likely didn’t get to enjoy themselves, either.

You don’t want to think back on your wedding and realize you never got a chance to enjoy yourself because you were constantly “on” for the camera.

So here’s my advice to you: 3 helpful tips to make your wedding portraits enjoyable. (And I promise, it’ll be more enjoyable for everyone involved!)

Wedding Portrait Tip 1: One photo location is best.

Choose one location with good light and few background options. You don’t have to hit 4 different places or make the rounds of the St. Louis landmarks. We’re really fortunate to have quite a few amazing photo locations that have great light even at noon on the hottest, sunniest day of the summer.

Wedding Portrait Tip 2: Don’t focus too much on wedding party photos.

You really only need about 30 minutes to capture all the wedding party photos. If you have a lot of time to kill, use that time to make memories instead of photos. Have a picnic. Stop by a favorite bar or restaurant (4 Hands Brewery is a great spot for a drink and to play a few games!) Go on a private tour at Anheuser Busch and then get a drink in the Biergarten afterwards. You’ll have fun. Your wedding party will have fun, and you’ll get some AMAZING candid shots of everyone together. Those candid shots will take you right back to those fun moments. They might even become some of your favorite photos from your wedding day.

Wedding Portrait Tip 3. It’s okay not to spend hours taking portraits.

If posed photos aren’t your thing, or you just don’t have a bunch of extra time on your wedding day, that’s perfectly fine! It’s about quality, not quantity. It’s more important for you to enjoy your wedding day and enjoy your people than it is to spend hours and hours taking photos that you’ll likely never do anything with. You only have so much wall space and wedding albums are only so many pages.

If you’d like to talk more about how to make your wedding portraits more enjoyable for you, send me an email at hello@jaimienicolekrause.com or reach out to me via my website contact form!

For more helpful tips, check out this post on 5 Great Tips for a Stress-Free Engagement Session.