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Love is in the air, and my schedule is filling up with mini session Valentine photos!! Whether a professional shoot is on your dance card, or you just want to take some swoon-worthy pics to share from your phone, here are my top tips for taking the sweetest Valentine photos.
For Couples:
1. Dress the part
Ditch the same old selfies and mark the occasion! No matter if it’s your first holiday together or your 50th, nothing says Valentine’s Day like reds, pinks, and heart-heavy prints. To make these snaps true Valentine photos, throw on your favorite little red dress, and coordinate with your date. It’s fun, and your photos will sing!
2. Use grown-up props
You didn’t think props were just for kids and senior pictures, did you? Holding a simple themed piece can elevate your Valentine photos no matter how many years you’ve been together! So sneak a smooch behind a heart-shaped lollipop, hold hands beneath a single red balloon, or cozy up to your sweetheart with a bouquet of pink flowers. Not your style? Sip some poured heart latte art instead!
3. Focus on the details
Every love story is unique, and the details of yours should be celebrated! Recreate your first date, spend the day doing your favorite activity together, or revisit some of the milestones in your relationship for your Valentine photos. Still get butterflies when you hold hands? Include a close-up of your hands in your shot list! Focusing on the details of your love will help remind you why you’re celebrating this day… not to mention they’ll make your heart swell every time you look at them!
For Kids:
1. Incorporate letter boards
Make sure your photos say what you want them to say! It’s tricky enough getting kids to focus on photos. Make it clear these are Valentine photos with a simple “Be Mine” or “LOVE” on a letter board, chalkboard or paper heart. Have your kids hold it up, or just set it beside them where the text is easy to read!
2. Make a backdrop
Let’s face it, kids aren’t exactly known for holding still. Using a backdrop can ensure that your shot is set up regardless of wiggles! Now, I know what you’re thinking, but making a backdrop for Valentine photos is easier than you think! Hang a plain white sheet up on the wall, then blow up some red and pink balloons, attach some red paper hearts, or just spread some red and pink pillows and blankets out on the ground. If all else fails, head to the nearest dollar store or party store. Their seasonal aisles are full of Pinterest-perfect items!
3. Make it FUN!
In all my years as a photographer, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about taking photos of babies and kids, it’s that the very best shots come from the totally authentic moments. Make sure you capture the real smiles by making each photo full of fun! Include their very own heart-themed arts and crafts, eat candy hearts, or have them blow bubbles. Make games with balloons, ask them to dance to their favorite song, or even play a round of freeze dance. The giggles that follow will make for some pretty amazing Valentine photos!
For Families:
1. Make it Interactive
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of relationships. So why not take your Valentine photos while spending time together? Instead of going portrait style, try taking some staged and candid photos while you’re making red velvet pancakes, heart-shaped pizzas, or wiggley heart jello shapes. You’ll make memories, and capture your family relationships in real time.
2. Make a DIY Photo Booth
All you need are some popsicle sticks, glue and construction paper! Cut out some hearts, lips, or heart-shaped glasses. Make fancy top hats or red roses, or string hearts together to make a crafty garland! Enjoy spending time creating together, then show off your handiwork photo booth style!
3. Heart Hands
The easiest way to nail some cute Valentine photos? Heart hands! Pose your family making heart shapes with your hands and shadows, or simply draw hearts on your palms with a washable red marker. Put your hands together, or keep them close to your heart! The love will literally leap off your images.
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Let’s talk wedding traditions! Ever wondered why brides wear white? Or where the wedding party got started? These days there’s more trends than traditions, but there are still a few tried and true gestures that remain staples among wedding ceremonies. Here are five wedding traditions still popular today… and why you should definitely photograph them!
Carrying a Bouquet
Origin: The roots of floral wedding traditions date back all the way to ancient times. While the earliest brides carried bundles of herbs and garlic to ward off evil spirits, others carried floral garlands as a symbol of their fertility. Plants in bloom also symbolized new beginnings, such as the new union between partners.
Today: Today’s brides use their bouquets and floral arrangements to enhance their theme. A bouquet can compliment the other colors and decor, and add elements of personality in a classic and traditional way.
Why Take the Photo? A bride’s bouquet is not only pleasing to the eye, it represents all the hard work and details that made the day especially yours. Shots of your floral selection serve as a memory without any distractions. They allow the unique details to shine, and break up any redundant photos in your wedding galleries or social media posts.
Photo captured The Oaks at Plum Creek (Castle Rock, CO)
Exchanging Rings
Origin: Wedding/engagement bands date all the way back to ancient Egypt, where the circle symbolized never-ending or eternal love. Sicilians took this wedding tradition to the next step, adding diamonds to represent dedication. Rings are traditionally worn on the left third finger, as the Romans believed there was a vein that ran from that finger directly to the heart.
Today: Some couples opt for other jewelry pieces. Some get finger tattoos. Some choose something else entirely to represent their love. But the gesture of exchange remains intact, with rings holding on to their traditional popularity. Today, they continue to be worn as a statement of dedication and a symbol of enduring love that lasts long after the ceremony.
Why Take the Photo? Much like their origins, ring shots are an important part of your wedding photography shot list because of their significance as a symbol of union. That, and odds are you paid a lot of money for them! And since they were chosen to last, these pieces tend to show off your personal styles and personalities much better than most of the other details of your day.
Photo captured The Oaks at Plum Creek (Castle Rock, CO)
Wearing a White Dress
Origin: White wedding gowns came into history during the Victorian era, and have yet to leave American wedding traditions. Queen Elizabeth herself started the trend at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1864, choosing white to best display the lace that adorned her gown. (And the English lace makers who crafted it.) Since then, white wedding gowns have served as a symbol of wealth,
Today: While fashion has changed over the years, it seems deep down, we still want to feel like royalty on our big day. Afterall, it’s what we grew up seeing in movies and television shows, and how we imagine a bride to be. Colored sashes and accessories can be added, even today, it’s a popular choice to feel like a traditional bride.
Why Take the Photo? Yes, you’ll have plenty of photos wearing your gown (especially if you schedule a bridal shoot), but be sure your photographer takes a few of the garment on its hanger, too. Why? Besides it being dramatic, “the dress shot” serves as a way to let your gown speak for itself. Your gown is a thing of beauty that deserves to be highlighted and documented all on its own!
Photo captured The Oaks at Plum Creek (Castle Rock, CO)
Eating a Wedding Cake
Origin: Cakes have been a component of wedding feasts since medieval times, where they represented good fortune, fertility and prosperity. The ceremonial cutting of the cake was meant to display the happy couple’s first task as a union, and the feeding was meant to represent their commitment to serving each other in love.
Today: What once began as simple, humble cakes and breads, today’s desserts have become multi-tiered baking extravaganzas. Now adorned with customized cake toppers and colorful touches, it’s a wedding tradition your guests have come to expect. Couples today even keep a piece to freeze and eat on their first anniversary to celebrate the continued good fortune in their union.
Why Take the Photo? Okay, this one’s personal. Photographing your cake is a GREAT way for your wedding photographer to show off their creativity. AND the images celebrate the details your guests will be talking about long after you say “I do.” It’s a snapshot of your day your guests likely won’t also snap on their phones, likely shared by your bakers, planners and venue.
Photo captured The Oaks at Plum Creek (Castle Rock, CO)
Having a Bridal Party
Origin: While bridesmaids started with members of the royal court, they were also used as decoys to confuse evil spirits that might spoil the bride’s happiness on her wedding day. Groomsmen, on the other hand, began as a testament to the groom’s swordsmanship, ready and waiting by his side in the case of a runaway bride or attendees with any objections to the union. In both cases, this wedding tradition goes way back.
Today: Nowadays wedding parties serve as a way to include your family, friends and loved ones in your wedding day. They can assist with tasks leading up to the ceremony, on the day itself, and even getting you both on your way to your honeymoon. Who doesn’t love to celebrate life’s biggest moments with their besties?
Why Take the Photo? Your big day is a moment in time. Not just for you, but for the tribe you chose to stand by your side! They’ll want to capture this memory just as much as you do! You could have a group of 2 or 20. But trust me. You’re going to want to remember these friendships (and their attire!) exactly as they were on that day.
Whether you’re a traditional bride or prefer something a little more modern, photographing the sentimental details that make your day unique is as special as it is nostalgic. Your wedding will be timeless. Your photos should be, too!
