Nice to meet you.

I'm a Traverse City area photographer & I've been shooting weddings for 8 years now. I'm a big hype girl for my couples and love working as a team with my second shooters!

I'm Grace.

During a wedding day, I want you to feel supported & inspired while working alongside me to capture the best day of our couple's lives.

While you're here - let's make sure to follow each other on social media!

Follow me on Instagram

Alright, here's the basic expectations:

Time & Promptness

Please arrive 15-20 minutes early, ready to start to shooting.

Unless we've spoken otherwise, I'll expect you to shoot for the full wedding day & I'll share the timeline with you prior to the day of.

Attire

I'm a big all black clothing fan. You can't go wrong with black. If you don't have a black outfit you love, stick to darker neutrals. I prefer no patterns.

Please dress professionally and functionally, keeping in mind appropriate lengths of shorts and dresses. Dress shorts and mid-longer skirts are great. If you utilize leggings, please ensure they are not at all see through and that your butt is covered at all times.

Wear comfortable shoes that are also professional and appropriate. Dansko's are my go to and I've shot many a summer wedding in nice Birkenstocks!

Payment

Payment will be sent within 12 hours of the wedding ending via Venmo or Paypal.

Memory Cards

I'll provide SD or CF cards for the day. Please shoot with dual cards so you have a personal copy of your images. You'll return my cards to me at the end of the day.

You are required to shoot in RAW.

Stay Hydrated.


Weddings are long days and there's not always time to grab lunch. Please be sure to bring your own water bottle(s) and plenty of protein packed snacks to get you through the day until we get to snag our dinner!

Bonus Points: Catch Behind the Scenes

We all love a good behind the scenes shot. I'd love if you are able to capture shots of myself and other vendors doing what we love, both on camera and quick phone shots and videos. I'll share on social media and always tag you - and I'll be doing the same for you during the day!

Breaking Down the Day

Guys Getting Ready


If we have to split up in the morning, you'll likely be headed to capture the guys getting ready. Here's what I'll be looking for:


Lens: 24-70 (or Equivalent), 50mm, or 35 mm

Aperture: 1.4-2.8 (please shoot where you're confident you'll hit focus)

Shutter Speed: Please keep your SS above 250 to keep crisp photos. I prefer your ISO higher rather than lowering your SS.


Be watching for just general candids and interactions - I'd rather you overshoot than be hesitant.


Other Shots:

  1. Groom Details - Tie or Bowtie, Cuff Links, Shoes, Pocket Square, Vow Book, Cologne, Liquor Bottles, Monogrammed Gifts, etc.
  2. Groom Getting Dressed - Find a window to place the groom near and capture him putting on his tie/bowtie/suspenders, coat, shoes, and cuff links.
  3. Groom Portraits - utilize the window or another area with a simple background and good light to grab a few portraits of the groom.
  4. Groom & Groomsmen Portraits - when in doubt, grab group shots of the guys as well as individual shots of the groom with each guy. I also love a shot of the whole group walking towards you looking at the groom, all giving a cheers with the drinks they have, and a big group hug of the groom - use any or all of these prompts as you see fit.
  5. Boutonnière Pinning - if this happens while you're there, capture it.

First Look

We'll make a game plan to capture both of their reactions and it will go something like this.

You capture this.

We'll decide before hand where each of us stand to capture both of their reactions.

I'll capture this.

I'll likely have you shooting either wide or with something like an 85 depending on what I'm shooting. If you're shooting with two bodies, I'll have you shoot one wide and one tight.

The Ceremony

We'll stay opposite of each other to shoot the ceremony.

Lens: I prefer you to shoot with lenses I'm not shooting with. I usually use 24-70 and 70-200 for ceremony shots, so if you shoot with a 35, 50, 85, or if shooting dual, another 70-200 - that's perfect.

Aperture: 1.4-2.8 (please shoot where you're confident you'll hit focus)

Shutter Speed: Please keep your SS above 250 to keep crisp photos. I prefer your ISO higher rather than lowering your SS.


Desired Shots:

  1. Groom's reaction to his bride from behind her (see above example).
  2. Bride walking down the aisle from behind - full length.
  3. Parent Reactions during ceremony.
  4. Bridal Party reactions during ceremony.
  5. Side shots of bride and groom with a tighter lens.
  6. Alternate shot of first kiss (we'll discuss this - see above examples).
  7. Shots of Bridal Party and Parents exiting.

Family Portraits

This is the part of the day where I love being a team and usually keep you with me, often for my sanity. I'll provide the family formal list to you before hand and I'll have you help wrangle the groups to get them on deck. I'm SHORT, so I'm usually shooting these standing on a step ladder and it's much easier for me to stay put and have you help gather the groups and cross off the list as we go. I'll also utilize your help in placing people when we have very large groups - you'll start at one end and I'll start at the other and space people appropriately so we can see everyone as much as possible.

Reception Details

At some point, I'll either send you to start gathering reception detail shots or we'll divide and conquer depending on the timeline. Here's what I'm looking for:

Lens: 50 mm, 85 mm

Aperture: 1.4-2.8 (please shoot where you're confident you'll hit focus)

Shutter Speed: Please keep your SS above 250 to keep crisp photos. I prefer your ISO higher rather than lowering your SS.


Desired Shots:

  1. Whole Room Shot - I'll always try to get this with my wide lens but always check in to make sure.
  2. Table Set Up & Details from multiple angles.
  3. Cake from multiple angles
  4. Cocktail Hour Details
  5. Bar Set Up
  6. Guest Book
  7. Memorial Tables
  8. Party Favors

When in doubt, capture more than you think you need.

Cocktail Hour & Dinner / Reception Time

Guest Portraits

If you're able to get to cocktail hour and finish with capturing details, I'll have you start grabbing pics of guests smiling and looking. If you see candids, amazing - but I've found the guests and my couples love being asked if they'd like a picture with whoever they're chatting with. It usually leads to guests asking for photos with their family, significant other, etc. and that's great! If this doesn't happen at cocktail hour, I'll ask to you do it sometime before or after dinner - even if it's just a quick table shot of each table as a little memento. These do not have to be perfect by any means - don't overthink about lighting, location, etc - just snap the pic, but PLEASE - use an aperture that's appropriate for sharp focus on groups!


I'll also ask you to either split up or take on 'table shots' - which are a shot of each table with preferably everyone who is seated at that table, present, and looking at the camera.

DO NOT just have them lean in and snap a pic with a 2.8 aperture - it will be blurry and awkward.

DO :

-say "Can I get a picture of your whole table for the Bride & Groom? (BIG SMILE as you say it! Make them feel a little guilty haha!) and then direct the people on the edges of the table to get up and stand behind the people at the back of the table. If you need light, use an on camera flash bounced off the ceiling. See below:

This is good, but the people in the back are dark and out of focus, so intead >>>

Direct them move, and adjust your aperture accordingly (3.5-5.0)

Entrances, Formal Dances, + Toasts & Speeches

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.

  • We'll prioritize teamwork here - shooting alternate angles with opposite lenses (one of us wide, one of us tight). I'll direct you in that moment as we see how logistics unfold, but please prioritize not being my shot as much as possible.
  • I'll be focusing on the main event, so while you're also getting shots of that, be watching for reactions from friends and family that are important to capture.

Dance Floor FUN

GET IN THERE.

This is where you get to have a ton of fun. Use a wide lens and one camera body so you can get in the party and get those super fun shots. Feel free to play with both bounced flash, direct flash, and dragging light, but PLEASE prioritize classic bounced flash dancing photos and both guest candids and portraits. Be watching for moments like grandparents or parents dancing, the Bride + Groom on the dance floor, etc. If you have any questions - don't hesitate to ask!

Now, let's go make some magic!

I can't wait to work with you. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have!

Thanks for helping me create lasting memories for my amazing couples!


-Grace

517-662-9020

capturedbygracemi@gmail.com