"CLOCK  MANAGEMENT" FOR WEDDINGS

Anyone that watches football knows what I’m talking about when I speak of “clock management.”

Games can be won or lost based upon clock management.

In short? If your winning? There are ways to “assure” your win by “stalling” and “eating up the clock.”

And when you’re losing?

There are ways to manage the clock so you increase your chance at a win.

In the most extreme cases? There are actually times where you would rather let the other team get a quick touchdown. Only to come back and give yourself and opportunity to get a touchdown with no time remaining.

It’s the same in wedding photography.

Clock Management is crucial.

I’ve said it many times before.

There are photographers? And there are wedding photographers.

I know of some portrait photographers that could take the most amazing picture of a bride.

But ask them to take that SAME picture on the day of the wedding - and there’s a dramatic difference.

Wedding Day Photography is about time management.

In short - it’s about how you utilize your time.

I can take a great bridal portrait. And so can any other pro photographer in America if you give them 2 hours to do it.

The difference? Great wedding photographers can do it in 10 minutes.

Because they (you) understand their “day of wedding” time constraints.

Can you maximize the time you spend with the bride a groom?

Are you being pressed to finish the formal photos?

Here is a short guide of things to do to manage your day of wedding photos:

Recognize the Dangers of Wedding Clock Mismanagement

If you’re a pro photographer and you’ve done a handful of weddings - you know what I’m talking about.

Yes… we know it’s about preparation. We know it’s about articulating to your bride time schedules before hand.

But also realize that things don’t always work out as planned.

Brides get pressed for time. Locations get rained out. People get tired.

But it’s bound to come upon you where you’re doing a wedding where the “fault” will be placed on your shoulders.

“I’m upset with my photos because I didn’t get this, this or that photo.”

“My cater is upset because you took too long with the photos and now the guests food is cold.”

We don’t want things like this to sour a wedding day.

So here are the tips:

1) Get the Basics

At the minimum… you should strive for at least a few things. Bride and Groom together is a must.

Adding to that? Bride by herself. Groom by himself. Wedding Party. Bride and Groom with immediate family.

If you feel that time is running short?

At least try to get these photos.

You might have planned out one strategy. But feel free to change it on game day.

Because there’s no use to get pictures of the Bride and Groom with “so and so aunt that traveled in from England”  if your not going to get a picture of the bride and groom together.

Be flexible.

If you think you’re going to run out of time... Prioritize your photos.

For example…

I would LOVE to get a picture of the Bride with every Bridesmaid.

But if I feel I’m running out of time? So be it? You are going to have to settle for one picture of the Bride with ALL of her Bridesmaid collectively.

Prioritize.

2) State Noted “Shoot Times.”

If you find yourself running short on time… state the noted shoot times.

For example:

“Hey… we only have 20 minutes before the church kicks us out of here. So how about we do as much as we can in 15 minutes. Then the last 5 minutes we can do some of you two at the alter.”

Either way.. Let them know what the time frame is if you feel time is running short.

3) Fill the Gaps

The gaps are this…

Say that you made the decision NOT to do pictures of the Bride with each Bridesmaid individually.

Ok… so you didn’t have time.

Then TRY to fill the gaps in later on.

For example… during the reception… I might try to get a good portrait of each bridesmaid.

Or… If I know time is going to run short? I might try BEFORE the wedding to get pictures of each bridesmaid lined up before walking down the aisle.

Or… Perhaps I know that we didn’t have time to do Bride with Mom and Dad.

Maybe I only got the Bride and Groom with Mom and Dad.

Then I might pull Mom and Dad aside at the reception to get a nice picture of JUST them together.

In other words… I think about what I missed and I’ll work to make up later on.

Keep good mental notes - and if not? Keep a note pad of things you DIDN’T get. And try to get those pictures later.

In all?

Constantly look at the clock.

See where you are in the stream of time during the wedidng.

See what you can and can’t do.

And make adjustments accordingly.