After almost 20 years and more than 500 weddings, I keep telling couples the same things. Not because the advice is complicated, but because the stuff that actually makes a difference is rarely what people expect.
My journey started in Chester and Birmingham, capturing the raw, sometimes rain-soaked energy of UK celebrations, before my heart (and my camera) moved to Montreal.
The best wedding photos I’ve ever delivered didn’t come from elaborate setups, expensive décor, or perfectly executed timelines. They came from couples who were relaxed enough to forget I was there. Getting to that point takes a bit of thought, though, and that’s what this post is about.
Why You Must Get to Know Your Photographer (and How it Affects Your Photos)
I notice a huge difference in the photos when couples are comfortable around me versus when they’re not. You don’t need to become my best friend, but you should at least feel like you can be yourself when I’m in the room. I’m going to be around all day, during the emotional bits, the stressful bits, the quiet bits. If you’re tense around your photographer, the photos show it. If you’re relaxed, they show that too.
A video call before you book goes a long way. It lets you figure out how I work and whether we’re a good fit. A lot of couples pick photographers based on portfolio alone, but personality matters just as much, maybe more. The most natural photos happen when people stop performing for the camera.
One of my couples put it better than I could:
“We’d met photographers prior to Steve and felt that their work was staged and not personal. We fell in love not only with his unique and individual style but him himself! His ability to become part of the wedding was second to none.”
Your Wedding Is Not a Photoshoot
This is the advice I repeat more than any other. A wedding is not a styled shoot or a Pinterest recreation. You’re not trying to recreate images you’ve seen online, you’re trying to have a good day and let someone document it honestly.
Long shot lists can actually work against you. When every moment is scheduled or staged, there’s no room left for anything spontaneous. The laughter, the hugs, the little reactions between people, all of that disappears when everyone’s standing around waiting for instructions.
If you want candid photos, you have to let candid moments happen. That means trusting the photographer you hired and paying more attention to the people around you than the camera.
One groom told me:
“Steve captured the mood and feel of our wedding with ease and humour. We all felt relaxed and under no pressure throughout the entire day, yet we ended up with amazingly beautiful and intricate pictures.”
Couples who stress least about the photos usually end up with the strongest ones. I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times.
Pay Attention to Light
Light is everything in photography. I’m always thinking about it, and it helps when couples are at least a little aware of it too.
Natural light is almost always the most flattering. Soft window light while you’re getting ready, outdoor portraits close to sunset, or even just stepping outside for ten minutes during golden hour can make a massive difference to how the photos turn out.
In Montreal, the quality of light changes a lot depending on the season. A summer wedding at golden hour gives you a completely different warmth than November light at somewhere like Auberge Saint-Gabriel. A winter ceremony at Le Mount Stephen with those tall windows can look incredible. I’ll always tell you what’s going to work best for your specific venue and time of year.
You don’t need perfect weather or an outdoor venue. Just be aware of where the good light is. Get ready near a window instead of under overhead fluorescents. Think about ceremony timing with sunset in mind. Ask me when the light’s going to be best. Small stuff, big difference.
Why Your Timeline Needs Breathing Room
The fastest way to create stress on a wedding day is to leave zero margin for error. Hair runs late. Traffic happens. Someone forgets the rings. I once had a bridal party stuck on the Champlain Bridge for 45 minutes, and because we’d padded the schedule, it didn’t matter at all.
I always push for extra time in the timeline. Not because I need more time for photos, but because relaxed people photograph better. When you feel rushed, it shows in your posture, your face, your energy. You can’t fake calm.
Couples consistently tell me they wish they’d given themselves more time to just take things in. Being ahead of schedule on your wedding day feels like a luxury, and it costs nothing.
Should You Do a First Look?
A first look is when you see each other before the ceremony, and I often suggest it for practical reasons. It lets us knock out portraits and wedding party photos earlier in the day, which frees up your cocktail hour so you can actually spend it with your guests.
For a lot of couples, it also settles the nerves. By the time the ceremony starts, you’ve already had that big emotional moment privately, and you can just enjoy the rest.
That said, some people want the traditional reveal at the ceremony, and that’s completely fine. There’s no wrong answer. The main thing is to understand how the choice affects your timeline, then go with whatever sits right with you.
The Getting Ready Space Matters
I can work in pretty much any room, but some spaces make my job a lot easier. A clean room with decent natural light will always produce calmer, more timeless photos than a dark, cluttered space with every lamp switched on.
You don’t need anything fancy. A quiet room near a big window beats a busy hotel suite almost every time. If you’re getting ready somewhere like the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth or Hotel William Gray, I can point you to the best spots based on rooms I’ve shot in before.
One thing I always appreciate: if you can gather your details together before I arrive, that really helps. Rings, invitations, shoes, perfume, whatever you want photographed. Having it all in one spot saves time and keeps the morning relaxed.
How to Get Through Family Photos Quickly
Family portraits are important, especially for parents and grandparents, but they can turn painful fast if nobody’s planned them out.
The best thing you can do is designate someone you trust with a list of all the must-have group photos. Somebody who knows who’s who and can have people prepared while I take the photos. This teamwork will ensure you get those important family photos without it affecting the timeline.
The aim is to get the photos your family will treasure without burning through time you should be spending enjoying your wedding.
Do You Need a Second Photographer?
I shoot about half my weddings solo and the other half with a second photographer. Both work well, and the right call depends on the size of your wedding, how many locations are involved, and what kind of coverage you want.
I can cover your ceremony, portraits, speeches, and reception on my own. I’ve done it hundreds of times. But a second shooter gives you a second perspective. I can photograph the bride walking down the aisle while they capture the groom’s reaction. I can shoot the best man’s speech while they catch the guests falling apart at the story that completely embarrasses the groom.
When I bring a second photographer, they’re always an established professional whose style works with mine. I’m not bringing someone’s nephew who’s trying to break into wedding photography. I cull and edit all the images myself so the final gallery feels consistent.
I’ve written a more detailed post about when a second photographer makes sense and when it doesn’t if you want the full breakdown.
Let’s Talk About Budget
Spending more on photography doesn’t automatically get you better photos. The most expensive photographer available isn’t necessarily the right one for your wedding. What actually matters is whether you connect with them, whether they’ve shot weddings like yours before, and whether their style is what you’re after.
I will say this, though: your photos are the thing that outlasts everything else from the day. Years from now, you won’t remember what the centrepieces looked like, but you’ll still be looking at these images. So it’s worth putting real thought into who you hire, regardless of what your budget is.
If money is tight, just be honest about it. I’d rather help you figure out the best coverage for what you can realistically spend than have you stretch for a package that doesn’t make sense.
What if the Weather Is Terrible?
Living in Quebec, you learn fast that weather plans are not optional. I’ve shot weddings in July humidity, October downpours, and proper January snowstorms. All of them turned out well.
Overcast skies are actually ideal for photography because the light is soft and even. Rain gives you reflections and atmosphere. Snow looks beautiful. The only weather I’d call genuinely difficult is harsh midday sun, and even that’s manageable if we plan for it.
What matters is having a backup plan for portraits. If your venue has a covered porch, a good hallway, or a well-lit room, we’ll be fine. I always scout options ahead of time so there’s no scrambling on the day.
Some of my favourite photos have come from days where the weather went completely off script. Couples who just go with it instead of fighting it tend to get images with more character than a perfect sunny day would have given them anyway.
Ask Your Guests to Put Their Phones Away
This one’s a bit delicate, but it genuinely matters. When half your guests are holding phones up during the ceremony, it doesn’t just affect the photos, it changes the whole feeling of the moment.
People watching your vows through a phone screen aren’t really watching your vows. And practically speaking, there’s nothing more frustrating than getting the perfect angle on a moment only to have someone’s arm and iPhone blocking the shot.
An unplugged ceremony makes a real difference. You can put a note on a sign, have your officiant say something quick at the start, or mention it on your wedding website. Most people are fine with it once you ask. After the ceremony, phones come back out, no problem. But for those 20 or 30 minutes, it’s worth it for everyone involved.
Make Room for the In-Between Moments
If you want photos of laughter, you have to actually laugh. If you want photos that feel connected, you have to spend time together.
Stay close to your partner during cocktail hour. Hold hands. Talk to people properly. Hug your relatives instead of doing the quick hello and moving on. The in-between moments, the ones that aren’t on any schedule, are usually where I get the photos you’ll care about most ten years from now.
“Our photos exceeded all expectations and we’re utterly blown away every time we look at them. They’re innovative, imaginative, creative, technically perfect, full of energy and radiate emotion. Steve is discreet, cool, great with people and ON IT.”
You can’t stage a candid photo. They just happen when people stop thinking about the camera.
Something Will Go Wrong, and That’s Fine
Something will run late. A detail will get missed. The weather might turn. After 500 weddings, I can tell you that guests almost never notice the things couples spend weeks worrying about.
The weddings that stick with me aren’t the ones where everything went perfectly. They’re the ones where the couple was obviously, visibly having a great time regardless of what went sideways.
“After the wedding and all the fun is over, you’re left with your memories and your photos. My husband and I still say that Steve was by far the best money we spent on our wedding.”
One Last Thing
I’ve given you a lot of advice here, but if I had to boil it down to one thing, it would be this: just enjoy your day. Pay some attention to the light, build some breathing room into your timeline, trust the people you’ve hired, and then let go.
The couples who end up with the photos they love aren’t the ones who planned the most, they’re the ones who were actually present for their own wedding.
Whether it’s an industrial warehouse wedding in Northern England or a chic loft celebration in Old Montreal, my goal remains the same: to tell your story without the clichés. If you’re looking for a photographer who values authenticity over awkward posing and who knows exactly how to handle a change in the weather, let’s talk.
Steve Gerrard is a documentary wedding photographer based in Montreal, Quebec, with almost 20 years of experience and more than 500 weddings shot across Canada and internationally. Get in touch to chat about your wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get natural-looking wedding photos? The biggest factor is how comfortable you feel around your photographer. Have a video call before you book, make sure the personality fit is there, and then trust them to do their job on the day. Couples who stop worrying about the camera and focus on enjoying themselves almost always end up with the strongest photos.
How much buffer time should I build into my wedding timeline? As much as you can. Hair runs late, traffic happens, things take longer than you expect. I always recommend padding your schedule so you’re not rushing between moments. Being ahead of schedule on a wedding day makes everything feel calmer, and that calm shows in the photos.
Should I have an unplugged wedding ceremony? I’d strongly recommend it. Asking guests to put their phones away for the 20 to 30 minutes of your ceremony means they’re actually watching, and it means I can photograph the moment without arms and screens in the way. A quick note on a sign or an announcement from your officiant is all it takes.
Do I need a second wedding photographer? It depends on the size of your wedding and how many locations are involved. I shoot about half my weddings solo and it works well. A second photographer gives you a second perspective, which is especially useful at larger weddings or when the wedding party is getting ready in two separate locations.
Does spending more on wedding photography guarantee better photos? Not necessarily. What matters more than price is whether you connect with your photographer, whether they’ve shot weddings like yours before, and whether their style matches what you’re looking for. That said, your photos are the thing that outlasts everything else from the day, so it’s worth putting real thought into who you hire.
