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Capturing wedding day memories in Johannesburg and all around the world, these 11 Top Wedding Photographers Johannesburg, Gauteng have dug deep to dish out their expert wedding photography tips for bridal couples. In this week's Wedding Planning Series, we share their top secret tips for getting amazing photos, maximising your wedding photo budget and much more -so take note!

Tips for Maximising Your Wedding Photography Budget

(Above) Alana Meyer Photography

1. Reduce the number of shooting hours. Reducing the number of shooting hours allows you to get the best photographer for which your budget allows. It is better to pay a bit more to get a good photographer, perhaps cutting the hours down to just the bridal preparation, ceremony and bride and groom session in order to get good shots, rather than lots of mediocre shots of the entire wedding and reception. - Imaginary Photography
2. Get the album done at a later stage. I have been approached by quite a few brides and grooms after their weddings to help them with doing a "mock wedding shoot" or wanting help trying to fix up their wedding photos as they were unhappy with the photos they got from their wedding day. - Imaginary Photography
Budget to spend 10% on your photographic requirements. Resist the temptation to employ the services of a friend who "has a great camera". This could end in in disaster. - Brett Florens Photography 3.

Tips for looking your best in your wedding photographs

(Above Left) Stella Uys Wedding Photography | (Above Right) Imaginary Photography

6. Ask for referrals for professional hair and make-up artists to make the best selection. I cannot stress enough how important proper make-up is for your photographs. - Stella Uys Photography 7. Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding for peace of mind. Use this trial also for your engagement session as this will make you feel fabulous and even more comfortable about yourself. - Louise Vorster Photography

Tips for Communicating What You Want from Your Wedding Photographs

(Above) Izelle Labuschagne Photography

9. Make sure to tell the photographer what you expect from them. This will help your photographer to work towards creating photographs that will blow your mind. - Jaco Viljoen Photography
Research photo ideas and pick a few favourite shots. Send these to your photographer and ask them if they will be possible based on the location, season and time of day you have selected. 10. Ask your photographer for what you want well before the wedding. On the day you will forget. The day after it's too late. - Dror Eyal Photography
Be sure to keep your photographer up-to-date in your planning process. I love when couples send me examples of their decor; invites etc. It's so important for your photographer to get a good idea of what to expect on your wedding day. - Izelle Labuschagne Photography 11.
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Wedding Photography Tips to Plan for the Best Light

(Above) Izelle Labuschagne Photography

15. Discuss the timeline of your wedding with your photographer. Ensure that you have enough time and light to create the images you have seen your photographer is capable of. Good quality light is your photographer's best friend and one of the biggest contributors to awesome photos. - Brett Florens Photography and Stella Uys Photography

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Tips for Selecting A Photography-Friendly Wedding Venue

(Above) Louise Vorster Photography

19. Think about the type of evening light that will be available at your reception. Light is such an important factor to get beautiful photos especially at night. Ask your DJ to bring some lights or hire in a couple of spot lights just to fill the room with some colour. This immediately changes your reception and party photos from average to amazing. - Creative Emporium Photography 20. Have your ceremony where there's natural lighting. For great ceremony photos, try to get married in a chapel with lots of natural light or risk the weather and do it all outdoors. - Lad and Lass Photography 21. Get dressed and ready at a beautiful location. A lot of photos get taken before the ceremony so consider getting ready at a beautiful location. - Creative Emporium Photography 22. Ensure that there is enough room for everyone. Ensure the location you get ready at has enough space for you and your bridal party, the photographers as well as the videographers. If it's a constrain to hire a room at a guesthouse or hotel, ask a friend. - Creative Emporium Photography 23. Don't overlook the groom's location for getting ready. Don't neglect the space where the groom will get ready, either. - Creative Emporium Photography

(Above) Creative Emporium Photography

Tips for Relaxing to get the Most out of your Wedding Photography

(Above) Brett Florens Photography

24. Be in the moment during your couple shoot. Take the couple photography session as the time on your wedding day that you will be alone and enjoy each other. During your photo session just be in the moment with your new partner and enjoy celebrating these moments together (and don't pay too much attention to your photographers, we're capturing it all for you). - Jaco Viljoen Photography and Lad and Lass Photography 25. Delegate. This may sound easy, but if you like to know what is going on, it can be a difficult task. If you don't delegate, you will find yourself on the wedding day worrying about stuff you shouldn't and this really does affect your expressions in photos, as you will look concerned or worried most of the day. Relax and let go - trust the team you've assembled to do their job. - Alana Meyer Photography 26. Accept that small things might go wrong before your photo shoot. You're probably going to stress the week before the wedding. Things will probably go wrong on the day, they won't run on time. If you're stressed on the wedding day, you're going to look stressed in your photos. Try to relax, have fun. There is no unstress filter in photoshop! - Dror Eyal Photography

Tips for Selecting A Wedding Photographer that Matches Your Style and Personality

(Above Left) Imaginary Photography | (Above Right) Stella Uys Wedding Photography

27. Have a pre-wedding or engagement shoot to get comfortable. Booking an engagement shoot prior to your wedding allows you to get comfortable with the photographer and the photographer to get to know you better thus on your wedding you are more relaxed in front of the camera. - Lauren Kim Photography 28. Research a few photography style before you book your photographer. Once you have found a style you like best, get a photographer who shoots in the style that you want. Some shoot in a documentary style, some are more arty, some do a quirky hipster style, and there are many more styles in between. - Dror Eyal Photography 29. Make sure that you and your fiancé click with your photographer. That you can trust them and be comfortable and relaxed around them. Make sure that it is a personality/style match! - Creative Emporium Photography 30. Trust is an important factor in your relationship with your chosen photographer. Once you have selected your photographer, be confident in your choice and let them guide you through the process before and on the day for the best results. - van der Bijl Photography

We hope that you've learnt plenty from these expert wedding photography tips from top Johannesburg photographers. For more advice on how to choose the right wedding photographer for you, take a look at this feature on Selecting your Wedding Photographer {Wedding Planning Series}.

(Above)Brett Florens Photography

Brett Florens Photography | Dror Eyal Photography | Lad and Lass Photography | Alana Meyer Photography | Louise Vorster Photography | Izelle Labuschagne Photography | Stella Uys Wedding Photography | Imaginary Photography | Creative Emporium Photography | Laura Jane Photography | van der Bijl Photography | Lauren Kim Photography | Jaco Viljoen Photography

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Founding Editor: Storm Buckingham