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Ooh, this is a bit of a hot potato at the moment, and there are numerous debates raging across the internet as I type this. Should you allow your guests to photograph your ceremony with their phones and iPads, or should they be focusing on being in the moment and sharing your special day?

Let’s face it, everyone has a smartphone or tablet these days, and the wonderful thing about these devices is that it allows people to indulge in and enjoy photography on a scale not witnessed before. There’s no need to plug your phone into your computer to download the photos; simply share them across your favourite social network with all your friends and family. I love my smartphone too, as it means that when I’m out and about I can leave all my cumbersome DSLR equipment at home and wander about snapping to my heart’s content.

As you can see from the links above, there’s a growing trend for couples requesting that their weddings are unplugged. So what exactly is an unplugged wedding? It’s where guests switch off and put away their phones / tablets, and enjoy the ceremony without viewing it via a small screen.

To be honest, I’m slightly torn on the subject. It’s not my job to tell couples that all their guests should put their devices away and be present in the moment, but there are a few things you should be aware of if your guests are allowed to take photographs:

Weddings are all about emotions

It’s difficult to truly appreciate the love and joy of a ceremony when you’re ensconced behind a screen and trying to take a photograph (leave that to me, I’ve got you covered). Heck, there are even times when I put the camera down to take in the moment (don’t worry, I make sure all the important photographs are captured first, but it’s definitely nice to share in the emotion of the day from time to time and to remember exactly why we’re all there).

Smartphone photos will be the first wedding photos you’ll see

As good as smartphones and tablet cameras are, they’re definitely not designed (or capable) of taking sharp, well exposed photos in a dark church. Do you really want the first photographs of your wedding to be dark, blurred and underexposed, especially when they’re being shared to thousands of people on social media?

Your professional wedding photos may be compromised

Picture the scene: you’ve been pronounced husband and wife, and you’re gleefully walking back down the aisle smiling at all your family and friends. I’m standing at the back of the church capturing these emotions as you walk towards me, and from out of nowhere Uncle Simon lurches out into the aisle with his phone and completely blocks my view. I like to think I’m a very good photographer and the equipment I use is state of the art, but even I or my gear is unable to see through people. What should be one of the most joyous photographs of the day has now been ruined, although I will have a super-sharp, beautifully exposed photo of the back of Uncle Simon’s head.

Conclusion

It’s a difficult one, I’ll have to admit. As you can see from the photographs in this post, some great moments can be captured of people photographing your wedding on their phones. It’s a free world and it’s certainly not up to me to tell you whether you should or shouldn’t contemplate having an unplugged wedding. Just be aware of the caveats above, and that your overriding memory of the day might be the back of Uncle Simon’s head!

Let’s face it, not everyone likes having their picture taken. The vast majority of us don’t look like Kate Moss or Brad Pitt, so naturally we’re reticent to be caught on camera. However, if you’re at a party or out with friends, and you just can’t avoid your friend and his / her smartphone camera, here are some tips to make sure you look your absolute best!

Don’t say cheese

You can’t force a smile, and believe me, it shows on camera if you try. When you smile, the muscles under your eyes naturally contract, so think of something funny, laugh with your friends or share a joke with the photographer. Your photo will look much better for it.

Eliminate the double chin

If posed incorrectly, it’s easy for even the thinnest person to look terrible in photos. To avoid the dreaded double chin, elongate your neck and push your ears slightly towards the camera. It’ll feel strange at first but you’ll look great, believe me!

Work out your angles

Standing straight on towards the camera is rarely flattering – for men it can work, because it accentuates the shoulders and as such can be considered a masculine pose, but for ladies it’s not preferable. Put your hand on your hip, cross your legs at the ankles and gently put your weight on your back foot, angle your body to the side and then turn your head back towards the camera.

Turn your back to the sun

This might seem counterintuitive but it works. When you face the sun you’ll automatically squint, but turning your back to the sun means you’ll be backlit, creating a more romantic feel to the photograph. There are two provisos to this – one, early morning or late afternoon light works best as it’s much softer, and secondly, the light behind you might fool the camera (it’ll think the picture is too bright and will automatically underexpose. Ever taken a snap of a friend when they’re sitting in front of a window, and wondered why they appear as a silhouette in your photo? Now you know).

Practice and relax!

If you need to, practice your posing in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable. Don’t forget to breathe, smile, relax and have fun!

Bonus tip – hire a professional

If you really want to look good in photographs, consider hiring someone with years of experience behind a camera, who can help you look amazing in every photograph. Now who could that be? Hmmm….

In all my experience of photographing weddings, one word tends to sum them up more than any other. Any idea what that word could be?

Yep. It’s “chaos”! There’s so much to think about and do on the day itself, things can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful.

But it needn’t be that way! With a little careful planning and foresight on your behalf, you can easily have the smoothest wedding day of your dreams. So without further ado, here are my top 5 tips for a stress-free wedding day:

1) Timeline!

Create a detailed timeline your wedding day that includes when flowers are set to arrive, when people should arrive, when hair and makeup will get done, etc. Include exact times and locations. Share this timeline with everyone involved in your wedding, including your photographer!

2) Food!

Have food on hand while you get ready. Some couples make the mistake of barely eating on their wedding day and end up with a headache! Having healthy snacks and lots of water on hand will make for a better day.

3) Practice!

Practice walking in your wedding day shoes to make sure they’re comfortable enough to stand around in for your portraits and for the duration of your wedding. Pain is beauty, yes, but looking pained in a picture isn’t worth the discomfort.

4) Be Prepared!

Pack a “wedding day emergency” kit and bring it along with you on your big day. Essentials include some clear nail polish for snags, pain reliever for headaches, any makeup you need for touching up and a travel sewing kit. Band-Aids, lozenges and tissues are also good.

5) Stay Cool!

Have your cake and flowers arrive at the latest possible moment (but still budget in some buffer time). Flowers wilt and cakes can melt on hot days, so putting these deliveries off can ensure both look great for your pictures, ceremony and reception.