You guys. I am obsessed with Pinterest. I’ve been a member since it was in Beta and OMG I am Obsessed. Obsessed obsessed obsessed. Did I mention I was obsessed? Because I am obsessed. (I’ve got a bottomless cup of coffee from Coffee Zone in my hand, y’all…apologies…). And if I am correct in my assumptions, you probably are a little obsessed too. If not, I am guessing you or your fiancé have probably started a wedding pin board so you are at least a little bit familiar with the basis of my obsession (last time I use that word, promise). Pinterest is seriously one of the best ways to get your wits about you when it comes to wedding planning and it can be so so helpful when it comes time to plan for your wedding photos.

But here’s the thing: you must be careful with the great and powerful tool that is a Pinterest wedding photo board. Like a wizard with a very powerful wand, much evil can be done if is used improperly. With one wrong click, you can become the Voldemort of your own wedding photos and you don’t want to be Voldemort do you? No one wants to be Voldemort.

(Seriously…this coffee…it’s legit.)

Let me explain myself and my poorly articulated/highly caffeinated Harry Potter references so you can follow me here.

The original purpose for Pinterest was to create boards that inspire you, yes? And when it comes to food and crafts and quotes and books and house decor, I believe it is doing just that. But with wedding planning? With wedding planning Pinterest is being used as a step-by-step guide for executing each aspect of the day. You pin it? You’re probably going to do it (or at least do your favorites). This is totally cool when it comes to picking the decorations and the favors and bridesmaids hair styles etc. because you can recreate it exactly. There are tutorials. You get exactly what you see.

With wedding photography, however, approaching the board this way can cause a bit of a problem. Why? Because 1) you can’t recreate the photos exactly and you’ll probably be unhappy with the results if you try and 2) those photos were taken of a different couple by a different photographer in a different venue. If you go to a photographer and ask them to copy your wedding pin board shot for shot, something is not going to feel right because it wasn’t inspired by you and your story. Something will feel....off. You won’t love them. Big problem, right?

BUT WAIT! Don’t go and delete your pin board just yet! I still need you to make one! You just need to approach them a little differently and…you guys…this one little switch in your thinking will completely transform how you see your wedding photos and you'll love love love them in the end. Like love them the way Dobby loved Harry Potter kind of love them. I’m serious.

So what do you do?

Start by pinning photos from the photographer you have hired. This way, you can pinpoint what aspects of their style fits you and your personality. When you show the photographer these pins, they will know exactly what it is about their style that you love and can cater their shot lists and gear around capturing that same feel for your wedding.
When pinning photos, change the description of the pin to a short sentence detailing what it is you liked about the photo. Was it the lighting? The location? The pose? And if it was the pose, what about it did you like? Adding these little descriptions will help you and your photographer craft a specific vision for your photos.
Pin a few photos of other photographer’s work. Just a few, 2-3 at most. This will give your photographer some outside guidance on what you like but you haven’t seen in their portfolio yet. They’ll get a better idea of your vision which will help them create photos that you'll love.
Don’t use your pin board to create a shot list. As I mentioned earlier, this won’t help you get the photos you want because they won’t tell your story. AND! On top of that, you don’t want your photographer running around with their nose buried in a list trying to recreate specific shots all day. You want them to use the creative eye you are paying them for to actually *see* your wedding just as you have created it and capture *that.* If you have one or two shots that you absolutely want to create, that is fine! Pin them and write in the description *must have* so your photographer knows. Then, during your final meeting before the wedding, talk through the game plan for creating it so you know you have the time and resources to do so.

That's it! See how freaking easy that is? You’re still doing the exact same thing, you are just adjusting how you look at and use the pins. By taking these steps to help your photographer prepare for the day, they’ll know exactly the style and feel you want going into the wedding and will capture each moment of your day just as (or better than) you've imagined them. You will walk away absolutely loving your photos, knowing with full confidence that they are a pure reflection of you and that they're not just carbon copies of someone else’s vision.

If you have any questions bout starting or editing your wedding pin boards, please feel free to shoot me an email and we can talk through it. Even if I am not your photographer! I just want everyone to have the best photos possible, not matter who takes them. :)

Alrighty. That is it for this week, folks! I will see you back here next week when we discuss…drumroll please…Wedding Timelines with Photography in Mind. Yeah, booooooy!

Much love,