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When thinking about capturing your wedding on film, you might instantly think of wedding photography. But don’t forget about the other beloved documentation tactic—the wedding videography. Hiring a Los Angeles Muslim Wedding Videographer is essential if you want some moving memories of your big day. these professional videographers, like us here at Saiaf Films, can capture the whole thing beautifully from start to finish—from your waltz down the aisle to your guests boogieing down at your reception. If you don’t know a thing about videography, here are a few tips to help you out.
Where do I look for a videographer?
To land the best Los Angeles videographer, you’ll need to do a bit of research. But don’t stress! There are plenty of resources at your disposal. The first step we recommend is asking your recently married friends and family if they can recommend a few videographers in your area. If that doesn’t work out, turn to your ever reliable friend—the internet. WeddingWire has a vendor guide filled with info on videographers from coast to coast. You can easily view their portfolios, fees and other info with a few clicks of a button.
Do I need more than one?
Having multiple videographers in your Los Angeles wedding definitely isn’t necessary, but if you can fit it into your budget, it could make your Muslim wedding video all the more magical. Double the videographer means double the shots. They’ll be able to capture your wedding from different angles and perspective, resulting in a truly comprehensive video of your big day. But if you haven’t got it in your budget, fear not. One videographer will do just fine! They’re used to working jobs solo and will normally bring along an assistant to help get the job done right.
When should I hire my videographer?
Get the process underway as soon as possible – especially if you’re looking to book someone during the peak season (such as summer season). Okay, maybe not immediately after you get a ring on your finger, but pretty soon after. Once you’ve locked down your venue and wedding date, it’s time to start hunting for a Beverly Hills Muslim Wedding Videographer. You don’t want to find yourself videographer-less a few weeks before your big day!
How do I choose a videographer?
Choosing a videographer is a bit more than just viewing their works via YouTube or Vimeo and shooting them an email. You’ll want to spend significant amount of time researching, reading reviews and doing some meet and greets. Remember to find someone with stellar camera talents as well as a personality that fits well with your own.
When should I expect to receive my wedding video?
This all depends on your Malibu wedding videographer’s editing speed and schedule. If your wedding is during the peak season and you’ve hired a particularly busy videographer in Los Angeles, it may take some time (anywhere from a month to 6 months in average). You may want to ask them this when hashing out your contract details.
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Wedding photography is just as (if not more) important than your wedding venue. It is the only element in your wedding that will create lasting mementos of your very special day. However, all too often, when you research wedding photography in the Web or first discuss this with a Colorado Arab Wedding Photographer, the terminologies—particularly the styles—can be baffling.
Here are some exclusive insights from Saiaf Films to enlighten us about the most popular wedding photography styles that are widely used by wedding photographer.
Black and White Photography
This non-colour photography style if typically used by photographers to create a classic, timeless effect. Black and white photography is great for enhancing the mood of an image or bringing particular interest with the use of light and composition. Truly timeless, black and white is a better choice for mixed or poor lighting conditions and it can be less distracting, making the happy couple the absolute focus of the shot.
Color Photography
It simply brings your photos to life and is, at its best, for vibrant spring and summer weddings with lots of natural light and bright colour schemes. Color brings an extra element to light and shape. If used correctly it can be a tool for isolating or bringing a particular subject into focus. Colour images can grab your attention, speaking volumes whether the colour on your wedding day is subtle or shouting, vibrant or saturated.
Reportage Photography
This is the most favourite photography style among bridal couples—natural-looking, non-posed photography that follows the day as it naturally unfolds. Reportage is the style more suited to couples who don’t like posing endlessly for the camera. Reportage allows the Female Arab Wedding Videographer to capture moments as they happen in a style that leaves the bride and groom to enjoy their day and still get amazing images and/or videos of their day.
Aged/Sepia-Toned Photography
A choice made popular by image apps like Instagram, this retro effect is added after your photographs have been taken, making them look old and timeless. This technique can be used to give a photo a vintage or styled look. And if used well, it can improve the look of out of focus elements in an image.
Photojournalistic Style
This quite resembles a bit with reportage photography as the photos taken in this style are non-posed and the Muslim Wedding Photographer aims for natural-looking photos. Telling the story of your unique day, these photographs capture the atmosphere and often focus on the emotion of the subject, as well as the finer details of your wedding. A good photograph will usually create a reaction of some kind when you look at it. Photojournalistic style aims to connect the photographer directly to the viewer, so it is important that a couple understands and appreciates that.
Formal/Traditional Photography
The most common type of wedding photography, your photographer will capture the key points of the day—like signing the register and cutting the cake—as well as taking staged/directed shots of you and your guests. And although wedding photography has changed so much over the year, formal photographs will always have their place. As well as being the best way to present the important guests in their best dress, it’s also a great opportunity to get lasting pictures of family and friends together.
Portraits
Portraits are close up or full length photos that focus on one person or the happy couple. These are usually the images that end up on the wall of a couple’s home. At a wedding, a brief portrait session is a chance for the bride and groom to escape the wedding party as their wedding photographer captures their first real moments of marriage.
All these styles may project different flairs and focus, but you can certainly ask Saiaf Films to use two or more photography styles to suit your preferences and add life to your wedding album.
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Henna to Honeymoon: Meaningful Traditions in Middle Eastern Weddings
Splendor, grandeur and beauty—these are the words that best describes traditional Middle Eastern weddings.
With centuries-old traditions, weddings in the Middle East follow customs from ancient civilizations. Wedding rituals and beliefs are passed on from one generation to another. Some will celebrate week-long of dinners and entertainment prior to the actual nuptials, while some celebrate after the wedding for seven days (yes, seven more days!). Here are some of the most notably meaningful traditions you are ought to come across in a Middle Eastern wedding.
Palestinian’s Henna
The henna party is the Arab version of the West’s bachelorette party. According to Saiaf Films, a Middle Eastern Wedding Photographer New Jersey, Henna usually takes place one to two weeks before the wedding night.
Even though Palestinian brides traditionally dress with hand-embroidered gowns known as a thawb, brides nowadays tend to have different themes for their henna nights. It could be Bollywood, Arabian nights or any other ethnic ambiance.
Female friends and relatives of the bride join her in the celebration, which includes food, drinks, dancing, and a woman in charge of drawing the henna—a temporary skin tattoo—on the bride and female guests. And with such beautiful occasion, there’s always a Middle Eastern Wedding Photographer Los Angeles around to document the entire celebration.
Iraq’s Qiran Union
The Qiran union is commonly known as the lawful or religious wedding. Like most Muslim countries, Iraq requires the bride and groom to get married through a religious representative known as the Maazoun.
The religious event is as important as the wedding night. During the ceremony, the groom joins hands with his future father-in-law to make the marriage official in the presence of two witnesses.
After the Qiran, the new couple gives out candy in special cups to family and friends to inform them of their union.
The Lebanese Zaffe
The zaffe is a cultural dance that takes place at weddings in Arab weddings, more specifically in Lebanese weddings.
In recent years, the zaffe has become a modern wedding tradition in Beirut, with a troop of dancers performing in anticipation of the couple’s entry. Definitely a beautiful, festive scene to capture by your Middle Eastern Wedding Videographer New York.
Weddings in Saudi Arabia are celebrated in two separate halls, one for males and the other for females. Thus, we suggest hiring a second Middle Eastern Female Wedding Photographer to help document the two separate events.
During such time, Saudi women don’t wear the traditional abaya (cloak) during a wedding night, but extravagant and distinctive dresses as they aren’t in company of men.
Weddings in Saudi are very luxurious and expensive, and each bride wants to make her night unique. During the wedding night, the bride and groom would only be seen together during the zaffe.
Egyptian Honeymoon
The honeymoon in Egypt differs from one part of the country to another. In the countryside, the newlyweds rarely travel for their honeymoon.
Instead, they stay home for the first seven days of their marriage, before receiving friends and family who bring gifts, food and other supplies.
In urban parts of Egypt, married couples commonly spend the first night of their wedding in the hotel where they celebrated their union, before travelling to resort areas such as the Red Sea or abroad.
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5 Auspicious Wedding Beliefs and Traditions Around the World
You may want to incorporate these traditions into your own wedding day to increase your chances of a lifetime of love and happiness—because even the most loving couple can use a little bit of luck. And of course, don’t forget to invite your arab wedding photographer indiana to document all those meaningful traditions for the best memories of a lifetime.
1. A rainy wedding day is good luck for Indians
Indian weddings are colourful, joyous, and as lucky as the guests can make them. A little bit of luck may fall on every couple, but for Indian weddings, when it rains, it pours. Plus, rain or shine, guests throwing fragrant rose petals and other flowers at the betrothed is like wishing the newlywed couple the best of luck for their entire marriage.
2. Vietnamese brides are all about red
No white weddings here! The color red, which symbolizes good luck, is the color of choice for attire, and décor, at most Vietnamese weddings. Leaving nothing to chance, the groom’s family will even travel to the bride’s parental home, bearing wine, fruit, and cake, wrapped in red paper and presented on red platters.
3. Wedding date is determined by stars for Hindu couples
Before the wedding, an auspicious time, known as the muhurta, is fixed for the event. Using the bride and groom’s dates of birth, astrologists calculate the position of planets and stars to reflect the celestial union of the couple. During the ceremony, the gautra of both bride and groom (going back at least three generations) are announced. A gautra is the ancestral lineage or the ancestor’s original clan (this is not related to caste or religion). In Hindu law, marriages should not take place within the same clan.
4. Arab grooms pay for the bride’s hand
Arab bride and groom do not register their union in the marriage venues. They pass the ceremony in the face of Allah. This procedure is called nikah. As an arab wedding photographer Indiana, we’ve witnessed a lot of this tradition, which is considered by Arabs and Muslims the most important part of their weddings. During this time, the bride and groom is giving each other a vow of eternal love. At this time, the groom pays a bribe for the bride – a ransom, giving her a large amount of money, real estate, car or jewellery. Even in case of divorce, the gift stays with the girl.
5. Mexican brides keep a secret
Mexican wedding rituals tend to be deeply religious, and brides always wear white, but good wedding luck is ensured in a colorful, albeit hidden, way. Brides sew three ribbons into their lingerie for good luck, and wear them secretly on their wedding day. The ribbons are red, blue, and yellow, to represent passion, financial stability, and abundance of sustenance. No one sees the lucky ribbons, until the bride unveils them to her groom, when they are alone, after the ceremony has taken place.
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With over 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world, all from different countries and backgrounds, their customs are obviously going to be a unique fusion of religion and culture—making Muslim weddings all more exciting! That is why it is one of our favorite weddings to cover here at Saiaf Films. If you are looking for a Dallas Pakistani Wedding Photography team to document your Muslim wedding, you might want to check out our Muslim Wedding Gallery.
There are countless Islamic traditions, but if you’re heading to an Islamic wedding in the near future, here are the five customs you’re bound to see in person!
1. Fatiha
A Fatiha is a blessing for the new couple. This custom involves the reading of the first verse of the Quran in the presence of the new couple with their immediate family and sometimes extended relatives. The purpose is to allow the couple to visit each other’s houses and interact with each other’s families under God’s will. The Fatiha is an intimate affair that lasts a few hours. You’ll be pleased to know that if you’re ever invited to one of these, you’re in for a baklava and knafeh overload! Tea and coffee is also given (forcibly!) to wash it all down.
2. Nikah or Katb El-Kitab
It’s safe to say that without this ceremony, the marriage technically does not exist! The Nikah, in Pakistani/Indian culture or Katb El-Kitab in the Middle East, is the Islamic marriage ceremony that is of utmost spiritual importance. The couple sit in the presence of a Muslim cleric along with two witnesses for both groom and bride. Think of it like a “for sickness or for health, for better or for poor” type of exchange. A Dua (prayer) is recited and both parties are required to agree to the marriage. The family then read Surat Al-Fatiha to bless the marriage. Finally, the couple sign the binding contract which ensures their marriage is both civilly and religiously legal.
Depending on the couple, this event might be an intimate one or an elaborate affair with extended family and friends. Of course, yummy sweets and the Islamic staple food—dates—are given out to treat the guests and wish the new couple the best, and a Las Vegas Muslim Wedding Photographer is always present to document every part of this important event.
3. Walima
The Walima is the second part of a traditional Muslim wedding. The traditional wedding banquet includes relatives, friends and neighbours and is usually hosted by the groom’s family at a hall, reception or house. The Walima is to wish the newlyweds a prosperous life. It can be a bit of a culture shock when you go to your first Walima, as it’s a colorful, loud feast of the senses, with cultural food, dancing, music and festivity.
The Walima is practised in a variety of cultures. In Pakistan, it’s the bride’s responsibility to organize and pay for the Walima; while, in Arab and Afghani cultures, the groom’s family are required to organize the reception.
4. Mahr
Grooms get your money up! The Mahr is a form of dowry that is offered to the bride’s family during the ceremony. It’s usually monetary, but doesn’t have to be. It’s a symbolism of the groom’s commitment, love and what he has to offer in life.
5. Picking Up of The Bride
This custom is very popular in Middle Eastern weddings. Because there’s no church and the ceremony has usually been done in advance, the bride anxiously waits for her prince charming to arrive and pick her up before heading off for the location shots. The groom comes with an entourage of sport cars, motorbikes and luxury vehicles, while traditional Arabic drummers wait on the street for the grand arrival. This is followed by dancing, celebratory clapping and loud drums that make it impossible to just stand still—definitely the most fun and festive happening that your Virginia Arab Wedding Videographer can capture. The stakes are high and we can’t imagine what goes in the reception. It’s truly epic!
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A Guide to Asian Weddings: The Bride and the Groom’s Outfit
Choosing an outfit for a wedding can be tricky, especially if you haven’t been given a dress code to follow, yet attending a wedding of a different culture can make this decision even harder. Saiaf Films, one of the award-winning Santa Monica Indian Wedding Photographer, shares some thoughts on how dress codes look like on different Asian weddings.
The Bride
Japan
Japanese weddings are huge affairs. It is often the parents of the couple who organise the wedding, and they are willing to spend excessive amounts to save face. As such, the large scale of the weddings means that the bride can have as many as five costume changes.
The traditional wedding is called a Shinto wedding and at one of these ceremonies, the bride often wears a white kimono. At more modern-day ceremonies, the bride chooses to wear a dress similar to that of a Western wedding dress but with a Japanese print.
India
As witnessed by almost every Afghan Wedding Photographer Austin, the location of the wedding often determines the bridal outfit of an Indian bride. In some regions, the bride wears a saree, a garment that looks like a long drape; while in others the bride wears a lehenga, which is a long skirt. Often the bride is dressed in red or another vibrant colour, and her garments will be carefully embroidered with an impressive design. The bride and the rest of her bridal party are often painted with delicate henna patterns on the back of their hands.
China
A Chinese bride often chooses to dress in red as this is the colour of good luck in China. In some regions, typically in northern China, the traditional attire for a bride is a one-piece dress that is embroidered with gold and silver designs. In southern China, the typical wear is a two-piece frock.
On their feet, they often wear a small heel that has been embroidered with a recognisable symbol. For example, this could be a turtle or a deer which are symbols of happiness and longevity. Even here in the U.S., Saiaf Films often see Chinese brides still following the traditional dress code and ceremony, especially if the couple has pure Chinese bloodline. With such, it is important to hire the right Malibu Arab Wedding Videographer who’s familiar with Asian weddings and traditions.
The Groom
Japan
The traditional outfit for a Japanese groom is a wedding kimono called a montsuki, which often displays the family crest. The groom then changes into a tuxedo for the after-party, although more recently grooms start the ceremony in a tuxedo, too.
India
Grooms from different places in India choose to dress differently on their wedding day. According to some Fullerton Hindu Wedding Photographer, some husbands-to-be wear traditional dress, such as a dhoti, which is a rectangular cloth that is tied around the waist. In other regions, they wear a sherwani (a long coat), a kurta (loose falling shirt that hangs below the knee) or a Western suit.
Men, like their brides, often have henna on their bodies but it is not as elaborate and often hidden under the clothing.
China
A traditional Chinese groom is dressed in a silk coat over an embroidered robe. Nowadays, the traditional overcoat is sometimes not worn.
The groom often has to wear special headwear which is a black hat with a decorative red tassel. Some younger generations no longer follow the traditional dress code and simply wear a tuxedo or a Western-style business suit.
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4 Often-Forgotten Wedding Details
There are a million and one things to plan when it comes to a wedding. So is it any surprise that one or two or even twenty-five wedding details might fall through the cracks? Planning a wedding — whether big or small — can be extremely overwhelming, especially when juggling full-time job. There are so many details and so many people, vendors and logistics that have to be managed, so it’s not hard to believe that sometimes a detail here and there gets overlooked.
Here, Saiaf Films — your most trusted Chicago Hindu Wedding Photographer — will break down the top things that brides usually forget when planning their wedding. With any luck, this list will save you from forgetting these details, too!
Starting to Get Ready Later Than Planned
The time spent getting ready should be as relaxed and fun as possible, but once you find yourself behind schedule, the pressure can build to catch up. Do a test run and talk with your stylist beforehand to figure out how much time you and your wedding party will need on the big day. Also, it’s ideal to get started preparing earlier than planned, so your New York Hindu Wedding Videographer and photographer will have enough time to snap more photos and videos of you and your party before the ceremony actually begins.
Underestimating the Cost of Drinks
When mapping your budget, bear in mind that, aside from your Dearborn Muslim Female Wedding Photography, a good chunk of your expenses will go towards drinks. It’s common practice to have an open bar during the reception, but not every couple can afford to shell out for an all-night open bar. Instead, consider the alternatives. There are many ways to save big without having to resort to a cash bar, including serving two signature cocktails, wine, and beer, or asking your venue for a corkage option. This will allow you to keep unopened bottles which you can return, if allowed.
Being Pressured and Hurried to Pick the Bridal Party
This one is more like a mistake than a forgotten detail. Picking your bridal party can be stressful and even awkward, but don’t forget that it’s your day and you shouldn’t feel an obligation towards anyone. The most important thing is to pick people who you want standing up with you on your wedding day and be in most of your photos shot by your Houston Arab Wedding Photographer. So, take your time before you ask anyone.
Traditionally, you’ll ask your sisters to be bridesmaids (assuming you have any, and you’re at least relatively close) and also any future sisters-in-law. Also, were all in favor of appointing a “man of honor” or having close guy friends in the bridal party. It’s 2018 folks! You can have whoever and whatever you want for your wedding!
Acknowledging Each One of Your Guests
It may seem silly, but plan how you’re going to greet your guests. Often, the bride and groom will stand at the end of the receiving line after the ceremony. This ensures the couple can greet all of their guests. If you want to skip straight to the reception, you might consider, instead, making the rounds while guests are seated at their tables. Whatever you decide to do, try your best to say hello to everyone and thank them for coming. This is particularly important for all of your out-of-town guests. Let them know you appreciate them making the trip to be there on your big day.
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Perhaps, you’re thinking: “Perfecting the natural? That’s two different things.” But yes, natural-looking photos can be scripted subtly. How will you and your Goodyear Sikh Wedding Photographer make it look natural despite the posing directions? Here are some tips to pull it off.
1. Natural Light
Nothing is more natural looking than taking images in natural light. There’s always something very romantic about natural settings, and couples that pose together in any way outdoors are always going to create some lovely images.
2. Pictures in Motion
Some people don’t like to stand perfectly still and pose in front of the camera. Fortunately, you don’t have to as long as your Maricopa Indian Wedding Photographer is talented enough. You and your fiancé can get together and try to act like you’re just enjoying a romantic moment in motion, and your photographer can take the snapshot at the very exact moment.
3. Look anywhere but the camera
Pictures where everyone looks at the camera are always very unnatural. Sometimes, it’s reasonable to try to get shots like that. However, in many cases, people are going to want to take pictures that are far more casual and real. Pictures look significantly less ‘posed’ when you are not looking directly at the camera.
4. Try to laugh as naturally as possible
People often smile in picture. But if the goal is to look natural, then try a soft laugh. There’s always something natural when you laugh. And when your Hindu Wedding Photographer Jerome is able to capture the perfect moment, it will look evocative and genuine in photo.
5. Shot from all angles
This one is on your photographer. Photographing people only from the frontal view isn’t always a good idea, since it creates more of a posed impression. When the couple is photographed from lots of different angles, people can also appreciate the wholeness of the image.
6. Physical contact
Weddings are all about love and romance, and wedding portraits need to really capture that love and romance. That is why our photographers here at Saiaf Films always encourage the couples we handle to be physically affectionate. Physical contact creates a warm vibe between the couple that makes them relax and feel a bit more comfortable in any given situation.
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Quick Planning Tips for Your Wedding
Weddings are big—and expensive—affairs, but they are also beautiful and fun. We, here at Saiaf Films, know quite well that budgeting, planning and managing a plethora of wedding elements can get seriously stressful. If you are one of those brides-to-be who are slowly morphing into a bridezilla, don’t lose hope! We, as your trustee Hindu Wedding Photographer Scottsdale, are here for you. Below are some of our known trendy tips and tricks for a less stressful wedding planning.
1. The Dress
Gone are the days when brides only wear crisp white wedding gowns. Being an Arizona Indian Wedding Photographer for years, we’ve seen how brides have explored the wedding fashion. Subtle colors, like champagne and blush, are all the trend right now. And don’t even underestimate ready-to-wear dresses you find in department stores. Going for a ready-made one will greatly reduce the stress of showing up to multiple fittings when you have more important things to do. With a ready-made dress, all your options are right in front of you, and all you need to do is just to pick the one that fits perfectly on you.
2. The Invitations and Save-the-Date Cards
Eliminate the need to print multiple cards for your invitations and save-the-dates by creating a wedding website. You can even skip the save-the-dates altogether as you can go online with it instead. For wedding invitations, still have them printed out. You’d want to be formal with the principal sponsors, wouldn’t you?
3. The Bridal Makeup
To ensure you look fresh as your Sikh Wedding Photographer Phoenix snaps photo of you all day, keep your lipstick looking sharp and crisp by keeping a lip liner on hand. This will be your best friend the whole day of your wedding. Not only does it reshape your lips, but it also serves as a stencil for your lipstick to last longer.
4. The Venue
When asking for a venue’s capacity, ask for maximum guest count for seated dinner. If planning to hire a live band, ask for space for the stage and the dance floor. In many cases, these aren’t included in the maximum guest count.
5. The Décor and Setup
Among the popular wedding décor trend today is bringing the outside in, with lots of fairy lights and greenery. For the dining setup, go for classic style with romantic edge by using monochromatic floral centerpieces with accents like textured plates or linens. Top it off with accessories like tall vases.
6. The Food
Perhaps, you may want to consider choosing healthier menu over friend and thick-gravy recipes. Even if you don’t go all-out healthy, having one or two healthier recipes, such as green salad and roasted turkey, will give your menu a variation. Ask your caterer if they are open for customizing the menu, too, especially if you have a family recipe you want to include in your banquet.
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Wedding Preparation Tips
Our job as your Glendale Afghan Wedding Photographer is to capture the story of your wedding day as it unfolds. And this story begins not at the ceremony, but the moment you start getting ready for the day. So, here are a few tips we, here at Saiaf Films, always give our clients that will help your photographer get beautiful images of you as you prepare for the big day:
1. Keep your prepping rooms clean
Keep both the bride’s and the groom’s room clean, and have the room made by the hotel staff prior to the photo shoot time. This helps eliminate the possibility of having any obtrusive objects in the background or needing to take time away from our artistry to tidy up. Also, a freshly made bed allows us to use it for fun poses of you and your bridesmaids.
2. Have the details ready
Have all the details—such as the dress, rings, shoes, etc.—in one spot. Having all of these items together allows for the photographer to easily snap a shot of all of your important details in one place instead of having to gather the items from separate locations.
3. Get your hair and makeup done first
Brides first when it comes to doing the hair and makeup to avoid the risk of running late. This also allows for plenty of time for your Mesa Indian Wedding Photographer to capture more photos of you while waiting for everyone to get dolled up.
4. Have you immediate family around
This is also the time when your Gilbert Arab Wedding Photographer will snap some intimate pictures of you with your parents and your siblings. This is also a great time to have a “first look” between the bride and her mom and dad.
5. Give your pro plenty of time
Most likely, the Best Photographer in Arizona would say an hour is enough to capture the wedding prep, but adding another hour would be greatly appreciated and a lot better in guaranteeing that the bride’s and the groom’s preparation are well documented and photographed.