A wedding goes by very quickly. Your wedding photos are what let you relive it long after the party is over. Here is what, in my experience, makes the difference between coverage you simply put up with and coverage you genuinely enjoy, whether you are marrying in Nouméa, Païta or on an island such as the Île des Pins.

Start with the timeline of the day

Write down the main stages with their times: getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, portraits, dinner, evening. Share this timeline with your photographer so they can be in the right place at the right moment. Build in a little buffer: a twenty-minute delay is common and should never eat into your portrait time.

Getting ready: full of emotion

Getting ready is often the most spontaneous part of the day: the dressing, the last-minute details, the looks on the faces of your loved ones. Choose a bright room, tidy away any clutter and gather everything to be photographed in one place (rings, dress, shoes, bouquet, invitations).

Light matters more than the venue

In the tropics, midday light is harsh and casts hard shadows across faces. Couple portraits are softer in the early morning or late afternoon. If your ceremony takes place in the middle of the afternoon, plan a portrait session a little later, in the shade or in lower light.

Family photos: prepare a list

To stop group photos from dragging on, write down the combinations you would like (the couple with parents, siblings, witnesses, grandparents…) and ask someone who knows everyone to round people up. Ten to fifteen well-organised minutes is often enough.

Keep some time just for the two of you

Many couples regret having only a few minutes to themselves. Set aside a slot for couple portraits, away from your guests: this is often where the most intimate images are made.

Choosing the right photographer

Look at a complete wedding rather than a handful of hand-picked images, check that the style suits you, and talk before the big day: you will feel more at ease in front of the camera if you click with your photographer. You can see examples in my Wedding portfolio.

Planning a wedding in New Caledonia? Get in touch and tell me about your date and your ideas.

Also worth reading: the best season and venue for a wedding in New Caledonia · how to choose your photographer · where to have a photo session in Nouméa.

Going further: couple and honeymoon photo sessions · the best season for your photos · how a photographer’s prices are calculated.