DON'T ASSUME...

pernille&john

Hello Everyone,

I'm writing this to hopefully help other future brides not make the same mistake I did!  John and I got married on May 1 and we didn't fill out the Photo questionnaire, because I didn't think I had any “special requests.” Not realizing that formal pose pictures, more than 1 or 2 shoots, of John and I should have been requested and/or mentioned.I received my "website link" for review on June 1 and was so disappointed I couldn't finish looking at it then.  I don't have one picture of me with my parents, I only have 2 pictures of my parents, John, and I (at a location I didn't like and I told her at the time).  There are only 2 formal poses of John and I, and that was only because I had requested a full length horizontal for my mother’s mantel. Soooo, if I hadn’t made that “special request” then there would be NO formal full length pictures of my husband and I.  There are NO full length pictures of me and my bride’s maids (so in the 2 pictures i got you can't see the dresses), nor of the entire bridal party.  I could continue, but my point is that, I feel today, everything is so about “capturing the moment” and “artsy fartsy stuff” that the traditional keep sake pictures for the family and picture frames are forgotten; but I can provide you with albums of details.  Obviously I mentioned my concerns to the photographer and she keeps referring to the questionnaire, and yes she did cover most of her bullets with 1 photo.Don’t make the mistake I did!  Cause I keep blaming myself, I lay awake at night.  Rather fill out the questionnaire with way too many details than being faced with the gray area in between the lines that I am now having to interpret with the photographer.  Bottom line is it can’t be redone.  It’s a one time opportunity!  Hope this helps.

Sad Bride, San Diego

ewinkler1977

I'm really sorry that has happened to you.  I can only assume that since you didn't fill out the questionaire that the photographer thought it wasn't important to you.

Is there anyway you could redo some of the formal shots?

lrowe70

Is it possible one of your guests got something similar to what you want on their personal camera?

fuccisphotos

Definitely send out an email to your guests.  Lots of times they will go for those more standard shots.  Second, often times venues are open to you taking photos at them again on days that aren't big wedding days.  Assuming your parents aren't VERY far away, put on the dress again and him the tux, and do all the shots you wanted.  Going with the same photographer MAY allow you to get it for free or at a discounted rate, but since they keep referring back to that sheet, I doubt it's likely.  This seems to have effected you deeply, so taking the time and the little money necessary to do this will likely be worth it in the end.  Hopefully your bridesmaids didn't come in from all over the world like mine did, and maybe throw a little lets wear the dresses again party and take shots with them too.  I too was sad that I didn't get all those shots.  It wasn't so much because of lack of putting them on the sheet, but because we ran out of time.  It blew my mind, our dog was important enough to us to be our ring bearer, and I told the photographer 6 ways to sunday to get shots of him.  Because it was raining we had to have the cermony indoors so the dog couldn't be in it, but the venue made a special exception to allow the dog in for formal photos.  He took ONE shot with the dog.  ONE.  And the dog was standing there for easily 20-30 minutes.  So I feel you.   
Your advice is good advice though, because so many of use wedding photographers are moving towards the photojournalism focus and moving away from formals, but what I always say is, Grandma and Grandpa will still always want those formals so you better take them!

mkjpop

Thanks for the heads-up... I could see myself assuming the same things you did.  I hope it turns out somehow!