For wedding clients » Tiffany Brubaker Photography — La Crosse, WI wedding photographer

I hope that this information is helpful to you in planning your wedding day. The timing information that I include here is just a recommendation. Please do what works for you on your wedding day. I’m always happy to help you with planning. If you have any questions, shoot me an email at tiffany(at)tiffanybrubaker.com anytime.

Your engagement session

An engagement session is 1-2 hours long and usually 2 to 3 close locations.

What NOT to wear?

Bright white shirts (especially matching, white shirts)
Wild patterns or horizontal stripes
Shirts with writing on them
Matching shirts
Ski jackets or any jacket with writing/logos (for cold-weather sessions)
Watches sometimes look out of place

What looks best?
Above all, wear what you love and are comfortable in because it will show in your pictures. Don’t be afraid to use color. Don’t be afraid to dress up. Don’t be afraid to do an outfit change. Try to stick with the theme of your location. If you are in an urban setting, you might want to dress up a bit. If you’re in a nature-y environment, “business casual” probably doesn’t fit.

Some things that I like:

both of you wearing outfits in the same color family (light blue and dark blue, etc.) or with the same accent color
solids or simple patterns
that little black dress
nice jeans, paired with a dressy top
a pop of color somewhere (an orange cardigan, or red shoes, or a blue scarf)
plain fleece or wool jackets (for cold-weather sessions) with pops of color in a scarf, hat, or mittens

Most couples are surprised at how much walking we do during the session. If you’d like to wear dressy shoes, remember to bring another pair of shoes for walking. If your session is in the winter, wear warm boots.

How to make the session unique
Bring props – I want to capture what you love. Bring your dog (and treats). Bring a cool chair, your car, or an old bike. Even something simple as a bouquet of flowers, a pair of red heels, or a colorful scarf can really make your pictures pop. I won’t use your props in every photo, just a few to make your session unique.

Where should we go?
Here is a list of places, but I’m definitely open to your ideas. Some of my favorite locations have been suggested to me, such as family farms and parks I had never heard of. I’m definitely happy to drive to two (or three) close locations. The first thing you should decide on is if you want an urban look or a nature look (or both). I personally love brick walls in alleyways, tall grass, and open fields at sunset. I’m happy to go to 2 to 3 close locations. Usually an engagement session is 1 to 2 hours long.

Riverside Park
Pettibone Park
Downtown La Crosse
On the Cass Street Bridge
La Crosse Footware warehouse on St. Andrew St, North side of La Crosse
The old train depot area on the other end of St. Andrew St, North side of La Crosse
Red Cloud Park (near La Crosse Footware warehouse) has tall grass, big trees, and the marsh trails
UW-L area
Viterbo area
Grandad’s bluff
Myrick Park and the marsh trails
Norskedalen
Goose Island Park
Vernon County Vineyards
A fair or fest (La Crosse Interstate Fair is July 13-18th – think ferris wheel, eating cotton candy, lots of lights, etc.)
A family or friend’s farm/land
Your house
Rudy’s diner for a root beer float
Pearl Ice Cream shop for coffee or a malt
A coffee shop like Jules, Grounded or the Root Note
An activity you love (biking, cross-country skiing, mini-golf, video gaming, whatever!)
The Shrine (on the south side of La Crosse) has nature trails and stone buildings (only open until 4:00pm)
Tremepelau, WI (Perrot Park, the hotel, train tracks/dam)
Winona, MN (downtown, river, overlook)
La Crescent Apple Blossom overlook
Hixon Forest
An apple orchard or a pumpkin patch

Wedding day timeline

When you don’t see each other

Start posed pictures 90 minutes before ceremony starts. I will take the bride/bridesmaids/bride’s family and then switch and take the groom/groomsmen/groom’s family.
End pictures 30 minutes before ceremony starts.
After ceremony, allow 20-30 minutes for the receiving line (depending on the size of your guest list and if you’re doing a receiving line).
After receiving line, 30 minutes for full family portraits, full wedding party shot, formal pictures of bride and groom.
Add additional time for travel and pictures if you want to go someplace for fun wedding party pics (usually this time is anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours). If we are close to your reception, at the end of this time, I will ask your wedding party to head to the reception so I can get some pictures of the bride and groom alone.
10-20 minutes between dinner and the dance or after the dance starts (depending on time of year and your desire) — This is usually a great time for pictures. You’re married and you’ve had dinner. The pressure is off and you can spend a few minutes alone together. This time generally produces some of my favorite pictures from the whole day because you are relaxed and usually the sun is setting creating some beautiful light. If your wedding is during a time when the sun sets early, we still have options and I’d be happy to work with you more on timing.

When you do see each other
To make the moment that you first see each other a bit more special, I love to do a “first look” moment. This moment can be wherever you want, but I just ask that it be us three (and a potential second shooter). I will direct the moment to a point, but your reactions will be real and will be captured forever. I will snap a few pictures, and then let you have a few minutes alone to talk. For many couples that I have talked with, they couldn’t imagine if they didn’t have this time alone together. Spending a few minutes together before the ceremony seemed to calm many couples.

Allow 10-15 minutes for your first look.
Start posed pictures 90 minutes before ceremony starts. We will finish all posed family portraits before the ceremony starts as long as all family members are present.
End pictures 30 minutes before ceremony starts.
After ceremony, allow 20-30 minutes for the receiving line (depending on the size of your guest list and if you’re doing a receiving line).
Add additional time for any remaining posed portraits that we couldn’t get before (sometimes godparents or grandparents are not around before the ceremony)
Add additional time for travel and pictures if you want to go someplace for fun wedding party pics (usually this time is anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours). If we are close to your reception, at the end of this time, I will ask your wedding party to head to the reception so I can get some pictures of the bride and groom alone.
10-20 minutes between dinner and the dance or after the dance starts (depending on time of year and your desire) — This is usually a great time for pictures. You’re married and you’ve had dinner. The pressure is off and you can spend a few minutes alone together. This time generally produces some of my favorite pictures from the whole day because you are relaxed and usually the sun is setting creating some beautiful light. If your wedding is during a time when the sun sets early, we still have options and I’d be happy to work with you more on timing.

Other FAQs

In general, what type of photos do you take during the day?
I cover weddings in a very journalistic style but I don’t think photography should be limited by a “genre.” While I am generally very hands-off and unobtrusive in my coverage of the day. I do believe that there is a time and place for gorgeous, casually posed images of the bride and groom together. I also believe strongly in preserving all of the details of the wedding; from your cake to your shoes. You’ll notice that my work is full of pictures of the details. The pictures that I take of guests at the wedding are almost 100% journalistic. If you have a small wedding, I may take pictures of table groupings, but I prefer instead to capture your guest laughing, smiling, dancing, drinking, and having a great time.

What family arrangements do you take?
Here is a list of family arrangements that I am normally asked to take (if you would like less/more, I’m happy to work with you on your list):

Bride with immediate family
Bride with parents
Bride with siblings
Groom with immediate family
Groom with parents
Groom with siblings
Bride/Groom with bride’s immediate family
Bride/Groom with groom’s immediate family
Bride/Groom with both immediate families combined
Bride/Groom with bride’s extended family
Bride/Groom with groom’s extended family
Bride/Groom with bride’s grandparents
Bride/Groom with groom’s grandparents
Bride with godparents
Groom with godparents

Here is a list of the formal wedding party pictures that I’m usually asked to take (if you would like less/more, I’m happy to work with you on your list):

Bride with bridesmaids
Bride with maid of honor
Groom with groomsmen
Groom with best man
Bride/Groom with entire wedding party
Bride/Groom with flower girl/ring bearer
Bride with flower girl(s)
Groom with ring bearer(s)

A few weeks before your wedding I will send you a questionnaire covering the details of the day and I will ask you to nail down which posed arrangement you would like. I strongly suggest that you don’t let the amount of family arrangements that we take get out of control. This time can often become one of the most stressful moments of the day because the wedding party and family members tend to wander when they think they are not needed. Please make sure that everyone involved understands that they are needed until they are dismissed, and should not wander around during this time. I try to make this time pleasant and enjoyable for everyone involved by moving quickly and keeping the poses informal.

Can we give you a shot list of photographs we want you to take?
Other than the family groupings, no. It is very helpful to know what important relatives and friends are coming to your day, and if any events bear special significance. I’m also happy to do certain poses that you want with your wedding party or your alone shots, but having me work “from a checklist” is counterproductive to the work you’ve seen on my website and in albums. “Shot lists” provided by many major bridal magazines are a great idea, but please understand that I generally WILL capture those images without prompting.

Can our family and friends take pictures with their cameras? Will that bother you?
Of course they can and it doesn’t bother me in the least bit! I do request they not swarm the posed, family photographs right away because I prefer all eyes facing me. I will allow for some time between poses though for friends/family to take of the arrangements. I do not like for family or friends to come along for the pictures of you two alone. I welcome other cameras during dancing, cake cutting, and other events I just ask politely that they could please not push me out of the way and respect my presence (this does happen occasionally!).

Do we need to feed you at the reception?
This should be checked yes or no on your contract (as well as for a potential second shooter). If you have an older contract without this information, it would be really lovely if you did feed us. Feeding me and the second shooter ensures that we stay cheerful, mobile, and that we don’t faint from starvation.We prefer to be fed when YOU are fed, not afterwards, because when you are eating you’re not at your most photogenic. When you’re done, we want to be done as well to continue your coverage.

And, finally, how to make your wedding pictures (and day) unique

Don’t be afraid to take family pictures outside. Sometimes it is just nicer and easier for everyone involved to take pictures inside (for your grandparents or if you have a big family), but if you have a small family, hip grandparents, or not too many requirements, then an outside location can provide much better lighting. If you have a church wedding, the front of the church (if it is shady) often provides a beautiful backdrop and is easily accessible for grandparents and older family members.
Get creative with your shoes (both the bride and groom). Wear colorful heals or chuck taylor sneakers or argyle socks.
Incorporate family mementos, such as an old hankerchief, a brooch, a special necklace, or a pocket watch.
Buy Chinese umbrellas for the bridesmaids and for your alone shots.
Think it might rain on your wedding day? Bring along colorful rain boots to wear under your dress. I’ll have a black umbrella with, but you might want your own (perhaps colorful) umbrella that we can use for some fun pictures.
Pick a beautiful location to take pictures (I’m happy to help, if you need ideas).
Or, pick an ugly location, like a parking garage or an alleyway downtown – they both have beautiful light (I’m happy to help, if you need ideas).
Be open!
Be relaxed!
Be yourself!

Links for inspiration

Some of my favorite wedding web sites with lots of beautiful pictures for inspiration.

More information

This text and all pictures are copyright of Tiffany Brubaker Photography an on-location wedding and portrait photographer located in La Crosse, WI. Stealing makes me sad.