It’s SO easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of your wedding day and not get all the photos you wanted. Or, there may be other factors that stop you from getting your ideal wedding portraits: bad weather, timeline pressure, wedding emergencies… Life happens! Sometimes, you might even just be SO tired of taking pictures and would rather be living in the moment. And I totally feel you! Lucky for you, one package I offer as a Northern California wedding photographer is a post-wedding photoshoot. You get to get all dressed up again and relive the experience of your wedding day, without all the stress and all the fuss. See my guide to a successful post-wedding shoot, and get all the best ideas for wedding portraits from Darlene and PJ’s session!

Why Book a Post-Wedding Photoshoot?

Like I said, sometimes, you just don’t get all the photos you want on your wedding day for one reason or another. But maybe you just want to get dressed up again, get photos in a different location, or you’re more comfortable taking photos with just your spouse and your photographer (hi!). Personally, I am so down for post-wedding photoshoots. There’s SO much less pressure and stress, and that alone lets your personality shine through in the way that it deserves! 

But seriously, these photos always end up so romantic. You guys have me giggling behind the camera like I’m spying on a date night. I just can’t get enough!

Wedding Portraits: Inspo and Ideas

Sooo, this photoshoot?? I am in love! I met Darlene and PJ at no other than the beautiful Cavaignac Estate to get some portraits of them after their wedding. First of all, if you haven’t seen this venue, you need to IMMEDIATELY. It’s giving elegance to the max. Check out this blog post that gives you the full rundown!  

But Darlene and PJ’s wedding portraits had fresh makeup and hair, zero pressure, and a whole lot of love. They had time between their wedding and our session to really soak in the fact that they’re married now, and the photos show it! They’re SO in love, and the way they feel about each other is so easy to capture. 

I have a few tips, tricks, and ideas for a post-wedding photoshoot up my sleeve, for all your wedding photoshoot inspo!

Go to a New Location

If you want your post-wedding photoshoot to look just like your wedding, you may choose to head back to your venue, but if you want to add some variety to your wedding photos (or even have another spot that you just love!), you can choose somewhere else! 

Cavaignac is a gorgeous option for Northern California couples. They honestly have it all, and it’s beautiful all on its own without you having to worry about bringing decor. Easy peasy! They do allow photoshoots at the venue. Some other places in Northern California that I LOVE for a post-wedding photoshoot are: 

• The Golden Gate Bridge – check out an engagement shoot I did here! 
• Folsom Lake – here’s a maternity session I captured here
• Joshua Tree – this Joshua Tree wedding has all the wedding photoshoot inspo! 

Experiment With Other Colors and Themes

Again, you can use a post-wedding photoshoot to add some variety to your gallery. You won’t have ALL the bells and whistles from your wedding day, but you can absolutely incorporate some different styles or colors through things like small props, a bouquet, or accessories! 

Darlene’s bouquet for the shoot was SO beautiful, I’m literally obsessed. Teakae Tied made it, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for this session! 

Do Your Hair and Makeup Differently

Trust me when I say, I know that decisions can be hard. If you had a few different options for hair and makeup for your actual wedding day, this is a great time to visit one of the other ones if you want to have two looks in your gallery!

Darlene’s hair and makeup done by Sarah Nika Glam? Absolutely stunning. Gorgeous bridal look inspiration! 

Play With Props

Darlene and PJ hopped in a rowboat and went for a ride on the pond at Cavagniac, and let me just say that I’ll NEVER get over it. It was so fun and SO romantic, perfect for the two of them! Don’t be scared to add some extra things like this into your wedding gallery, especially now that the stress of the day is all over! 

Must-Have Photos for Your Wedding Portraits

The question of the century is how to pose for photos and what all to include on a photo list. As a Northern California wedding photographer, my approach is guiding you and capturing real, authentic moments so you don’t really have to worry about being posed and feeling awkward. But there are always a few classic poses that I need to get of you two! I’m going to give you some of my go-to shots for bride and groom photos, for all the inspo you need: 

A Ring Shot

The classic ring shot is a MUST. I love to get this in an organic way: having you reach for your spouse’s hand, have you hug around your spouse, or hug an arm… It’s giving romance while still getting a must-have shot! 

Veil Photos

There’s nothing like getting your whole bridal look captured, veil and all. It’s especially fun if you have a long veil that we can play around with! I love popping you two under the veil or holding it in front of the camera for that dreamy, editorial feel. 

A Running Shot

My favorite thing to incorporate in a photoshoot will always be movement. I love having you guys dance, run, or walk away from the camera. It gives you those organic, authentic photos that feel so special and romantic!

Solos

Each of you guys deserves your own special moment to shine, and you best believe I’ll be hyping both of you up while I get your solo shots! I love capturing each of your outfits and full looks, so that you get your own spotlight for the day. 

Golden Hour Photos

And of course, golden hour photos. Sunset just creates the dreamiest light, and getting those shots? An absolute must. These end up being my favorite photos in a gallery nine times out of ten. I just can’t get over the romance of it all! 

Grace Thao | Northern California Wedding Photographer

At the end of the day, your wedding is whatever you make it. If you want zero portraits on the day of and want all of them taken after, cool, let’s do it! But seriously, I love a post-wedding photoshoot, and I hope Darlene and PJ’s gave you all the wedding portrait ideas you need for yours. To book a chill, low-key post-wedding session for you to get all glammed up and actually feel calm while taking photos, hit me up! You can inquire right here. I can’t wait to meet you!