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Your Ultimate Guide for Beautiful, Meaningful Wedding Photos
March 22, 2024

A bridal party laugh in a greenhouseReady for Your Close-Up? Your Ultimate Guide for Beautiful, Meaningful Wedding Photos

Some people love the spotlight. As soon as the camera is on them, they know just what to do. But for the rest of us suffering from mid-camera blinks or weird-looking passport photos, being on camera can be intimidating. Instagram filters and unreasonable beauty standards can add to the way we all feel self-conscious when we’re having our picture taken. It’s only natural! 

Tips to look great in your wedding photos

I love the challenge and triumph of allowing each person to feel great in their skin, and look fantastic in photos. It’s one of my favourite things about what I do. Here’s my advice on the easiest ways to look and feel great in your wedding or family photos.

a couple kiss in the sunset at their ottawa wedding

Choose a wedding photographer who brings out the best in you

Pick a wedding photographer who makes you feel comfortable and confident and you’ve already won. Whether you choose someone who’s great at glamorous photos or brilliant at capturing natural light and candid moments, how you feel around them is just as important. If you’re considering a photographer, take a look at the wedding portfolio of their previous work; are the people in the photos seemingly comfortable, or do they look stiff and posed? Are they at ease in their skin? Are there a range of different kinds of people and body types or does the photographer tend to only photograph one demographic of people? All of these factors matter.

Give the photoshoot a trial run

A test shoot before the wedding can be a great way to see what your chemistry with a photographer is like and test out if it’s a good fit. Couples will often reach out to me to take their family or engagement photos before their wedding. It can be great to build a friendship with your photographer before the big day so that they don’t feel like a brand new person to you. I also love offering tips during portrait sessions that you can use on your wedding day. Anything that can take off the pressure on the day of the wedding helps! 

Have an honest conversation about your vision for your big day

When you meet up with the photographer you’re hiring, talk about your vision for your day and the values you have. Show them examples of photos you like in their portfolio, or other wedding photos that inspire you. Creating a mood board or giving visual references you like can be a good way to make sure you’re on the same page. Each photographer has a different way of capturing moments; some people prefer photos to be more posed and poised, while others are great at capturing candid in-between moments. Make sure your expectations match what your photographer is drawn to and known for.

Do a practice round of your wedding look beforehand

A bride wearing a 1950s style fascintor and a groom pose for a photo with luminous light behind themIf you’ve been saving a moodboard of fun hair and makeup ideas for your wedding day, try them out well before your wedding day. If you’re trying out fake eyelashes for the first time or using a new hairspray, you might end up looking and feeling uncomfortable in photos. The same goes for your wedding outfit; choose a suit or dress you’ll be able to breathe and move freely in, so your photos show you at your best. I always find that people who dress and are made up in a way that feels authentic to them are more comfortable in photos.

I’ve seen many people choose their wedding day as a time to try out a new makeup look or launch a new aesthetic. 

This can be fun, but remember that:

  • These wedding photos will live for many years to come and transcend trends. So choose a look that feels like you and will age well. Remember seeing your parents photos with 80s poofy sleeves, oversized moustaches or giant glasses and asking “what were they thinking?!” Chances are it was cool then!
  • Testing out new makeup and hair can go south if the look doesn’t turn out the way you imagined. Try it out with your makeup artist or a friend who’s helping out to make sure you like how it looks on you.
  • Take some simple phone photos in different lights (natural, and indoor fluorescent) to make sure your foundation isn’t looking orange under bright light, or that your mascara doesn’t wear off after a few hours of wear. Even iPhone photos can give you a sense of how a look shows up on camera. If your makeup foundation is a bit too light, it might look great in natural light but  a flash photo could make you look like a ghost.
  • This will also let you modify your look if you need to or make little tweaks that suit the way you want to look.

Don’t forget to breathe!

Some people think so hard about looking good in photos that they forget to take a deep breath in and out while they’re being photographed. Try breathing in deep before a photo and doing a big out- breath of relief right as a photo is taken. Chances are, you’ll look more relaxed with softened shoulders and a more calm expression on your face. If you feel overwhelmed by being the center of attention, focus on your breathing or hold hands with your partner as you count to six for a breath in and another six for your breath out. If you have a meditation practice, take some time to chill out and just exist before the wedding. If you have a spiritual practice, say a prayer or light a candle or something that centers you in the joy of the day.

“But where do I put my hands?” 

Being photographed can feel awkward. Some of us instantly lose track of a normal way to stand, smile, or position our hands. But here’s the great news about your wedding day: you’ll likely be genuinely happy! This means your smiles will be natural, you’ll be interacting with those you love, and you’ll be more focused on the people around you than what photos are being taken. This inevitably makes everything look and feel a bit more at ease. Some of the best photos of you on this day will probably be when you’re hugging a loved one, looking at your partner, or forgetting the camera exists! Note that this ties back to having a photographer you trust; the best photogs have a way of blending into the background so you don’t even notice they’re there.

Use props to your benefit

A wedding couple in Ottawa stand in a sunny field looking happy
Here’s another great perk of wedding day photos; you’ll almost always have something to hold onto, or something to do with your hands when you are in wedding photos! You might be holding a bouquet which you can clasp to your hands around, you can rest one hand on your veil, put your arm around someone or hold hands with your partner. Need to feel steady? Put one hand loosely in your suit pants pocket (a classic commercial modeling pose). However, a great photographer will also be a support and a help with this, offering guidance and ideas of how you can stand or lean or put your arm around your partner in any way that’s natural and comfy.

Shake it off! 

Movement helps dislodge any uncomfortable feelings when you’re posing for a photo. If you feel stiff or unnatural in photos, I might suggest that you take a walk, try a spin so your dress swirls out beautifully, put your arm around someone, or literally shake your arms and legs to loosen up. If in doubt, move around a bit and laugh at the silliness of trying to make it all perfect. I’ll catch the natural, gorgeous moments in between.

My preferred approach is to hang out with couples in a natural, subtle way to catch moments that are totally genuine. My goal is making it so you don’t have to think about the photos at all.

 To me, this is what a great wedding family photographer does: creates an environment in which people are truly comfortable, at ease, and content. I catch the most genuine moments that happened just because of the love you are feeling on that day.

Shape your photos around your wedding, not the other way around.

Photos matter, but the moments themselves are most important. Plan to set up the wedding photos in a way that’s ideal for your vision, values, and the outcome you want. Some people really want to have a big extended family photo, while others like a smaller setup or candid moments. Talk about how you want your photos to feel while they’re being taken, just as much as you talk about how you want them to look. For example, I love when couples tell me what matters to them:  that they want to be capturing more candid moments, are looking for a few shots right after the ceremony alone together, or that they want more moments captured with their grandparents. Whatever you want the day to feel like, the photographer should support your goals and will shape the photography plan around that vision. 

a couple kiss on a forest path where trees are growing

I’m in the business of beautiful, natural-looking wedding photos that capture Ottawa couples at their best.

My goal is to be someone you can completely trust to capture your day in a way you’ll love. I’m great at blending in and letting each guest feel at home, so I can snap beautiful photos of you and your loved ones looking and feeling your best. I can make nervous photo subjects feel at ease and I’m great at getting a natural smile or a gorgeous light setup in any environment. 

Whatever your vision for your special day, I’d love to get the snapshots that you’ll be excited to frame, share, and keep forever. 

Let’s talk about your Ottawa wedding or family photos. Give me a call at 613-322-7410 or email me at info@boyophoto.ca.



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How to Choose the Best Wedding Photographer and Ottawa Wedding Vendors
March 22, 2024
POSTED IN: Uncategorized, Weddings

How to Choose the Best Wedding Photographer and Ottawa Wedding Vendors

A beaming bride is walking with her new husband and bridesmaidsFor many people, their wedding day is the biggest event they’ll ever be responsible for. Even if you’re organizing a low-fuss party, you’ll still need food, drinks, and a guest list. Weddings also come with cultural expectations and personal family dynamics. The key to a successful wedding? Choose great vendors who you trust! When your wedding day arrives you’ll be able to relax and focus on what’s important, knowing that all the details are taken care of.

I’ve been photographing Ottawa couples on their wedding day for a decade now, so I’ve seen the best and worst of wedding planning. Here are a few tips to make your wedding fun, stress-free, and how to choose the best people to support your plans.

Choosing wedding vendors

The results of a quick Google search for wedding vendors can be dazzling or overwhelming. These days anyone can throw up a decent-looking website online. So how can you distinguish legitimate wedding magic-makers from those that won’t do your special day justice?

Stylized Rustic Wedding Ottawa, a bride and groom walk in the countryside with a barn in the background.

Overall tips for choosing wedding vendors:

    • Trust your gut. The people you hire will be around on one of the most special days of your life! Make sure you like how they present themselves. Ask questions and see if they’re open in their responses. A great vendor will be happy to demonstrate that they have a strong reputation in the Ottawa community.
    • Word of mouth is king. Endorsements from friends and loved ones are a great way to build trust right off the bat. If you find someone online, ask for references. I’m always happy to share past weddings I’ve photographed or offer testimonials if couples want to hear from people who are happy with my work. 
    • How do you want your wedding to feel? Build a vision around your values for the day; perhaps joy, community, and celebration are important. Knowing that you have a shared sense of how the day looks and feels will allow you to see if a vendor matches your goals and values. If you’re celebrating a LGBTQIA+ union, you might feel more at peace knowing your vendors are part of your community or have other partnerships like yours in their portfolio. If it’s a very formal religious ceremony, you might also want to check in to be sure your vendors understand the cultural norms around the ceremony itself.
    • Set your anticipated budget before shopping around. If you know about how much you’re looking to spend, you can adjust accordingly and you’ll be less likely to overspend. If you’ve set your budget for each vendor category (food, clothing, transport, etc) then you can also play some Tetris; maybe you end up spending more on an open bar but you also find an inexpensive vintage dress to wear.
    • Ask about experience and read reviews. Yelp reviews, comments on Instagram, testimonials on websites, and some Googling are great sidekicks to ensuring that the wedding vendors you choose are just right.
    • Read wedding blogs: like the one you’re on right now! I recently posted this list of great Ottawa wedding venues. Vendor recommendations and ideas can come from a broad array of sources.
    • Remember to have fun. Free cake tasting, trying on wedding dresses with friends,, incorporating ancestral traditions or religious elements in your ceremony, dreaming about your family and friends you’ll see on the day –– it’s all part of making this day uniquely you. Don’t get caught up in the stress of planning and miss the joy in all of it!

Makeup and hair

Amy & Blair's WeddingWhen you do a test run of hair and makeup, notice if the artist listens to what you want. This day isn’t about them doing a “look” on you, it’s about supporting you in looking lovely in the way that you want. If you only want clean or natural beauty makeup used, or have allergies to certain products, check in to be sure they can match your needs.If you’re having your makeup and hair professionally done, make sure the aesthetic of the artist matches what you’re looking for. Someone could come well recommended as a makeup artist who does a smokey eye well, but that doesn’t mean they can do a natural look with glowing skin. 

Wedding photography

Choosing the right wedding photographer is incredibly important. Family photos can live for generations, framed on mantle pieces, or enjoyed by grandchildren hundreds of years after the wedding takes place. Pick a photographer you feel comfortable with, who captures you and those you love in a way that truly represents who you are. Look through their portfolio for couples that look happy in their skin; natural smiles, candid moments of connection, group shots where everyone looks good, and a visual that matches what you’d hope to have for your wedding day. You are creating memories that will live for a long time and choosing a wedding photographer is an essential part of that.

A bride with red hair smiles and looks down at her pale pink boquet

Food and drink vendors

The range in cost, quantity, quality, and the broad variety of options are endless when it comes to food vendors for weddings. Here’s an easy place to start: choose food you love to eat! You can shape a menu around your favourite menu items, food you ate on your first date, culinary delights that you only have on special occasions, or meals that match family tradition or cultural dining. You can also have fun with this; if you’re celebrating with oxtail and plantains, you can follow with a more traditional chicken dinner with vegetarian options. If your Oma always makes potato salad with extra pickles, include a section for family recipes and make sure the pickles are plentiful. Or make dinner informal with a big barbecue and a dessert buffet. Here, sampling the food and making sure your vendors have experience and great reviews is key.

How can I find a wedding photographer in Ottawa? 

A wedding photographer stands among rows of white chairs before the weddind holding his cameraThere are many ways to find a great wedding photographer, including reading reviews, looking up Ottawa weddings on Instagram as a hashtag, or researching Ottawa weddings that have an aesthetic you admire. 

A photographer’s energy and personality can be just as important as their portfolio.

Word-of-mouth reviews, and meeting with a photographer for a consultation are both incredibly essential when you’re establishing whether someone is a good fit for you. Why? Whether a wedding photographer makes me feel comfortable is just as important as how they’re portfolio looks.

Let’s talk about your wedding!

If you’re reading this blog, you’ve lucked out because you’ve landed on a page of a seasoned wedding photographer with a ton of experience, a beautiful portfolio, and a great vibe on your wedding day. Send me a message and let’s see if it’s a good fit. 

Give me a call at 613-322-7410 or email me at info@boyophoto.ca.

Natasha & Willy

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5 Unconventional Non-Traditional Ottawa Wedding Venues
February 29, 2024
POSTED IN: Weddings

5 Interesting, Non-Traditional Ottawa Wedding Venues to Check Out

Most people think of regal parliament buildings, snowy backdrops, and more traditional venues when they’re asked to picture a wedding in Ottawa. But some of Ottawa’s most eclectic wedding venues are less traditional, with eclectic features or interesting cultural associations that could make your wedding more meaningful or interesting. Check out these unconventional Ottawa wedding venues.

1. The best Ottawa wedding venue for drama queens

Set the stage for a grand romance. Getting married at The Great Canadian Theatre Company is great for couples looking for a bigger venue that isn’t a church or religious building. Some couples even choose to hold their ceremony on stage at the theatre with full spotlights and a band in the orchestra pit. Working with more of a budget? Try looking up local theatres in Ottawa and give them a call to see if they’ll let you stage your own marriage production. Many smaller theatres are happy to rent out their space for special events like wedding ceremonies, and may have lower fees than the usual go-to wedding venues. 

2. A creative artistic Ottawa wedding

Make your nuptials a work of art. Ottawa has an eclectic mix of galleries, creative venues, and artistic spirit. If you’re an artist or love the energy of a creative space, consider getting married in a space that’s already decorated with beautiful art and known for celebrating local Ottawa creatives. You can also save on cost by choosing a gallery instead of a traditional wedding venue. Less traditional venues like galleries are also more likely to let you bring in your own art and host a less traditional ceremony that’s framed in a way that suits your union.

Here are a few galleries to consider for a creative wedding vibe:

  • Alpha & Omega Art Gallery: a low-key, open concept space with a big patio and bright natural light for small to mid-size ceremonies.
  • National Gallery of Ottawa: a more formal grand venue with options for bigger parties and access to outdoor gardens.
  • Koyman Galleries: a 13,000 square foot loft-style venue in Ottawa’s east end, great for up to 300 people.
  • Looking for a smaller, low-fi artsy Ottawa wedding venue? Search on Google Maps for art galleries or music venues in the Ottawa neighbourhood you’re looking to have your wedding. Try giving spaces you like a call and asking if they allow events; some people who don’t formally host weddings are open to renting out unconventional spaces for ceremonies or parties. This can be a great cost-effective way to save on wedding venues as well.

3.To infinity and beyond: a wedding venue for space cadets

Take your ceremony to new heights! If you’re looking for a memorable, quirky wedding venue this could be the spot. The Canadian Space and Aviation Museum is an entertaining, unconventional place to have your wedding. It’s also great for photo ops and could be a meaningful place to get married if you both love to travel, first met on a plane, work in aviation, have an interest in outer space, or just enjoy the idea of dining inside an airplane hangar. It’s also a fun place for kids to explore while the adults listen to speeches or start on cocktails.

white tables set up for a wedding at the aviation museum in Ottawa

4. A great wedding venue for a nature-centric couple 

Get back to your country roots and enjoy a low-fuss wedding. If you’ve ever dreamt of getting married on a farm or love the outdoors, The Central Experimental Farm could be a great place to connect with nature as you celebrate your wedding. Stroll through ornamental gardens with lilac trees and grassy pastures, set up a table under the stars on their sprawling lawns, or enjoy a photo op with the farm animals with your new spouse! This rustic location is great for the wild at heart. Looking for another option? Aquatopia Water Conservancy offers an indoor lush greenhouse that you can enjoy even while it’s snowing.

A couple stands together on their Ottawa wedding day. The bride wears a white dress and the foliage is green with a river and garden in the background.

5. A cozy lodge with willow trees, rivers, and a homey atmosphere

If you’re looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance wedding with outdoor venue space and a lakeside terrace, Beantown could be a good fit. The interior space looks like a cozy ski lodge, with exposed wood beams and grey stone. With whimsical wooden bridges, wavy willow trees and babbling brooks it’s also got lovely backdrops for photos and areas for guests to explore. This spot started as a destination for snowmobilers, so it’s well-equipped for winter weddings, too. 

I love helping you feel comfortable and look brilliant in your wedding photos

My goal is to be someone you can completely trust to capture your day in a way you’ll love. I’m great at blending in and letting each guest feel at home, so I can snap beautiful photos of you and your loved ones looking and feeling your best. I can make nervous photo subjects feel at ease and I’m great at getting a natural smile or a gorgeous light setup in any environment. Whether you’re having a more traditional wedding, a low-key ceremony, or a fun and unconventional wedding, I’d love to get the snapshots that you’ll be excited to frame, share, and keep forever. 

Let’s talk about your wedding or family photos. Give me a call at 613-322-7410 or email me at info@boyophoto.ca.


The Aviation Museum in Ottawa is a great unconventional venue to try out

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How to Enjoy a Mindful Wedding Day: Tips to Stay Stress-Free
February 29, 2024
POSTED IN: Weddings

How to Enjoy a Mindful Wedding Day: Tips to Stay Stress-Free

Over my decade shooting weddings, I’ve noticed that the weddings with the best energy and sense of joy aren’t always the ones where everything goes perfectly.

You might have pictured the details of this day over the years; the walk down the aisle, what you’ll wear, who will give a funny speech, and what it will be like to celebrate with all the people you love most. But all that anticipation can also set the table for high expectations. Imagining a fantasy wedding means you might panic if it suddenly rains, the caterer is late, or a guest’s pet poodle eats one of the wedding rings.

Anything can happen on your wedding day, but here’s the good news: if you’re marrying the right person, that’s what matters most. Here are some tips from my years of capturing weddings.

Have fun with your friends and enjoy a mindful, stress-free wedding day.

Great planning lets you relax later

There are a thousand things you can plan and control before your wedding. So enjoy the preparation, do your research, and set yourself up so you can trust the people you’ve hired to take care of everything while you enjoy. 

Pick people you trust to run your wedding for you

Choose vendors with beautiful portfolios and great reviews who match your energy. Ottawa has a myriad of options for wedding florists, caterers, venues, photographers, musicians, planners, and more. There’s something for every price range and style of wedding. If you don’t see what you need to see, ask for more examples of their work, request references, and check out online reviews. Doing your due diligence up front means you can entrust the day to your team to run the show while you just get to exist.

Beautiful peach and yellow flowers line a table at an Ottawa wedding venue

Photo by Boyo Photography

Do a test run

Do trial runs for makeup, hair, catering, and venues. Get to know the pros you’re hiring, and try them out to see if it’s a good fit. Ask your potential wedding photographer to take your engagement photos to get comfortable with each other, see how your chemistry is, and to see if you get back photographs you’re excited about. I also love taking family photos of couples whose weddings I photograph. There are some folks who had me shoot their engagement photos, later their wedding photos, and now have me come back year-after-year to capture beautiful shots of their kids as they grow up. Finding a skilled photographer you’re familiar with translates to great on-camera energy. 

Book a consultation or schedule a call to chat with the vendor you’re considering, go visit a venue at a time of day that matches when your wedding will be, do a trial of the makeup you’ll be wearing to see how it looks when you sweat or wear it all day, and to be sure you’re really ready to go for that shade of seafoam on your eyelids. If you’ve heard your wedding band live and tried the cake you’ll be eating, it will be easier to relax and enjoy on the day of your wedding; you’ll already have rehearsed everything and now it’s just time to enjoy the show!

Practice intentional presence

Pause to meditate or think and enjoy your mindful Ottawa weddingIf you already practice any kind of mindfulness, you know that it’s a constant practice. Staying present and aware of your surroundings is hard enough in everyday life. But add in the intensity of a wedding day with your closest family and friends where you’re the constant centre of attention. So how can you enjoy the day? The people I know who do this best make it a practice throughout their wedding day:

  • Find some deep breathing or short meditation techniques you love, and take time the night before and throughout the day to do 10 deep breaths in and out. A long exhale tells your body you are safe and eases your nervous system.
  • Do some journaling or write letters to your family, future spouse, or yourself to process feelings, channel nervous energy, and commemorate the day. You can also write intentions like “enjoy the day,” “notice what’s beautiful” or “release what I can’t control” to remind yourself of how you want to feel on the day.
  • Write post-its with messages that will make you smile on the day and put them where you’re getting ready, on your dress hanger, or even embroidered on the inside of your coat. You can also write out values for the day that you want to keep top-of-mind. These might be connecting with your community, embracing fun, or leaning into the romance of it all. Knowing what the day is about and reminding yourself of it with little notes can help reorient you to what really counts on your wedding day.
  • Ask your partner to help you remember! Sometimes one spouse will feel stressed about their conservative grandmother taking offense to an outlandish bridesmaid dance, while another one is more likely to spiral if the cake doesn’t look absolutely perfect. Ask the person you’re marrying to join you in reminding each other of what really counts if things come up that throw you off balance. Know what triggers your stress and imagine different outcomes and how you’ll handle them. Having a mindfulness accomplice can help you have fun.

Weddings are supposed to be fun!

A mother helps prepare a daughter for her Ottawa wedding dayThis is such a simple point, but why put this special day together if you can’t enjoy it? I am always happy when I see couples I photograph basking in the joy of the day and really noticing how much love is around them. I’ve also seen many situations where someone is letting a little problem or an aesthetic issue throw off the whole energy of the wedding day. Setting a simple intention like leaning into joy when you feel it, or noticing what’s meaningful can be the difference between a nervous and a joyful energy.

Give yourself a good rest and some pre-wedding self care

You’ll be more likely to embrace joy and fun if you’ve slept well, eaten well, and taken time to rest before the wedding. Schedule time for a bath the night before, make sure your morning is full of minimal time commitments on your wedding day, and remember to take time for what lets you feel calm and happy. 

Remember what dating was like? It’s incredible to find someone you want to spend life with

Any conversation with any friend who’s out in the dating world will quickly remind you of how special it is to find a person you want to commit to and marry. While singleness has many joys, it’s a jungle out there! There are countless dating apps, speed dating activities, and people trying to set you up unsuccessfully when you’re looking for a partner. There’s so much that goes into finding someone who’s a great partner for you. From shared values and life goals to the little things you may share: like the right words of support when you’re ranting about your tough day, a shared sense of humour, or just being loved for who you are in the best ways. I say all this to emphasize that finding a human you want to spend life with is profound and beautiful. This day is meant to be a joy, a celebration, and a wonderful time to say “wow–we found each other” and share that with those who are your biological or chosen family. So don’t forget how far you’ve come and how wonderful it is to be here with this person today.

Respect tradition but make your wedding personally meaningful

Some people say the wedding is about the couple, and others feel it’s more important to honour elders, traditions, and the way the parents want the day to be. Each person is different, but overall I think it’s essential to find the right elements of tradition, culture and heritage while also making your wedding an event that you’re comfortable with. 

Make your wedding meaningful for you 

Make your Ottawa wedding meaningful and mindful to enjoy your special dayI’ve seen couples from different religious backgrounds create a beautiful, blended ceremony. I’ve witnessed how tricky it can be when a couple commits to a kind of religious ceremony or attire that’s focused only on what the parents or grandparents want. Have honest, open conversations with your partner and loved ones to build boundaries and make compromises, so you’re not stressed out on the day feeling that your wedding doesn’t represent who you are. For example, if you don’t want to get married in a church or temple, perhaps a compromise to honour religious elders could be asking them to say a prayer or blessing during the ceremony. Consider creative ways to build a wedding that represents you –– without making the day into something you’ll feel uncomfortable about.

Delegate wedding responsibilities and don’t take on more than you need to

This is for all your people-pleasers, organizers, and do-it-yourself-ers. Notice when people want to help out or make the day more pleasant. If you’re tired and someone offers you a chair, say yes! If you notice a guest who needs help getting to their car or finding another person to talk to, ask someone to go take care of it rather than making it your responsibility. If you’ve hired vendors you trust, let them run things and feel free to delegate duties rather than taking on too much yourself. 

Beyond the basics like food, clothing, and venues, there will also be surprises on the day. It’s inevitable. You may want to pick a few designated people; perhaps your maid of honour, a groomsman, a reliable uncle, or a great-aunt who loves to micromanage, and ask them to be on call or in charge of things that come up. Perhaps helping people find their placards at the reception, organizing everyone so they know when it’s time for group photos, or sending emails to make sure everyone knows where to meet. Giving guests little jobs makes them feel included, needed, and frees up your time to look around, enjoy the love, and take it all in.

Laugh at things and embrace imperfection

Enjoy a stress-free, mindful Ottawa wedding by planning aheadUnplanned chaos is inevitable, even if you’re the best wedding planner in the world. Whether it’s tiny like a late guest, or major like a big weather event or a city-wide marathon that diverts some of your wedding traffic, things may come up. Know that there may be surprises. Don’t be afraid to ask “What if this was funny instead of stressful?” or “What really matters here?” I love capturing surprises on wedding days, and sometimes the moments you don’t expect are the most memorable. A bit of wine on a wedding dress might seem like the end of the world. But if you can laugh at it, you’ll likely smile at the memory for years to come. And if I’m there to capture it, I’ll get a great photo of you either way.

Looking for an Ontario wedding photographer? Let’s talk.

As an experienced wedding photographer with front row seats to every special moment of your wedding day, Boyo Photography will unobtrusively capture every little moment, letting you shine. Let’s have a conversation and talk about how to make your day fun, stress-free, and all that you want it to be. Just call 613-322-7410 or email me at info@boyophoto.ca.

 

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Beautiful Black Weddings: How to Choose a Photographer Who Captures You Best
February 18, 2024
POSTED IN: Weddings

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.Beautiful Black Weddings: How to Choose a Photographer Who Captures You Best

I recently had a bride tell me how much it meant to have her skin tone glow the way it did in her wedding photos; beautifully lit as she laughed, looking like her best self. You’ll see many skin tones in my wedding portfolio, a natural development as I’ve photographed friends, clients, community members, and new couples through word-of-mouth bookings. It’s important to me that my portfolio has people from a range of cultural backgrounds, couples with different skin tones, a diverse portfolio that lets you picture yourself in my photos. I’m proud of the way I let each person feel and look their best; in how I aim to put them at ease, capture their joy, and snap the moments you’ll want to relive for years to come. 

Planning an Ottawa wedding?

If you’re planning a wedding and you’re someone with a darker skin tone, let’s have a real conversation about choosing an Ottawa wedding photographer who knows how to capture you beautifully. Because, as you likely already know, not every photographer knows how to capture each skin tone in its fullest light. In honour of Black history month (and in honour of you!) let’s explore the importance of People of Colour in photography.

The history of People of Colour and photography

The history of photography in relation to melanin, Blackness, and People of Colour carries stories of racial bias, with a prioritisation of white bodies and the way they were captured over anyone else. This history is also rich with joy, important movements, and definitive moments throughout time.

Back in the 19th century, Frederick Douglass, the African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, and writer often went to a daguerreotype studio to have his portrait taken. He used these photographs to give people a new vision of who an African-American man was in a time when there weren’t images like this, and his portraits were a central part of abolitionist movements. Around the same time over here in Canada, William “Billy” Beal was capturing pioneering life in the prairies of rural Manitoba. Shortly after he immigrated there from the states, the Canadian government passed a law banning Black people from immigrating to Canada. His photographs, like those of other under-celebrated Black photographers of the time, captured a much needed perspective of his experience at the time. 

Decades later, American Professor W.E.B. Dubois  also used his photographs to highlight Black excellence and achievement, creating a gallery dedicated to portraits of achievement in the 1900s, and spoke openly about the awful way in which dark skin was captured, talking about how “the average white photographer⁠ does not know how to deal with coloured skins.” These are only a few stories of how Blackness and photography were partners for important social movements of change. You can imagine how the inclusion of these photographs into our commonly known history, and many others that haven’t seen the light, expand how we see history and each other. This is a helpful history to have in your back pocket as you’re exploring how your own special moments will be captured. It’s also an essential history for all photographers to understand as they learn about lighting, natural light photography, and connecting with their subjects.


Early Black wedding and event photography

James Van Der Zee is a beautiful example of how the movement to capture Black joy evolved from this historical legacy. Chronicling life in 1920s-1930s Harlem, his photographs of weddings, engagements, parties, and special events are said to be some of the most comprehensive documentations of the Harlem Renaissance. Pieces of Canadian history surface as time goes on too, like this young man who started an Instagram account celebrating the African Diaspora in Canada after he found his grandfather’s photos of everyday life in Ontario. As his photographing grandfather put it, ““There is an onus for us to document ourselves. I certainly wasn’t waiting for anyone to tell me about Black Kitchener-Waterloo—it was incumbent upon me to do so.”


How to choose a great wedding photographer

Let’s come back to the basics here, because when it comes down to it, I’ve found that most couples have the same three goals in common when it comes to their wedding photography:

Most couples can agree that these three things matter the most when choosing a wedding photographer:

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.Photos that represent you well

Overall, you want images to look back on in the years to come, photographs that timelessly represent you and the people you love. This means photos that are well taken professionally where you look comfortable, beautiful and at ease. In terms of skin tone, this also means having a photographer who has exposed the picture just right so you can shine.

A photographer you feel comfortable with on your wedding day

One of my favourite things is getting my clients to let their guard down, so that I get a natural laugh, or a smile, or catch a moment between them and others. Great photos mean finding someone who is a good cultural fit for the energy of your day. If the photographer you’re working with makes you feel nervous, or doesn’t put you at ease, you’re more likely to look stiff in wedding photos. It’s a personal choice, and sometimes just comes down to a vibe!

The ability to be present and enjoy every moment

Being able to be present in the day matters. You don’t want to miss a thing. Your family is here from out of town, you’re seeing friends you haven’t seen in years, you’re reunited with old work acquaintances. Once you’ve made a decision about a photographer – and happily hired me (great choice!) – it’s so important to be able to enjoy the day and spend time with the people you love. A great photographer blends into scenes and captures candid moments of joy. One of my favourite things after I shoot is having couples ask, “Wait, when did you take that? I didn’t even see you there!” When it comes to this really important day, you want someone who’s noticing the details. 

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.


If I have a dark skin tone, how can I make sure my photographer knows how to capture the beauty of my melanin on my wedding day?

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.This is such an important question, and you’re not alone in thinking about this. There’s meaning in how we capture bodies, how skin tones are captured, and how a photograph makes you feel when you pose for it and when you look at it later. 

When looking at online forums, I often see questions like this one, posted on Wedding Wire: “...I found another photographer that I like but after showing his work to my [future husband] he mentioned that he didn’t see any pictures of African Americans. Now I’m wondering if it’s bad to ask to see his past work with African Americans?”

My instinctual answer to this kind of question would always be a resounding “Of course it is okay! That is a perfectly sound request. If you’re a Person of Colour or you’re part of a multicultural family, whatever your background it’s wise to make sure you’ll be beautifully captured. It’s always okay to kindly ask for whatever you need, to have a clear sense that the person you’re hiring to photograph your big day is the right fit to capture you.” Even from a cultural standpoint beyond skin tone, someone who’s photographed a culturally-specific wedding may have insights that mean they’ll get all the right moments on camera. For example, a photographer who’s already shot a big glorious Indian wedding might also have intel into how a traditional ceremony works, what moments are culturally significant, and as a result can flow with your day seamlessly. 

Of course asking to see more work can feel loaded, but if a wedding portfolio is full of a certain demographic of couples, it’s only logical that you’d want to see someone who looks like you to be able to envision your own shots. 


Beautifully capturing dark skin tones is different than aptly capturing whiter skin tones.

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.Let’s also just establish that despite having very personal and historical implications, it’s also objectively true that different skin tones, complexions, and colours require different lighting, setup, or reflectors to maximize a photograph.

You want a photographer with experience, skills, and a proven portfolio that supports the kind of aesthetic you’re looking for on your wedding day.

If someone has only photographed people with a specific skin tone, they are less likely to be proactive in setting up the exposure in a way that maximizes a gorgeous look for all couples. It also can represent an unconscious bias or trend. If you and your partner have different skin tones, it’s also important to see examples so that you know the photographer is able to bring out the beauty of you both, rather than one person being over or under-exposed. Your photographer should be there to celebrate you, with all that it entails. Better to ask the question that feels awkward now than to have photos come back that don’t represent you. The way a photographer responds will also speak volumes to their approach. Or even better, pick someone whose gallery is full of People of Colour and Black folks, where they are looking comfortable, joyful, and gorgeously lit!

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.


Choose a team that you feel comfortable with

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.Making sure someone is a good fit for the aesthetic you love and brings out the natural glow of your skin tone also extends to makeup and hair. 

Choose someone you’ve worked with before or do some test sessions where you take photos to reference. It feels great to walk into your wedding day knowing you can trust their work, that they’re great at matching your skin tone, and picking shades that make your eyes pop or a lip colour that suits your complexion. The commercialised wedding industry has a long legacy of centering itself around white folks so it is totally understandable to make sure you and your loved ones are being well taken care of, photographed, and celebrated on your wedding day.

How can I find a photographer I feel comfortable with?

The photographer is a visible guest at your wedding, no matter how much they try to blend in. So beyond the surface, choose a wedding photographer whose work you love and whose energy matches the values you have for your day. 

The “right wedding photographer” comes down to personal factors. For each individual, this will mean something different. 

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.

  • For some people, having a wedding where the photographer is the only white person might be completely comfortable; as long as they understand our melanin and glow and fit in well as a guest, they could be the right fit. Know what feels great to you!
  • For others, also choosing someone familiar to their family, like a friend of a friend can be important.
  • A cultural fit is just as important as a photographer that takes a brilliant photo. If you’re planning to have a big wild dance party and your photographer is very buttoned up and won’t get out there to capture the joy on everyone’s faces, that could hinder you from getting the shots you want. And on the other hand, if you are having a fancy more conservative wedding, choosing a photographer who can read the room and suits the vibe is just as important. 
  • Have a consultation, a cup of coffee, or a phone call with the photographer you’re considering and see if you feel a calm sense that they’d be someone you want around on your big day. 
  • Word of mouth is a great place to start, too. I’m happy to refer you to some great reviews or happy couples who can let you know my wedding-day vibe. If you’re looking for a photographer, ask friends who they enjoyed working with.


Once you’ve found a photographer you want to work with, make a list of values for the day.

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.How do you want to feel? What is most important to you; is it that the wedding looks beautiful, that your guests have fun, or that you get quality time with family members from out of town? 

Sharing this with your photographer and making sure they’re aligned with your values is a great way to set up photos for the day. This will also be reflected in the amount of time spent on family portraits, or whether the couple wants to go do a special photo shoot alone during the wedding.


Above all, enjoy every moment of your beautiful Black wedding!

Now that I have a young child myself, looking back on my wedding day in the middle of a busy week brings back meaningful memories that remind me of where it all started. That’s the goal, to do that for you through photos you’ll want framed on your wall, sent in the mail, and shared with your grandchildren and future generations. Here’s to you and your upcoming nuptials! 


Connect with me to book your wedding or family photographs

I’d love to capture you at your best, and as you can see I’m committed to making every skin tone glow. Contact me here to schedule a conversation, and let’s make some memories!

Choose a Black photographer for your wedding or an Ottawa photographer who knows how to beautifully capture your melanin.

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