Advice for brides

• Be prepared to have fun on your big day! It is your party and you are there to enjoy it. This may sound obvious, but it is something many brides easily forget. Plan well so that you can stay relaxed and calm. A radiant, calm bride can make all of the difference on your wedding day - for yourself, your hubby, your family and your guests.


• Consider carefully the time of day you choose to have your wedding. The light for photography is best early in the morning between 6:00 am and 9:00 am, and in the evening from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, although these times will vary depending on the season. Midday sun is very harsh and also casts shadows across your face in photos. It is also worth remembering that at a tourist destination, like Venice for example, photography can be difficult in the middle of the day as there are so many tourists in the streets who can obstruct my view or bump me as I try to shoot.


• Also ensure you organise the timing of the day carefully so that I am there to photograph all the moments that are important to you. For example, if you have booked me for eight hours, you may want to ensure that everything from getting ready to the cutting of the cake and dancing at the reception will be completed within that eight hour period.


• When possible, I highly recommend that we try to find a moment to meet before your big day. This gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and to break the ice.


• Look after yourself in the days leading up to the wedding. Drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep. In particular, ensure that you do not stay up late the night before your wedding. Resting both physically and mentally in the days leading up to your wedding will make a big difference to your appearance, particularly your complexion, on the day. Taking "Rescue remedy" can also be a great way to calm your nerves before the ceremony.


• Eat! If at all possible, try and eat something decent before you get your hair and make up done.


• No fake tan! It may seem a good idea to have a nice tan on your wedding day, but using fake tan leaves your skin looking streaky and orange, even when applied by a professional. Not to mention the risk you run of having your fake tan rub-off and stain your beautiful white wedding gown...


• Remember to choose something nice to wear when getting ready for the ceremony. If I am going to be taking photos of you getting ready there will be photos of you in this outfit in your album, so choose carefully!


• Consider your photos when choosing bridesmaid dresses, especially if you will be wearing a traditional white wedding dress. Bold colours have a great impact in photos, as they make you and your white dress stand out. Our favourites - black or red.


• Prepare a "Bride first aid kit" to keep with you on the wedding day. Include things such as headache tablets, safety pins, scissors, needle and thread, tweezers, band aids/plasters etc. Believe me, they will come in handy! I am happy to carry these kinds of small items (including a small make-up bag for touch-ups) in my camera bag if needed.


• Consider having handy a pair of comfortable shoes. (Sorry these won't fit in my camera bag!) This way, if you want to walk around a city, up a steep hill or dance the night away at the reception, you have the option to do so in comfort and without risking falling over!


• Make sure you keep an eye on the time on your wedding day. If you are late getting ready, you will be late for the church, late for the reception, and so on. Usually, this means cutting down on the time we have for photography. And the less time I have to work, the less time I have to take amazing photos of you!


• When you are exchanging rings during the ceremony, try to remember not to cover the ring with your fingers as you place it on your spouse's finger. This will allow me to take photos where you can see the ring.


• I recommend that we take some time out during the day to take some photos of you and the groom. This is usually done between the ceremony and the reception, but for the really adventurous among you, and perhaps the slightly less traditional, something to consider is to take these photos before the ceremony. That way we can spend a little more time on these shots without having to worry about keeping your guests waiting.


• If you would like me to take some group photos of your guests, I suggest making a list of the photos that you would like and nominating a "bossy boots" who knows all your guests and can organise them into your chosen groups. This keeps the day running much more smoothly and quickly, as it is very difficult for me to organise group shots as I am unlikely to know who most of the people on your list are!


• I also recommend that you discuss with me any complexes you may have. The touching-up I do to your wedding photos is subtle, so that you wouldn't be able to recognise the changes unless you saw the original image. If you want me to do anything above or beyond this, e.g. removing the bump on the bridge of your nose, you need to let me know!


• The weather is something that you have no control over. Even when planning a mid-summer wedding, there is no way in the world that you can predict what the weather will do on the day. If, on your day, you are faced with unpredictable and changeable weather (rain, cloud, thunder, lighting), remember (as hard as it may be) that there is nothing you can do about it, so you just have to make the most of it. It is one day that you have spent so much time, thought and care preparing and planning for, it is a shame to let a little bit of water ruin your spirits.


• Play with me! It is important to realise that my level of photographic skill remains the same for each wedding. What makes the difference between "good" and "great" photos is when, rather than hiding from the camera, my clients make an effort to go that extra mile and ensure that I have ample time and inspiration to take amazing, beautiful photos - photos that will serve as memories of one of the most treasured days of your life.