It’s no secret that every bride and groom wants amazing photography to share with friends and family, as well as reminisce on in future years! After all, these are the memories you’ll treasure forever. From the first look and walking down the aisle to the first kiss and reception that follows, you’re going to want your wedding photos to be top-notch. While an amazing photographer makes a massive difference, have you considered the impact the wedding venue itself has on how your wedding photos turn out? Well, that’s why I’m here today to take a deeper look and determine what you should be looking for in a venue!
To provide a quick introduction, my name is Ian Ramirez, and I am the Venue Director at Madera Estates. For those unfamiliar with Madera, we are located in Conroe, TX, and take pride in turning visions into realities when it comes to wedding days! I have currently been with Madera for three years and absolutely love working in the wedding industry. As the venue director, I’m able to work directly with couples, as well as our internal team. Now, let’s get into the topic at hand: “How a venue can make a huge difference with your wedding day photos!”
Pinterest-Worthy Backdrop?
I’m sure every photographer will tell you that a beautiful background definitely works wonders in creating the perfect photo. However, I’ll also point out that great photographers, like Dream Photo & Video, are creative enough to turn any room into something beautiful! On the topic of backgrounds, you’re going to want to consider two things: your vision and if there are any venue limitations.
Ask yourself questions like: Does the venue have multiple locations where you can take photos at? If you’re looking to do a first look, is there a place for that? Similarly, when it comes to your vision, you’ll want to consider the background landscapes. If you want some greenery in the photos, is there an area to incorporate this? As a general rule of thumb, I always tell couples that it’s key for all photos to blend together. The album should all look well-coordinated when all is said and done.
If your venue provides enough variety in scenery, you won’t have to worry about transporting your bridal party from one location to another! Not only will this save you money on transportation services, but it will also make the day run at a smoother pace. Plus, not having to drive around to various locations means that you’ll be able to get MORE photos!
Space to Get All of the Shots?
With every wedding, there are going to be specific moments that you want to capture no matter what. All of these will comprise what makes up the perfect wedding day album! Starting with the “glam shots” where the bride is getting hair and makeup done to snapshots of the wedding party and the cutting of the cake, there are plenty of must-have moments. With this said, you’re going to want enough space for not only your family and friends but also a photographer! While every photographer will work to make the best out of any situation, that’s not always an easy job if they’re squished against the wall!
Additionally, going hand-in-hand with this, you’ll want to consider if there’s enough room for a second photographer as well! Wedding days can get busy very quickly, and as a result, there’s a nearly countless number of moments that you’ll want to be captured. This could easily require the assistance of a second photographer. Just making sure everyone has plenty of room to do their jobs will make the photographer’s lives easier and your photos that much better!
Venue Staff
Rather than look at this point from the perspective of someone in the wedding industry, I’ll give an analysis from a client. On your wedding day, the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether or not everything is running smoothly behind the scenes. You don’t want to be concerned with the catering company getting everything set up or whether there’s enough parking for your entire guest list! Particularly with all-inclusive venues, the venue staff should actually be making your life easier by handling all of the logistics. Similarly, the staff should always act as friendly faces and help the vendors out when needed!
Lighting
Remember all of those beautiful backgrounds that we talked about earlier in the article? Yes, those are going to be a big help in crafting the perfect wedding day album, but they aren’t going to do it by themselves. While I’m not a professional photographer, I’ve learned enough to understand that lighting could likely fill a blog post in and of itself. However, for the matter of showing how a venue impacts photography, I’m going to start at the top. If you’ve been to different venues, you’ve probably witnessed how much lighting can vary venue-to-venue.
During receptions, most venues are going to dim the lighting to act as a mood-setter. While great photographers still have the tools to create their own light, this is something you’ll want to discuss prior to the big day. Particularly if a photographer hasn’t shot before at that venue, then you’ll want them to take a walk-through as well. In the end, you’ll be looking for a venue that has a nice balance of natural and artificial lighting. Whether this means some string lights or a chandelier in the reception hall, a little bit of artificial lighting will serve as a major boost for your memories!
Unique Backdrops?
My final determining factor is similar to the backgrounds, but also something that I feel can’t be understated! You’re going to want to select a venue that allows you to have different backdrops for different photos. If possible, it’s nice to get a wide array of scenery for all the photos that comprise a complete wedding day shot list. How many unique backdrops is up to you. However, it’s always best to have the flexibility to have multiple ones at your disposal!
Make Your Dream a Reality!
All in all, picking out a wedding venue is usually the first step in planning a wedding. While this isn’t always the case, it usually makes everyone’s lives a little easier as most venues book out over a year in advance. As you may already know and have seen throughout this article, there are plenty of factors that go into creating that amazing wedding day album. Some of these are interchangeable, while others are out of your control. My best piece of advice is to do a complete tour of any venue before signing a contract. Make sure to do your due diligence. Look at past weddings from Facebook and Instagram to ensure it matches the vision you’ve always dreamed of! And if it fulfills all the categories from above, I can guarantee you’ll have dazzling photos you’ll always be in love with!
I would like to take a moment to say thank you to the awesome team with Dream Photo & Video for allowing me to hop on their blog this week! Turning wedding dreams into realities is a passion of mine and a major reason why I got started in the wedding industry! I know the entire wedding planning process can be an overwhelming one, and I am happy to provide my assistance wherever needed. If you would ever like to just chat about venues or take a personal tour of our venue, Madera Estates, don’t hesitate to fill out the form here. We would be thrilled to have the honor of discussing your wedding day plans!
About the Author
Ian Ramirez serves as the Venue Director of Madera Estates, a Spanish and European-inspired luxury wedding and event venue located in Conroe, TX. The architecturally stunning and beautiful Madera Estates take inspiration and visions from the historic town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, an artist’s haven and UNESCO World Heritage Site. An oasis of lush landscaping, guests are immediately transported from the piney woods of Southeastern Texas to the breathtaking and luscious highlands of Central Mexico.
A native of The Woodlands, TX, Mr. Ramirez graduated Summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in music. He has received awards from the National Opera Association and a Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission. In 2018, Ian was named the Man of the Year through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, as well as PR Luxury Media’s Do-Gooder of the Year. Most recently, he was named Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
