The Journal
A little guidance for a day that feels like you.
Choosing your photographer and filmmaker. Making room for the moments that matter. Practical advice for a relaxed celebration in London and across the UK.
Planning & inspiration
From the journal.
Wedding planning
How to plan your first dance for wedding photos and film
Plan a relaxed first dance with clear music cues, suitable lighting, room for photography and film, and an evening timeline that fits your agreed coverage.
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Wedding planning
Should you have an unplugged wedding ceremony? A practical photo and film guide
Decide whether to ask guests to put phones away during your ceremony, with practical options for announcements, exceptions, photographs, film and guest sharing.
Read the guideWedding planning
First look or aisle reveal? How each choice affects wedding photos and film
Compare a private first look with meeting at the ceremony, including the effect on your timeline, portraits, film coverage and how the moment may feel.
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Wedding planning
How to prepare your getting-ready room for wedding photos and film
A practical getting-ready room checklist for wedding photos and film: light, clear space, details, privacy, sound and a calm departure plan.
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Photography advice
How to plan autumn and winter wedding portraits
Plan relaxed autumn and winter wedding portraits with a useful indoor alternative, flexible timing and one joined approach for photography and film.
Read the guidePhotography advice
How to plan family group photographs at your wedding
Build a short, useful family-photo list, organise relatives efficiently and protect more time for candid moments, guests and your reception.
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Videography advice
How to help your videographer capture clear vows and speeches
A practical guide to microphones, ceremony positions, speech timings and supplier coordination so the words that matter can be heard in your wedding film.
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Do you need a second photographer or videographer for your wedding?
A practical way to decide whether one photographer and one videographer are enough, or whether overlapping moments and locations justify a larger team.
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Wedding highlight film vs full ceremony and speeches films
A clear guide to what highlight, ceremony and speeches films preserve, how packages differ, and the questions to ask before booking your wedding videographer.
Read the guidePhotography advice
Camera-shy? How to feel natural in wedding photos and film
You do not need to learn poses or perform for a wedding film. Here is how to brief your team, choose comfortable portraits and make space for moments that feel like you.
Read the guideVideography advice
10 questions to ask your wedding videographer before booking
Look beyond the showreel: ask about complete films, vows and speeches, who will attend, coverage hours, music, delivery and working with your photographer.
Read the guideWedding planning
Should you book wedding photography and videography together?
A practical guide to choosing one photo-and-film team or separate suppliers, comparing coverage, and planning a relaxed wedding day in London or across the UK.
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How to plan a relaxed wedding photography and video timeline
Plan preparations, family photographs, portraits and speeches around your celebration, with an adaptable sample schedule and space for travel and changing light.
Read the guideYour wedding, your story