What To Do With Your Wedding Photos After Your Wedding.
So you’ve gotten your gallery jam-packed with precious memories sitting in your email inbox. YAY! But now you’ve browsed, cried, and soaked up the memories, and you’re wondering, “what next?” I GOTCHU friend!
These are 5 steps that I couldn’t recommend with any more enthusiasm! As a wedding photographer, I take photos knowing that the memories I capture may someday find themselves framed on a wall or in an heirloom album and nothing makes me happier. Your wedding gallery photos weren’t meant to sit on a hard drive. They are meant to be viewed and cherished. Here’s 5 things I recommend doing to get the most out of your photography investment!
Backup & Archive
First things first, let’s make sure your pictures are safe! Most photographers will only be able to host your photos for 6 months to a year so it’s very important to download the whole gallery and make a copy on your own personal hard drive (also, there’s some perks included on your gallery while your photographer is hosting it! Things you’ll definitely want to take advantage of…but more on that later…). I recommend making multiple copies and keeping them in a couple safe places. If you have a fireproof safe, storing a copy of your wedding memories in there is a good idea!
Share!
Those photos are meant to be shared and enjoyed. Posting some of your favorites continues the celebration online and allows some of those who weren’t able to attend to join in and get a glimpse into the day. Use your personalized wedding hashtag and consider even creating a album on Facebook to keep it all in one place! And don’t forget to tag your vendors and photographer! :)
Create Heirloom Albums
Imagine picking up that album off your coffee table to show anyone and everyone who walks through that door the beautiful memories of your wedding day. Creating an heirloom wedding album is a sweet way of preserving the beauty and significance of your special day for generations. It's more than just a photo album; it's a tangible keepsake that tells the story of your love and commitment.
As the years pass, flipping through the pages of your album will transport you back to the emotions, smiles, and love that filled your wedding day. This tangible connection to your past will become a precious family heirloom, a timeless treasure that you can share with children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, passing down the legacy of your love story in a tangible and heartfelt way. Most photographers have the ability and would love to help you create one, so just reach out and ask. Plus, often the capability to put one together is built directly into your gallery itself!
Print & Frame
Digital photos are great, but how likely are you to go rummaging through a hard drive of wedding photos just to enjoy the investment of your wedding photography. You invested in your photography so it could be appreciated and remembered.
Select some of your favorites and some of the ones that really touch your heart and order some prints and frames. Decorate your living room, bedroom, create a gallery wall in the home.
The vast majority of galleries, should include access to your photographer’s high quality print store. (The best printing services only allow access through photographers via their galleries. So take advantage of your online wedding gallery with some prints from the best printing companies while your photographer is hosting your wedding gallery! If you wait, your gallery may expire and you may lose this access.)
Create Thank You Cards
Okay this last one is honestly such a sweet idea. Sending thank you cards after a wedding thanking your guests for coming and celebrating with you is a super sweet gesture. Instead of opting for pre-made cards with a generic "thank you," choose a wedding picture on one side and write your heartfelt message on the other. Your guests will undoubtedly appreciate the extra effort and the tangible memory of your wedding and will likely end up on many of your friends and family’s fridges.
A couple good places to get thank-yous from are MOO, Minted, and Basic Invite. They offer a wide array of customizable designs and high-quality printing services, making it easy to create a unique and meaningful note of your gratitude for your friends and family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hi, I’m Vance Doeden - a wedding & elopement photographer based in Wichita, KS while serving the midwest & beyond. God, nature, and real deep emotion are my inspirations for capturing these memories.
Tying the knot? Check out my work & reach out to learn more about capturing the moments that matter.
