Wedding and Portrait Photographer, Lisa Tilley-Newman with her daughter Tilley.
When planning your wedding, it can be hard to know which Wedding Photographer in Suffolk you should hire. You only get married once so you need the pictures that get taken to capture the magic of the day. So, who else to get advice from than an actual wedding photographer?
Lisa knows what a bride is looking for in a wedding photographer. It wasn’t that long ago that she was looking for a photographer herself. She wanted photo journalistic coverage, but she also wanted something more. Knowing that most photographers specialize in one of those areas; Lisa made it her mission to provide her brides with timeless, traditional portraits and fun, modern art portraits.
Lisa’s studies include courses at the New England School of Photography and the Boston Photo Collaborative. Every year Lisa attends workshops and seminars to ensure that she is up on the latest industry trends and technology. She has over 11 years of wedding photography experience. She is a member of the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). She has been published in Premier Bride of Mississippi, Mississippi Magazine, South Mississippi Living, Parents Magazine and many more.
Lisa relocated from Boston to Pass Christian, Mississippi and covers weddings in both regions, including Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition to wedding photography, Lisa enjoys traveling, music and spending time with her family… Usually with her camera in hand.
Premier Bride of Mississippi and Premier Wedding of Mobile Bay writer, Jenny Cox Holman, interviewed Lisa to gather some valuable tips for couples planning their engagement and wedding day photography! Enjoy Lisa’s helpful advice and happy wedding planning!
“Tell our readers about yourself – what brought you to your career as a wedding and portrait photographer? How did you get started?”
I have always been interested in photography, from the time I was in grade school. It progressed through adulthood. After college, I had money to invest in real equipment and I began taking some higher education photography course. I gravitated towards people, which naturally brought me into the wedding industry.
“What special services do you offer for a bride-to-be and her fiance?”
I like to cater my offerings to the couple’s needs. I offer everything from proposal coverage, engagements, bridals, boudoir, wedding coverage and more. I don’t want to oversell to them either. I’m not here to pressure them into a package they don’t need. I will discuss their needs and find a package that suits them.
“What advice would you like to offer to an engaged couple to prepare for their engagement photographs with you? Any recommendations on their attire and any other tips?”
To dress comfortably and be themselves. If a bride isn’t comfortable wearing heels, don’t show up to the session wearing stilettos. Your discomfort will show in the photographs. Chose a location that suits your personality. If you love the outdoors, find a great location that can showcase what you as a couple love to do together. Also, think out of the box. Does your fiance love baseball? We can grab some inexpensive tickets to a minor league game and get some unique shots.
“What do you like most about what you do?”
The people. I get to spend time with people on one of the most important days of their lives. It’s a real honor to be asked to do that. I love capturing moments on that day that will help them look back on that day for the rest of their lives.
“What are the current trends in engagement/wedding photography?”
I like to be aware of the current trends, but I would rather focus on the couple and their style. I prefer timeless photography that will look great to them in another 20 years without cringing and wondering “What was I thinking?”
“How would you describe your style of photography?”
I describe my style as clean and timeless. Most of the day, I take a photojournalism approach to photography. I’ll stand back and document the day as it unfolds. Of course, during the formal portrait portion of the day – it’s less photojournalism and more portraiture. And I like to describe my couple portraits and editorial style – fewer posed photos and more interaction between the bride and groom.
“What are type of pictures would you encourage a bride to remember to put some focus towards?”
Brides need to think about setting aside time for the bride and groom portraits. Too often photographers aren’t given enough time to get those great editorial style images everyone wants. Making sure to set aside that time is key. To me, those are the most important – yet for some reason if the schedule becomes crammed for time, those are the ones to suffer. Talk with your photographer about the best way to fit those in.
“How far in advance do you need for a bride to schedule your services? What is the best way to reach you?”
Brides should start thinking about booking their photographer 6-18 months before the wedding. Busy seasons (fall and spring) often book up a year in advance. Once you know what photographer you want for your wedding, it’s a good idea to go ahead and put down a deposit.
“What do you see on the horizon for up and coming trends in weddings for this fall/winter 2016 and spring/summer 2017?”
The trends I’m seeing are going away from giant bright floral arrangements and towards more simple greenery – branches, palms, boxwood and eucalyptus. Rose gold will continue to be popular for 2017 weddings as well. Simple gowns and elegant bridesmaids dresses are also going to continue to be popular.
“Do you have any additional information or advice that you would like to add?”
My biggest advice to remember what your wedding day is all about. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Something is bound to go off course on your wedding day, and the more flexible you can be, the better you will enjoy your day. Preparation will minimize unexpected mishaps – so have a timeline that builds in for late bridesmaids, etc. But most of all, enjoy your day.
Would you like to know more about Tilley Photography? Visit Lisa’s website, here! For more ideas for your wedding planning, check out more of our blogs on www.idoyall.com!
Jenny Cox Holman, Writer (www.idoyall.com)