lisa smith photography

Tips to help you tell the full story of your wedding day

One of the most exciting parts of the wedding photography process comes after the wedding day: designing your album! I know it can feel overwhelming to narrow down hundreds images into just one curated collection, but this part is truly about reliving your day, piece by piece, and creating something you’ll treasure for decades.

When it’s time to select your album photos, my biggest tip is this: think about the story.

Yes, it’s very tempting to pick only the most perfectly posed portraits of the two of you, your wedding party, and family. And of course, we’ll include plenty of those. But your album should do more than just show who was there. It should bring back how it felt to be there.

Start with the flow of the day

The best albums read like a visual narrative. Begin by selecting a handful of images from each part of your wedding day:

• Getting ready: the quiet, emotional moments, special items, and candid laughs
• Details: flat lays, rings, florals, signage, and anything you carefully picked out
• First look (if you had one): emotional reactions, anticipation, and connection
• Ceremony: wide shots, close-ups, vows, and that first kiss
• Cocktail hour: candids of guests, drinks, and little interactions you may have missed
• Reception: speeches, dinner, dancing, and the overall vibe
• Sunset portraits or evening shots: a dreamy close to the story

Aim for around 40 images that give you a full view of your day, almost like chapters in a book.

Then fill it in with your favorites

Once the core of the story is there, go back and fill in with the moments that feel the most you. For many couples, this includes:

• Romantic portraits
• Emotional moments with parents or loved ones
• Laugh-out-loud reception moments
• Candid interactions with guests
• Dance floor energy

These are the pages that will spark memories every time you flip through your album. The way your partner looked at you during the vows. The way your dad smiled during your first dance. The hugs, the clinking glasses, the joy.

I’ll let you in on something personal. I didn’t order an album from my own wedding because I was trying to save money. I figured I’d design one myself later using a cheaper service. That was over 12 years ago… and I still haven’t made it. Our photos are sitting on a hard drive, and we rarely look at them.

That’s why I want to help my couples create beautiful albums now, while the memories are still fresh and the excitement is still real. You deserve to have a beautiful, lasting reminder of your day. Photos that don’t live in folders on a computer, but right there on your coffee table to flip through anytime you want.

Choosing your wedding album photos shouldn’t be stressful. It should be joyful. It’s one last chance to walk through the day, relive it, and wrap it up into something you’ll treasure forever.

Still looking for a wedding photographer? I’d love to chat with you about your day and share more about my wedding photography packages.