Wedding Photography

Ryan Smith’s tips and ideas for the best photography at your wedding

• Plan the wedding in the evening, closer to sunset if possible, while leaving enough time for pictures after. The best time for romantic portraits on the beach is right before sunset or at locations with many trees about 30 minutes before sunset. Check out sunset times here. When the sunset is very late like during the summer months, I like to pull the bride and groom back out for some sunset pictures. Please leave some time for sunset pictures in your wedding schedule.
• I love to take detail shots before the wedding. Try to make a small collection for me with an invitation, bouquet, flower petals, rings, jewelry, vows, or anything else you would like laid out for pictures.
• It’s nice to mention to the wedding party that they should look up and smile when walking down the aisle to the ceremony. No one needs to pause for pictures at the beginning of the aisle unless that is something you want. If the bride and groom want to stop and kiss, dip, or high-five some guests while walking back, that is great for pictures. If doing a dip and kiss after the ceremony, do not hold your flowers in front of your face. Hold them down towards the ground so I get a clear view of your faces.
• I recommend that you make a list of who you want in the family pictures. I have the usual things I will go through for family groups (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.). Sometimes, the family disappears after a wedding, and we can’t find them for pictures. There needs to be someone in charge of ensuring the family stays for photos after a ceremony. I try my best, but I don’t know who all the family members are, and sometimes they won’t listen to me.
• I have many general ideas for fun pictures with the wedding party, and I’m always thrilled if you have any ideas. Please let me know anything you want to try for unique photos with the girls and guys, even things you’ve seen online or in magazines. I always mention it when taking bridal party pictures, but if you can also help keep an eye on the bridesmaid’s bouquets, it’s best if they can be held low enough to see the top of the dresses and at a similar height.
• It’s a good idea to remind the wedding party they are there to support the bride and groom. It can be very frustrating when it’s time for pictures, and some of the wedding party is missing. If you have someone in the party assigned to help fluff your dress, that can help speed up pictures.
• Ensure to get at least a couple of strong pins in the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnieres. If you don’t, they can easily flip over during the ceremony and pictures after.
• If you have any ideas for pictures you want to send me before the wedding, feel free to do so. I’ve got a lot of general ideas for romantic pictures, but I always love it when the couple brings some ideas as well. I prefer a bright and natural color to my pictures, so if you like a darker and moodier brown or filtered look, you might prefer a different photographer. However, I can do some requested effects after shooting.
• For the couple’s portraits after the wedding, check out my typical “portrait style” with the subject in focus and the background blurry. I have thousands of example pictures on my blog. This look comes from using a high-quality 85mm prime portrait lens, which most clients love. However, if you want a wide-angle look with a more visible background and less blur, please let me know because I can’t change this after I take the images.
• I will gladly take any pictures you would like at the reception. I’ll always take candid shots, but if you want a group shop we missed, please let me know. I will also follow you around to the tables, and you can have each table stand up for a group picture if that is something you want. A fun idea is to have the DJ announce that while one song plays, each table will run out to the dance floor for a picture with the couple.
• For the reception, try to avoid having a dark background for dancing. Hanging small lights in the background can make a big difference. My camera is very sensitive to a small amount of light, so hang lights wherever you can to light up the dancing area with warm, romantic lighting. Please don’t rush the flower and garter toss to make sure I get ready for some good shots. If anything unusual is happening, please let me know beforehand so I can prepare. Later in the evening, when it’s time to shoot some fun dancing shots, it would be fantastic if you and the wedding party would occasionally turn and dance facing the photographer. Have everyone show off for the camera once in a while.
• Shots with the bride and groom running through and kissing under sparklers can be stunning. There are uniquely made “wedding sparklers” that burn for a long time and don’t create smoke. Please spend the extra money on these no-smoke wedding sparklers, and don’t just get ordinary sparklers. If the DJ offers cold sparkler cannons as part of his package, those are also amazing for exit pictures.
• Wear comfortable shoes. I’ve had many times when brides have to stop taking pictures because their feet are hurting. If you wear high heels during the ceremony, maybe have something to switch to for the outside pictures if we have a lot of walking. They usually don’t allow high heels on a golf course.

Specific recommendations for weddings on the beach

• It is usually very windy at the beach, so sometimes what looks excellent inside can cause issues on the beach. For example, a long and flowing veil can look beautiful in pictures in a sheltered area. However, it can pull on your hair, blow, and twist in the wind. I recommend a shorter veil for beach weddings. Keep the beach in mind when picking a dress as well, with it pulling through and catching the sand.
• There are special rules on what is allowed for weddings in the Myrtle Beach City limits. Find out more here.
• Keep in mind your shoes and walking on the beach. Some brides will even go barefoot or wear barefoot sandals. It’s a good idea to wear comfortable shoes for any outdoor wedding because we usually do a good bit of walking. I’ve noticed personalized Vans as being very popular recently.
• Remember that if you have a summer wedding, it will be hot and humid in Myrtle Beach. Bringing a towel to wipe off during the pictures is a good idea. It’s also usually crowded at the beach; when setting up the ceremony, try to do it closer to the water so we don’t have people setting up umbrellas and walking by as much in the background.
• Lighting candles is almost impossible at the beach. However, a sand ceremony where the bride and groom pour colored sand into a container is popular and works well.
• While I’m always using just a mild amount of off-camera flash, sometimes, when it’s hot, you can get a bit of shine on your face. I noticed an improvement in the shine reduction of brides using a non-SPF foundation. Anything you can do to reduce face shine, especially in the hot summer, is great for the pictures.

Common Questions and Answers

What is included with the Digital Copies / Digital Files, and can I make prints from them?

I typically take 1000-2000 pictures at a 6-hour wedding in Myrtle Beach, and I usually narrow these down to around 1000 or so that I deliver to you. I have a beautiful online gallery system called Pixieset to view and download your pictures. You can download all the digital files from here and use any print credit included with your package. There are no watermarks or copy protection on the images. You can share and print them as you like. I will also send you a link to print a copyright release form. These are high-resolution jpeg picture files suitable for enlargement printing and any other desired use.

What is the process for scheduling wedding photography in Myrtle Beach?

Please message me to find out if your desired date is available, the time you need, and any other details I need to know. If you are available locally, we can meet at my home office to discuss details, and I can show you more examples of my work. We can also discuss details by phone or video chat. After you decide to use me as your Myrtle Beach wedding photographer, I will email or give you in person a contract that lists the date of your wedding and the selected package. I ask for a $300 deposit to hold the wedding date that is deducted from the total package price.

Do you send out employees, or do all the photography yourself?

I will always be the primary photographer at your wedding, and I will personally take any bridal or engagement portraits. I also do all post-processing, like Lightroom adjustments, Photoshop work, and album layouts. That is why you always get consistent quality with my work. This is far different from some wedding companies in Myrtle Beach that send out various employees to do the work and even have someone different edit the images. I shoot pictures knowing how I adjust my images later for consistent results.

How do I back up and protect your wedding pictures, and how long are they stored?

All my camera bodies take an original and backup copy of every shot. After importing the images, they are automatically backed up to multiple drives and off-site. I will host your gallery online for at least six months. I still have backups from when I started wedding photography in 2008. I’ve often sent clients pictures they lost years after their wedding at no charge. However, I recommend you download and personally back up your wedding pictures.

What is the price if I order prints through you?

Prints can be easily ordered through your client gallery using your photo credit (if included) and by credit card (of course, you can download and get prints made anywhere you like). These are all printed at one of the top national photo labs, with many mounting and paper-type options. I try to keep the cost of the prints reasonable. Visit my print store for a complete list of prices. I make a small commission when clients order prints through their galleries, so I appreciate it if you choose to do so.

Do you also offer wedding videography?

While some Myrtle Beach wedding photographers offer all-in-one packages, having someone specializing in their field is always the best if you want the highest quality work. It’s impossible to do high-quality photography and videography for one person at the same time, so I would have to hire another team anyway if I choose to offer that. So instead, I’ve partnered with a fantastic videographer, and we will work together at your wedding to ensure you have the best possible photography and videography. Of course, I’m happy to work with any videographer you choose. This allows me to focus on my photography while your videographer focuses on their specialty.

What is the turnaround time on the wedding pictures or album orders?

I will send the digital copies to you to download as soon as I finish adjusting and working on the pictures from the wedding. I usually deliver these digital pictures within 30 days in the busy summer and sometimes within a week during the off-season. Of course, wedding albums will take longer to complete. My printing service usually prepares and ships an album in about two weeks. If you add to that the time it takes for me to prepare the images for the album, eight weeks at the most under normal circumstances.

What can be requested for Photoshop touch-ups?

Sometimes Photoshop is thought of as magic and that I can change anything in a picture, but there are limitations. I skillfully adjust all your images in Lightroom software, allowing me to correct color and exposure. That is all most pictures need before printing. If they need specific editing, such as removing people from the background, I must go into Photoshop. You can request a small and reasonable number of particular touch-ups at no extra charge if needed. I am skilled in Photoshop, but some things may be impossible to correct, such as if hair is covering a large part of your face.

Why and when do you have to pay the 8% SC State Sales Tax?

If you live in SC and I’m delivering your pictures to an SC address, I have to collect sales tax on your purchases, just like if you were to buy something in a physical store. This tax is required on the total price of the package; SC does not allow a photographer to separate the labor or sitting fee from the final taxable price. If you find a photographer that doesn’t charge sales tax on the total package price, they are not following the state tax laws correctly. If you live outside of SC and I am shipping your items out of state, I don’t collect this sales tax.

If you are interested and want to ensure my information is correct, please view this official SC rules pdf here. View the examples section of the pdf.

What business licenses do I have, and what are some rules about weddings in Myrtle Beach?

Especially for Myrtle Beach wedding photographers, it is important to have proper business licenses. At Myrtle Beach city-owned locations, they will check the license status of all your vendors, and they will not allow the wedding if any vendors lack a license. The Myrtle Beach city limits don’t allow weddings on the beach, but the city limits are a small part of the Grand Strand area.

North Myrtle Beach also requires a new permit to do photography on the beach in addition to a business license, and I have this new permit as well. Check out more info here if you are planning a beach wedding.

I keep a business license for Charleston, Horry County, North Myrtle Beach, and Myrtle Beach. I’m also a licensed retail business with SC. Ryan Smith Photography is also a registered trademark. I recommend always making sure your vendors have proper business licenses before booking. I don’t update the images below annually but can provide up-to-date copies upon request.

I’m also a Part 107 FAA-certified remote UAS drone pilot. While I don’t use a drone very often at weddings, I’m certified to do this professionally if you ever want photography or location shots from the air.