There is so much to be considered in preparation for this one special day. And the ‘day-of’ you’ll be amazed at how much is going on. To help simplify your wedding planning process, we asked Pittsburgh wedding photographers to give us a few straight forward answers to some frequently asked questions.

–Do I need an Engagement Session? Most couples know immediately if this is a priority for them. A lot of couples these days are using their engagement photos in one way or another as an added element to their wedding day. Either as Save-the-Dates, a matted framed photo to be signed by guests, framed photos for each table at the reception or a picture book to be used as a guest sign-in. To me, there are so few monumental occasions to document with photography, so celebrating your engagement should be one of them!

–Do I need 2 photographers? Yes. There is a crazy ‘lot going on during a wedding day and it certainly behooves you to have 2 sets of eyes rather than one. Not only that but most of the time each photographer shoots differently than the other so you’re getting photos from 2 completely different perspectives. A female/male team is a great choice because usually one shoots feminine (close up, curves and softness) while the other typically shoots male (angular, big picture, focusing on architecture). That’s how we shoot!

–How much time is needed between the ceremony and reception? This is dependent upon how important creative portraiture is to you. Some couples prefer no portraiture; some insist it is a must-have. If it’s important to you as a couple to go to a location for romantic, fun shots of the bride, groom and wedding party then plan on an hour, not including driving time. That’s usually plenty of time.

Tips contributed by Craig Photography.