What Do We Do With Our Wedding Photos? | Colorado Wedding Photographer
So… you just got married. Congrats! At this point you’ve probably received your wedding photos or you’re patiently awaiting that email link announcing that they’re ready.
Once you receive your photos, you may be wondering ‘What do we do with our wedding photos now?’ This is a totally valid question to ask. Most people have not been married before, so it’s okay to not know what to do every step of the way, even after the big day.
This is a resource to give you some ideas and common practices for what to do after your wedding photos are delivered.
Viewing Your Photos
The first and most obvious thing for you to do with your photos is look at them! Most likely, your wedding photographer is going to provide you with a link to an online gallery. If you chose us for your wedding photography/videography, there is so much you can do with your online gallery.
Here you can view your photos either one at a time or through a slideshow format. You will also be able to view your wedding film in the SAME gallery, so you don’t need to leave to some other website.
After experiencing the magic of your wedding day through your photos and film, there are a couple of other things you can do from within your gallery.
Sharing with Loved Ones Online
You are probably not the only ones anxiously awaiting your wedding photos. If you have close family and friends, they’re probably going to want to see them too! Go ahead and show them off. There are a few ways you can do this.
First, you can download and share on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, etc. We make this easy by giving you two options for downloading: print-sized and web-sized. If you’re sharing online, make sure to choose the web-sized option so that the photos look their BEST when uploaded to these sites.
If you’re comfortable with giving a few people access to all of the images, you can provide them with a link to your gallery as well. People can choose to create a login so they can save favorites and keep track of any orders they make.
If there are certain photos you don’t want them to see, don’t worry; there is an option to hide images from outside viewers.
Another cute way to share your images with loved ones is by gifting them a print or a small album. Lots of possibilities when it comes to sharing your wedding photos.
Downloading and Storage
Storing your photos is one of the most vital things you can do when it comes to your wedding photos. You can download your photos easily from your online gallery, either one at a time or the entire gallery at once. To ensure these amazing memories are safeguarded for years to come, it's crucial to have multiple copies stored securely.
Typically, this would involve having your photos on your computer or phone and AT LEAST three backups: two physical and one digital. By physical I mean on a hard drive. 1TB of storage should be plenty if you’re only storing your wedding photos/film on them. Here are a few I use myself, and I haven’t had one fail on me yet:
If you have two physical hard drives for storing your photos/film, one can be in your home so you can access them at any time, and one should be off-site, just in case something bad happens (in the case of natural disasters, fires, etc.)
On the digital side of things, it’s not a bad idea to have your photos stored in some sort of cloud backup. There are a number of services you can use for this, and these ones either have a free option or are reasonably priced. Here are a few options: Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon Photos, Google Photos, and iCloud.
Creating/Purchasing an Album
While digital viewing is convenient, there's something timeless and special about flipping through a beautifully crafted wedding album. I always tell my couples, “You don’t want your photos getting lost in a digital void.”
Invest in the importance of preserving your memories in a tangible form by creating or purchasing an album. Hopefully your wedding photographer has a convenient system where you can purchase an album directly from your gallery.
However, if they don’t, you can always download your photos and create an album of your own. Keep in mind, if you purchase outside of your photographer’s gallery/recommendations, the quality of your album cannot be guaranteed.
For CM Photography couples, you can conveniently build and order your album through your online gallery, and if you took advantage of our $100 off pre-purchase offer, I’ll take the weight off your shoulders and design the layout myself.
Hang Artwork in Your Home
Your wedding photos are not just meant to be stored away digitally; they deserve to be showcased as stunning artwork in your home. With full printing rights, you have the freedom to print and display your photos wherever you desire. Let them adorn your walls as a constant reminder of the love and joy shared on your special day.
If you want to cut out the middle man, you can purchase the prints directly through your gallery as well. I have tested and vetted the companies used through this method, and it’s the only way I can guarantee the quality of the products ordered. However, it is definitely not required to purchase directly from me.
When sharing your gallery with others, your visitors can view photos and even purchase prints or albums directly from the gallery.
Your wedding photos are more than just images; they're cherished memories that deserve to be preserved and celebrated for generations. From viewing and sharing to storing and showcasing, these are just a few things you should do when it comes to your wedding photos.
Your wedding day may be over, but the magic of your love story lives on through your captured moments. Let's embark on this journey of preserving and cherishing your wedding memories together, creating a timeless legacy to be treasured for generations.
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