your wedding photo guide
Now that you have your wedding gallery, you might be wondering about the best ways to preserve, display, and enjoy these images for years to come. This guide walks you through practical steps for backing up your digital files, creating meaningful keepsakes, and transforming your favorite photos into artwork for your home.
I've included recommendations based on my experience working with hundreds of couples, along with specific information about any additional products or services available to you. My goal is to help you get the most from your wedding photos, whether that's through albums, prints, or simply ensuring these memories remain accessible as technology changes over time.
backing up your images.
It’s important to protect your wedding photos - I recommend downloading your full gallery to your computer as soon as possible, then saving a copy to an external hard drive for safekeeping. Consider uploading them to a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud as an additional backup.
Some couples even keep a copy with family members for extra security. While I keep your online gallery active for a couple of years, having multiple personal backups ensures these images remain yours forever, regardless of what technology changes might come.
print recommendations.
While digital files are convenient, there's something undeniably special about physical prints you can hold, display, and pass down through generations. Your gallery includes a built-in print store with professional-quality options that I've personally vetted for color accuracy and longevity.
When printing your wedding photos, quality matters significantly. Drugstore chains like Walgreens or CVS may seem convenient and affordable, but their printing equipment often produces inaccurate colors and lower quality results that won't match what you see on your screen. The paper quality is typically inferior and may fade over time, which isn't what you want for your precious wedding memories.
For everyday prints, I recommend local print shops like SF Photo Works where the staff understands the importance of preserving your wedding photos with the same care that went into capturing them. For online ordering, I recommend using Bay Photo or Artifact Uprising. Both labs are known for excellent color accuracy, archival-quality papers, and beautiful presentation options.
When in doubt about sizing or print options, please reach out - I'm always happy to help you choose the perfect dimensions and finishes for your home. If you're planning to make larger prints and need a specific size or aspect ratio, I can also send you the image cropped to those exact dimensions to ensure the best possible result.
Creating Heirloom Albums & Keepsakes.
Your wedding day deserves to be showcased in a way that tells your complete story. While digital files are wonderful for sharing online, a professionally designed album becomes a family heirloom that you'll revisit on anniversaries and share with future generations.
If you decide to create a wedding album, the process is simple and collaborative: I have my clients select 80-100 favorite images that capture the full narrative of their celebration and then I design a custom layout that flows beautifully from beginning to end. You'll receive a digital proof to review, with the opportunity for revisions until everything is perfect. The finished album features archival-quality printing, lay-flat pages, and premium binding.
Many couples initially decide to wait on album creation and then reach out months or even years later when they realize how meaningful a physical keepsake would be.
There's no deadline - I keep your files archived and can create your album whenever you're ready. Beyond albums, there are countless ways to bring your photos into everyday life - parent albums make thoughtful gifts, framed prints for your home, and custom thank you cards show your appreciation to guests. If you're interested in exploring any of these options, just let me know!
sharing your photos.
The gallery sharing link makes it easy to send your images to everyone who wants to see them. When you post on social media, make sure to tag your vendors - this is a great way for other couples to find wedding vendors.
Take some time to think about which photos you want to share publicly versus the ones you might want to keep more private. I might share your images on social media or use on my website and if there are any images that you’d prefer to keep private, please let me know. Some of the most beautiful, intimate moments are sometimes worth keeping just between yourselves and close family - and I would be more than happy to honor that.
clients for life program.
Our journey together doesn't have to end here - you're now part of my Client for Life program! This means you'll receive 20% off all future photo sessions as my way of saying thank you for trusting me with your wedding day. Many couples book anniversary sessions to document how their love grows year after year.
Starting a family? Moving to a new home? Taking a special trip? I'd love to capture these next chapters too. The discount applies to all sessions - whether it's documenting your growing family, holiday portraits, or just-because shoots. Seeing your name pop up in my inbox always makes my day!
Thank you.
Creating your wedding photos was truly an honor. Your celebration was so special to witness - the way you two looked at each other, how your friends and family surrounded you with love, and all those genuine moments of joy throughout the day. These images capture not just how your wedding looked, but how it felt to be there.
I hope these photos bring you happiness for years to come as you look back on this beautiful beginning. Thank you for trusting me to document your day. I'd love to hear which photos become your favorites, and I hope our paths cross again as you create new chapters of your story together.