Hello there! We’re Josh+Brooke.

We began photographing together in the early stages of dating! Now, 6 years into marriage, we’ve grown into the perfect team to capture the love stories of others, to create cherished memories for families, and to document life’s milestones. Over the years we’ve learned some incredibly valuable lessons.

Here are the top 10 photography tips for brides to be on their wedding day:

1.) You pay for experience

We’ve all heard the saying “you get what you pay for.” It is especially true with the memories that you will look back on for the rest of your life. More experienced photographers will book up quickly, and are less willing to negotiate, BUT they can deliver beautiful work despite imperfect circumstances like dark lighting or rainy days. It’s helpful to remember this when booking someone new and less expensive, or if you’re considering using a family member or friend for free. Lack of experience could result in missed moments or poorly exposed photos.

Sometimes it is helpful to ask a photographer to view some of their work on a rainy day to help gauge their experience with different conditions.

2.) Hire Photography and Videography from the same company

Choosing a photo and video team who either is from the same company or that has worked closely together before is the better choice for many reasons including:

– shared accountability for the end product

– shared vision and style

– unified communication and positioning

– fewer contracts and communication avenues

– package discounts: A lot of times working with a company that offers both comes out cheaper than hiring separately.

3.) Intentionally craft your timeline

Be sure to schedule enough time for each section of the day. Most wedding days run a little bit behind schedule, so making sure that you have ample time for each part of the day is extremely important. This gives you the ability to fluctuate times as needed and overall creates a much more relaxed day. Be sure to consult your photographer for realistic time frames for each part of your day, and if you have a coordinator or director helping you formulate a timeline, make sure that they are consulting the photographer/videographer as well.

4.) Pay attention to the time of day

If you’ve researched photography for any amount of time you’ve probably come across the phrase “golden hour.” This is because certain parts of the day are better for lighting than others. Most people think that a bright sunny day is great for photos, but at the wrong time of the day the bright sunshine can create harsh shadows on the face, especially under the eyes. Paying attention to the time of day, and consulting with your photographer about the best times, will always equal better photos.

5.) Go easy on the posed shot lists

During your posed shot list, every guest is going to be thinking the same thing: “I hope this doesn’t take forever!” If it does take a while, the photographer usually gets blamed, even though they are just trying to capture all the things you said you wanted! When planning for posed pictures, less can be more. Only take the pictures you will hang in your home, probably with immediate family and grandparents, and otherwise be more aware of who you want to grab quick shots with in the moment. You will have so many opportunities throughout the day to grab the other people you love for a quick candid that will a lot of times turn out looking a lot more fun and authentic and will require less photo retouching than a rushed posed photo. Making candid moments a priority throughout the day will create more genuine moments versus staged memories.

6.) Don’t forget about reception candids

While we are talking about candids, it’s important to remember that your reception time is the perfect opportunity to grab a quick photo with your second cousin John, who didn’t make the posed shot list cut. You’ve invited so many people to your wedding, and you will see people there that you may not have had the time to add to your formal shot list, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grab a picture with them! The reception is the perfect opportunity. 

It’s also important to think about positioning yourselves for success to be captured as the life of the party. You don’t want the night to end and there be very little to no pictures of you actually dancing and enjoying your party! It’s great to catch up and talk to people, but be sure to pull them on to the dance floor with you so that you can have as many pictures with as many people as possible!

7.) Include a sneak away session

Make space for intimate memories. There are so many ways to make space on your wedding day for each other. I know you’re thinking, “Make space for each other? It’s OUR wedding day!” Yes, yes it is, but it will be a full day! Choosing to do a first look with just the two of you and your photo and video team or taking 15 minutes away from dancing at the reception to take some sunset photos can be some of the sweetest moments to remember. It is also a great way to invest in connecting with each other. Your wedding day will be full of time with everyone else, and it’s tough to stay focused on each other, so be sure to make some intentional time for just the two of you.

8.) Ask your guests to be present

It’s 2020, so at this point we’ve probably all seen wedding pictures full of people holding cameras and heard stories of guests getting in front of photographers. The reality is, you’ve likely spent thousands of dollars to have professional pictures of your wedding day, you don’t need a professional photo of the back of Aunt Karen’s head from where she jumped in the middle aisle to get a picture of your kiss with her iPhone 3. All jokes aside, you know the guests that you are inviting and if there are any who will be intrusive. Asking your guests to be present in the moment and let the professionals do their job will result in better memories captured and more authentic engagement with your guests.

9.) Minimize your locations

Every location you have takes time, and time is money. When planning your special day, maximizing time becomes vitally important, since most vendors and venues have 8-10 hour limits. Different locations take travel time, and if you are moving people from one place to the next, inevitably people will not all leave and show up together. Minimizing locations creates more time in your day, making it more relaxed, which can make all inclusive venues much more valuable.

10.) Treat your vendors well

You’re paying for a service. Your photographers, and all of your vendors, are there to do a job they are being paid to do. But most, if not all, really deeply care about your wedding day and making it as easy and enjoyable for you as possible. Thanking them, feeding them, and looking out for them with disruptive guests, will make the day much smoother and enjoyable for them too, and eliminating anxiety and obstacles for your vendors, will ultimately lead to better results from your vendors. You might even gain some new friends!

We Are One Photography is offering 10% off any photography package booked for remaining 2021 and 2022 dates when mentioning Charlotte Stories.

You can find out more about us or book your free shoot on our website here.

– all photos in this article were taken by We Are One Photo –

As businesses across the region continue to adjust to reopening, home sales across the 16-county Charlotte area show the region’s housing market in the early stages of recovery. According to data from the Charlotte Metro Region MLS, home sales in June were down only 1.8 percent compared to June 2019 with 4,938 properties sold. Closed sales compared to May 2020 increased 37.2 percent with 340 more transactions completed than the previous month.

Pending contract activity shows buyer interest and demand for homes in the region returning to pre-pandemic levels. Pending contracts rose significantly by 26.8 percent year-over-year with 6,174 properties going under contract in June. Contract activity compared to May 2020 was also positive and rose 4.2 percent.

Charlotte Metro Region MLS President John Kindbom said, “The large bump in pending contracts this past month compared to last year shows that buyer demand is healthy and was held back simply due to COVID-19. The last two months were certainly challenging, and there are still challenges ahead, but we can already see the market is improving and will likely be a key driver in our economic recovery.”

Prices rose during the month of June. The average list price ($366,537) rose 10.9 percent compared to last year but decreased 2.4 percent compared to May 2020. The median sales price ($284,900) and the average sales price ($333,938) rose 7.5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. The original list price to sales price ratio was at 97.6 percent, showing sellers are getting close to their asking prices.

New listing activity continues to lag and signals that seller confidence is recovering at a slower pace. Year-over-year new listings were down 8.5 percent with 5,365 new listings added to inventory during the month. Compared to May 2020, new listing activity rose 3.8 percent as sellers continue to adjust to virtual showings and opening their homes to buyers in the safest manner possible under current and changing conditions.

Kindbom added, “Realtors certainly understand the hesitancy many sellers have in listing a home during what seems to be the height of a pandemic, even though agents continue to use every precaution to ensure safe showings. However, with inventory at the lowest level recorded, there’s a lot of opportunity for sellers who are ready to list. In fact, new listings get increased visibility and are spending less time on market.”

Inventory across the 16-county Charlotte region, which was already at critically low levels, declined 46.7 percent year-over-year to 5,701 active listings at report time, which pushed months of supply to 1.3 months in June. This time last year the market had nearly three months of supply and 10,698 active listings.

Homes continue to sell briskly, which is another hallmark of a strong seller’s market.  Days on market, the metric that accrues for “Active” and “Under Contract-Show” statuses, averaged 38 days in June 2020 compared to 40 days in June 2019. The average number of days a property was on the market from the time it was listed until it closed (list to close) was 89 days.

The Charlotte Metro region’s MLS, which this report is based on, includes 12 counties in North Carolina and four counties in South Carolina.

Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina, is bustling with sports arenas, theaters, festivals, wildlife centers, concert venues, amusement parks, shopping malls, and many other places of interest. If you’re getting to know someone on a dating site, suggesting a romantic day out in this fabulous location will throw up so many possibilities the most difficult decision will be narrowing these down. Here are five of the most romantic places to invite someone special for the first date in Charlotte according to dating experts from this website.

Sushi classes in Essex

What better way to commence your first date than mouth-watering seafood washed down with a choice of fabulous cocktails? This is exactly what’s on offer at the Essex Bar and Bistro. With complimentary valet parking right outside the restaurant, this popular establishment also offers patrons the opportunity to learn how to prepare your own spicy tuna rolls. After mastering these culinary skills you can progress to making some cocktails under the expert tutelage of one of the Essex’s adept cocktail waiters.

Films and beers

Taking in the latest blockbuster movie has been a staple for romantically-inclined couples for a long time. In Charlotte, you can combine this activity with sampling the finest in locally-brewed craft beers. You and your partner can keep an eye out for the latest ‘Films on Tap’ announcements, and once you’ve booked your movie ticket, you’ll receive a complimentary flight of beer, handpicked by the brewers themselves, guaranteeing a feast for your taste buds while you enjoy the feature. These events are rotated but they are held regularly, so keep your eyes peeled.

Whitewater fun

The perfect venue for your first date in Charlotte is the US National Whitewater Center. This outdoor facility has so many activities on offer your only headache will be trying to cram everything into one day. You can choose from whitewater rafting, kayaking, ice skating, mountain biking, rock climbing, and so much more. Situated over a sprawling 1,300 acres next to the Catawba River, if you want something more sedate than all the aquatic activity you can take advantage of 72 kilometers of walking trails.

Hi-tech museum

North Carolina is famed for its stock car racing, and in Charlotte, you’ll find a whole museum dedicated to this white-knuckle pastime! The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Hall of Fame is well worth a visit during your date and is dedicated to showcasing the achievements of the sport’s many skilled drivers. Afterward, the Midwood Smokehouse is only a short distance away, and you can book a romantic table-for-two in the private dining area.

Tranquil gardens

If a high-tech museum doesn’t float your boat, any couple looking for romance on their first date can make the most of the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Spread over 380 acres of meadows, lakeside property and woodlands teeming with birdlife, there’s so much captivating scenery here. The most important advice to take on board would be ensuring there’s plenty of space in your camera.

There are beautifully manicured gardens, fountains sparkling in the sunlight, and a woodland trail through the majestic pine and deciduous trees. This verdant landscape was once the hunting and fishing ground of the Native American Cherokee and Catawba tribes and was later home to early settlers from Europe. You can practically feel the history oozing from the scenery, but there’s also ample evidence of more recent horticultural activity, with colorful blooms all around. There are many picnic spots where you and your partner can have a rest after taking in the scenic delights of this jewel in the crown of North Carolina’s awesome countryside.