Like photographers anywhere who are close to the Atlantic coast, the wedding photography crowd in New Jersey is something special. They take advantage of the natural coastal beauty to enhance and highlight your wedding photos. Even inland, New Jersey's landscape can be pastoral and evocative. The Delaware River and wooded areas of the state, particularly the NJ State Park System, offer even more possibilities. Whether you are planning a wedding story photo album, an artistic photo set or a simple collection for gifting to family and friends as a keepsake, New Jersey, from Pine Barrens to Down the Shore weddings, is a great place to be photographed, and will only serve to enhance your beautiful wedding day look.

Questions to Ask Your NJ Photographer

Classic wedding photos are most often shot at sunrise or or sunset, when the light is long and warm and the shadows dramatic. However, late afternoon and late morning are also fine times for photos, and even noonday weddings can be shot with great effect by an experienced photographer. When interviewing your wedding photographer, ask to see photos of the time of day you will be married.

You want to be comfortable with your wedding photographer. This is someone who will be photographing some pretty intimate moments. It's important to meet them in person. Ask them about how the work, where they draw ideas from, and how they will work with your wedding day plans. You will get a feeling of confidence and competence after talking with a good wedding photo pro.

Important Note: It's ok to hire a family member, but it's not such a good idea to hire an inexperienced family member. They should have sample photos or a portfolio you can see, just like any other serious photographer, amateur or professional. Even if the photography is done as a free favor, photos are important keepsakes, and could lead to feelings of resentment if the set doesn't turn out as you'd hoped it would. Be sure your friend's or family member's photos are up to your highest standards, or kindly decline their offer by explaining that you would simply rather have them as a guest enjoying your special day with you.

Think about shots such as:

• Bare feet touching in the water.
• You in his arms, him knee deep in the waves.
• Your footsteps from walking down the beach together, with you in the distance.
• Staring into one another's eyes, as on the altar or during reciting your vows.
• Lighting of a unity candle: the warm glow of the candle makes for an intimate mood, particularly around dusk.
• Dancing in the waves or on the beach.
• Genuine shots of your heads together: nose to nose, forehead to forehead, grinning.
• You in the the most striking light in your church or reception site, typically an alcove or stained glass window.

If you're planning a New Jersey wedding, it's a good idea to ask your photographer how they handle the elements of the location. You don't want grains of sand on the lens of the camera when your shots come back, and they should have proper equipment to be able to take any photo you want -- even an underwater shot!

Summer Beach Wedding Photo Ideas

The summers are sweet and long on the Jersey Shore. From Long Branch on "down the shore", the sands are wide and soft, ideal for couture photo collections and traditional ceremony sets alike. In places like Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights, you have the addition of bayside photo options, which will protect your dress and accessories by taking you to a place where the breeze and salt are not so strong. Remember that June and September are busy months for Jersey weddings, and to book your photographer early in your planning process if possible.

Fall New Jersey Wedding Photos Inspiration

The autumn colors in New Jersey, as they say, aren't bad. The forests of New Jersey are mostly oak, maple and evergreen, which makes for some lovely spots such as the Delaware Water Gap. Across the Garden State, the leaves of the red oak, New Jersey's state tree, mix with the golds and deeper crimsons of maple, all set against the backdrop of rolling green hills in the interior areas of the state. The state's many parks, overlooks, sculpture gardens and (as in any season) the Jersey Shore are all picturesque spots for some striking fall photos.

Winter NJ Photos Ideas

Your best bets for winter New Jersey photos are the shore, an occasional snow fall or your indoor ceremony location. The breaking waves of Jersey beaches are beautiful in any season, but be prepared to be cold between November and April. The dazzling white of a snow storm can make for wonderful photos, but is somewhat unreliable, and may require a special contract with your photographer. Overall, photos of your ceremony and reception will prove to be more reliable, as these are likely scheduled for indoor locations -- many churches have light-filled alcoves, and pictures of the flower girl, ring bearer, wedding party, the two of you cutting the cake, sharing your first married kiss and dancing your first dance as a couple are classics in a nice church or temple setting.

Spring NJ Bridal Photo Ideas

In spring, look to the colors purple, lavender and white for a beautiful composition with the greening of the countryside or the vibrant colors of an ocean sunset. The state flower, the meadow violet, is a great addition to bouquets and corsages at this time of year, or can be replicated with other combinations of white and purple flowers.