So you found your dream BFF photographer, you had an amazing experience with her capturing your love, and she just sent over that MAGIC email saying, “YOUR PHOTOS ARE READY!!!!!”

You squeal at how amazing you both look while doing a quick skim and maybe even tear up because you just feel so. dang. FULL + thankful.

So now what?

If you’re anything like me, most times this is where I save a few to my phone, change my background photo, and probably share a few with family and friends. But there are 3 crucial steps you should be taking as SOON as you get your photos, and I’m here to lay them out for you!

1) DOWNLOAD AND BACK THEM UP

I can’t stress the importance of this enough! Technology is not always reliable, and having them backed up will ensure your memories are safe and sound. I recommend downloading your full gallery as high resolution to your computer, and IMMEDIATELY backing them up on another hard drive or pin drive.

The more backups (on different devices), the better. For my clients, your photos will stay in your gallery for a few months after, but doing this right away will get it taken care of so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with the deadline.

BONUS TIP

This one is a personal FAVVVVVE of mine! Once you have your photos saved and backed up:

schedule a date night with your honey to look at them

It can be as official as going out to dinner followed by a dessert as you browse them. OR keep it simple, grab some wine, and have a low key picnic. This allows for some intentional time for you two to connect and be excited together. No matter where you are in your journey of love, it’s special and worth celebrating!

 

 

2) PRINT THEM OUT

I’ve done it with my own photos, and see it time and time again. Our beautiful memories often stay untouched on our phones or media, when they could be printed and enjoyed daily.

PRINT THOSE BAD BOYS OUT!

Whether it’s having them put in a beautifully crafted album (which I offer btw:) that sits on your coffee table, hangin on your gallery wall, or simply on your fridge, print them. It’s likely that those memories are very precious to you, so why not reminisce and admire them daily?! This is a good way to have them easily accessible as you share them with your grandchildren many years from now.

You probably invested a good amount of money into having the experience and moments crafted for you. So don’t let them sit and go unremembered.

 

 

3) GIVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER FEEDBACK

There’s nothing I love more than creating intentional + meaningful memories for you and capturing your love right where it is now. As photographers, we pour our heart and soul into your lives. You mean so much DANG much to us, and we care SOO deeply about your story. More than anything, I want to impact and serve you in a very real and life changing way, so hearing back from you only fuels my passion for what I do, more.

I love getting to celebrate you! And sending a quick text, call, or review of how much the experience meant to you is sooo appreciated! Many times I hit that send button and am just as giddy waiting to hear back. 😉

Even though delivering your gallery is technically the last step in my process (besides staying connected and friends forever), I want the best experience for you that goes beyond what I can do. You invested into something that matters and you deserve to relive those memories and share them with generations to come.

I’d love to know what you guys choose to do for your gallery celebration together! =) Leave a comment below with what you did! <3

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GABBY WIGLEY IS AN ADVENTUROUS DESTINATION ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED OUT OF HAWAII.