I definitely get it! Most people have this pre-conceived notion of what portrait painting looks like. It more than likely involves the classic comedy sketch of a gorgeous, semi-nude model draped over a desk holding a bowl of plastic fruit as nervous first-year art school students struggle to navigate live sketching certain…parts. And so, you bet, right alongside “What is live wedding painting,” this is the question I get asked the most:

“Do I have to stand still during my wedding while you paint us?”

The answer?

NO! Nope, nopety, nopers, naddah.

As a live wedding painter, I’m physically at the wedding to be as discrete as possible. Sure, you can have me working in a spot where guests may be able to swing by and watch, but I would never interrupt you and your big day to make you pose for me!

How then do I manage to capture everything I’m supposed to, you may ask.

My little secret? My good ole camera phone (or, sometimes, my assistant’s camera)! Sure, I’ll be working as fast and as accurately as possible for the few hours I’m live painting at your wedding. But, when the night is over, and it’s time to take the painting back to my studio, those sneaky reference photos I captured will be a huge help. They’re the reason you’ll never have to interrupt any part of your wedding for me!

Also, this is why our pre-wedding phone chat is so important! Touching base with you before the big day to learn about which moment(s) you would love for me to paint helps me to hyper focus on the people, poses, and feelings that will make it onto my canvas.

So, keep on dancing. Keep on tossing that bouquet (if you want…). Keep on devouring that amazing pasta. Just promise me you’ll keep on enjoying yourself? I’ll be over here doing my thing, producing the best possible keepsake live wedding painting for you to treasure forever!

Sounds amazing, right?! If you’re ready for your own live wedding painting experience, hop on over to my page here to learn more! If you’re already sure you can’t live without it, send me a message!