I dreamed last night that I was getting married. But on my wedding day, my mother-in-law had chosen my wedding gown….and it was…well, terrible to be frank. <—I can be laid back about some things, but apparantely, that was not one of them. So, 1.5 hrs before the ceremony, I found myself scrambling in a wedding dress boutique for the “perfect dress” that I had dreamed of.
This dream is completely random….yet, somehow fitting for today’s post! lol…
There are days that a bride waits her entire life for…..her bridal session being one of them. This is a day where she can allow herself to feel beautiful. A bride during her bridal session is given permission to do her hair and makeup and slip on the most beautiful gown she’s ever worn.
Preparing for such a big event can sometimes be stressful so my hope is that this list will relieve a bit of that….
Β THE PURPOSE:Β Shooting a bridal session is typically more common in the South. And there are many reasons why a bride will book a bridal shoot. Some of those reasons are to have images for their parents or the groom (ie: a shot for the groom’s cake) or to have a large print/canvas to display at the reception. In the process, however, the bride also has the opportunity to try on her gown, shoes, and accessories and move in them for a few hours. It is trial run for hair and makeup prior to the wedding day….and a chance to see a sample bouquet. I have found the bridal sessions to be ESPECIALLY purposeful for these reasons, and it gives the bride a chance (in addition to the engagement session) to better know her photographer.
THINGS TO BRING:
- An Extra Pair of Shoes:Β These shoes should be close to the same height as the bride’s wedding shoes and will be used to walk around in…so that she won’t ruin her beautiful shoes before the wedding day. π
- Wedding shoes, veil and/or hair pieces, bouquet, jewelry, rings: This isΒ anything else thats important for the bride to have photographed.
- Powder,Β lip gloss, and hair spray:Β ESPECIALLY in South Louisiana, the heat can be intense…so having a few itemsΒ on hand for touch-ups throughout the session can be helpful. π
- Someone who makes you feel confident and comfortable! Β Posing for a bridal session can be a nerve racking thing, so having someone there that makes a bride feel fabulous is a must. π π π Then, that person and your photographer will be there working to achieve the emotion that’s desired. Also, it’s nice to have a hand when moving in your dress, carrying things, etc.
HAIR/MAKEUP:
- Professional Hair/Makeup: This makes for stunning results on a photoshoot…leaving your skin stunning and your hair flawless! I know that the typical bride wants her makeup/hair to look like her everyday wear. But in reality, this is not just “any day” and I believe that bumping up these details render better images.
SESSION:
- Every photographer has different guidelines; however, I do encourage brides to consider asking those who come with them for the shoot to refrain from photographing during the session. You hired your photographer for a reason…and it’s important to allow them to do the best they can without distraction in order to achieve the best images. There are so many other ways friends and family can help…and just ENJOY being there! π
- Some locations do have restrictions regarding how many people you can bring along for the session; check with your venue!
- Ask your photographer if they’ll be bringing along something to sit/lay on to protect your gown. If not, plan to bring a plastic or fabric sheet.
- The most common way for the dress to get dirty is getting in and out of a vehicle, so be careful if you’re driving to alternate locations.
- Be sure to show up on time for the shoot, as your photographer has most likely chosen the start time due to available light.
- Bridal sessions can last anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours; so be prepared to be beautiful.Β π Bringing water isn’t a bad idea!
- If you have any specific ideas, communicate them with your photographer ahead of time. Pinterest has become an especially popular means of searching for photos and concepts. If your photographer is open to this, send them his/her way prior to the day of the shoot.
- HAVE FUN!!!! You won’t have your groom for this shoot to lean on, so practice your expressions and pump up your ego if you have to! Being confident really comes through in the photograph.
