Photography and bridal preparations
Taking photos of the bride as she prepares for the wedding is a time-honoured tradition. Here's everything you need to remember for your big day.
Getting ready – stepping into your gown, having your mum, sister and/or bridesmaids helping with the final touches of hair and make up can be a whole event in itself.
A good photographer will normally spend about an hour with the bride and her ‘girls’, capturing photographs of the flowers, rings, shoes, dress and of course, the bride getting dressed. It’s an ideal time to capture images of excitement, hope, fun and happiness.
The time spent getting ready is generally experienced amongst a huge range of emotions, from happiness to panic to fear! The tone of the day is often set by the bride, who can be anything from calm and fearless to petrified.
Your photographer should be practised in capturing you and your bridesmaids talking and laughing together and be able to take shots that highlight the love and emotion from your special time together.
Most brides have a wonderful time being treated like a princess, although occasionally I come across someone who is totally out of control and overwhelmed. I’ve found myself doing up dresses, fixing hair, drying flowers, pouring drinks and rescuing disasters! But…it’s part of my job and I love it.
Often your wedding day will be centred around ‘the dress’. It’s nice for your photographer to get some photos of it hanging before the bride puts it on, including close ups of any special detail such as lacework or buttons.
As your bridesmaids help you dress, it’s another chance to capture some beautiful candid shots. A photographer can also use the time before the ceremony to take some portrait pictures of the bride. These can be done anywhere, and the worry about having a ‘nice’ house or gardens is unnecessary. A good wedding photographer will scout your location and find some nice light to capture these photos, usually in front of a window.
If time permits, it’s also a lovely touch to photograph the bridal party separately, as it’s nice to have some portrait shots of them too. The final moments before you head for your bridal car or out to the ceremony are special ones, and this is often a time to capture images of the bride and her dad. The nervousness most brides feel is an excited one, and the looks of anticipation and happiness are one in a million. It’s important to have people around you at this stage who can help you feel calm and ‘ready to face the world’ as a princess.
When you book your wedding phootographer, think about the memories you’d like to capture -the little moments most other people miss because they aren’t with you. It will help to round off a perfect day and allow you to share every minute with your new husband and family.
Organise your wedding photography now.
About Author Kellie Tweeddale
Kellie has a Bachelor of Education and many years experience in teaching, acting, customer service and of course photography. With a love of weddings and a few photography courses later, Kellie was encouraged to begin her own business – KT Pearl Photography, which she operates mainly on weekends, allowing her to spend time with her beautiful little boy Benjamin during the week.
Kellie prides herself on her friendly manner, ability to relate to people of all backgrounds and ages, and the way in which every wedding she captures is special and unique. An Australian Bridal Industry Award Finalist in 2010, Kellie takes beautiful, natural photographs that you will love looking at long after your big day has passed.