Get the Most Out of Your Getting Ready Wedding Photos
As your wedding photographer, I want to help you remember EVERY amazing detail of your wedding day and all the magical moments in between. One of the sweetest parts of your wedding story will be the hours leading up to walking down the aisle, getting ready (and hyped up) with the most important women in your life.
Before your dreamboat swept you off your feet, it was just you and your girls. Let me tell you, getting ready to walk down the aisle surrounded by your besties is full of ALL THE FEELS and I want to capture those moments beautifully for you!
By Incorporating these simple getting ready wedding photo tips, you’ll get the most out of your getting ready bridal photos.
Keep Clutter To A Minimum.
I may get an eye roll for this one when you see me rolling into your wedding day like a pack mule with my photography gear, but trust me...this one is A MUST. And I get it. We need all of the things to help us get ready, but keeping clutter to a minimum will make for less distractions in your photos. I suggest that you designate one area of the bridal room for bag drop off, and label it as such with a simple paper sign. You can also put one of your bridesmaids in charge of tidying the room as needed while everyone gets ready. If you’re getting ready at the ceremony or reception venue, ask the coordinator if they can place a few extra large trash bags inside the room. Fill with cardboard shoe boxes and discarded packaging and then set outside the bridal room door. This keeps trash out of your room and out of your photos!
2. Invest in Pretty Hangers with Swivel Hooks.
A beautiful hanging dress shot is one of the most important shots of your wedding album. I love finding a special spot that shows off both the beauty of your wedding dress and the wedding venue. There’s so much excitement wrapped up in a great dress shot! But ya know what can kill that great dress shot? Ugly hangers. Invest in sophisticated wood hangers with divots and a swivel hook for the bridal and bridesmaids dresses. These are also good to grab for the guys as well! You can also find fun wire hangers on ETSY specifically designed for getting ready bridal photos.
3. Specialty Ring Boxes.
Just like the dress shot, the ring shot is a crucial detail in your wedding day story. Nowadays, unfortunately, ring boxes can be utilitarian and just MEH. And MEH on your wedding day just won’t do! So we suggest you uplevel your ring box. Again, ETSY comes in hot for the win. You’ll find a variety of styles, shapes, colors and fabrics. Check out the velvet ring boxes! OMG! PRO TIP: Match your ring box color to your wedding theme colors so the box will look equally amazing in a shot with your stationary and a shot in the palm of your handsome groom’s hand.
4. Bridal Bouquet.
We love taking the bridal bouquet out for a spin on its own and combining it with other wedding day details, like the dress, shoes, rings and stationery. Make sure your florist delivers all bridal bouquets to the getting ready room with you by the time the photographer is scheduled to arrive. The boys’ boutonnieres should also be ready in the groom’s room for the groom’s getting ready photos. Pinning boutonnieres is a classic shot that’s always on my shot list, too.
5. What to have ready.
Having all (including yours and the grooms ring!) the details together ready and waiting for me saves me SO much time so that I can focus every minute on your beautiful details. Throwing everything in your shoe box is a great way to keep everything together. Typical items a bride gives me to photograph are all three rings, jewelry, hair pieces, the veil, bridal shoes, the invitation suite, borrowed and blue, and any other important elements you want to remember! Sometimes, depending on the theme and “look” of the wedding day, there may be some extra elements that you could include when you gather your details. Perhaps some spare florals, ribbon, jewelry trays, etc.
6. What To Wear.
So much of photography is about finding the right aesthetics (in the proper lighting) to fill the frame. In a photograph, too much distraction (not aesthetically pleasing) can pull our eye off the very thing we want the viewer to focus on. In getting ready bridal photos, mismatched clothing can be one of these distractions. For the very best bridal getting ready photos, invest in matching getting ready apparel for anyone getting ready in the bridal room. Silk embroidered robes are a fun touch, but it doesn’t have to be monotone or specifically designed for a wedding. Maybe it’s a floral patterned robe that you love or it could be as simple as everyone wearing a plain button down white shirt that some of your bridesmaids may already have in their closet. Whatever you choose, consistency is key.
GETTING READY WEDDING PHOTOS
In addition to the above getting ready wedding photo tips, make sure you also allot a large enough chunk of “getting ready” time on your wedding day timeline. And add in a hefty cushion for delays. It is crucial that you get a firm time commitment from your hair and make-up artist on how long it will take them to complete your entire bridal party’s hair and makeup. Going over on time here, will cut into your portraits. You can read more about creating a wedding day timeline HERE.
Great wedding photography is a combination of capturing spontaneous moments AND “setting the stage” for amazing photos. I ask that the bridal party and mother-of-the-bride are completely dressed before you, the bride, steps foot in your gown. Everyone will look amazing in the images of you putting on your dress, jewelry and shows. These moments are so special and again, we want the focus to be on you.
