BRIDAL PREPARATION
Discover how to capture the drama before the “I do’s”
For the photographer, the wedding day typically starts with bridal prep in the morning. While the other guests are getting dolled up and making their way to the wedding venue, you’ll be with the bride and her bridal party, capturing the nerves, the tears, and the excitement as she and her friends prepare for the busy day ahead.
Where the bride decides to get ready will vary. Sometimes it will be at the bride’s own house, or her parents’ house, a hotel room, or even at the venue itself. In any case, it’s your job to assess the location and identify the best sources of light. Most rooms will have harsh ceiling lights that cast unflattering shadows, so try and utilise the beautiful diffused light spilling in from the windows as much as you can. Usually the make-up artist and hair stylist will want to position the bride and bridal party next to a window so that they can see what they’re doing, so use this to your advantage and take plenty of snaps of their hair and make-up being applied.
If window light is scarce, a flashgun will solve the problem. Rather than aiming direct flash at everyone, try bouncing the light off the ceiling or walls to diffuse it.
You’ll also need to snap some shots of the dresses, flowers and accessories. If the room is a little manic (as it often is) and there’s an opportunity for you to take some of the accessories and flowers outside, then this is a good option. It means you will have an abundance of natural light, and you won’t have the added pressure of feeling like you’re getting in everyone’s way. It’s probably best that the dresses are photographed inside (venture outside with them only with the bride’s direct permission and at your own peril!). Find a nice spot that you can hang them from – curtain rails, the tester canopy of a four-poster bed, in front of an ornate wardrobe – ideally in a place with plenty of natural light. There are loads of potential spots if you know where to look.