Tips for The Bride – Part 3: Bride Preparations

ByCRK PhotographyPosted onLeave a comment on Tips for The Bride – Part 3: Bride Preparations
Wedding Photograph of bride getting ready

In Part 2 we discussed the importance of a photo session before the wedding, and the different scenarios to rehearse for those perfect wedding photos.  This week and in the weeks to follow, we will continue to have an in-depth look at each stage, as I share my experience as wedding photographer.

To recap here is the list of the different stages we will address in wedding photography:

Before the Wedding. * Bride Preparations. * Groom Preparations. * The Ceremony. * The Formal photos. * The Romantic Photos. * The Reception.

Bride Preparations

Often the family and bride’s friends don’t realize how intense this time is for the bride. After all, all she has to do is wake up in a good mood, get her hair and makeup done, put her dress on and pitch up at church for the wedding, all the other activities are pre-arranged. What is so difficult about that?

Wedding Photograph of bride before wedding

The bride wants everything to be just perfect.
Unless you are a seasoned actor with years of experience in front of live cameras, the ‘paparazzi’ feeling can be very intimidating. The experienced wedding photographer will pick up on this and do his best to be as un-invasive as possible, but even more important, it is paramount that he reassure the bride and everyone, there is nothing to worry about.

Another reason why Uncle Joe with his big camera from the local camera club, isn’t always the best wedding photographer, he may not understand the bride ‘stress’ before the wedding, after all he knows her well… just like the family and friends, Uncle Joe don’t fully understand the feelings of the bride’s unusual exposure and to be followed by the paparazzi.     

#TipForThePhotographer
Assess the lighting conditions, arranger for the best positions without making a fuss, it is so easy to add stress by been invasive.

#TipForTheBride
Trust your photographer when he wants to arrange furniture, open or even close curtains etc. He is setting the ‘mood’ for those timeless bride photos.

#TipForTheBride
Allow 30 to 60 minutes for a special pre-wedding shoot with everyone present at the getting dress stage.

The list of photos to consider

(Each heading below could become a mini photoshoot)
Wedding Photograph of bride and friends
  1. Champagne or sparkling wine with friends.
    Before the makeup and hair is done, with your bridesmaid and friends, having a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. It sets the mood for a relaxed day. Even if these photos don’t make it to your wedding album, it still adds to the joyful experience, it is a good keepsake for you to look back too in 10, 20, or even 50 years later.

  2. Bride in dressing gown.
  3. Bride with her assistance in dressing gowns.
  4. Just the feet – with slippers.
  5. Hair and makeup.
    Include a few close-up photos when the hair and makeup are done.

  6. Jewellery and accessories.
    Don’t miss the photos of your unique jewellery or accessories in the hair, a crown or with the Indian bride the maang tikka.
picture of bride with Maang Tikka, the Haath Phool or Hand Bracelet, choker necklaces, Nath, Kamarband

Talking of the traditional Indian weddings what is more glamorous to take photos of, than the adornment of jewellery, items like Maang Tikka, the Haath Phool or Hand Bracelet, choker necklaces, Nath, Kamarband, also known as belly chain, the anklet, and even the toe rings, all items not to be overlooked when it comes to the close-up Jewellery photography.      

  1. Personal Items – close-up’s.
    Other items that can be included in the list of close-up photos, the perfume, the garter, the shoes, bouquet and flowers, and other personal items that are meaningful, and specific to the wedding.

     

  2. Close-up of rings.
  3. Wedding Dress hanging up.
    The wedding dress and other garment that you may wear in the course of the wedding ceremony. Here I think specific of the traditional African and other culture garments worn during the wedding – sometimes the bride may have a different garment for when they depart from the wedding party.

#TipForTheBride,

Show your photographer the details of importance on the garments, so that he can take extra care to assure these details are recorded  

Wedding Photograph of brides shoes
  1. Boudoir photography.
    Some brides may want a quick shoot in sexy underwear for her and her husband’s romantic or private enjoyment. This is usually done with very soft and ‘moody’ lighting, which can take time to set up. It may be best to consider a boudoir photo shoot as a separate session to be done a few days before, discuss this with your photographer.

  2. The bride putting on her dress and shoes. (last moments fix).
  3. Assistances helping to lace up the back of the dress.
  4. Bride putting on the garter.
  5. Bride with veil over face
  6. Bride spraying on perfume.

#TipForThePhotographer.
Backlighting this photo, the spray is most prominent when lit from behind and against a dark background, close-up photography works best.

  1. Formal Bride in Dress.
  2. Formal Bride in Dress Standing.
  3. Formal Bride in Dress Sitting on a chair.
  4. Bride dress from the back.

#TipForTheBride,

Find a venue with big windows and not too direct sunlight at the time when you are getting dressed, for the formal photos. Natural light from the side makes for excellent portraiture and full-length photos, if handled correctly it will show all the details of your dress and skin tone, compared with on camera flash that may blow out all the details.  

Photograph of bride dress and flower girl
  1. Bride with reflection in the mirror.
  2. Bride holding flowers behind her back.
  3. Mom and Bride.
  4. Dad and Bride.

#TipForTheBride,

Make a Grand Entrance!
Get someone to position Dad around the corner or at the bottom of the stairs when you meet dad all dressed-up for the first time.

Make sure your photographer is ready to capture Dad’s face when he sees you. This is moments you will appreciate for years when you relook at you wedding photos or video. You will be glad you took the time to setup for the ‘grand entrance’.  

  1. The bride pinning a boutonniere on her dad.
  2. The bride putting a corsage on her mom.
  3. Photos with other family members and your close friends, who share the experience of getting ready with you.
  4. Dad whispering last-minute advice
  5. Mom whispering last-minute advice
  6. Bridesmaid whispering last-minute advice
  7. Bridesmaid and assistance looking at bride’s ring.
    Bridesmaid and assistance photos can be taken at the wedding reception as part of the family and bridle party photos. I will discuss this in more detail in a future blog.

  8. Bride taking the flower baskets to the flower girls.
  9. Bride talking to flower girls.
  10. Photos with the wedding car.
  11. Praying photos
    Sometimes Dads’ want to do a special blessing for his daughter before they depart to the wedding ceremony

  12. The bride & groom exchange letters or praying without seeing each other standing around the corner.
  13. Dad holding the door for you getting in the car
  14. Departure to the wedding ceremony.

I am sure this list is by no means exhausted and you could have moments specific to your wedding to include in to your list.

I can’t wait to share the hidden secrets of what the boys get up to, in the next blog. We will look at photos to consider for the Groom preparations.

And “No” to the brides, this is by no means boring photos. Boys can have fun too…

Summary of 37 photos for the Bride preparation.

  1. Champagne or sparkling wine with friends
  2. Bride in dressing gown
  3. Bride with her assistance in dressing gown
  4. Just the feet with slippers
  5. Close-ups of hair and makeup
  6. Jewellery or accessories
  7. Personal Items close-up’s
  8. Close-up of rings
  9. Wedding Dress hanging up
  10. Boudoir photography
  11. The bride putting on her dress
  12. Assistances helping to lace up the back of the dress
  13. Bride putting on the garter
  14. Bride with veil over face
  15. Bride putting on perfume
  16. Formal Bride in Dress
  17. Formal Bride in Dress Standing
  18. Formal Bride in Dress Sitting on a chair
  19. The back of the dress
  20. Bride with reflection in the mirror
  21. Bride holding flowers behind her back.
  22. Mom and Bride
  23. Dad and Bride
  24. The bride pinning a boutonniere on her dad
  25. The bride putting a corsage on her mom
  26. Photos with other family members and close friends, who share the experience of getting ready with you.
  27. Dad whispering last-minute advice
  28. Mom whispering last-minute advice
  29. Bridesmaid whispering last-minute advice
  30. Bridesmaid and assistance looking at bride’s ring.
  31. Bride taking flowers to the flower girls
  32. Bride talking to flower girls
  33. Photos with the wedding car
  34. Praying photos
  35. The bride & groom exchange letters or praying without seeing each other standing around the corner.
  36. Dad holding the door for you getting in the car
  37. Departure to the wedding ceremony
Wedding Photograph of couple praying round the corner

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