Your Bridal Portrait Session

Thanks to social media and Pinterest, a lot of brides are now aware of an amazing photography opportunity called the bridal portrait session.

Definition: It is a portrait session where one of the fiancé’s (or both) get to try on their wedding outfit in advance of the actual wedding. this is known as the bridal portrait session.

Quick disclaimer: this blog is the opinion of our studio based on what we have told our clients, what we have heard from them, as well as our observations. The term “bride” refers to somebody getting married, usually a female, but a bridal portrait session can be for any gender.

You may or may not know, in the 80’s and 90’s, the bridal portrait session was originally done after the bride had all her dress alterations done. This was the perfect chance for her to try on her gown, as well as what she was planning with her hair and makeup. It was almost always done in the studio – with the finished portrait having he bride looking over her shoulder with a fake bouquet and her train displayed out behind her. A 16x24 canvas print would be made and would usually be in the reception by the table cards.

Thank God times have changed!

Now when a couple reserves their date with us, we schedule a bridal session that is anything but boring or ordinary. Ideally, we want to choose somewhere that is along the theme of their upcoming wedding, but it doesn't have to be.

With that in mind, there are some things that you should expect when you reserve your Bridal portrait session with us.

Decide on the theme of your Bridal portrait session. Studio or outside (lifestyle) Usually this goes along with the style of your wedding, ways to show your personality, or complete opposite to what your actual wedding will be. For example, some brides who are getting married at the beach may want to do the bridal portrait session in the city.
Next, decide on which location, with your photographer. Your photographer can give you some suggestions based on your theme. Is it going to be in a park, downtown, on the beach, or even in your parents’ house. Keep in mind, you probably don't want to go to extreme with your location. (Let's try to keep your dress clean before the wedding.)
Once you've decided on the location, theme, and obviously the date of the session, we need to let your florist and your hair & makeup artists know.
Ask your florist if they can give you a practice bouquet. This is the perfect time to try out a larger bouquet to see if you can handle the weight; or if you just want something that's identical to the day so that your photos have a uniform look to them. Also, the complete opposite is true: have your florist do something extreme like all white, or all hot pink! There are no limits.
The same with your hairstyle and your makeup team. Consult with your beauty team and just remember to bring your veil and any headpieces, crowns, or hair jewelry. And of course, just like everything else, you can also choose to have your hair natural, with no veil and no hair pieces. Again, there are no limits!
Focusing on your bridal outfit, this is also the perfect opportunity for you to break in your actual wedding shoes. You'll know after 2 hours into your photography, whether or not these shoes are going to give you blisters during your ceremony or reception. For brides that have a second pair of shoes, you can also switch them out halfway through the session, so that both shoes get equal time.
Also with your bridal portrait session, you should have the opportunity to change. Our brides like to start their vital portrait session like to start their photography in their first gown that they are going to wear to their ceremony. Then they change into their reception dancing dress, or even their getaway outfit because it's extremely unique. The choice is completely up to you: you can choose one gown, or all three (if time allows).
As you plan for your portrait session, the number of gowns and shoes you're going to bring, think about your undergarments. This is the chance to try everything on, so that you know if you need something tighter or looser for your actual wedding day. I've had brides tell me that they didn't need shapewear after all, because they're gown had some pieces built into it. Having the bridal portrait session and wearing the gown for 2 hours will let you know if you need extra shape wear or not.
As you pack your bag for your photography location, keep in mind you may need a few extra thing: a stain remover stick, baby wipes for your hands, tissues or blotting paper for your makeup, water spray or setting spray, a handheld fan, bobby pins safety pins, and Band-Aids or tape for your toes. This is just for the portrait session – but a lot of our brides have told me that this was almost the same bag that they used for their ceremony. (Good thing they had everything they needed from the start.)
Don't worry too much about posing. our studio team will be there to fluff your dress, fix your veil, adjust your head face, and guide you through a series of classic portraiture before letting you cut loose and express yourself in your entire outfit!
If somebody came with you, like a mother or friend or Maid of honor, they can also help out with fixing your dress and adjusting your veil. They're more than welcome!
Rethink bringing your pets to this session. Social media is guilty of making you think that you will get photos of you smiling holding a small white dog in a duplicate dress. But the reality is: if your dog has anxiety or isn’t very calm, your photos will reflect that chaos, and your pet may accidentally tear your gown or veil. If you absolutely have to have your pet(s) at this session, you will need to bring a handler or separate friend or family member. Your photography team will not be able to pet sit.
If you do bring your pet, all photos with them will be reserved for the last 15 minutes of the session, to help you plan their pet sitter.
Rethink bringing your young children to this session. Your wedding day will be filled with many opportunities to get portraits of you and your young children [while you are all dressed beautifully]. But your bridal portrait session should only concentrate on you.
If you do bring your young children, all photos with them will be done in the last 15 minutes of the session, to help you plan with their caregiver.
If you absolutely have to have your young children at this session, you will need to bring a separate caregiver, friend or family member. Your photography team will not be able to babysit or watch them.
Half an hour into your FIRST LOCATION, we will show you some of the best images. usually when the brightest happy, we can move on to a second location, or adjustments to the first dress. for example, removing the veil, shooting without the flowers, etc.
Once we've decided there's a second gown, or a different location, or a completely different look we keep going until we get the perfect shot! You'll know when you get the perfect shot - you will just feel it - and your photographers will be super excited to show you!
When your portrait session is finished, we take a few days to thoughtfully edit all of your images. Of course, deleting any blinks or blurs. Then you will receive a preview gallery of your best 25 - 100 images. These will only be light balanced, cropped if needed, and color corrected. They do not have any enhancements.
You will be guided on how to pick your favorites - and we ask that you narrow it down to your top 10.
After you have marked your favorites, we take those images and we soften any edges on your facial features like fine lines, a little contouring where needed, any blemishes, or baby hairs: anything that doesn't make your finished image look perfect. We like an airbrushed look, but without any distortion that is done on social media filters type filters. Instead, what you get is you looking your absolute best!
So, what happens to your other images? You will get them in a gallery as well. The images are still really pretty and are perfect for social media and for printing or as gifts.
However, your top 10 are in a separate gallery. From there you will be able to pick your final printed images for any canvas prints for your reception, or for gifts.
All of the photos from your Bridal portrait session, including the beautifully edited ones, will be added to your wedding photography gallery. This way you can share them with all of your friends and family after your wedding date, and they can be included and your wedding album should you choose any.
Finally, all printed canvases are hand wrapped on a thin pine frame and coated with a UV protectant spray it also minimizes fingerprints. We can bring your absolute favorite to your bridal shower, your rehearsal, or to the reception.

For our LGBT Couples: If you are an LGBT couple, with two brides or two grooms, each person can have a separate session (to keep each outfit a surprise until the wedding day); or you can choose to have one session together. Reach out to us with your requests.