Pre bridal shoot?
The pre bridal shoot refers to the photography session where the bride is being photographed while getting ready for the wedding ceremony. This is a very busy and often chaotic time where the bride and the bridesmaids are getting dressed, makeup is being applied and hair dressed - often all at the same time!
I suggest a few very simple guidelines to ensure a successful pre bridal shoot.
What Every Bride Should Know
A professional photographer will make you look good. Relax. Usually the photographer will capture the following images:
- Before, during and after make-up;
- The accessories, jewellery and dresses;
- The tying of the dress;
- The slipping on of the garter;
- The fastening of the shoes;
- Applying of perfume and putting on jewellery, and;
- The putting on of the veil.
If you want to add to this list, be sure to arrange it beforehand - it is easy to forget such detail at this busy time.
It often makes for memorable shots if the bride asks a close family member, like her mother, to assist with jewellery.
It is much easier for the bride to relax and for the photographer to be effective if only those people who are really needed at that time are present at the pre bridal preparations.
What Every Photographer Should Know
There is a lot to photograph - keep focused! The most important subject is the bride.
Without disregarding the first rule above: The best way to capture all that is going on is to take a journalistic approach and to capture as much as possible of everything that is happening. This will be a 'behind the scenes' look for the groom, since the groom never get to see all of this.
Try not to be in the way, without moving too far away from the action. You will find that the gap you leave will be filled with a sea of clicking cell phones and zooming handy cams. You need to always occupy the best photographic position, while being courteous and professional about it - after all, you are getting paid to provide the best possible account of this day!
Use the time that the bride is still doing make-up to shoot all the accessories. You will need to photograph the dress and shoes before she puts it on.Also shoot the bouquets, perfume, garter and jewellery. These make for nice still shots.
As a male photographer you might be asked to leave once the bride starts to put on her dress. Once it is on, it is normally ok to go back into the room.
Take shots of the dress being tied at the back. Don’t be afraid to ask people to move out of the way, remember that you are being paid by the couple to capture all that is happening and that they rely on you to do just that.
Using flash can be very distracting for the people around you. It also makes everybody in the room very aware of you presence. Rather use good low light lenses, try shooting at a higher ISO, like 1600, and make use of ambient light.
From Image Revolution
