Bridal portraits are typically taken a month or two before a bride’s wedding day. It allows the bride to do a run-through of her wedding day look, with hair, makeup, dress and any wedding day accessories such as jewelry and bouquet. In many cases a large portrait will be displayed during the reception or given as a gift on the wedding day to her groom, parents, or parents of the groom. It’s a great way for the bride-to-be to get some beautiful portraits of herself and also try out her wedding day look for an extended period of time. It’s not uncommon for brides to change one or two things after a bridal session – maybe the lipstick wore off too quickly, or the shoes weren’t the right height with the dress. Trying out the look in advance will give a bride time to make any necessary adjustments, and will help avoid discovering any problems on her wedding day.

BRIDAL PORTRAITS WITH MIETTE PHOTOGRAPHY

As with my other photography sessions, my style is fun, laid-back, and casual. I will capture some amazing photos of you in your gorgeous wedding day garb, but I also want to make sure you’re having fun and not stressing. I tend to gravitate toward an artistic, funky, and fashionable feel to my portraits, incorporating your unique look and personality. I will consult with you beforehand to get a feel for your wedding day look, and to offer suggestions of a studio, outdoor, or other on-location session. I love to collaborate on session styles, so if you have an idea of something you would like to try in a session or if you have a specific look that you have seen on my site that you would like me to emulate, we can discuss it before the session.

YOUR BRIDAL PORTRAIT LOOK

Many brides choose to do a full trial run of their wedding day look, including hair, makeup, and incorporating any accessories such as their veil, jewelry, and bouquet they’ll be wearing on their big day. If you choose to do this, I highly suggest that you do not do your hair and makeup yourself (unless you’ll be doing this on your wedding day also). Instead plan on having whomever will be doing these things on your wedding day prepare you for your bridal photography session as well. This way, you’ll know exactly what the look will end up being, and you won’t have to stress about not getting that curl just right. Plan on bringing all your accessories, any necessary undergarments that will go with your dress, and the shoes you plan on wearing.
Of course, you don’t have to replicate your exact wedding day look. You can bring what you have, or do your hair and makeup in a different style, and we’ll still be able to take some great photos. Before your session, we’ll discuss what you do and don’t have, and how you want to work with those pieces.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Bring a friend or bridesmaid to help you out. Wedding dresses and bridal preparation tends to be a lot of work, and an extra set of hands to help you maneuver in your dress or bring you snacks will go a long way towards keeping you relaxed. Choose this person wisely! Don’t bring along a friend or family member who might stress you out (you know who they are) – this may show in your photographs.
Eat beforehand and bring snacks and water. Wedding dresses tend to be heavy, and you may be up on your feet for quite a while during poses. Be sure to communicate if you start to feel light-headed or unwell. Don’t worry if you need to take a break – your portraits will turn out better if you’re relaxed and comfortable.
Be prepared for the possibility that you may need to have some minor cleaning or alterations done to your dress after your bridal session. Even when taking pains to keep your dress spotless, at the very least the hem will likely get a little dusty or dingy, especially if shooting outdoors. Give yourself time to schedule a cleaning after the session. After wearing your dress all day, you may also realize that some final alterations are needed. Many places need up to 1-2 months to take care of alterations, so plan your session accordingly.
Miette Photography also offers an optional bridal/boudoir package. See my session fees for more details.