This month's blog entry is for all you brides-to-be. I'm going to give you the low-down on bridals, the reasons why you should get one, and how to prepare for a bridal session with me! Here in South Carolina, bridals are common among the locals, but it's come to my attention that many people traveling here to get married from out of state don't know what a bridal is. So, before I tell you all the reasons why you should get a bridal, and how to best prepare for one, I'm going to school you on what bridals are.
A bridal is a portrait session for the bride wearing her full wedding attire that takes place any time before or after a wedding ceremony. The tradition of bridals began in old-world Europe where portraits of the bride were captured in oil paintings and kept by the bride's family as a keepsake. Bridals continued to be a tradition for young debutantes who migrated from Europe to the southeastern region of North America where the tradition remains to this day. Now that you understand what a bridal is and how the tradition began, here are a few reasons why you should get one.
Consider it a dress rehearsal to ensure you're happy with your hair, make-up, jewelry, bouquet, veil, shoes, and of course, your dress! Getting a bridal allows time to get used to the feeling of your wedding attire and break your wedding shoes in a bit so you can move more freely and naturally during your wedding ceremony. Why feel rushed to capture yourself as a bride on the day of your wedding when you can do it at leisure, in a relaxed setting before or after the big day?
While a bridal can take place anytime other than the wedding day, most brides-to-be get their bridal 1-2 months before their wedding to ensure they have a beautiful bridal portrait to display at their wedding reception. It is common to see a large-format portrait of the bride displayed next to the wedding cake, or near the guest book at the entrance of the reception hall. This adds a touch of elegance to your wedding decor and makes a beautiful keepsake gift for the bride's mother or grandmother after the wedding ceremony is through.
Scheduling a bridal before the wedding with the same photographer chosen to shoot the wedding allows the bride the opportunity to develop a relationship with their wedding photographer and become familiar with their work before the ceremony. It also allows the photographer the opportunity to understand the brides’ best angles and most flattering poses to create top-notch wedding portraits.
Since a bridal does not take place on the day of your wedding, you have the freedom to select any location or locations you want for your session, which makes bridal portraits more fun and interesting. Choosing a backdrop that inspires your personality to come to the surface will make your portraits that much better. You can check with your wedding venue to see if your bridal can take place there if you prefer, but Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas offer many fun and interesting places to choose from. I'm willing to travel to certain areas of North Carolina and as far south as Charleston, S.C. giving my clients even more location options.
Have I convinced you to get a bridal? Here’s a few tips to be prepared for your session.
For convenience, I recommend scheduling pre-wedding hair and make-up on the same day as your bridal to minimize time and costs. For outdoor bridals, I suggest scheduling early morning or late afternoon when the light is best and offers a pleasing glow on your skin. My favorite time to shoot is late afternoon during the golden hour which lends warm glows and a beautiful sunset backdrop to your portraits. FYI, my bridals tend to last 1-2 hours depending on the number of locations you choose.
It's a good idea to think about poses ahead of time. Of course, I direct my shoots and explore different poses with my clients, but I suggest viewing a few bridal magazines before the day of the shoot, such as Martha Stewart | Weddings, Southern Bride, or Wedding Style to get inspired. Then, get in front of a mirror and practice, paying attention to your arm and leg placements, and facial expressions.
Take a moment to understand what your face looks like when you smile, laugh, or frown. Practice standing up tall and straight while slightly rolling your shoulders back to achieve a beautiful posture. I am open to creative input and welcome any suggestions you would like to make. If you find a few specific poses that you like, you're welcome to bring the magazine to your shoot and share it with me.
Keep reading for more helpful tips!
- Shave or wax your legs and armpits a day or two before your shoot so any skin irritations will have time to heal.
- Bring your bestie or someone that you feel comfortable with. It's normal to feel a bit nervous, so bring along someone who makes you feel confident and can lend a helping hand.
- Wear a shirt that can be easily removed such as a button-down to avoid messing up your hair.
- Have your wedding dress pressed before arrival.
- Bring a replica of your bouquet or have your hair stylist add flowers that match your bouquet to your hair.
- Bring a hand-held mirror and make-up such as face powder, blush, eyeliner, and lipstick or gloss, in case touch-ups are needed.
- Bring hair spray and bobby pins and expect windy conditions if you're session is outdoors near the beach.
- Bring shoes such as flip-flops to wear so you can move to different backdrops more comfortably.
- Eat something healthy at least 2 hours before arrival and bring water to sip periodically, but please keep in mind, some locations do not have restroom facilities.
- Arrive well-rested.
- Don't be nervous.
- Have fun!
After our session, you'll be able to conveniently view your bridal portraits through my online gallery within a few weeks. Simply wait for my email containing a link to view your gallery. Don’t forget to ask me about different print options and products to artfully display your special portraits.
Bridals are my favorite type of portrait session and I'd be honored if you chose me to capture you as a bride before or after your wedding and on the big day too! Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to schedule your bridal with me. I already have several reservations on the books so reserve your bridal now and let's create a beautiful memory together.
0 Comments