Making the most of your bridal photos

Bridal photos are when you and your partner set aside a bit of time with your photographer on your wedding day to create some stunning couples shots.  Don’t be fooled by the name however, bridal photos don’t necessarily refer to brides but may refer any combination of newlyweds.

Below are my favourite tips on how to get the most out of your bridal photos.

Bridal photos | When

I strongly suggest scheduling bridal photos one hour before sunset. Golden hour light can make for some breathtaking and unique images. Most of the images in my portfolio are taken at golden hour.

Golden hour is what photographers refer to as the hour before sunset when the light is nice and soft. During the middle of the day, the sun is high and can create harsh shadows on people’s faces. However, during golden hour, sunlight rays enter the atmosphere from a greater distance. This has the effect of diffusing the light and creating beautiful, soft lighting for portraits.

Note that in the above image there are no harsh shadows on the couple’s faces. This image was taken during golden hour.

Golden hour allows for more dramatic images also.

 

The above image was taken 20 minutes after the sun had set. Often called the blue hour, this is also a great time to capture portraits as the light is more diffused and allows for evenly lit images.

Night portraits

Another time I recommend allowing a few minutes for portraits is during the reception.

Night portraits add a whole other dimension to your bridal photos. They allow for some really unique and creative imagery.

All it takes is 5 minutes to get a similar image to one above. Then you can go back and resume your partying!

Oddly enough, a lot of wedding photographers don’t offer night portraits. If you feel you gravitate towards night portraits, be sure to ask your potential wedding photographer if they can utilise off camera flash techniques.

Where

I recommend not venturing too far from the wedding venue. Most wedding venues have a variety of photo opportunities that allow for variety, creativity and uniqueness. Presumably you’ve chosen a wedding location that is meaningful to you. Why not show off that venue!

Some couples feel somewhat uneasy if their photographer has not previously photographed their venue. This should not be a concern. An experienced photographer should be able to intuitively recognise photo opportunities in a given location. They will also likely do their homework, whether that be scouting the location in advance or researching past weddings at your venue. And from experience, photographing a venue with a fresh set of eyes results in highly creative imagery!

How long

In my mind, it makes no sense to spend hours away from your guests for your bridal photos. I’d rather you were able to spend as much time as can with your guests where the party is at!

Presuming the guests are well catered for, it’s fine to schedule an hour for your bridal photos. Within this time a variety of stunning images can be created, especially if scheduled at golden hour. Any more than an hour and the guests will likely start getting impatient. The last thing you want is hangry guests at your own wedding!

And just remember, weddings don’t always run on time. Scheduling bridal photos for around an hour allows for a safe buffer zone if things are behind time.

How 

 

Don’t take your bridal photos too seriously! Bridal photos should be fun, lighthearted and romantic. Sure, there is certainly a time for some more moody images, which I do love to take. However, at the end of the day bridal photos should show your true selves.

Sometimes couples are anxious about being in front of the camera, so much that they end up being stiff and non-relaxed. I’ll let you in on a secret, the more simple the pose and the more goofy my prompts, the more genuine the photograph. Really! My job is not to pose you like some model on the front of a magazine cover. Fingers on lips, looking wistfully into the distance at…… something? That doesn’t sound like most people to me! Ultimately, I’m looking to capture your natural connection, allowing your love and energy to shine through.

And hey, if a glass of champagne helps things along a bit, that’s fine with me 🥂

If you’re asking a wedding photographer who has a natural and relaxed approach to photographing weddings, please get in touch by contacting me here.