Do you want to have a perfect wedding day? It all starts with your getting ready. Here are the top tips for a perfect bride preparation from a wedding photography perspective.
THE BRIDE SHOULD HAVE HER MAKEUP AND HAIR DONE FIRST: The makeup artists usually start the bride last so that she is fresh for the wedding ceremony. Still, often things run late and the bride does not have time for wedding day portraits.
Do you know something? We have a better way of doing things. Have the makeup artists start with you, the bride. That way, you will have plenty of time for wedding photography and to have fun with your bridesmaids.
Obviously, this requires a bit more work for the makeup artist and hairstylist but it is worth it. Before the wedding ceremony, they can simply touch up your makeup and everything will be perfect.
WINDOW LIGHT IS THE BEST FOR YOUR GETTING READY IMAGES: Your makeup artist has a limited understanding of light. They often ask the bride to get ready in a dark room where the light is bad.
This is crazy! Fine art, classic photography is about the quality and direction of light, period. With all due respect for the great work they do, you cannot allow your makeup artist to influence your wedding pictures.
Kindly get ready in front of a large window with no direct sunlight. Also, turn off any other lights in the room. Why? They have a different color temperature and “contaminate” the window light.
YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOULD START TAKING PHOTOS WHEN YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP ARE COMPLETED: We are often asked to arrive at the bride’s house or hotel room before her makeup and hair are done. That is a mistake!
In our long career as a wedding photographer, we learned that a bride should be photographed only when she looks perfect. That is when the makeup and hair are done.
Do you want to know a secret? All the pictures of brides getting ready you see on Pinterest or Instagram were actually taken after the hair and makeup are done. They are “pretend” shots and that’s why the brides look so good in them.
HAVE ALL THE WEDDING DETAILS READY: Often hair and makeup run late. If that is the case, your wedding photographers will waste precious time waiting for you.
Have everything you want captured waiting on a table for your wedding photographers. I’m referring to your invitations, shoes, engagement ring and wedding bands, garter, bracelet, necklace, earrings, bouquet and any other elements you want to be photographed. That way, your photographers will not waste time if your hair and makeup will run late.
Also, let your wedding photographer know if there is anything that requires special attention. Your grandma’s engagement ring passed to you, a medallion or any family heirloom you want to be photographed.
After we take pictures of all the important wedding details, your maid of honor should pass the wedding bands to the best man before the wedding ceremony.
HAVE A TRIAL MAKEUP AND HAIR SESSION: There is no room for error on your wedding day! Unless you are having a destination wedding, book a trial makeup and hair session well in advance. That way, you avoid any surprises when your big day.
Here’s a secret. Have your hair and makeup done for your engagement session? That way, you will also see how your hair and makeup look in photos while you still have time to change it.
Do you know something? Your engagement photoshoot is the perfect time to experiment and see if you really love the hairstyle you chose. Because some of our clients didn’t follow our advice, they realized on their big day they didn’t like their hairstyle and had it redone. They were so late, that when they were finished, we had to run to the wedding venue for the ceremony with no time for bridal portraits.
DOUBLE THE TIME ALLOCATED FOR HAIR AND MAKEUP: Hair and makeup are not a perfect science! Most of the time, they take longer than the bride anticipates.
Here’s the kicker: even if you – the bride – like your hair, your mother or a bridesmaid will want a redo. Fortunately, when it comes to hair, everything can be fixed but it takes about 30 minutes to tweak the colors and the cuts. Especially if you have a large bridal party, build time buffers in case any of your bridesmaids will want a redo.
Also, be realistic! Hairstylists are artists not magicians and even the best of them have limits.
GET READY IN A LARGE ROOM WITH PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT: Pick the largest room in your house to get ready. That way, we will have lots of angles to photograph you and your bridesmaids.
What if you are a couple who lives in a small house? Not a problem! Rent a hotel apartment that will accommodate your wedding party. It is a great investment, not to mention you might be able to photograph inside that hotel.
Want to know a secret? Many wedding venues offer a bridal suite where the bride and groom can get ready. Such suites are designed to accommodate even large wedding parties of 7-8 bridesmaids.
ASK YOUR BRIDESMAIDS TO WEAR PRETTY ROBES: Wearing beautiful robes helps your wedding pictures look good. While this is common sense, in the rush preceding the wedding day, this small detail is often forgotten.
Here’s the bottom line: as a professional photographer, we guarantee that your images will look much better if your girls wear pretty outfits. Here’s our next secret: as a bride, you should wear a different colored robe to stand out.
ASK THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE TO BE WITH YOU: Often the brides’ parents are so busy attending to the guests and organizing the perfect event that they do not participate in their daughter’s preparation. Don’t you want to see pictures of your mom and you getting ready while you’re flipping through the wedding album 30 years from now?
We always advise brides to spend a few moments with their parents before they leave the house. That often results in very powerful images.
