Wedding Tip | Get the Most out of Your Getting Ready Photos

July 24, 2015

I love when I have the opportunity to document a wedding day from start to finish.  There is so much more to a wedding than just the “I do’s” and first dances.  One of my favorite parts of the day to document is when the bride and groom are getting ready.  There is so much anticipation and excitement; everyone is happy to be there for the two lucky people getting ready to start the rest of their lives together.  On the girls side there is a little bit of hair & make-up, and a lot of joy and laughter.  For the guys, there is a sense of comraderey and always a little bit of teasing.  Moments that for my couple, may end up meaning just as much as the rest of the day.  I know that for me, when I got married, those moments set the tone for the rest of the day and mean the world to me.
Even though these moments are so important, some couples don’t consider that they’ll be photographed when planning their day.  There are a few things you can keep in mind while planning for your wedding to really get the most of your getting ready photos.
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Lighting
The most important key to great getting ready photos is natural light.   This type of light is beautiful to work with and is the main ingredient for stunning getting ready photos.  It not only looks great for detail shots, but is the most flattering as well.  For natural light, the bigger the windows the better.
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Location
Think simple and clean; clutter is the killer of great getting ready photos.  Try to keep the space in which you’ll be getting ready clear of boxes, bags, and other “stuff” that can be distracting from you.  Some of my couples have chosen to get ready at home.  There is something really special about getting ready one more time in the place where you grew up.  If you’d like to go this route, find a space with some big windows, and de-clutter the room as much as possible ahead of your big day.
Most churches will have a space for at least the bride to get ready.  That being said, I’ve found that 9 times out of 10 this space doubles as a children’s room of some kind.  I don’t need a gorgeous venue to take photos in, don’t get me wrong, but these rooms can look terribly distracting and cluttered in the best of circumstances not to mention the bad artificial lighting.  When discussing with your church coordinator where you’ll be getting ready, ask to see the space.  That will give you a chance to find an alternate option if you don’t love bright green walls.
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A good thing to remember is that capturing these moments of both the bride and groom are important!  If you and your groom get ready close to each other it will be much easier for your photographer to capture both.
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Details
Think ahead when it comes to your detail shots.  Come prepared with all of the details you’d like photographed in one place.  This could include your shoes, jewelry, garter, invitation, rings, and your ONBB (something old, something new, something borrowed, & something blue).  If you have something special that you’ll have with you that day you’d like to be included, make sure to include that with the rest of your details.
Also, take the few minutes to prep your details.  Bring a nice wooden hanger for your dress to be hanging on, take off stickers and remove all tags.  This will save some time on your wedding day and be one less thing you have to think about that day.
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People
Most brides know who they want by their side as they are preparing for their wedding day.  Plan on having these people ready to go a little bit before you are.  It’s so lovely when bridesmaids and mom are dressed and looking their best while they help you get into your dress, help with your shoes or put on your necklace.
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