Bridal Session Client Guide
A moment for the DRESS!
Bridal sessions are SO special. You may be wondering, "why get all gussied up when I can just take photos on the day of my wedding??" Here's the thing... a wedding day is so BUSY and so full of emotion and nerves. A bridal session is great for a few different reasons:
- No pressure or rush. We can take our time and just be in the moment.
- You get to see everything - the hair, the makeup, the shoes, the jewelry, and the dress all put together! This is a GREAT time to do your hair/makeup trial.
- You get to remember your dress with beautiful portraits. Just you and your wedding gown.
This guide is to help you prepare for your bridal session. Take a look and read through all of the tips! See you (and your dress) soon!
-Brandi
Andy Warhol
"The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do."
Preparing for your bridal portraits
When Should You Book Your Bridal Portraits?
Usually bridal portraits take place 1-2 months before your wedding. The main factor is making sure you have all of your alterations completed on your dress beforehand. This ensures the most flattering fit of your dress. After your dress has come in and you set up your alterations appointment, be sure to ask when the dress will be ready to go. The closest I do bridal sessions to the wedding date is 3 weeks. I want to make sure to have time to edit/deliver the images to you with enough time for you to print your favorites to display at the reception.
Make sure to reach out to me when you know when you are getting your dress back to get on the schedule. I book both bridal/engagement sessions on Sundays (Saturdays are reserved for weddings) so my weekend options get booked pretty far in advance. I also offer weekday sessions. Weekday sessions are easy to accomplish in the Spring/Summer when the sun sets later, but can be a challenge during the Fall/Winter when the sun sets earlier. Generally bridal sessions are scheduled during golden hour which fluctuates during the seasons.
Where Should Your Bridal Portraits Be?
Location is the second decision to make. Some venues allow for brides to have their bridals on location. Usually the time slots available for these sessions are usually week days only (since most venues will be booked for events Fri-Sun). Be sure to ask your venue if they offer a complementary session for bridals on site. Other options include nature preserves, parks, botanical gardens, urban settings, or even studios.
Bridal Session Planning Tips
Set up your hair/makeup trial the day of the session. Most hair and makeup artists include a trial run when you book them for your wedding. Using that trial the day of your session is a great way to look your absolute best for your bridal session. Bonus to this is not only seeing what your makeup looks like in the mirror, but you will get to see how it photographs in case you want to tweak anything prior to the big day!
Get a bouquet from your florist. This gives you something to do with your hands for most of the photos and adds color/texture to your portraits.
Give yourself extra time! Being a bride always takes longer than you think. Pad your timeline in getting ready and getting to your location. I would suggest adding in a half hour pre session in case your makeup/hair appointment runs late or you get caught in traffic on the way to the session. Also factor in how long it will take you to get into your dress. If you have a slip on dress or dress that zips it is pretty quick, but dresses with corsets and/or buttons take anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get on. Your session time does not include time for this. If we plan the session at golden hour, sunlight is limited and you don’t want to waste any of your photography time getting into your dress.
*I would not suggest driving or riding in the car with your dress on, as this can cause wrinkles and can be dangerous!*
Get your nails done! I will definitely be getting some close ups of your hands to focus on your ring and on your feet to highlight your shoes. Having fresh polish or well manicured nails can make for a more polished look.
Bridal Portraits Checklist
- Make sure you bring ALL your bridal details. Veil, shoes, jewelry, hair pieces, perfume, etc. Making a checklist can help make sure you don’t forget anything.
- Think about your undergarments. Make sure to bring a bra and set of panties that wont show, leave lines, and are a light color (though white and skin toned options are definitely best).
- Does your dress or veil need to be steamed? Make sure to take them out of the bag and make sure they don’t need some TLC before you get to the session location. You can also bring a steamer with you if we are shooting somewhere that will have a bathroom to get water and plug it in.
- Bring help! A family member or bridesmaid can tag along to help you get dressed, carry your accessories, and most importantly, be your hype man! Definitely keep your crew to one or two helpers only. Having too many people there can make things overwhelming.
- A bottle of water! Gotta stay hydrated and being a gorgeous bride is definitely thirsty work.
Location
Location LOCATION
Here are some locations I love
Please note: It is the client's responsibility to pay for any fees associated with locations. If travel is required (anywhere outside of Rapides Parish) there will be travel fees added to your invoice!
- Your Wedding Venue
- LSUA Campus
- England Airpark
- The Bentley Hotel (fees required)
- Downtown Alexandria
- The Lake District
- Buhlow Lake and Park
- Kent House Plantation (fees may be required)
- Forts Randolf & Buhlow Recreation Site (fees may be required)
- Lloyd Hall Plantation (Fees may be required)
- Inglewood Plantation (Fees may be required)
Interested in Traveling?
Here are some great areas outside of Rapides Parish.
- Academy of Sacred Heart (Grand Coteau, LA)
- University of Lafayette
- Jungle Gardens | Avery Island, LA
- Azalea Trail | Lafayette, LA
- Rip Van Winkle Gardens | New Iberia, LA
- Afton Villa Gardens | St. Francisville
- Rosedown Plantation | St. Francisville
- Ida Grey | Ruston, LA
- Layton Castle | Monroe, LA
- The Secret Garden | Sulphur, LA
- Old State Capitol | Baton Rouge, LA
- The Gilmour | Baton Rouge, LA
- New Orleans City Park
- Longue Vue House and Gardens | New Orleans, LA
The Ultimate Packing List
1.
Items to Bring
- Water (stay hydrated, trust me!)
- Touch-up items (chapstick, powder, etc.)
- Phone + charger
- Ring
- Veil
- Bouquet
2.
Hair + Makeup
- Hairbrush/comb
- Hairspray + bobby pins
- Makeup for touch-ups (lip gloss, powder, concealer)
- Oil blotting sheets
- Small mirror