With endless hours, months, even years spilling over ideas and dreaming up your perfect bridal look, it's only fitting for the bride and her dress to take center stage come the wedding day. Yet beyond the surface lies a deeper emotional significance to the wedding dress, an embodiment of one's true essence marking this pivotal life moment for the bride, a transition from singularity to love and committment, forevermore. A metamorphosis so beautifully honored and celebrated through bridal portraits - captures that not only showcase the wedding gown but equally reflect you and your love story authentically, in this time and beyond. So, we've got all the essential tips to perfecting your bridal portraits from the master herself - Australian wedding photographer Lei Lei Clavey. And to no one's surprise, it all starts with the planning...
Bond With Your Photographer
The secret to stunning portraits? A solid connection with your photographer. The more comfortable and relaxed you are together, the more natural your photos will be. Think of your photographer as a friend with a camera. By keeping things low-key and informal with just enough guidance, your photographer will be able to capture your true selves. To make that connection, I recommend pre-wedding meet-ups - chatting over a Zoom call or, even better, meeting in person to discuss your big day and go over the timeline. In addition, planning an engagement shoot is perfect for getting comfortable in front of the camera, and involving your photographer with your welcome dinner is also a great chance to get acquainted and see their style in action before the big day.
Choose a Stunning Location
While a picturesque location isn’t a must for great portraits, it can certainly add a touch of magic. A spot that complements your wedding theme and vibe both for your getting ready portraits and couples portraits can make your photos even more enchanting. If you’ve hired a planner (which I highly recommend), they can suggest the most ideal locations for your venue. A good photographer will also always scout locations beforehand to find the perfect backdrop for your specific bridal look and vision.
Create a Bridal Portrait Mood Board
A good place to start with ensuring you achieve your birdal portrait vision is to research your photographer's portfolio and share a mood board of previous real bride examples that resonate with you. Whether you're drawn to playful, candid shots or intimate, romantic moments, this gives your photographer insight into your aeshetic and a glimpse into your personality as a bride and couple. This will serve as a reference point to guide me or your photographer for the best shots on your day. Photographer's also have a unique eye and understanding on how to frame and shoot particular bridal silhouettes to get the most out of your bridal portraits, so they will take this as an opportunity to plan a shot list around your specific bridal vibe.
Have a Helper on Hand
For bridal portraits that are particularly on point, it's always helpful to have an extra pair of hands and eyes on your bridal look to ensure your bridal look is looking perfect in every photo. Designate a bridesmaid, maid of honor or a family member - someone with a keen eye for detail, a taste for fashion and who you feel comfortable around to shadow your portraits for the specific role in resetting the dress train, zhuzhing the veil and spotting makeup touch ups. It will make for inspiring portraits that will do your beautiful dress justice, while also balancing nicely with the more candid captures.
Consider Timings for Portraits & Second Looks
Rushing through your getting ready bridal portraits and couple portraits rarely yields great results. Discuss timing with your photographer and trust their recommendations. Your schedule can be flexible; if you prefer to mingle during cocktail hour, then you can break the portraits up into shorter sessions throughout the day, such as a first look or sunset shoot. However for timings, I usually recommend 1.5-2 hours for getting ready and bridal portraits, 40 minutes for couple portraits, 20 minutes for wedding party portraits, and 5-15 minutes for sunset portraits. If you have a second bridal look, be sure to factor this in as well with the timeline of your portraits and your planner's schedule so you can ensure to get equally chic shots of the second look.
Enjoy the Quiet Moments
Make sure to take a breath and savor some stillness to yourself before the ceremony and during your one-on-one and couple portrait sessions. These are precious moments for you to embrace the the day, reflect, and connect with yourself and your partner away from the crowd. It's in this time that will slow down the speed of the day to allow you to feel truly present, at ease and yourself in your portraits while also creating lasting memories that you’ll cherish long after the wedding day.
Don't Miss Sunset Magic
Sunset is prime time for bridal and couple portraits, with magical golden hour taking center stage. With it's flattering qualities, sunset light illuminates fabrics and accentuates details, making for stand out shots of the bridal look. Even without a classic golden hour, the soft light and serene atmosphere at day's end offers a perfect moment for stunning shots. By then, you’re more relaxed, the formalities are mostly done, and you’ve had some time to unwind with your guests. Stepping away for sunset shots gives you a quiet, beautiful moment together.
