My husband and I have been married ten years (fist bump!).  When it came to our wedding pictures, I put “epic frame-worthy portraits” on the top of my list.  What I wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with an image that happened before I ever stepped foot down the aisle.  This picture hangs on the wall of our stairwell:

I have so many beautiful wedding portraits and pictures of my sweet family, but only so much real estate on my wall.  So why did THIS picture make the cut?  Some might overlook this one and think… you’re not looking at the camera, you’re not smiling, you’re not with your husband, etc.   So, why choose this one?  This picture was the breath I took before I went to the chapel where we would be married.  THE breath.  And after ten years, I still feel that pound in my chest when I look at it.  I still feel that whirlwind of emotion when I realized that I was about to marry the love of my life.  And now as a wedding photographer – I think every couple deserves for that moment to be captured with beauty and grace.

It is no surprise that getting ready portraits are one of my many favorite parts of a wedding day.  So let’s get to three of my top tips to prepare for this portion of your timeline:

 

Bring the Light.

One of the first thing you’ll notice about magazine-worthy getting ready photos is the quality of the light.  If you’re in a dimly lit room, or a space that is pulsating with fluorescent canned lighting – you are not going to get the light and airy bridal portraits you’ve been dreaming of since you bought your first copy of Martha Stewart Weddings.  As a wedding photographer, the first thing I do when I walk into a room is look for windows.  Natural window light will be my first choice EVERY time.  So whether you’re selecting a bridal suite, booking a hotel room, or getting ready at your childhood home  – the first thing to look for is LIGHT.

Keep it crisp.

Next up is considering the environment.  Some couples choose  to book a getting ready location with beautiful architectural details, while others may choose to get ready in the comfort of their own bedroom (and dozens of other options in between!)  There is no right or wrong here.  Choose a place that feels perfect to you! Regardless of where you are getting ready, I will tell you to look for the light and then de-clutter (I move furniture almost everywhere I go!).  You want a nice, clean slate so that YOU take centerstage.  Bonus tip:  You also want a space large enough so that there’s room for the people you love.

Share the Love.

Speaking of making room for the people you love – being in a room when a woman becomes a bride is a tremendous honor.  Keep the people that mean the most to you close by.  At the end of the day, “getting ready” isn’t just a gorgeous photo opportunity.  It’s a fleeting moment in time where the loved ones who helped guide you to this day are there to embrace you, hold your hand, and pass the champagne & tissues!

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