Bridal Portraits Advice... Please Help!

I think it's a fun idea. It's primarily a southern tradition, but it's a good opportunity to do your hair and mu trail and make sure you like how it all comes together. I would do it if it was offered.

This is definitely a preference thing, and not a necessity. I think it's more of a southern thing too. If you can take a few extra minutes during your wedding day for these photos, you can do them then (right before or after couples photos).

I understand not wanting to wear or mess up your wedding dress before the big day. Can you ask her if she'd substitute another type of shoot? Maybe a short boudoir photo shoot instead? Or just use that bridal shoot time and add it onto your wedding day package, so you have that extra time for bridal shots?

I agree with Rachel, I would rather have that then a separate day for a bridal shoot.

Just seems like a waste to me.

Yeah I'd add it to your wedding day or switch to a boudoir photo shoot. I know it's a southern tradition but I never really understood paying an extra day for hair and makeup before your wedding day

@Mrs.Green I'm 100% southern West Tennessee born and raised lol

@Sooziep the different location is definitely good idea, & I like the idea about finding a place that maybe more inside photos like maybe my childhood church.

@Rachel my photographer is a man so bounir would be a no (though good idea bc I know my FH would've loved them). Also I get my photographer for the whole day of My wedding not paying by the hour. So I could do it on same day as wedding but I also don't wanna take time away from celebrating with FH, family, & friends.

I'm doing Bridal portraits at my family farm 4-6 weeks before my wedding. I'm really excited about them because it's a way to involve my parents and their land that we inherited. I'll have both my parents there to help me with the dress and will made sure to do it on a day after a dry week.

I am getting married at a different farm and wearing boots, so I'm not as concerned about messing anything up.

I had someone recently tell me that they placed a white trash bag under the train while taking their bridal pictures outdoors. Her mom arranged the train over the bag so that it couldn't be seen in the pictures. Sounded like a good idea!

@GW see i was trying to figure out how long before wedding also to schedule the shoot but 4-6 weeks seems like enough time incase it did have something get on it. I also love you are getting you parents to help that is a great way to incorporate them in wedding stuff. That's why I was thinking maybe photos at my childhood church that my parents are still very activitie members of & wouldn't have to worry about outside so much.

@Elizabeth the trash bags idea is super funny but also really great!!

@brieliz sorry just saw your comment, yea I hate the extra pay day for H&MU, that's why I asked is it necessary to match you wedding day H&MU. Most bc I always have my hair straight it's just who I am but on wedding day my FH wants my hair curled so I was thinking if I did my more natural style for bridal shoot would that be a problem not matching my wedding H&MU.

Just my 2 cents : don't be surprised/upset if your photographer does not exchange the bridal session for more time on the wedding day or boudoir.

- boudoir photography is specialized. I would not want my boudoir pic taken by someone who does not specialize in it personally.

- adding that bridal portrait time onto your wedding day completely negates the reasons for a separate bridal portrait.

- I hope you do the bridal portrait session. Let your photographer know you are very concerned about your dress. I'm sure since these pics are taken before the wedding day that he is familiar with and takes the necessary step/precautions to make sure the dress does not get dirty. Also, it might be fun to try a completely different look than what you're doing for your wedding day (with regards to hair/makeup).

@Kathleen Great Advice!! I don't wanna switch to bounir bc my photographer is a man (that's a no no) lol.... I know I love the idea of a separate day for like 2-3 hour shoot it'll be all about ME & ME being a bride. The last time I had photos taken of just me were 2009 senior pictures..... yea when I get my dress I may do a at home doll up of my natural look to see if I like it with my dress vs wedding H&MU.... my MOH(my sister) said I wouldnt have to match wedding day either. So it's definitely an idea.

Kathleen makes some good points. I wouldn't recommend doing boudoir with someone who isn't experienced/specialized in it (but I know you're not doing it anyway since it's a male photographer), I just thought it might be an option if you definitely did not want bridal portraits. I also wouldn't be surprised about him not adding the hour onto your wedding day if you didn't use the session (many services that offer an additional shoot/product/etc. are "use or lose" type things), but I thought it could be worth asking (I'm in the boat of "if you never ask, you'll never know").

It sounds like you'd like to do it, so have fun with it!

**Also the day of wedding I don't have a set time for my photographer. It's an all day package from the moment I want him there getting ready to the last guest leaving that night..... actually great part about that is I get a photo not alot of couples can get bc the venue we booked has cabins to rent. We rented one for our wedding night and are going to get a carrying over the threshold photo. ) I'm so excited about it!!!!

@Rachel yea I think I'm pretty sure I'll do it now. I like the idea of trash bags under dress to help and also maybe doing my childhood church so it's not all outside. But as a photographer yourself do you think my H&MU should match closely to style of H&MU on wedding. Beside getting dress dirty that's my second big concern.

I think you're stressing about it too much. I'm having my make up trial and hair trial on the same day as bridal photos next week. This is my regular hairdresser so no worries there. I trust her completely. You will not mess up your dress. Everything doesn't have to match exactly. Enjoy the time for just YOU to be photographed and I'm sure you'll love it.

@Sabrina haha yeah since I've gotten some advice I'm not as stressed lol. I'm gonna do it bc I deserve a day of just about me..... also i haven't even decided a hairdresser or makeup artist so I may end up getting my regular hairdresser but I'm waiting on all that after I find my dress in March.

@Sooziep I'm not even going dress shopping til March, wedding in October lol I know I maybe cutting it close but I'm going out of state 2 hours away to find dress. March is first chance everyone who is going can make it. [Mom, & 3 Bridesmaids(sister, nieces & best friend)] ..... so my shoot will probably be September a month before wedding.