WHAT ARE BRIDALS?
Not just a portrait session, a full blown excuse to put on the whole outfit before the wedding and prance around in a field or pose in regal ways on a couch. As a result, you end up with something that you can showcase at your reception so your guests can tell you how amazing you look. Afterwards, you can gift your parents those images so they can display them right next to your siblings on their dining room wall. Bridal portraits may seem to be an enigma to those who didn’t grow up in the South, but they are a rite of passage for many of my Texas brides.
WHEN DO YOU TAKE BRIDALS?
Bridals are normally shot anywhere from the time the wedding dress is ready to a month before the wedding date. Remember that summer in Texas is really hot and unless you want to spend the day prancing around a hot sauna in your wedding dress, let’s try to plan for a date before mid-June or after early September. Indoor options are also a great possibility and highly encouraged (and what I mean is I will beg to do them inside if I have to) in the summer!
HOW LONG DO BRIDALS TAKE?
Expect a 2 hour fun fiasco. You will most likely give up before I will.
WHAT ABOUT UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER?
All of our fun outdoor locations bring with them the possibility of playing in the rain. In my non-professional meteorological opinion, May is usually the rainiest month. When there is no backup or rain option, portraits can easily be rescheduled for the next available date.
TIMING?
Hair & makeup take an average of 2.5 hours, especially if you are using this opportunity to trial your wedding day hair & makeup. Remember that salons are normally closed on Sundays & Mondays, so you may need to make special arrangements. Some locations also limit the hours during which you can shoot. Otherwise, if the timing is open and you wish to have beautifully golden images, those are best started 2 hours before sunset. Please let me know if your ensemble is particularly difficult or time consuming to get into so that we can adjust the time accordingly. (I totally just wanted the opportunity to use ensemble in a sentence).
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING*?
your outfit (petticoat if required)
veil
other hair things – tiaras, hair pins or brooch
under things (bra/corset/panties/whatever you are wearing under the dress)
jewelry- earrings, necklace, bracelet(s), piercings
shoes – wedding shoes & flip flips (if the wedding shoes are a bit problematic)
flowers – if you want some
lip gloss/chapstick
location fee, if required
* You will want to travel fairly light because I’m a mover and shaker.
WHAT WILL I BRING?
me, myself and I
a sheet
possibly some camera equipment
a pop-up changing tent (as required)
WHERE DO YOU GET DRESSED?
Speaking of the pop-up changing tent – some locations have a dressing room or bathroom that can be utilized. For the others, I provide a handy-dandy pop up changing tent. It’s just about as much fun as it sounds. Just remind me ahead of time if you need it. I’m really good at forgetting it.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?!
There are many wonderful locations in the area that can be easily broken up into two groups: free and not free. If a public park or downtown area is what you are dreaming of, we can attack it with free and careless vigor. Many brides wish to shoot their bridals at their wedding location, especially if it’s super snazzy and they just can’t get enough of it.
For some additional ideas, check out the fabulously awesome bridal portraits above. Last, but not least, I have a super secretive and totally awesome suggested list of locations that I am happy to send to my booked clients for additional ideas.
ANYTHING ELSE?
I encourage you to change it up for bridals as much as you are comfortable with. Try some different/funky shoes or a crazy flower arrangement. Bridals are a lot more diva and sass than your wedding day portraits, so take advantage of it!
HOW DO I SCHEDULE PORTRAITS?
Just head to the contact page and fill in your information.
Hate contact forms? You can also send an email.