What Are Bridal Portraits?
Bridal portraits are a dedicated session just for the bride (and sometimes the groom) usually in her full wedding look: dress, veil, shoes, jewelry, hair, and makeup. They typically happen on a day separate from their wedding day, before or after. The goal is simple. You get a calm stretch of time to photograph the look you spent months putting together, without a schedule closing in around you.
The Pros
It take pressure off the wedding day. Portraits during a wedding day usually share a tight timeline with family photos, the ceremony, and the reception. A separate bridal session gives you time to move slowly, adjust your veil, and try a few different locations.
You’re not rushed or running on adrenaline. A session before the wedding lets you get used to being photographed. By the time the wedding comes, you already know how it feels, and you tend to look more comfortable.
Your dress gets proper attention. The back of the dress, the train, the veil, and the fabric details all take time to photograph well. In a dedicated session, I can give them that time.
It’s a good way to test your look. If you’re doing a hair and makeup trial anyway, seeing how it holds up on camera can help you decide whether to change anything.
The Cons
They aren’t for everyone, and I’d rather be upfront about that.
- They cost extra. A separate session is another line in the budget, and so are any additional hair and makeup costs.
- They take more of your time. On top of everything else you’re planning, it’s one more day on the calendar.
- Logistics add up. If you do them before the wedding, you’ll need your final dress fitting done, and you’ll need to get the dress and hair and makeup back to a camera-ready state.
If your wedding day timeline already has plenty of room for portraits, and a separate session would stress you out more than it would help, you can skip them.
Two Ways to Do It
Before the wedding. This is the most relaxed option. You can pick a location and a time of day that suits you, and you aren’t working around a wedding schedule. The tradeoff is the added cost and a second round of hair and makeup.
After the wedding. You’re special day has passed & you don’t have to worry about getting your dress dirty. Your groom has already seen your dress so there is not secrecy. This is my preferred option.
How to Decide
Bridal portraits are probably worth it if:
- Your dress or overall look is a big part of your vision for the day
- Your wedding timeline is tight, and portraits keep getting squeezed
- You want more time in front of the camera without your guests & family there
You can probably skip them if:
- Your timeline already has plenty of room for portraits
- You’d rather put that money elsewhere
- A session before/after the wedding would add more stress than it removes
My Take
If your look matters to you, and most brides spend a lot of time and money on it, I think bridal portraits are worth considering. They don’t need to be elaborate. A short session in a good location, with good light, is often all it takes.
If you’re planning a wedding and want to talk through your timeline, reach out here. I’m happy to help you figure out what fits.
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