Why You Should Have A Bridal Session

Bridal sessions are typically more of a formal session that’s purpose is to capture individual portraits of the bride in her full dress or outfit, before the wedding day. The benefits of doing the session prior to the wedding day is sometimes there isn’t enough time on the actual wedding day to get a lot of individual portraits. Therefore, having a bridal session is a great option to get those shots ahead of time. The photos taken during a bridal session are generally kept a “secret” until the day of your wedding, where they are often unveiled in a display at the reception. It’s a wonderful way to surprise your guests! If you’re interested in learning more about why you should have a bridal session, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.

First off, bridal sessions are an opportunity to do a run-through or test of hair and makeup styles, as well as use a test bouquet. Not only does this give you a chance to make sure that your hair and makeup are done exactly how you want them, but it leaves some time to tweak things if needed. For example, you may have been set on having an updo for your wedding day, but you realize that you don’t like the way that it looks in your photos. This will allow you more time to work with your stylist to find a hairstyle that you like. Additionally, sometimes brides envision themselves holding a very large bouquet. However, once they’ve held that bouquet for a couple of hours during their bridal session, they realize how heavy it is and that they feel uncomfortable holding it and opt for something smaller.

Besides a trial run of hair and makeup, this can also be considered a trial run of your dress. By the time you have your bridal session, you’ll likely have already made alterations if necessary. But spending a few hours wearing your dress and taking photos in it will give you an idea of how comfortable it is. The session will also give you time to figure out the best way to walk in your dress. For example, if a dress has a long train, you may need to adjust the pace that you walk. The same goes for your shoes – you may find that your heels are not the most comfortable, or that you need more time to break them in.

A bridal session also provides an opportunity for the bride to get comfortable with their wedding photographer, as well as get comfortable in front of the camera. Your photographer will show you how to pose like a pro, so you don’t feel awkward in front of the cameras on your big day! For us specifically, we try to stay away from stiff and robotic poses, and instead, we give action prompts to encourage natural reactions and movement. This is also a great time to talk with your photographer about everything you want to get out of your photos, both during your bridal session and on your actual wedding day. Are there certain aspects of your outfit that you want to capture? Perhaps you splurged on really cute shoes for your wedding but they’re hidden beneath your dress, or you’re wearing earrings passed down from a family member but no one could tell unless they were up close to you. A bridal session is the perfect time to make sure you get the shots you want of those intricate details so they can be displayed in your wedding album for years to come.

Some brides choose to have their bridal session at their wedding venue, which is a great way to become acclimated to the venue you will be at during your big day. It can also help you seek out particular areas of the venue that you may want to have photos taken at on your wedding day, with your bridal party or family. However, some brides choose a different location for their bridal session. This could be at a location that means a lot to you, such as walking around your hometown. Or you may want to give your photos a more fairy-tale-like effect, such as taking photos on the beach or using a field of flowers for your backdrop! It’s all up to you and what you want your photos to look like.

Having a bridal session done also allows for ample time to get the portraits printed before the wedding. Whether you want them printed on a canvas to display at your reception, or smaller prints to give out to friends and family, the beautiful shots taken of you all glammed up and feeling like a princess are sure to impress!

The actual day of your wedding can feel hectic. There is typically a timeline to adhere to, and it is easy to get caught up in the moment as you are mingling with friends and family. While your wedding photographer will most definitely be taking photos throughout the day, there may not be as much time to get those individual and more detail-oriented shots that you’d like. A bridal session allows you that time and flexibility you need to get the photos that you want, so you won’t look back at your wedding album and wish you had gotten to do more. And, you most likely won’t be as nervous during your bridal session as you will be on your wedding day. This allows for a laid-back and stress-free day!

Bridal sessions are classic and, most importantly, fun! They are great ways to create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come. We hope you found this article helpful, and that you are on board with booking a bridal session!