6 Tips for the perfect bridal prep photos
Hey wedding people! I love everything about weddings—I’m obsessed. I love being there, I love photographing them, and I love witnessing all the unique things that make people stand out with their personal touches. I’ll write a full blog about all the cool things I’ve observed and learnt in that regard—but today, here are some things I’ve noticed over the years that are worth thinking about to get the best bridal prep photos. I’ve been photographing weddings for over a decade now, and I want to share my hints, tips, and tricks—maybe even some from other proffesionals in the wedding industry in the future. Who knows…
Good vibes,
Miss Diamond x
1. Designated declutter-er.
Your wedding day is a busy one. You asked your wedding party to be with you for a reason—they want to help you have the best day possible. Choose the most organised person for the job and just ask them to be mindful of things building up in the background. They can ask the photographer for a quick tip—sometimes it’s just shoving things in a cupboard. Your photographer will likely be a pro at making chaos look clean, calm, and filled with joy—even if there’s a cartoon-style cupboard about to explode.
2. Choose a speaker over a TV or phone for music in the morning.
It’s such an understated thing, but it happens enough for me to add it to my tips list. Hear me out: firstly, a big music channel TV is a very visually distracting thing—if it were up to me, I’d yeet any TV in the way, but much better to work with an off TV than Sky’s blue TV radio station. Secondly, I don’t recommend replacing music with a phone either, as sound quality is typically poor (though visually it’s fine and hidden). An Alexa or Google device is a great choice, as you can voice-change volume or pause if needed without having to hunt for a remote. Thirdly, you can curate a playlist with your bridal party to ensure you have the perfect morning vibes, which creates great, happy photography.
3. Prepare the details.
Have (potentially your very organised friend from earlier) gather the details—dress, jewellery, flowers, or any special things—all together in one area for the photographer. This is not because photographers are lazy—I swear! We want to create beautiful images of all the things that make your wedding day uniquely yours. The less time we spend trying to find things or asking for help, the more time we can dedicate to doing what we do best.
4. Trust your professionals.
You’ve spent time picking out people who are knowledgeable and specialise in their field. You’ve hired them to make your day amazing—hopefully because you trust them to do a great job. They may have tips, advice, or general knowledge that just helps boost your experience.
Trust that if there’s anything (no matter how small), your professional will likely have some helpful input.
Whether it’s before or on the day, we are all there to help and contribute to making every minute a stress-free and wonderful experience for you.
You picked us, and we have your back.
5. Be mindful of yourself.
Eating, drinking (water!), and getting fresh air always sets up a wonderful day. Fuelling your body for what is a very long day keeps you happy, which of course creates positive and good feelings that translate into beautiful wedding photography. This goes for everyone—bridesmaids, family, etc. Pre-planning what food and drink is available in the morning can support the wonderful long day ahead. Also, knowing what the room may be like—personally, I run hot, and sometimes a room gets very warm with lots of people and maybe old or smaller windows that don’t let in enough fresh air. Consider a fan in the room if it’s a hotel or somewhere that runs hot—they may have one available.
6. A touch ahead of schedule.
Again, hear me out... this isn’t always within our control, but the morning can be a finely tuned ballet—a little guided timeline can be a huge advantage. People have to pop off, go get something, nip to the {insert random place here}, so a vaguely, informal guide of timings worked out in advance—making sure people are aware of timings—can be a lifesaver.
Sometimes your hair and make-up artist will be the best person to ask for a little input here. If everyone has an idea of timings, there are fewer missing people, which means things are more likely to run on time—potentially giving you that little bit of extra time for bridal portraits just before going down the aisle, stress-free and not rushed.
Bridal prep is the weetabix of your wedding day, the french toast you may say —let’s make it the yummiest, sweetest most lovliest breakfast you can have. With a little sprinkle of clever planning and the right team, those bridal preparation photography is gonna be “chef’s kiss”
Looking for a wedding photographer in Dundee, Fife, Perthshire, the Highlands, or beyond—someone who loves wild, authentic, and romantic vibes (and isn’t afraid of a bit of wind or rain!)—I’d love to hear from you.
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