Shooting A Beautiful Bridal Portrait Session

We’ve all seen it. We walk into a studio or a wedding show and we see the most beautiful bridal portrait in a setting you have never seen in a pose you never thought to use. The bride looks so wistful and full of hope. So beautiful and elegant. You stare at the photo just wondering what they are thinking. That is a great photo. It is what you want to achieve with your own photography. You want people to stand in awe of your work, wondering, day dreaming, envious. So how can you create that one of a kind photo in your own work?

Well to be honest, you either have it or you don’t. Simple as that. Creativity cannot be taught but it can be molded, honed, skillfully polished to help you create wondrous beauty. Many of us are naturally gifted in that we can see an image in something that no one else can and thus make it a masterpiece. Others take time to develop that skill. To be able to think on our own and develop the intuition needed to create wonder. While I cannot teach you how to be great I can give you some pointers on how to start the process. How do you create a beautiful photo for a bride? You give her what she wants.

The best way to take a great photo of your client is to find out who she is and help bring that out in your photo through the use of scenery, location, light and position. I interview all my clients, especially the bride. They may not realize it but every conversation I have with them I am listening for details about them and their lives. What they like and don’t like and I incorporate that into their session. Most brides are not professional models and therefore need some encouragement when it comes to posing for their photos. The more comfortable you can make them the more beautiful they will appear in their photo.

Try something even if it looks uncomfortable. Many times brides don’t like to do a certain pose because it is uncomfortable when in reality it may be uncomfortable to them but it looks great in the photo. Have them bend the arm a little farther, hold the bouquet a little lower, and even jump off the ground a little higher. So many times we get stuck doing the same poses. Try something new and while she may not be entirely sure how she looks because of the way she feels, reassure her that though it may feel strange the pose looks gorgeous!

Encourage your client. Brides are experiencing some of the happiest times in their lives leading up to the wedding. Let them know they look gorgeous. Every woman feels gorgeous in their wedding gown but it really helps them to hear it too. Let them know it. The prettier they feel, the more relaxed they will be and the better your photos will look. A bridal session goes so much better if the photographer can gracefully compliment their client and bring out that inner model in their subject. A few words of encouragement can lead to inhibitions being forgotten. Brides will often break out of their shell if they feel that you are really enjoyingwhat you are seeing. It’s your work, you are enjoying what you do. You create beautiful photos. You are creating beautiful photos of them. Let them know it and you’d be surprised how much better your session will be.

Try a setting where you never thought of doing a bridal. Not many people think that busy downtown streets would be a great place for a bridal session but some of the best photos I have seen have been just that. Trust your gut even if you feel like second guessing it. That is your inner artist wanting to come out. Let it free and see what you can create! Every bride wants something different. Give them what they want. Step outside your comfort zone of the same location you always shoot and find somewhere new. You might find your new favorite spot.

Study other photographers work. Go to the coffee shop and pick up those bride magazines and take a look at what other photographers are doing. See what techniques and poses they are using and see if you can incorporate into your own work. Don’t duplicate but build upon others knowledge and creativity. I work with a really great photographer and he sees things that I often miss myself but the great thing about his creativity is that it helps me to develop my own. By seeing things differently than I normally do, by looking at things the way he does I am able to create beautiful images that I may not have come to on my own. Work together, collaborate, join groups and forums. We are all artists and most of us love to share our work. Embrace that part of our profession and it will make you a better photographer. It has for me.