If you are photographing weddings, going to start photographing them, or are interested in trying it out, bridal portraits are crucial to your success. In this video, watch behind-the-scenes of three different bridal portrait sessions and see how these excellent images were made.
My affinity for wedding photography has always been tenuous. I initially took on weddings on word-of-mouth recommendations only and I did so because the money was better than other areas of photography for me at that time. I had a vague sense of dread leading up to the couples' big days and a lot of anxiety the night before, but as soon as I pressed that shutter button for the first time at the venue, I was at peace.
Nevertheless, there is one part of wedding photography I always looked forward to and felt it was one of my strongest areas: bridal portraits. The images you create of the bride are crucial to the happiness of most wedding clients and they can be tricky. They are far closer to ordinary portraiture than anything else on the day, and with a bit of preparation for locations and shot ideas, you can really create some great imagery.
I would recommend starting a Pinterest board with your bride and ask her to fill it with bridal portraits she likes. From this, you can get an idea of setup for each shot and then scout the right location at the venue. This video is great for seeing exactly what will happen once the bride is in front of your camera and how to best direct her.
