Bridal portraits, the part all photographers love! Time for you and your beloved to shine in front of the camera in all of your finery, looking totally loved up! It’s an incredible opportunity for your Ireland wedding photographer to get creative. To use the light and different camera settings to create some really show-stopping photos of you guys!
However, we are all very aware that no one actually *likes* getting their photo taken! It can be awkward, stressful, and even annoying if you’re that type of person. On far more than one occasion I’ve heard couples say, “Just take a few quick shots and that’s grand!” While I understand the urge to cut through what may seem to be an uncomfortable situation, that means you will lose out on what can be a really fun and intimate time which results in gorgeous photos of the two of you.
Here are a few tips to make sure that this ‘bridal portrait’ time is spent well and that you are able to relax and have fun with it!
Schedule enough time.
First and foremost, timing! Usually, bridal portraits take place after the ceremony. This leave two hours, give or take, between arriving at your venue and the dinner call… loads of time, right? Wrong! You’d be surprised by how quickly this time gets eaten up with meeting and greeting guests, traveling between locations, and family photos.
Bridal portraits can be done in as little as ten minutes, but they will look a lot different than those where you have allowed a good half hour or longer to take. Think of this as your opportunity to get away from the hubbub of meeting and greeting and being the center of attention. You’ll be able to just enjoy being with each other in the moment, gather your thoughts, feelings, and relax.
Golden hour.
This is something you may have heard an Ireland wedding photographer mention in the past and believe me, it’s just as magical as it sounds! Golden hour is that beautiful time when the sun is getting ready to set and everything is washed in a gorgeous golden light. For photos, it is perfection. If possible, try to capitalize on this to get some seriously beautiful photos!
Be comfortable.
You are dressed to the nines, but those high heels and sleeveless dress you’re wearing might not be conductive to walking around outdoors. I love taking my couples outside (weather permitting) and making use of the beautiful grounds and other epic scenery found right at your wedding venue.
If your shoes are perilously high or pinching a bit, be sure to have a pair of flats on hand to ramble about in. Ireland is not known for its warm weather, so walking around in stunning sleeveless gown may become unpleasant sooner than later. With this in mind, pack a stole or shrug or even carry a cozy blanket to wrap around yourself while in between photos.
Pay attention to the time of year.
Everyone loves a winter wonderland wedding, but getting married during the coldest season fo the year has its downsides. Light fades fast and this can mean photos outside are a no go. Even worse, depending on the venue it can mean that you may not have much time to work with inside either.
If you are getting married during the winter, be sure to plan accordingly and leave a whole lot of time for you to get from the church to the ceremony site and then off to your venue so that you can take advantage of the light!
Trust your photographer.
This is a big one and applies to most of your day, not just the bridal portraits. Apart from your immediate family, your Ireland wedding photographer is going to be the person you see the most during your wedding day – so make sure you get on with them!
We’ve discussed the fact that bridal portraits can seem daunting and stressful, but trust that your photographer knows what they’re doing. They do this for a living and know the best way to pose people, the best light to shoot in, and the best locations to shoot at.
I hope these tips have been helpful for anyone who is a bit nervous about their bridal portraits. This is easily my favorite portion of the day and often results in some of my most memorable photos from the wedding. It’s definitely well worth investing some time into!
If you’re on the hunt for an Ireland wedding photographer or are just getting started and ready to have your engagement photos taken, please get in touch! Email me at info@silkephotography.ie and we’ll set up a time to chat about your wedding day and what you’ve always dreamed that your photos will look like. Hope to hear from you soon!
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