PREPARING FOR YOUR POST WEDDING SESSION
I have written about my love of the bridal session before. It is one of our great Southern bride traditions that I adore. I remember being a little boy and going with my Aunt Lavern to one of her wedding gown fittings. It must have been close to the wedding day because her dress looked flawless! My grandmother hung that bridal portrait in her living room. It remains in the same spot. That’s because the post wedding portrait is a timeless treasure.
Fear Not, I Got You!
Brides who choose to embrace the post-wedding portrait tradition are sure to have a few questions ahead of their session. This is a big moment! They want to get it right. It will likely be the first time they put on their full wedding day ensemble, from the dress and veil to the shoes and the jewelry. During my time as a wedding photographer there are several questions I get repeatedly. How to prepare for the post-wedding portrait session is one of those frequently asked questions. I love when my brides ask questions because it allows me an opportunity to help them avoid things that might cause stress. I have developed many tips for a successful post wedding session and today I’m sharing those with y’all! Read on for my go-to tips!
WHEN TO SCHEDULE YOUR POST WEDDING SESSION?
The scheduling of your post-wedding portrait session is going to revolve around the final fitting for your wedding dress. We can’t do the session until the dress is ready, so I tell all my brides who are doing pre- or post-wedding sessions to contact me as soon as they get their final fitting date. Once we know when the dress should be ready, we can get a date on my calendar for the pre- or post-wedding session. If we’re doing the session outdoors, scheduling for a month, or two, ahead of wedding day is ideal in case we have to reschedule due to inclement weather. If we are doing the pre- or post-wedding sessions indoors, weather will not affect our plans, which is a bonus when we’re less than 30 days ahead of wedding day.
WHO TO BRING?
Pre- or post-wedding sessions are always fun when you share the experience with someone who is close to you. Bring your mom, sister or maid-of-honor along to help with moving around in the dress. I always love when the mother of the bride is able to come along. It really makes the experience extra special for the bride and I love having mom’s help for things like veil tosses and fluffing the dress. Be careful of bringing too many people though! One to two helpers are a good number. Inviting your entire bridal party might be a bit overwhelming!
WHAT TO BRING?
Before your session, think through everything you’ll be wearing on wedding day. The checklist might seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget one or two elements if you don’t make a checklist. So, take a few minutes to think through the process of getting dressed to ensure you don’t forget something: dress (and any special undergarments like lingerie), shoes, veil, hair pieces, belt/sash and jewelry. It’s also a good idea to bring a white sheet and some towels in case the ground is moist. We want to protect the dress and shoes from getting dirty! In Atlanta we get our fair share of rain, so sometimes a white shower curtain is a helpful item to bring along since it will put a waterproof barrier between the dress and the ground. If you’re doing your session outside in a warm month, be sure to bring some bottles of water.
The bridal bouquet is also a great addition to your pre- or post-wedding session! Many florists will have the option to add on a smaller version of your wedding day bouquet for your bridal portraits. Be sure to ask about this option when you’re discussing your bouquet with your florist. I love having the bouquet at the session because it gives you something to do with your hands. It also brings your wedding color palette into your portraits!
HOW TO PICK A LOCATION?
There are so many options when it comes to the location for your session. Some brides choose to have their portraits taken at the venue where they will be married or are having their reception. This will allow their bridal portraits to flow easily into their wedding album, along with the photos from wedding day. Other brides choose to select a location that they love but aren’t using for their wedding day. Some of my favorites in the Atlanta area include The Waldorff Astoria Hotel, The History Center, Cator Woolford Gardens, Private Yacht off Lake Lanier, Delta Flight Museum, and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
Most locations, including those mentioned here, will charge a session fee in order to shoot on the property unless you’re also having your wedding at the venue. It is worth it to pay these fees for these great locations because you’re usually given access to a dressing area and the venues are somewhat private, meaning there won’t be a lot of other sessions going on at the same time as yours.
Our beautiful couple weekend trip to The Grand Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Ga for post-wedding session. They were such a big help in making sure the dress stayed pristine throughout the shoot and in taming the veil, which the wind kept catching!
AFTER YOUR SESSION
The pre-wedding sessions session is a great trial run! Make note of anything that needs to be different on wedding day. Carefully inspect your dress before you store it away for the next few weeks. If there are bits of grass, pine straw or leaves attached to the hem, make sure to remove them so they won’t stain the dress. If you need to steam out wrinkles do that before wedding week arrives. That is one task that you don’t want to leave to last minute. If you decide you want to wear a different necklace, or make a change with your hair and makeup, you have time to do so! Some brides even choose to do a completely different makeup and hair style for their bridals just for fun. It’s really up to you and how you want to embrace your session!
For more examples of our Signature Style, check out our Pinterest Board.
Make-Up Guide: 3 MAKEUP STYLES TO ROCK YOUR POST WEDDING PHOTOS!
No two women are the same, so why should their makeup be? Don’t let mountains of makeup options stop you from having the time of your life at your boudoir shoot. Whether you’re foxy glam, natural vixen, or looking for that pinup style, a boudoir photo shoot is the perfect time to rock what makes you spectacularly you. And the best part is that you aren’t alone! Our in-house makeup artist will help you create whichever fun and flirty style you decide.
Make-Up Guide: How to Do Your Makeup for Post Wedding Photos
No two women are the same, so why should their makeup be? VIEW HERE
Upgrade To Glam
Bring on the contour! This look is all about awakening your inner vixen. For glam, think: lining, smudging and accentuating to bring out that smokey eye. Your lips are another great asset, so we’ll be lining and shining those beauties, as well. Lashes are a must for this look, but don’t be intimidated by the idea of wearing false ones. A little lash-inspiration is easy to come by with the help of our makeup artist.
Remember, you’ll want to choose one main focal point for your glam boudoir look, whether it’s eyes or lips. A good rule-of-thumb is to pair dark eyes with a nude or lighter lip, and a bright lip with a lighter or more neutral eye. Don’t worry our expert makeup artists have it totally under control!
Natural Beauty
If you’re more a natural beauty type of girl, you can still rep your style while wearing some great makeup. You’ll start off by moisturizing (the secret to all around great makeup sessions), and then use a concealer to lighten up under your eyes.
For a natural glow you can add a light powder foundation and a little cheek color, if you’re feeling it. And for your eyes? Think a muted shadow over your eyelid, with a touch of mascara, or a more natural style of false eyelashes. Think about trying a matte natural or nude color tone for your lip!
Pin It Up, Girl
For the retro girl who has everything, a boudoir shoot is the perfect platform to show off her style. If you’re looking for more of a vintage vibe keep things classy with your makeup while emphasizing some glamorous points. The key to pinup boudoir style is not to overdo it!
For brows, which are the foundation of the pinup look, your stylist will keep them well shaped, and filled with a brow pencil just a shade or two darker than your natural haircolor. Your eyelids will stay neutral, emphasized with either a beige or taupe color variation. Ready to get that perfect cat-eye? None of us truly are, but with the help of our makeup artist you can keep the retro vibe alive. Top it off with a red lip, and you’re ready to roll!
ABOUT THE HAUS OF GREY
Creative. Clean. Different. We are a group of creatives in Atlanta, Ga. with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2016, our studio has been serving women, especially women of color, at the highest capacity of creativity. The Haus of Grey experience is unrivaled. We’d love to treat you to a tea an panini in the Marietta, Georgia area and walk you through our albums, canvases and other print photography products. We can also provide more information on our Wedding Videography and introduce you to our team