Wedding Inspiration · The Morning
Wedding Pictures: Getting Ready
A photographer’s tips for bridal prep worth keeping
The getting-ready part of the morning is one of my favourite times of the whole wedding day. The hair and makeup coming together, the bridesmaids buzzing around, the quiet build of anticipation, there is so much feeling in those few hours, and so many natural moments to catch.
Over the years I have picked up a few things that help bride getting ready photos turn out beautifully, and most of them come down to a little planning. Here are my tips for making the most of your wedding morning, whatever your room or your plans.
If our styles line up, you can also see how I work as a documentary wedding photographer across the day.
Tips 01 & 02
Setting the Scene
A tidy room
Wherever you choose to get ready, a quick tidy makes a real difference to your getting ready photos. Stray socks, shopping bags and clutter creep into the background before you notice. I always suggest asking a friend to do a quick sweep before I arrive, you will be glad you did. It is all about those natural, authentic moments, and a little prep goes a long way.
Light-filled rooms
Light is a photographer’s best friend, and the difference it makes is night and day. When you are choosing where to get ready, think about how much natural light fills the room. For the softest, most flattering bride getting ready photos, position yourself as close to a window as you can. Those light and airy frames almost always start with good natural light.
Tips 03 & 04
Give Yourself Time
Allow more time
When you start your bridal prep sets the tone for the whole day. Get it right and the morning runs smoothly, with time to enjoy it. There is so much to savour, catching up with bridesmaids you have not seen in ages, the dress, the hair, the makeup, the finishing touches, and the getting ready photos that come with them. My advice is simple: give yourself an extra hour. That buffer is the difference between rushed and relaxed, and it shows in the photos.
But don’t rush
I usually arrive about two hours before the ceremony to capture the getting-ready moments of both the bride and the groom, so it helps to save some of the final touches for when I get there. We can always stage a shot or two, but what I love most is catching the real, spontaneous moments as they happen, the ones that reflect how the morning actually felt rather than a row of posed photos.
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If you would like a relaxed, natural record of your wedding morning, take a look at my documentary wedding photography and the way I work across the day.
View Pricing & PackagesTips 05 & 06
The Details
Extra details
If there are particular details you would like captured, let your photographer know. I always cover the essentials, the shoes, the dress, the rings, but there may be a few that hold special meaning: a grandmother’s handkerchief, the earrings you wear for every occasion, a message stitched quietly into the groom’s suit. Those small, personal things often make the most memorable frames. I have written more about these in my guide to wedding detail photos.
The wedding dress
Your hair and makeup are done, the bridesmaids look wonderful, and the spotlight turns to the star of the morning: your dress. If it is hanging on a plastic hanger, it is worth bringing a nicer one, a simple bespoke or wooden hanger that matches your aesthetic. It is a small thing, but it lifts the wedding dress photos noticeably.
Tips 07 & 08
The Fun Stuff
Champagne and a playlist
Ask the bridesmaids to bring a few bottles of fizz so you can spend the morning toasting and cheering. It makes for lovely, natural getting ready photos before you slip into the dress, just keep an eye on the flower girls sneaking a sip. A playlist helps too. Music in the background sets the tone, eases any tension and brings a bit of fun into the room. Hand it to the chief bridesmaid, or put it together yourself.
Bridesmaid gifts
Surprising your bridesmaids with a small gift makes for a genuinely lovely photo. Nothing extravagant, a thoughtful little trinket to say thank you is plenty, and the moment they open it is one worth catching.
Tips 09 & 10
The Emotional Moments
The big reveal and first look
Do not forget the reveal. Whether it is a first look with your other half, or a quiet moment showing your dress to your parents or bridal party, this is one of my favourite parts of the morning. A father seeing his daughter ready for the first time, there is real pride and emotion in the air, and the tears usually flow. Just let me know beforehand so I can be in the right place to catch it as it happens.
With mum, and the groom’s prep
A few quiet frames with your mum are a must, helping with the dress, a touch-up, a shared look before you leave. And do not overlook the groom. The guys tend to get ready in a flash, but their prep has a relaxed, easy feel I really enjoy, a drink, a few photos in their casuals before they suit up. It is a lovely, low-key contrast to the bustle of the bridal room.
In Closing
Getting Ready Photos, at Their Best
The best bride getting ready photos almost always come down to a little planning. A tidy, light-filled room, an extra hour in the morning, the details laid out ready, and the people you love around you, get those right and the rest takes care of itself.
Whatever your location, you can create the loveliest scenes surrounded by friends and family, full of detail, fun and feeling. Take your time over the morning, plan a little with your girls, and the getting ready photos will be some of your favourites from the whole day.
The morning sets the tone for everything that follows. Enjoy it.
If our styles line up, take a look at how I work as a documentary wedding photographer and get in touch.
Jordan Fox
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