Brides.com recently posted an informative article called “Every Single Question You Need To Ask Your Photographer” that is circulating the blogosphere. And rightly so. The article offers excellent tips and advice…”Are you the photographer who will shoot my wedding? If not, can I meet the photographer before my wedding?” for one…though a few more important questions were missing.
They’re here.
And they’re important.
- “Do you offer a bridal portrait session in your packages?”
- “If so, how passionate about them are you?”
- “Do you specialize in them or are they an upsell?”
Earlier this year, The Knot declared that “formal portraiture is back in style” as a top trend for 2014, and I shouted a hearty “Amen!” for the shout-out to something I’ve been doing for years.
I believe bridal portraits are the most important portraits of a woman’s lifetime, meant to portray her at a pinnacle of her style and elegance. I also believe that the wedding dress is the most important, and the most decadent, dress a woman will ever wear. You now own the most amazing gown you’ve ever owned, with the most perfectly styled details than any other dress in your closet.
Now is the time to make the most important portrait of your life.
Most wedding photographers prefer to photograph the couple and their relationship and their family/friends. And, again, rightly so. Capturing love is a wonderful thing for sure.
But there’s another love that is often overlooked, a love that’s held deeply by brides…the love for her dress. You now own the most elegant and finely-detailed dress of your life: a dress that you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl, a dress selected out of thousands of designs, a dress that exudes your style and fits your figure like a glove.
But there’s even more at play here–without the bride, the dress is merely a beautiful hanger drape. The dress only comes alive with you, the bride, in it.
This may generate another question: “Shouldn’t by wedding photographer be the one to shoot my bridal portraits?” Not necessarily; here’s what I mean. Just like you go to a caterer and a cake decorator for your weddings day’s food items to serve your guests, seek out a photographer who specializes in bridal portraits. Though cakes and catering are both food, one specifically focuses their passion on a particular kind of food…the cake.
The same applies to photographers: both make photos, but one specifically focuses their attention, purpose, and passion on one person…the bride. Your bridal portrait is far too important to be an upsell or an afterthought.
Every day we seek out specialists for goods and services…selecting an Italian or Mexican or Thai or restaurant over the cafeteria smorgasbord for dinner; selecting the neighborhood coffee shop with a passionate barista over the gas station or burger chain for coffee; selecting a optometrist over a dentist for your eye care. Specialists pour all of their passion, energy, and creativity into the one thing they love do to the most.
I live/eat/breathe bridal portraits. So much that I’ve intentionally focused my business specifically on elevating and celebrating brides in a rich experience you won’t want to forget and a timeless photograph that won’t allow you to.
Why?
Because I still adore my wife’s bridal portrait from over 16 years ago.
Because I want your groom to share that same feeling about you.
Because I want you to feel beautiful and honored and celebrated, in that oh-so-fabulous dress, for decades to come.
Now is your time. Let’s celebrate!
