The wedding day will, by all means, be all about you and your partner. But as you continue to plan the biggest day of your life, you will soon realize that the success of your day is the sum of all its parts, including the great music, decor, food, and, of course, the bridesmaids' photos.
Believe it or not, the photos of the bridesmaids contribute to a perfect celebration from the day. They are the ones who will hold your hand during the process and help you create a day you won't ever forget. So, by all means, it must be celebrated! After all, having the best girlfriends on the big is an equally important aspect of support and love. Today, you’ll discover tips for successful bridesmaid photos that will leave you with priceless memories.
Make it a Fun Experience for the Wedding Party
I always prefer to make the bridesmaid session a fun experience where you can talk, laugh, and perform some activities together. This helps create candid shots that capture the true essence of your togetherness, love, and energy from the day. So, ideally, I encourage all to be by themselves, have fun, dance, and create a festive atmosphere for a lively session.
Lean into that natural leader of the group and personalities
One of the crucial aspects of bridal party photos is depicting your girls in the best possible light. Therefore, I recommend leaning into the group's natural leader and following their personalities. Probably the first thing is to snap some shots of the bridesmaids as a group. To start off, we can have the girls bunch up closer for the tight shot and embrace each other. Let them lean in as close as they can get- almost cheek to cheek to capture their smiles and, of course, their personalities.
Get individual pictures with each bridesmaid if time allows
Capturing bridesmaids' photos should last around 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, we can get various shots in different parts of the venue. Usually, we start with basic, classic shots and then move on to the focused ones that depict great expressions and fun and creative shots. As I know how much your wedding party means to you, I try to capture individual shots of each bridesmaid if there is enough time.
Make it a hang-out rather than a race
As an Ottawa wedding photographer, I always recommend that my clients allocate enough time for photo sessions. Just remember, these time frames can contract or expand depending on the size of the wedding party as well as the shots you want. For specifics, you may speak to your photographer about how long they will need to capture different shots you have in mind. So, it is helpful to prepare in advance and not make the whole process fast-paced. Just let the photographer know what matters to you. Many people will be involved in it, and they will help you with an estimate.
Have both the bridesmaids and groomsmen be present to make it more fun and pleasant.
To make bridesmaids’ photos fun and creative, we always recommend having both the bridesmaids and groomsmen present. Doing photos with both parties is one of my favorite parts of the day! Wedding party photos are some of the most challenging to capture, so we usually do them in the mornings or evenings when the sun is less harsh and provides the most flattering light for outdoor photos. I always prefer to keep it fun, where everyone is smiling, laughing, and doing all sorts of things. Who says bridal party photos have to be stiff and formal? You shouldn’t be afraid of incorporating different angles and movements, so I encourage everyone to walk, jump, or just snuggle until we get great photos.
One of the best aspects of your wedding is that you will get to have everyone you love to celebrate your new journey. Your closest friends will be by your side while you exchange vows, and the pictures captured will be the only memories you will cherish for years to come.
With these bridesmaid photo tips, don't miss out on the important moments from your wedding and make it memorable.
For more wedding and fun bridal party ideas, check out more planning resources and The Ultimate Timeline for perfect wedding photos.