A photo of a photographer taking a photo of three girls by a tiny window in an all brick room.

Let’s face it, you’ve probably never had a wedding before and if you were in a wedding, you probably didn’t pay attention too much, so here I am coming back with more tips for perfect wedding photos. I’ve said it a million times on here, but the getting ready part of the day is probably my favorite. The energy, the nervousness, the bride getting into her dress for the first time and seeing herself all done up. It’s just so good. So here are a few tips to ensure you get perfect getting ready photos from your wedding day.

a photo of a bride and her mom.  Her mom is securing her veil while she looks out the window smiling.  top 5 tips for perfect getting ready photos are shared in this post

1. Do yourself a favor and rent a hotel room:

Renting a hotel room helps create a neutral, minimalist backdrop for these photos.  Try to have your bridesmaids/groomsmen keep all of their things in one area in the room and not scattered all over.  Your photographer and makeup artist will want to work near the windows for the good natural light.

2. Have all of your details ready in one place

When I (and many photographers) start with my bride or groom on their wedding day, the first thing I ask for are their wedding day details. Obvious things like dress/suit, invitation, shoes, jewelry, but also other important trinkets from the day. These items could be perfume, veil, gloves, family heirlooms, rings, lipstick if it’s in an ornate tube, as well as any other paper goods from the day.

a photo of a bride hugging her dad from the side.  He's smiling and looking off with tears in his eyes.  He is also wearing a cowboy hat

3. Keep your people informed

Make sure the people you want in these photos is aware and present. Who’s helping you in your dress or with your veil? Do you want a first look with your Dad or Grandma? Do you want your bridesmaids all around you as you get in your dress, or would you like a more private moment? This is your day and you can do it however you like, just make sure your vips know where to be and when.

a photo of a bride and her bridesmaids sitting on a bed laughing.  The bride is pouring a bottle of champagne and wearing white silk jammies

4. Communicate with your photographer

If there’s something you’ve seen online or something specific you want, be sure to share your ideas with your photographer. Do you want a photo of you and your bridesmaids in their pjs? Or jumping on the bed? Or popping a bottle? Or praying? Let us know so we can set aside proper time – I love capturing you and your friend’s personalities and that’s done best when we aren’t rushing

a closeup photo of bridesmaids and a flower girl huddling around a bride on her wedding day.  The girls are wearing blush colored gowns and you can really only see their arms around each other and not their faces

5. Leave room for emotion

Try to not plan your morning down to the second or ask your photographer to go off of a structured shot list. Overly planned days can take away from natural moments and spontaneity and make it very difficult to photograph real emotions. Not to mention it’s always good to have a nice quiet moment before the fun, beautiful chaos of the day.

I hope these tips help you get the most amazing getting ready photos from your wedding day! If I’m photographing your wedding, don’t hesitate to reach out to further discuss this or loop me into any ideas you have!

Locations used in these photos:

  1. 210 Events – Ann Arbor, Michigan

2. Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, MI

3. Whiskey Factory Detroit

4. Shinola Hotel Detroit MI

5. Westin Book Cadillac Detroit Michigan

Check out more Detroit Wedding Photography:

5 tips for perfect getting ready photos on your wedding day

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